Mercer Island, Washington
Princeton, New Jersey
Boston, Massachusetts
Posted: 29-Jun-26
Location: Long Beach, California
Type: Full Time
Salary: $55,000-65,000
Categories:
Salary Details:
Preferred Education:
Westerly School is an independent, non-sectarian kindergarten through 8th grade school focused on whole child education. Westerly School strives to recognize and meet the needs of every individual student to ignite within each child a lifelong love of learning as they discover their full and unique potential. Founded in 1991 by a group of parents who wanted to provide an alternative to the Long Beach Unified School District education, Westerly remains the only independent school in Long Beach. Westerly currently enrolls about 170 students.
Position Description
Part-time (80%), full benefits, experienced, and exemplary Lower School Creative Movement and Theater Teacher beginning August 2026. The instructor is an energetic, collaborative, creative educator and musician who embodies Westerly’s core values in order to motivate and nurture the academic and social-emotional development of our students. They have an enthusiasm for working with elementary and middle school students, as well as the patience and excitement to engage and motivate students at all musical and performance levels.
The ideal candidate will:
- Work collaboratively with the Westerly faculty to promote lifelong learning, curiosity, and inquiry among students in engaging and creative ways
- Intentionally use educational technology to support student learning and ongoing communication with students and families
- Bring enthusiasm for working with children in a school setting; participate wholeheartedly in the life of the school; and conduct themselves professionally and warmly
- Communicate frequently and clearly with colleagues, families, and students about curriculum and student progress
- Demonstrate curiosity, creativity, self-reflection, and willingness to take initiative and run with new ideas
- Demonstrate cross-cultural competence, empathy, and anti-bias/anti-racism pedagogies
- Show passion for working with all students
Essential Duties:
- Incorporate multiple teaching strategies to meet grade level standards and skills with project-based pedagogy at the forefront of teaching practices
- Plan, document, and teach an engaging creative movement curriculum for kindergarten, Rhythm Foundations/theatre foundations grade 1, Melodic Foundations, theater foundations grade 2, Musical Theater Foundations grade 3 and 4 (recorders), Musical Theater foundations and Instrumental music grade 5
- Plan, document, and teach an engaging process for student theater performance-based program and instrumental music for grades 6-8
- Theater curriculum design, implementation including students' voices and ideas
- Plan, coordinate and practice theater performances for assemblies, musicals, showcases, and the Arts Festival
- Coordinate and plan the Eighth Grade graduation song performance
- Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging both in their teaching practices and their relationships with students, colleagues, administrators, and families
- Differentiate curriculum to appropriately challenge a wide variety of learning styles and abilities, including differentiated instruction, class and homework, assessments
- Use technology purposefully in the classroom to enhance learning and provide feedback to students and parents
- Use a variety of developmentally appropriate instructional and assessment methods to meet the needs of all learners and provide varied forms of feedback on learning
- May be some student supervision or duties outside of the classroom time
- Report to the Assistant Head of School and the Head of School
- Collaborate with the General Music/Band Teacher
- Fulfill regular administrative tasks including timely completion of progress and report cards, with thoughtful and individualized comments
- Communicate regularly and frequently with families regarding student learning and class plans, i.e., weekly newsletter/week at a glance, emails, websites, etc.
- Engage with students, colleagues, and parents to foster a sense of community
- Communicate, collaborate, and work effectively with the other music teacher
- Document units/lessons through Understanding by Design (UbD)
- Participate actively in professional growth opportunities
Applicants should submit the following with their application materials:
- Cover letter explaining why they are particularly interested in and qualified for this position
- A current resume
- A statement of educational philosophy
- At least 3 written letters of recommendation
Applicants, please submit a cover letter, resume, and at least 3 written letters of recommendation to: Chris Wiebe, assistant head of school, at cwiebe@westerlyschool.org with "PT Creative Movement and Theater Teacher - [your name]" written in the subject line.
Westerly School is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. School policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on age, color, creed, disability, gender, marital status, national origin or ancestry, race, religion, registered domestic partner status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, a medical condition including genetic characteristics, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.
- B.A./B.S. in Music, Theater, Music Education, Performing Arts, Education, or related field required
- Preferred: M.A./M.Ed (Theater, Performing Arts, Music Education or related field)
- California (or other state) Teaching Credential
- Three to five years lead teaching experience with students in grades K-8th
- Must be able to read music
- Excellent communication skills, including writing, speaking, and clear articulation of thoughts, ideas, and plans
