Derby Academy, a Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8 coeducational day school located in Hingham, Massachusetts, seeks a Instrumental Strings Teacher for our Middle & Upper School (Grades 4-8) Strings Teacher. This will be a part-time position beginning August 19, 2024.

Rooted in the school’s motto, “Improve Both Mind and Heart,” Derby provides students with a joyful and rigorous academic environment. Derby deeply values the role of the arts in educating the whole child. Our Arts instruction begins in PreKindergarten with visual and musical arts instruction through Grade 3. In Grades 4-5, arts curriculum expands to include drama, woodshop, sewing, visual, vocal, and instrumental arts. In Grades 6-8, students choose a path of study from multiple Arts courses, including a robust string orchestra program and more contemporary music styles through the school’s ukulele classes.

The Middle & Upper School Strings Teacher (Grades 4-8) will work with the Arts department and grade-level colleagues, and will be responsible for all Strings instruction and courses for students in Grades 4-8, including all lesson planning, assessments, and family communication. This position includes occasional evening performance commitments. The position comes with the optional opportunity to teach private music lessons after the school day ends for additional pay through our After Care program (3:00 pm  - 5:30 pm). 

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• a deep understanding of children ages 9-14; 

• middle school music classroom teaching experience;

• experience teaching a wide variety of string instruments, both classical and ukulele/guitar;

• enthusiasm, flexibility, and a desire to collaborate with colleagues on a grade level, department level and across disciplines;

• desire to develop curriculum that focuses on authentic, real-world application of learning;

• experience with and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion practices and the impact they have on the curriculum and the community;

• successful experience developing active and inclusive learning spaces in which students feel safe, honored, appreciated, and respected for who they are;

• the ability to create activities and opportunities that encourage curiosity, exploration, innovation, problem-solving, and the use of technology;

• success in creating a supportive classroom environment in which students can learn and interact positively with one another through student-centered instruction, collaboration and authentic assessment; 

• success in communicating with parents to provide timely and appropriate feedback regarding student progress;

• the ability to consistently exercise discretion and good judgment;

• the leadership qualities to inspire, motivate, and develop students;

• the ability to nurture a deep feeling of community through actions and attitudes;

• strong planning, problem-solving, and communication skills along with exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills;

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in music education and previous teaching experience; teacher certification preferred.