Lower Middle School Music Teacher (2024-2025)

Georgetown Day School opened its doors in 1945 as the first integrated school in a segregated city. Governed by a Board of Trustees elected by the parent body and administered by an appointed Head of School, it was founded by seven families who wanted to create a school committed not only to academic excellence and educational innovation but also to a value system emphasizing appreciation and respect for others. Believing that diversity was the ground out of which all deep and rich learning occurs, they established a school where all children would be welcome, celebrated, and challenged to be their best selves.

Today, the School's philosophy, programs, and position in the national educational landscape strongly reflect its roots. Having grown from 12 children in 1945 to 1075 students in PK-12 today, GDS is recognized as one of Washington, D.C.’s and the nation’s most dynamic educational institutions.

Since the school’s founding, GDS has called eight different locations home. In the fall of 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools were all joined on one extraordinary campus.

About the Position

Georgetown Day School seeks a General Music Teacher for the 2024-2025 school year. Primary responsibilities include teaching general music to lower and middle school students and co-teaching four sections of the middle school chorus. Following the Orff model, the GDS music curriculum approaches the teaching of music through imitation, experimentation, and personal expression. An additional duty outside of the subject of music will include advising a group of middle school students.

An essential goal of our music program is to help students become confident music-makers and creative problem solvers. Rich content, creative pedagogy, and authentic relationships are essential components of a GDS classroom. The ability to provide those elements, work collaboratively with colleagues, and place children’s interests and experiences at the heart of the classroom are essential components of teaching at GDS. In addition to their classroom duties, music teachers support the department in numerous ways including doing setups and takedowns for performance which can include moving pianos, xylophones, risers, acoustical shells, etc.

As a diverse, inclusive school devoted to preparing our students to live and work in an increasingly globalized and multicultural society, GDS is particularly interested in professionals with demonstrated interest and experience in working in such a school setting.

Location: On campus

Start Date: August 19, 2024

Type of Opportunity: Full time, salaried, exempt with benefits.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Co-plans and implements active and engaging general music lessons in collaboration with fellow music faculty.

• Co-teach middle school chorus.

• Creates a supportive and inclusive classroom environment by reaching diverse learning styles and following culturally responsive teaching practices.

• Develops assessments to monitor student progress and provides frequent constructive feedback

• Communicates effectively with families, guardians, teachers, and others in the school community

Additional Responsibilities

• Serves as a middle school advisor, supporting the academic and social well-being of a small group of students and stewards the family/school partnership

• Additional meetings and responsibilities beyond school hours, as needed

• Duties as assigned

• Attends grade-level trips as assigned

• Attends/supervises evening performances and departmental events, as assigned.

Qualifications:

• BM/BS degree in Music or Music Education

• Teaching experience at the elementary level

• Piano proficiency (ability to accompany ensembles preferred)

• Completion of Orff-Schulwerk Levels I and II preferred (or willingness to complete certification)

Americans with Disability Specifications

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 this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and list of three references using our online application system through ADP/Workforce Now: http://www.gds.org/Recruiting. To find out more about the school, candidates should visit our website at www.gds.org.

As an inclusive school devoted to preparing our students to live, work, and lead in an increasingly globalized and multicultural society, GDS is particularly interested in professionals with demonstrated interest and experience in working in such a school setting and is driven by the core charge of working to enhance and bring joy to every student’s individual learning experience in equitable and meaningful ways.