Position:           Strings/Orchestra Teacher, 0.5 FTE, Grades 5-8

                        Visual & Performing Arts Department/Putnam Avenue Upper & King Schools

About Putnam Avenue Upper School:

Putnam Avenue Upper School serves students in grades 6-8 who previously attended the Kennedy-Longfellow School, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., School, or the Morse School. Upper School Scholars are provided with learning experiences that are developmentally responsive, challenging, inclusive, and supportive. With a combined enrollment of about 260, our school offers students a sense of close community while providing a large enough cohort and teaching staff to offer rich programming.

About  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School (MLK):

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School is a nurturing and challenging learning environment with high expectations for success through differentiated instruction that allows for individual differences and learning styles. Each student's self-esteem is fostered by positive relationships with students and staff. We strive to have our parents, teachers, and community members actively involved in our students' learning. Students are active learners, critical thinkers, and responsible citizens with a sound knowledge base and a proficiency in Mandarin Chinese.

The Opportunity:

Putnam Avenue Upper School and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) School, in partnership with the Department of Visual and Performing Arts seeks a confident, creative, social-justice oriented, and compassionate Strings Orchestra teacher to enhance the vision for the strings and orchestra and music programs for both the schools. Strings and Orchestra programming is implemented in 5-8 grades. The Strings and Orchestra Instrumental Teacher is responsible to the Director of the Visual and Performing Arts Department (VPA) and the Principals at both schools. Both schools are located in the same building.

The goal of our music classroom is to provide students the opportunity to explore the power of music to express the human condition. Students will gain perspective on diverse cultures and history as they study, listen, and perform music from diverse genres around the world. As students engage in the musical process of critical listening, analysis, and performance, they will answer the essential question, how is music a powerful way to communicate one’s culture, beliefs, and life experience? The teacher will provide both opportunity and support to develop a course of instrumental orchestra study that allows students to experience the excitement of creating and performing music, as well as developing a strong curriculum for music proficiency through an instrumental music lens.

The Strings and Orchestra Instrumental Teacher will teach 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders to play the violin, viola, and cello, working collaboratively with the band teacher and chorus and general music teachers at the school. The team will be responsible for developing school ensembles, presenting concerts, and distributing and collecting school-owned instruments. In addition to advanced instrumental proficiency, the candidate must possess classroom management skills, use appropriate authentic assessment strategies to monitor student progress, have the ability to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners, and employ pedagogical methods that motivate students to pursue instrumental study. The selected candidate must be computer literate, organized, able to responsibly meet professional obligations, willing to participate in school, district, and state level music performances, contribute to department and school-wide curricular projects and other initiatives, and be able to steward the careful use of supplies, equipment, and teaching resources.

Key Responsibilities:

• Teach strings and orchestra music to grades 5-8. You will lead both ensembles and pull out classes.
• Implement a rigorous and balanced standards-based music curriculum including knowledge of vocal development
• Employ pedagogical methods that motivate students to purse instrumental study
• Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners
• Demonstrate flexibility and compassion, while maintaining high expectations for student achievement
• Demonstrate strong classroom management skills
• Employ instructional methods that motivate students to continue to pursue study in the music community
• Collaborate with school faculty to develop interdisciplinary curriculum and work with challenging students 
• Organize and participate in school, district, state and community level music performances
• Contribute to departmental and school wide curriculum projects and other initiatives
• Steward the careful use of supplies, equipment, and teaching resources

Your Skill Set:

As the incoming Strings/Orchestra Teacher, you will possess many, though perhaps not all, of the following characteristics and qualifications:

• Experience designing and teaching engaging music curricula, leveraging culturally responsive pedagogy that recognizes the importance of including students’ cultural references in all aspects of learning.
• Strong commitment to social justice and equity.
• Ability to teach both orchestra and individual instruments in large and small ensembles and individual instruction via pull outs.
• High degree of comfort working with colleagues to build and refine engaging, standards based learning experiences that are responsive to the needs and interests of the communities you serve.  
• Belief in the power of reflection and open to feedback and support.
• Collaborative disposition, eager to partner with classroom teachers, School and VPA staff, and other team members in the district on behalf of our students and families.
• Excellent classroom management skills and use appropriate authentic assessment strategies to monitor student progress.
• Ability to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners and adjust practice to meet the needs of all students.
• Strong organizational skills, setting up structures that allow you to manage your own work effectively and position colleagues for success. 
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Massachusetts Licensure for Music required.

Cambridge Public Schools is committed to slowing and/or stopping the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, as a condition of employment with Cambridge Public Schools, all new hires will be required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 no later than their first day of work. Written requests for either a religious exemption from this requirement based on sincerely held religious beliefs, or for a medical exemption based upon clear documentation from a medical provider should be submitted to the attention of the Chief Talent Officer.

How to Join Our Team:

Please upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills, experience, and commitment to equity in education meet the qualifications of the position as well as stating how you heard about this opportunity.

At the Cambridge Public Schools, we are committed to cultivating an environment where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are embraced, acknowledging that a team reflecting diversity of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and veteran status allows us to serve our communities better. To that end, we welcome and encourage applicants to bring their authentic selves when considering employment opportunities within our school district.