HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TEACHER
Northwest Academy is seeking a High School Instrumental Music Teacher for the 2024-25 school year and beyond.
About Northwest Academy:
Northwest Academy is a progressive, independent middle and high school located in downtown Portland. We offer our community of learners a student-centered experience rich with rigor, creativity, and a problem-solving and proficiency-based approach to learning. We value an inclusive, caring culture that supports and challenges students appropriately, is guided by their developmental needs and challenges, and grows students into their burgeoning independence and individuality.
Benefits And Advantages Of Becoming An Educator With Our Community:
Northwest Academy encourages and supports our educators in having a meaningful work and life balance. Teachers enjoy a low student:teacher ratio, have approximately 4 out of 9 classes for prep time scheduled per week, and take part in an inclusive and collaborative community of colleagues, staff, and administrators. Teachers receive a modest budget at the start of each year to purchase classroom supplies and are supported with pursuing professional development opportunities throughout the year.
Employees receive several different medical plans to choose from, a dental and vision plan, identity theft protection, a non-matching 403b retirement option is available immediately upon hire along with a 3% matching 403b account after working 1200 hours. Northwest Academy also offers opportunities for Creative Production Grants to support individual artistic endeavors and a 6-week Sabbatical.
Position Details:
The High School Instrumental Music Teacher is responsible for teaching high school and middle school music classes, to include the Angry Pigeon Music Collective, high school Instrumental Music, high school Instrumental Music 2, a rotating high school music elective in the area of the instructor’s choice, middle school after school Strings Ensemble, and co-teach 7th grade band. Additional responsibilities include: collaborating with vocal and dance teachers to program entertainment for the school’s fundraising auction, and providing administrative support for all instrumental music activities. Music Teachers are members of the Performing Arts Department and are expected to participate in the development and activities of the Performing Arts program. This is a 1.0 FTE position.
FTE: 1.0
Position Title: High School Instrumental Music Teacher
Department: Performing Arts
Reports To: High School Head
Responsibilities:
- Teach classes as assigned, providing effective and professional classroom instruction, assessment, and management.
- Design and implement curriculum and instruction consistent with the mission, values, and standards established with the department’s program.
- Collaborate with colleagues on curriculum development and on enhancing instructional practices and strategies.
- Establish effective communications and relationships with students and families.
- Help to maintain school policies, regulations, and expectations.
- Develop and maintain professional, collaborative, and collegial relationships with faculty and staff, as well as with community partners to the benefit of students and classes.
- Support the work of the Head of School and administrative/leadership team.
- Exhibit a growth mindset about teaching practices and work toward professional goals and development.
- Participate in required non-classroom activities, including Back to School Night(s), parent/student conferences, retreats, faculty and department meetings, field trips, and special activity and performance events.
- Provide effective supervision of students to promote a safe and healthy environment and school experience.
- Timely and professional completion of required reports and forms
- Represent the school at community or public events.
- Fulfill other responsibilities as assigned respective to faculty member’s courses or academic department.
Qualifications:
- Earned bachelor’s degree, or higher, from a regionally accredited institution of higher education—equivalent educational or professional experiences in the arts also will be considered where applicable.
- 3+ years of successful teaching experience in middle school and/or high school classrooms in the subject area(s) to be taught.
- Classroom management skills consistent with maintaining a safe learning environment in different instrumental music situations.
- Be highly proficient in a music notation program (Finale, Sibelius) and have the ability to make music arrangements for multiple instruments.
- Experience administering concerts and productions.
- Demonstrate passion for and success in working with young adolescent students.
- Excellent verbal, written, and digital communication skills.
- Ability to effectively communicate and work as a team with administrators, faculty, staff, parents, and students.
- Proficiency in a Mac environment, as well as with Google Drive, Google Docs and Apps, word processing, database, electronic grading software, and other classroom and teaching technologies, including audio/visual equipment.
- The ability to create an effective learning environment and interact effectively with people from different cultures and experiences.
- An awareness about difference and how it can expand teaching practices and student success; and
- An ability to learn from and build on varying cultural and community norms of students and their families.
- Up to date with Covid Vaccine.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Advanced degrees in the subject area(s) to be taught and/or degrees in education.
- 5+ years of successful teaching experience in middle school and/or high school classrooms
- Demonstrated success at developing curriculum and educational opportunities for students within and outside of the classroom environment.
Physical Demands / Working Conditions:
Physical requirements are consistent with light physical duties required of teachers generally. The school is spread out across five buildings, covering multiple blocks in downtown Portland, so teachers may have to move between buildings during five-minute passing periods or attend meetings around campus. The school does not provide parking for staff members, so metered street or lot parking may be needed.
This is a 10-month faculty position that follows an academic year. Teachers are expected to be on-campus or actively involved in the school community during their scheduled classes and for an established percentage of their non-classroom hours. There are some required commitments outside of regular school hours as needed, including evening and weekend commitments, as well as accompanying students on various experiential activities throughout the year.
Northwest Academy staff recognize that participating in a professional community and contributing to the school’s wellbeing is an important element of their relationship to our school. As a result, staff members are expected to take active roles in the school’s professional and student culture in a variety of ways in addition to their essential responsibilities.
Interested candidates can find instructions for applying for this position on the Careers at Northwest Academy and reply to Careers@nwacademy.org.
Northwest Academy is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to welcoming and celebrating a diverse student and faculty population. We believe every employee has the right to work in an environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination. It is the policy of the school that employment decisions for all applicants and employees will be made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, disability, or other characteristics protected under local, state, or federal law. No employee will be retaliated against for raising concerns under this policy. We seek each employee’s contribution and assistance in helping us maintain equal employment opportunity.