About Town School: 

Town School for Boys is a K-8 all-boys independent school located in San Francisco with approximately 400 students, of whom 49% come from self-identified families of color, and a faculty: student ratio of 1:11. Our diverse faculty and staff can be characterized by their warmth, collegiality, and dedication to our mission and values. At Town, learning is prized, love of school is essential, and boyhood is celebrated. For more information, please visit our Town Facts page, read about "Why a Boys' School," or learn about our community of belonging. 

Position Description: 

Town School for Boys seeks a full-time music teacher for grades 4th-8th to begin in the 2024-25 school year. Music is taught in all grade levels from K-8 and includes work in music history, music technology, music theory, and several performances throughout the year. The school utilizes The Dolby Family Center for Performing Arts, a state-of-the-art performing arts facility. Town is in the process of building out a performing arts program across grades K-8, and we seek a teacher who will contribute to the vision and creative integration of performing arts throughout the academic program. The music classroom is located in the main building and is well-supplied with materials and instruments. 

The music teacher will have the opportunity to collaborate with the lower school music teacher, a theater arts teacher, and classroom teachers across the grades. The music teacher will develop school-wide performances for the boys during the winter holiday season, Grandparents’/Special Friends’ Day, and other curriculum-appropriate performance opportunities. Besides teaching required music classes for 4th-6th grades, the position also includes offering electives in the Upper School program. We are particularly interested in music teachers with special strengths in areas such as digital music, band, and instrumental ensembles. The music department consists of two full-time music teachers collaborating on some programs and producing others independently.  A Bachelor’s degree in music, music education, or a related field is required; a Master’s degree is strongly desired.

Candidates should have a strong background and experience in exposing students to the joy and appreciation of music through various musical experiences, including singing, movement, playing instruments, listening, and performing. This individual will create a supportive and positive climate that develops in each student the skills, attitudes, and knowledge to advance his musical ability using current methodology, curricula, and materials.  In addition, the ideal teacher fosters an environment where students feel comfortable taking risks, making mistakes, and being curious. Town teachers are in frequent contact with families, responsible for writing progress reports and supervising students during recess and other non-class times.  

As an advisor, the successful applicant will lead morning advisory, support students during study hall, supervise during snack, and facilitate student-led parent conferences in the fall and spring.  Strong communication skills are essential as faculty are expected to communicate regularly with other team members and parents about student progress. Homework and other pertinent class information are posted online on Google Classroom. School-wide responsibilities include recess and lunch supervision, and grade level, department, and faculty meetings. Other responsibilities may include committee work, chaperoning outdoor education/field trips, and attending student performances and athletic events. The ideal candidate will be empathetic and grounded in the reality of middle school boys’ lives, have extensive experience working with middle school students, and have a deep respect for boys' intellectual and social-emotional development.

Duties and Responsibilities:

This exciting opportunity involves working closely with grade-level team members, the Dean of Students, the Dean of Character and Culture, the Director of Teaching, Learning and Innovation, and the Head of Upper School. In addition, this position has the added resource of a K-8 Math Program Director to support curriculum, planning, and project development. Candidates should be comfortable integrating different technology tools to enhance instruction. Collaboration with other departments, librarians, and educational technologists is expected. Instructional approaches and course content are differentiated to suit a range of learning styles and reflect a diversity of perspectives and backgrounds. 

As an advisor, the successful applicant will lead morning advisory, support students during study hall, supervise during snack/recess, and facilitate student-led parent conferences in the fall and spring.  Strong communication skills are essential as faculty are expected to communicate regularly with other team members and parents about student progress. Homework and other information to students is posted online using Google Classroom. School-wide responsibilities include recess and lunch supervision and grade level and faculty meetings. Other responsibilities may include committee work, chaperoning outdoor education/field trips, and attending student performances and athletic events.

Desired Qualifications and Skills:

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our qualifications described below.

• Bachelor of Arts in Music or Music Education or a related field required
• Masters in Music or Music Education preferred
• Three or more years of general music classroom teaching experience 
• Instrumental and vocal teaching experience grades K-8 
• Experience with Kodaly, Orff and/or Dalcroze Eurhythmics is a plus. Certification preferred.
• A vision for a Performing Arts: Music program in the 21st century, with the ability to design, implement, and assess a sequential music program
• Ability to create and implement a music program using a progressive and constructivist pedagogy
• Demonstrated ability and commitment to a classroom community respecting the diverse needs of all children through the implementation of performing art knowledge gained from both Western and Non-Western history and practices
• Effective classroom management skills
• Collaborative partner with teachers to integrate and connect music across the academic program
• Ability to use technology for communication and classroom purposes
• In-depth knowledge and continued interest in current music education research, best practices, and professional growth
• Strong work ethic, sense of humor, and a kind spirit
• Ability to create positive, professional relationships with students, parents, caregivers, and colleagues.
• Experience in playing the piano, guitar, or other instruments
• Familiarity with the NAfME Standards and the National Core Music Education Standards

Non-Discrimination Policy: 

Town School for Boys admits students of any race, color, religion, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship programs, athletic and other school-administered programs.

Town School for Boys is an equal-opportunity employer. Salary and benefits are commensurate with our San Francisco Bay Area peer schools and similar NAIS schools. Please see the employment section of our website for additional information. 

Salary information: 

At Town, salaries are one component of a compensation package that includes retirement matching, daily lunch, health & dental insurance, and life, AD & LTD insurance. The anticipated annual base salary range the school reasonably expects to pay candidates for the Upper School (4th-8th) Music Teacher position is $75,000 to $130,000, depending on factors such as years of experience. In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity with our current employees as part of any final offer. 

TO APPLY: 

Please submit materials using the "Apply for this position" button below. Please do not send materials directly elsewhere. Materials should include:

• Cover letter addressing qualifications and interest in the position 
• Resume that includes all employment and education information 
• Names and contact information of three professional references, at least one of whom is a Head of School.