Elementary Music Teacher - 20% Time

Our vision: Eastern Mennonite School aspires to embody the love of Jesus as a learning community where every student belongs, thrives, and joins God’s work in the world. 

Our mission: Eastern Mennonite School, with home and church, invites students to faith in Jesus Christ, academic excellence, personal integrity and compassionate service. 

Belonging:  At Eastern Mennonite School our commitment to faith compels us to create spaces that are inclusive, that treat all members of our community with respect, and that value each individual’s voice, conscience, identities, lived experiences, and perspectives. We celebrate differences, welcome open and meaningful dialogue, and cultivate critical thinking.  Together, we dedicate our actions to working towards peace, equity, and justice in the world around us.

Position:  Elementary Music Teacher & Director

Supervised by: Elementary Principal

Positions Supervised: None

Classification:  10 months

Effective Date: August 2025

Position Description:

This person provides leadership to the elementary school’s music program providing grade level instruction of 60 minutes each week for grades K-5.  Each class meets twice per week for 30 minutes each session.  Additionally, this instruction prepares students for a winter/Christmas concert and a spring concert. In general, the Elementary Music Teacher partners with other teachers in carrying out the mission of Eastern Mennonite School and inviting students to join in God’s work in their everyday lives.  This position is part-time at 20% FTE. A stipend is given for creating and rehearsing for the two concerts.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Serves as a role model for students a strong personal faith and commitment to following Jesus by:

1. Showing care and compassion for students and colleagues.
2. Sharing faith and knowledge of what it means to follow Jesus as developmentally appropriate. 
3. Maintaining integrity in all relationships.

2. Exhibits professional practices that enhance classroom practice by:

1. Creating a positive culture in the classroom.
2. Work collaboratively with colleagues to further the effectiveness of instruction.
3. Cultivating positive communication with parents.
4. Seeking feedback from students that informs classroom practice.
5. Attending faculty meetings, professional development activities and evening school functions.
6. Demonstrating a growth mindset, with a focus on growing professionally in the field of education.
7. Participating in innovative educational practices.
8. Completing teacher tasks in a regular and timely manner and being punctual.
9. Supporting school policies and decisions.

3. Strives to improve classroom instruction and to facilitate the learning process for students by:

1. Developing and/or updating a curriculum scope and sequence for each subject area including content skills and objectives, instructional strategies, assessments, and field trip opportunities. 
2. Writing a summary of the music curriculum once each trimester for parents’ information.  
3. Preparing daily and unit lesson plans for each class.
4. Preparing content and creating strategies that best fit the developmental readiness of the students.
5. Using restorative practices consistently in the classroom.
6. As appropriate, integrating faith into classroom activities.
7. Teaching about gifts of character and giving time to practice them.
8. Building content area expertise through consistent and ongoing professional development.
9. Communicating as needed with parents regarding student progress in a manner which reflects the teacher’s position as advocate for the student.
10. Integrating appropriate technology into the learning environment.
11. Maintaining connections to other professionals through discussion and classroom observation.

Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s Degree in content area required; education courses preferred
2. Master’s Degree desired
3. Current certification in the state of Virginia
4. Excellent interpersonal skills with students and adults
5. Proficient with technology
6. High personal standards for professional development

Physical Requirements

Working conditions and physical requirements are normal for a classroom environment.

This position description is not a complete statement of all duties and responsibilities comprising your position. It contains only the facts necessary to evaluate your position on a fair basis.

Eastern Mennonite School does not discriminate on the basis of any race, color, handicap, national or ethnic origin, or religion, and admits students to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the school’s non-discrimination policies, including its Title IX policy: Debbie Katz, HS Counselor.