Strings Teacher
Job Description
Position Title: Strings Teacher
Position Summary:
To include preparation and direction of five (5) or more curricular ensembles ranging from beginning to advanced levels from Grades 5 through 12. These may include three middle school ensembles, in addition to two (2) high school ensembles. Other duties include fostering/leading after-school music opportunities for students and preparation and participation in external music festivals.
In order to meet Concordia student learning results and grade level expectations, the strings teacher carries out the following broad domains: Planning and Preparation, Classroom Management, Instruction, and Professional Responsibilities.
Requirements:
Education
[Required]
▪ Bachelor’s degree in music education or string performance
[Desired]
▪ Master’s degree in music education or string performance
▪ Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation for a wider, global musical experience
Experience
[Required]
▪ Minimum 2 years of successful teaching in a school setting
▪ Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of job-related experience
[Desired]
▪ Working in an international school setting and familiarity with the American educational system
▪ Working successfully with an ethnically diverse population
▪ Teaching in the subject area and with the age of students assigned
▪ Creating units of work using ‘UbD’ strategies
▪ Working with students with learning needs or ELL
Skills
[Required]
▪ Excellent knowledge of the developmental needs of students in the age group being taught
▪ Knowledge of and experience in using a variety of assessments and differentiated learning techniques.
▪ Grounded in knowledge about teaching and learning
▪ Excellent knowledge of the content and pedagogy
▪ Demonstrates respect for teachers as professionals and as adult learners
▪ Effective communicator – communicates well with a diverse community, proficient writing skills
▪ Highly skillful at using technology
▪ Strong organizational and time management skills
Teacher Expectations
▪ As a school grounded in the Christian faith, we hire Christian teachers and administrators. Concordia seeks to hire candidates who are able to model Christ’s teachings through interpersonal skills, respectful relationships and problem solving, are interested in the complex questions of faith and spirituality and are keen to learn and interact with others of different faith traditions.
▪ Establish collaborative relationships with all staff, students, and parents.
o Engage parents and students in meaningful discussions about student achievement.
o Commit and contribute to the school community—play an active, positive, and supportive role in addressing the needs of the whole child and the ethos of Concordia beyond the classroom. This includes, but is not limited to:
§ Participation in school-sponsored educational trips that require a teacher to be away from home overnight, such as HS Tribes and MS Trips. When a school sponsored event requires students to be away from Shanghai overnight, teachers will be expected to chaperone students.
§ Leading co-curricular activities during the year.
▪ Integrate the school curriculum with the school-wide learning outcomes (SLOs).
o Insightful Learners
o Effective Communicators
o Reflective Spiritual Beings
o Principle-Centered Leaders and Team Members
o Active Global Citizens
▪ Teach the curricula established by the school.
o Complete all aspects of the standard-referenced curriculum for the current teaching assignment.
o Develop and maintain curriculum maps.
o Select and use school-approved teaching strategies and classroom resources.
▪ Ensure that personal professional goals are established and completed each year.
▪ Understanding of employment.
o Oversee, when appropriate, Teacher Assistants/Paraprofessionals/Support Staff in working with or monitoring children and managing clerical tasks.
o On regular school days, all teachers are on duty between 7:45AM and 3:45PM, not inclusive of activities and meetings.
o Undertake additional duties that may reasonably be assigned or requested by the Supervisor.
o Concordia reserves the right to reassign a teacher to a teaching duty commensurate with their educational training and experience. Such a decision will be made by school administrators and be guided by what is in the best educational interest of students and the school as a whole.
- Professional Practice/Concordia Fit– see Employee Development Handbook –Appendix A & B for greater detail.
Concordia teachers are expected to function in the Proficient or Distinguished categories.
- Planning and Preparation
- Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy
- Demonstrating Knowledge of Students
- Setting Instructional Outcomes
- Demonstrating Knowledge of Resources
- Designing Coherent Instruction
- Designing Student Assessments
- Classroom Environment
- Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport
- Establishing a Culture of Learning
- Managing Classroom Procedures
- Managing Student Behavior
- Organizing Physical Space
- Instruction
- Communicating with Students
- Using Questioning and Discussion Techniques
- Engaging Students in Learning
- Using Assessment in Instruction
- Demonstrating Flexibility and Responsiveness
- Professional Responsibilities
- Reflecting on Teaching
- Maintaining Accurate Records
- Communicating with Families
- Participating in the Professional Community
- Growing and Developing Professionally
- Showing Professionalism
·
o Schedule will include evening performances
· Team player
· Dependable
· Comfortable interacting with people from other cultures
Job Specific Expectations will be assigned from the following:
CURRICULAR
- Prepare and direct five (5) or more curricular ensembles ranging from beginning to advanced levels. These may include three middle school ensembles, in addition to two (2) high school ensembles.
- Organize and lead the strings program in three to four (3-4) concerts per year.
- Prepare music ensembles for assemblies and special school events.
- Collaborate with music peers on curriculum planning and overall music program for MS and HS.
- Collaborate with fine arts peers in department meetings and projects.
- Collaborate with marketing department to promote concert performances and special events.
- May teach Pre-AP & AP music theory elective at HS.
CO-CURRICULAR
- Foster extracurricular music opportunities for students by leading after-school ensembles.
- Direction and rehearsal of pit orchestra for high school musical (alternating years).
- Collaborate with Activities Director to host the regional APAC Orchestral Festival once every six years.
- Prepare students for and travel to MS SEA festivals and MS/HS AMIS festivals and to APAC Strings Festival with students for four (4) nights each school year
- Manage travel arrangements and travel with students to the annual AMIS Festivals with student performers for four to five (4-5) nights per festival each school year.
OTHER
- Coordinate instrument purchase for beginning students.
- Order performance repertoire and methods books for the coming year as part of the annual order process.
- Allowed one (1) USA shipment per year.
- Coordinate the tailoring and purchase of concert attire for string students.
- May recruit a local strings specialist to assist, on a part-time basis, for beginning strings, Grade 5.
