Orchestra Teacher
The Fine Arts Department at Darlington School seeks an Orchestra Teacher for grades 4 through 12 beginning August 2026. A Darlington teacher fully supports the mission and values of the school and has the primary responsibility for creating the best student experience possible in support of the school’s learning framework, The Cycle of Learning. The candidate should value the craft of teaching as much as the skills and content being learned, and would join a dynamic environment of teaching professionals who are continuously growing and collaborating. Teachers work with grade-level, enrichment and fine arts teachers to support the mission of Darlington School and provide a program that nurtures every child’s success.
Qualifications
The candidate must demonstrate broad knowledge and experience with current best practices in music curriculum, instruction, conducting and performance. The candidate must have a genuine appreciation and passion for teaching children and a desire to work with all types of learners, along with a commitment to building and maintaining an orchestra program and their own professional development.
The ideal candidate will have expertise in teaching music and string instruments and hold a minimum of an undergraduate degree in music, education or performance and/or an acceptable transcript that demonstrates competency in music and orchestral techniques. Darlington seeks candidates who can contribute to and will support the academic and extracurricular life of the entire school.
Expectations
The clearest set of expectations for a Darlington teacher is fully described as our Academic Standards, which are highlighted below:
-
Course Design
-
Designs a course backwards from a given skills-based curriculum map and uses a wide range of assessment tools to measure progress against learning goals.
-
Designs lessons for students to actively learn skills using the Darlington model of Discovery, Application, and Reflection.
-
Course Build
-
Course is built on consistent structure, layout, and communication using developmentally appropriate routines and practices which foster independence, confidence, and flexible pacing as well as promotes physical, social, and emotional safety and wellness.
-
Teaching
-
Builds an authentic relationship with each student as the cornerstone of learning experience.
-
Approaches the practice of teaching and learning with a growth mindset and always acts professionally and holds high expectations for him/herself.
-
Facilitates the needs of individual learners in a safe and active learning environment.
-
Communicates effectively and uses technology proficiently.
-
Music
-
Experienced with teaching the skills of music in the context of creating an appreciation for music.
-
Provides students with explicit, highly engaging instruction through the use of research-based teaching strategies in delivering a skills-based curriculum.
-
Provides individual, group and project-based learning instruction designed to meet diverse individual needs and helps students be successful and independent learners.
-
Contribute to the extracurricular life of the school and the fine arts department
Core Responsibilities
-
Teach 4th Grade Strings Class
-
Teach 5th Grade Strings Class
-
Teach Grades 6-8 Orchestra
-
Teach Upper School Beginning Instrumental Methods
-
Teach Upper School Orchestra
-
Plan and prepare students for performances throughout the year based on the school calendar
-
Participate in GISA and GMEA events as appropriate for individual students and ensembles and in coordination with the school calendar
-
Provide regular student feedback (grades, attendance, comments, etc)
-
Manage budget and maintain a music library, resources and classroom equipment inventory
-
Adviser for 6th through 8th or 9th through 12th grade students
-
Various other responsibilities may include supervising students at times outside class (car line, lunch, recess, after school), grade level meetings, weekly faculty meetings or professional learning communities, substituting, committee meetings, professional development, weekend/campus activities, campus events (i.e. parents weekend, admission, etc)
