Elementary Music Teacher (K-5) - Verona Elementary

Great things are happening at Battle Creek Public Schools!

Battle Creek Public Schools (BCPS) is located in Calhoun County, Michigan (between Chicago and Detroit), serving the City of Battle Creek as well as parts of Emmett, Pennfield and Bedford townships, and the City of Springfield. With a bold goal of achieving 100% success for every Bearcat, we offer a broad range of educational experiences to meet the individual needs of students at all levels, including experiential learning, individualized instruction, advanced and accelerated curricula, and outdoor education.

In 2017, BCPS received an historic investment from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and we are continuing our transformation plan, advancing bold, top-to-bottom changes to provide a world-class career, college, and community-ready education for every student, in every grade, at every school. In May of 2023, we were thrilled to announce an average teacher pay increase of more than $10,000, positioning us as one of the best-paying districts for teachers in Southwest Michigan.

We offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits (including up to $20k in home purchase assistance), and opportunities for professional development. Apply now and join the Bearcat family.

Position Responsibilities:

• Create a classroom environment conducive to learning, appropriate to students' maturity and interests, and aligned with the district's philosophy of education.
• Implement an effective instructional core by aligning curriculum, instruction, and assessment to maximize student learning:
  • Utilize evidence-based best practices to teach Grade Level Essential Standards.
  • Employ direct explicit instruction and active student engagement strategies.
  • Differentiate instruction to meet diverse student needs.
  • Implement ongoing formative assessments and provide timely feedback to students.
  • Participate in creating and using common formative and summative assessments.
  • Monitor student progress and adjust instruction based on data-driven insights.
• Collaborate within Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to:
  • Prioritize standards and identify learning targets.
  • Plan units and analyze instructional strategies.
  • Create and analyze common assessments.
  • Develop interventions for students who need additional support.
  • Plan enrichment activities for students who are already proficient.
• Assume responsibility for students' safety, conduct, and health under supervision.
• Maintain the physical upkeep of the classroom and equipment.
• Strive to implement the district's instructional goals and objectives through effective planning and instruction.
• Engage in ongoing professional development and contribute to a culture of collective responsibility within the school community.

Qualifications:

• Michigan Department of Education Certification with one of the following endorsements: Music Education (JX or JQ endorsements)

• Demonstrate a high level of commitment to working within a culturally, ethnically, and economically diverse environment.
• Possess strong relationship-building skills with students, colleagues, and the community.
• Maintain high expectations for self and commit to continuous improvement of professional practice.
• Set and uphold high expectations for students, coupled with the ability to inspire and support students in meeting those expectations.
• Exhibit a defined moral purpose that drives daily efforts on behalf of students.
• Show adaptability and willingness to learn and apply new instructional strategies, including behavioral and academic RTI models.
• Actively participate in and contribute to a professional learning community.
• Maintain a positive attitude and high level of perseverance and professional will.
• Demonstrate a strong belief in the individual worth of all students.
• Show readiness to develop and apply best practices in instruction and classroom management.
• Demonstrate proficiency in writing unit plans, pacing guides, and daily lesson plans.
• Exhibit willingness to collaborate with peers, providing constructive feedback and raising expectations for all students and staff.
• Utilize data-driven decision-making to inform instruction and interventions.
• Implement effective formative and summative assessment strategies.
• Demonstrate the ability to create and maintain a culture of collective responsibility within the classroom and school community.
• Show proficiency in integrating technology to enhance teaching and learning.
• Exhibit skills in analyzing student work and assessment data to drive instructional decisions.
• Demonstrate the ability to implement tiered interventions (Tier 1, 2, and 3) to support student learning.
• Show commitment to developing students' essential skills and mindsets as outlined in the district's Portrait of a Graduate.

Salary: $50,000 -$82,010 (Potential for additional stipends)
Additional signing bonus of up to $1,500 for New Hire teachers, payable upon commencement of employment

Contract: 188 Days (10 months)


SCHOOL SAFETY CLEARANCE: The successful candidate will be subject to a fingerprint and background check as a condition of employment. All fees required for this check (estimated $73.00) will be the responsibility of the successful applicant.


The Battle Creek Public School District is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, handicap, sex, age, religion, national origin, weight, height, or marital status in its employment practices.