Long-Term Music Substitute Teacher, Grades 1-4

Sheridan School, an independent K-8 school in Washington, D.C., is seeking a dynamic, collaborative, student-centered lower school music teacher who loves music and wants to positively impact the lives of young people through music education. The long-term substitute music teacher is responsible for effectively collaborating to create a nurturing educational environment, delivering high-quality instruction, and supporting the social-emotional growth of students.

Long-Term Substitute Music Teacher, Grades 1-4

Founded in 1927, Sheridan is a progressive school with no more than 230 students, a vibrant, engaged community, and a strong commitment to both equity and diversity. We are dedicated to advancing our practice of progressive education and delivering a rich curriculum that prepares our students to know, to challenge, and to achieve. We provide a learning culture that is curious, thoughtful, joyful, and just, and our professional culture is steeped in collaboration, respect, and eagerness to embrace new experiences and ideas.

The individual who fills this role will:

Provide a progressive, concept-based, music curriculum to students in Grades 1-4 in a flexible and responsive manner
Employ instructional strategies to help students explore and understand important concepts in music, including problem-solving and how to gather evidence to support ideas or decisions in alignment with Sheridan’s mission, philosophy, and program goals
Partner with families around their child’s educational journey, successes, and challenges
Design curriculum and instruction in collaboration with the Head of Lower School and other faculty members
Work collaboratively with the student support team on issues related to student growth and support
Create an environment that ensures equitable and respectful care and support for students with diverse beliefs and practices and varied backgrounds
Actively participate in Mountain Campus trips, Admissions, and other important facets of the school

The successful candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field, 3-5 years of teaching experience in a similar role, a proven ability to establish supportive relationships with all school constituencies, strong communication and writing skills, and knowledge of child development.

We are eager to consider candidates from traditionally underrepresented groups. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit a letter of interest and resume in one PDF file to Jae Lee, Head of Lower School, via email at careers@sheridanschool.org. Please include Lower School Music Position” in the subject line.

Sheridan School does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other category protected by law.

To learn more about working at Sheridan, please visit our Sheridan Careers page.

Based on and supporting Sheridan’s mission, learning principles and programs, the Long-term Substitute Music Teacher will:

Supervise various recess duties in grades K-8 and work closely to: help students maintain appropriate social interactions and facilitate problem-solving when conflicts arise.
Support morning arrival and afternoon dismissal protocols
Help teachers with transitions between classrooms to ensure students are properly supervised and cared for by an adult in the classroom
Monitor hallways and bathrooms to ensure proper social distancing measures and health and safety standards
Assist in the classroom when extra support is needed for a particular activity or teachers need to attend meetings with colleagues or parents.
Occasionally substitute in classrooms when teachers are out ill, away for professional development, or in need of quarantining for health and family purposes.

Based on and supporting Sheridan’s mission, learning principles, and programs, the Program Assistant will:

Work with Division Heads, the Student Support Team, and Teachers to support academic instruction throughout the day for individual students or small groups of students
Attend Morning Meetings to hear an overview of the daily learning plan and support community goals.
Communicate weekly to teachers they are working with.
Collaborate with teachers to understand lesson goals and help identify strategies for students' success.
Foster social connection through interest-based group meetings and/or study sessions

Areas of additional responsibility include, but are not limited to:

Professional Responsibilities

Compliance with Sheridan policies/procedures as stated in the Employee Handbook.
Regular and punctual attendance during the school and specifically at assigned classes, duties, and activities.
Completion of non-teaching duties, including arrival, morning meeting, lunch, recess, assembly and dismissal, as assigned.
Active participation in staff meetings, including division, department, grade-level, etc.
Completion of additional responsibilities in support of the school community, as assigned.
Share with teachers responsible for the upkeep of the classroom, classroom technology, bulletin boards and outside hallway.
Perform all other related work delegated or required to accomplish the objectives of the overall school program.

Classroom Community

Creation of a nurturing, inclusive, safe school culture, using the Responsive Classroom/Developmental Designs Approach, that fosters respect and understanding, challenges bias and promotes social justice.
Implementation of effective, mission-aligned classroom management system.
Establishment of positive relationships with students, which, while recognizing the differing roles of students and adults, are characterized by mutual respect and goodwill.
Management of student behavior in order to create an effective learning environment and help students learn from mistakes to promote growth.

May Include Curriculum & Instruction:

Responsible for leading and managing a Morning Meeting.
Alignment with Sheridan mission, philosophy and program goals to provide a progressive, concept-based, rigorous curriculum.
Effective implementation of subject-area curriculum based on programs/approaches adopted by the school and utilizing a wide range of resources.
Use independent judgment for assessing curriculum to meet needs of students in a flexible and responsive manner.
Communicate the purpose of learning activities with clear instructions using age-appropriate methods.
Documentation of units of study, using backwards-design model.
Use of a variety of instructional strategies suitable to the age and needs of a diverse set of students and subject matter being taught.
Implementation of a comprehensive assessment and feedback system that aligns with learning goals and Sheridan grading practices and informs future planning.
Responsiveness to interventions by school leadership and the Student Support Team.
Attendance at and active participation in Mountain Campus trips, as assigned.

Collaboration & Communication

Collaboration with faculty, admin, and staff to successfully plan, document and implement any responsibilities with a growth mindset.
Collaboration with colleagues on school-wide initiatives.
Regular, timely and appropriate communication with families regarding student progress by phone, email or in person during distance learning.

Minimum Qualifications

Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team
Effective and grammatically correct communication skills (written and verbal)
Ability to talk, hear, operate a computer, handheld learning devices and other office equipment and school technology, reach with hands and arms, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

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