Music Instructor
City Garden Montessori School (City Garden) is the only Montessori charter school in Missouri, and we are one of the highest-performing charter schools in the state. Our team possesses passion and determination to implement the Montessori approach to educating children in a diverse, public school environment. City Garden is committed to being an anti-biased, anti-racist community and seeks others who are passionate about these values. We are committed to fostering excellence for all City Garden children.
At City Garden we are redefining public education, reimagining community, and reinvigorating our world.
City Garden is a community-centered and people-centered organization in an exciting point in our growth and expansion. Ours is an environment that celebrates vulnerability and centers humanity in the workplace.
Position Overview
Reporting to the School Principal for the Elementary & Adolescent Education Center (EAEC), the Music Instructor plays a crucial role in providing developmentally appropriate lessons for our amazing students in grades 1 through 8. The Music Instructor will develop and implement a comprehensive music curriculum that aligns with the school's mission of educating the whole child through a holistic approach. They will build on a student-centered environment which fosters relationships and promotes continual growth for students and staff.
An understanding of child development and the ability to meet the child where they are social-emotionally, creatively, and intellectually is essential. The ideal candidate will have experience teaching music at the elementary school level and be an energetic, collaborative, and creative educator.
Responsibilities
Planning, Preparation, & Instruction
- Develops age-appropriate instruction which emphasizes students' understanding of the importance of music to learning, and motivates students to express themselves through music
- Conducts ongoing assessment of student growth and progress in music educational activities, and modifies instructional methods to fit individual students’ needs
- Maintains allotted budget; selects and requisitions appropriate instructional aids and other supplies, and maintains inventory
- Collaborates with classroom and specialist teachers to integrate music lessons across all content areas
- Provides academic support and social-emotional intervention during non-teaching times
- Coordinates and programs City Garden’s after school music activities following regular classes
Classroom Management/Environment
- Works with students of various abilities, including those with learning differences as diagnosed
- Adapt activities to students’ special needs, developing appropriate modifications for I.E.P. and 504 Plans
- Creates and communicates learning plans for all levels
- Creates an environment in which the furnishings and materials are complete, safe and correspond to the needs of each student grade level
- Maintains an environment that demonstrates rapport with and respect and kindness for all students as well as between students
- Restores classroom spaces after each lesson
- Models and teaches conflict resolution and problem-solving strategies in the classroom
- Is responsible for the safety of the children left in their charge
*The Music Instructor will be accompanied by a Building Guide most days of the week to support in the above activities, except when they are needed to substitute for absent Guides in classrooms.
Communication
- Supports and develops positive relationships within the school community, and protects the privacy and confidentiality of each student and family
- Responds to parent and guardian concerns in a timely manner
- Completes required report cards/progress reports in accordance with school policy
City Garden believes all employees must take an active role in their development as professionals and in developing City Garden as an institution of learning. To that end, the Music Instructor:
- Actively participates in a regular evaluation process, including classroom observations, feedback conferences, and an annual self-evaluation toward yearly goals that are established with the Principal
- Maintains their teaching skills and participates in professional development activities, including one Friday afternoon every month led by City Garden
- Participates in collegial activities designed to make the entire school a productive learning environment, for example, age level meetings, curriculum discussion groups, working committees, mentoring, etc.
- Attends all other scheduled meetings and professional days as appropriate
- Obtains and maintains professional certifications as appropriate for the grade level and subject area
Related Duties
- Completes and maintains all records, reports, evaluations, and inventories of student records and tests in a timely manner as may be required by the school.
- Responsible for reading and adhering to the guidelines and school policies as established in the employee handbook
- Performs other related tasks as assigned by the Principal and other central office administrators as designated
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, Music Performance, or related field
- Certification with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in the applicable subject and grade levels
- 2+ years of experience teaching music to elementary-aged students
- Demonstrated success working with a diverse student population
- A love of teaching!
- A grounding in anti-bias education and antiracist values and principles, and an investment in being part of a school that is reimagining education through these lenses
- Be an integral participant of a high-energy and enthusiastic team of professionals, dedicated to meeting the academic, social and emotional needs of students
- An eagerness to engage deeply with students, teachers, staff, and families as a partner
- Excel in their communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
- Show initiative, be reliable, self-motivated, and self-directed
- A child-centered, flexible approach, and a willingness to do whatever it takes for our students
- Humility, vulnerability, and willingness to speak and hear candid feedback
ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS
The environmental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job and are not meant to be all-inclusive.
- Exposure to a variety of childhood and adult diseases and illnesses
- Occasional exposure to a variety of weather conditions
- Exposure to heated/air conditioned and ventilated facilities
- Exposure to a building in which a variety of chemical substances are used for cleaning, instruction, and/or operation of equipment
- Function in a workplace that is usually moderately quiet but that can be noisy at times
While performing the duties and responsibilities of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, stand, move and walk at a brisk pace, sit, and use hands and arms to handle, feel and reach. The employee is often required to stoop or kneel and lift and move up to 50 pounds.
Regular attendance on the job is expected and necessary. Additionally, the employee must implement all CGMS Board of Director policies. The employee must be physically and mentally able to react and intervene quickly during crisis situations, such as but not limited to the following circumstances: emergency drills and events, student elopement, physical altercations involving students, student restraint.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job and are not meant to be all-inclusive. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job.
Unless reasonable accommodation can be made, while performing this job the staff member shall:
- Use strength to lift items needed to perform the functions of the job.
- Sit, stand, stoop, twist and walk for required periods of time.
- Speak and hear.
Compensation
This position offers a salary ranging from $45,00.00 to $57,900.00 based on appropriate certification(s), level of education, and years of teaching experience.
Benefits
City Garden offers a range of benefits for Full-time employees such as:
- Generous Paid Time-off (Fall, Winter and Spring breaks, holidays, and additional days)
- Paid Health Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance)
- Pre-Tax savings for family health premium costs
- Retirement/ Pension Plan
- Enrollment preference to City Garden Montessori for child(ren) grades K through 8 who reside in Missouri
- Discount tuition for our Preschool program
City Garden Montessori School is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity, equity and inclusion. Recruiting staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, gender identities, military or veteran status, or other statuses protected by law. All candidates are evaluated solely on their qualifications to perform the work required.