Elementary School Music Teacher P/T

An exciting teaching opportunity is available at Peninsula School, a leader in N-8 progressive education with a focus on fostering intellectual curiosity, social and emotional learning and social justice in a manner that is interactive and responsive to student interests. 

Peninsula School is rich in history and fortunate to have a wooded, 6-acre campus. Enrollment is strong, the school has no debt, owns its land and buildings and has a long record of excellent financial management including healthy endowments.

The school is in an exciting time. Many new staff have been bringing with them a fresh perspective on implementing the school’s values, a new strategic plan is being implemented, and the school is approaching its centennial in 2025.

Peninsula School actively promotes the principles and practices of diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the school community. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage people of under-represented groups to apply. We offer competitive compensation and a progressive community dedicated to learning and engaged citizenship. (http://www.peninsulaschool.org/equity-and-inclusion/)

Job Title: Lower School Music Teacher Part-time

The Lower School Music Teacher position maintains three areas of program: 1. Classes in the lower school classrooms; 2. Afternoon activity (elective) period; and 3. Chorus for Lower School. The Lower School Music Teacher has responsibility to develop and provide a music curriculum appropriate to the interests and needs of the children in each class from 3- and 4-year old nursery through fourth grade. The Lower Music Teaching position is a .50 benefited position with contact time Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and planning and prep time in addition to those hours as needed. 

Primary duties and responsibilities:

• Support and promote Peninsula School’s mission and values
• Provide a flexible, progressive program for nursery through 3rd grade children using instructional methods and materials that are responsive and appropriate to the intellectual, social and emotional needs of students and that fosters their positive learning and personal growth
• Maintain a cooperative classroom environment that encourages problem solving, creativity, critical thinking, and intellectual curiosity
• Create and maintain a welcoming, safe, equitable and respectful learning environment that honors and values the learning and cultural diversity of the student population
• Remain current on educational research, topics and progressive practices relevant to early and middle childhood music education
• Participate in and contribute to the school’s process of continual reflection and evolution of its program

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop, plan and teach developmentally appropriate music units at each level in the Lower School (N-3rd) 5.5 hours per week
• Implement Activity (elective) program in music for multi-age (6-9 y.o.) groups 12:30-1:30 3 days per week (T, W, Th)
• Develop, plan and implement a choral performance twice per year including rehearsals throughout the year as needed
• Recognize and address the unique needs and varied learning styles of all children, ensuring each child’s progress 
• Build class community by fostering students’ social/emotional learning
• Clearly articulate program and developmental goals to parents 
• Maintain open lines of communication with parents 
• Monitor student learning
• Provide observations during discussions about a particular child or group of children
• Work collaboratively and constructively with colleagues 
• Provide a model for positive leadership
• Maintain music instruments and music classroom
• Examine and evaluate program and teaching regularly and adjust as needed
  

Other Responsibilities 

• Attend and contribute positively at staff meetings, inservice meetings, and other meetings and school events as applicable
• Participate in school committees as needed

Qualifications and Requirements

• B.A. required. Degree in a music discipline preferred.
• Training in Orff, Dalcroze, and/or Kodaly preferred
• Keyboard and/or guitar playing ability a plus
• Experience working with young children preferred
• Passionate about working with young children 
• Adept in facilitating group dynamics among mixed ages
• Ability to work with a diverse population
• Embracing progressive education ideals
• Caring, flexible, creative, organized, good judgment, sense of humor
• Current first aid, CPR, certification(s) a plus

The successful candidate will be passionate about working with young students and teaching staff in an educational setting, will have an ability to work with a diverse population and will embrace progressive education ideals. Successful candidates will have a good working knowledge of best practices in education and diverse learning needs.

Being caring, flexible, creative, organized, using good judgment and possessing a sense of humor are all important candidate qualities. Candidates must be able to interact with students, parents, and co-workers in a supportive and collaborative manner.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies: 

• Skills in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion – A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and an ability to work with a diverse population of students and families with cultural competence and cultural humility. An ability to remain sensitive to the experiences of students, parents and faculty in all situations and integrate feedback into practice. Ability to examine biases, privilege and discrimination, and interrupt inequitable practices, policies, and structures.
• Instructional Skills – Recognizes the importance of learning and motivates others by own enthusiasm. Stays abreast of best practices in schools. Ability to build an atmosphere of constructive and on-going dialog about best practices in teaching and learning. 
• Relational Skills – Ability to relate well to a wide range of people, including building rapport with students, parents, faculty, staff, and other administrators. Willingness to work to understand the culture of the school. Knowledge of each child’s challenges and strengths.
• Emotional Intelligence and Maturity – Ability to interact with individuals in heightened emotional states and navigate complex and emotionally challenging situations involving children and adults. A high degree of emotional stability, ability to separate one’s own emotions from a situation, and ability to maintain perspective in the midst of emotional situations is essential. 
• Communications Skills – Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of constituents. Maintains open communications channels with teaching staff, parents and administrators. Able to present information formally and informally in an effective manner both through oral presentations or conversation and through written means. Has a strong understanding of the power of word choice and the need for a high level of tact and professional, accurate communication. 
• Time Management Skills – Ability to manage many tasks and projects simultaneously and to prioritize them appropriately. 
• Organizational Skills – Ability to balance many tasks and processes, including keeping track of progress on longer term projects or goals, managing details accurately, and following through in a timely fashion. 
• Problem Solving Skills – Ability to recognize immediate issues and take decisive action when appropriate. Ability to consider a broad range of internal and external factors when solving problems. Grasps complexities and perceives relationships among different problems or issues. Uses various problem-solving strategies appropriate to the situation, including enlisting others when appropriate. 
• Knowledge and understanding of the Mission Statement and purpose of the school 
• Proven competency in the classroom, including innovative teaching and recognition of an appropriate response to various learning profiles. 
• All prospective employees must be able to clear a background check and TB screening.

Physical Demands 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, ability to adjust focus, and sound hearing. The ability to speak clearly and coherently is required.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands, talk and hear.  The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms.  On occasion, the employee is required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, or crouch. Employee is required to operate a computer,, communicate across a variety of media, and work in close proximity to others. The role may also require the employee to work in inclement weather during special activities. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to listen, physically direct, and speak. The employee is required to sit (sometimes for extended periods); stand; walk on a variety of surfaces; climb stairs, bend and squat when communicating with younger students; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus. 

The noise and activity level in the work environment is variable, with times of quiet and times of high stimulation and activity. 

The mental and emotional demands of the position are considerable. The employee may interact with individuals in heightened emotional states and will encounter complex and emotionally challenging situations involving children and adults.

TO APPLY 

Peninsula School is an equal opportunity employer and we actively promote the principles and practices of diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the school community. We actively support equal opportunity for all people and encourage members of BIPOC communities and LGBTQ+ candidates to apply. 

 

Our school is strongly committed to learning about and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all interactions and programs.We offer competitive compensation and a progressive community dedicated to learning and engaged citizenship. (http://www.peninsulaschool.org/equity-and-inclusion/)

We encourage people of under-represented groups to apply.

 

Please fill out an employment application https://www.peninsulaschool.org/s/PS-Application-for-Employment-2018-V02.pdf

and send it with a cover letter and resumé, in MS word or PDF format, to HR@peninsulaschool.org or fax to (650) 325-1313.