Posted: 16-Mar-26
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland
Type: Full Time
Categories:
Salary Details:
Preferred Education:
We are seeking a vibrant music educator who embodies this vision — one who knows their craft deeply, is passionate about the arts, and centers young adolescents while designing learning that is rigorous, experiential, and deeply human. Reporting to the Head of Middle & Upper School, this role calls for a talented and experienced teacher who can facilitate innovative and student-centered music learning and actively support our dynamic and collaborative Performing Arts program. A strong candidate will have experience with music learning and composition in varied genres, including pop and rock. But the strongest candidate will have the mind, heart, and approach of an artistic generalist with music as their specialization. Experiences with musical theatre, choreography, and/or dance are helpful strengths as well.
At Barrie, our teachers serve as learning guides; at a most fundamental level, they have
A Different Vision of Rigor: At Barrie, rigor isn’t just about mastering difficult or test-centered content—it’s about learning to ask rich questions that fuel wonder, stretch thinking, deepen understanding, and inspire students to do something with what they’ve learned. We believe that to be truly rigorous, the work that learners do must allow them to engage with complexity, play with possibilities, take intellectual and creative risks, and turn critical thought into thoughtful action. Students should not simply study issues—they should build toward solutions, create work that matters, and take steps toward change in ways that feel personally meaningful and globally relevant.
The Spirit of a Mentor: Guides understand that students can shape their own learning pathways—balancing deep experience in areas of interest with wide perspectives across others. Guides build in time to think, reflect, make goals, and grow self-awareness. Students learn their strengths, practice advocating for themselves and others, and build the confidence to adapt when things don’t go as planned. Guides frame even missteps as successes that foster learning and growth.
The Heart of a Generalist: While they will teach subject-specific courses, guides are energized by teaching across disciplines, helping students make sense of the world as a connected whole rather than a collection of separate subjects. They design hands-on, collaborative, real-world learning experiences that spark insight by crossing boundaries—where science connects to story, math meets making, art informs solutions, and big questions lead to meaningful ideas.
The Desire to be a Mixed-Grade, Mixed-Level, Interdisciplinary Facilitator: Guides are especially at home working with mixed-grade, mixed-level cohorts in which students learn with and from one another. They intentionally structure learning environments so collaboration builds smart thinking, growth, empathy, and strong community.
Core Responsibilities & Competencies
- Teach a full load of mixed-grade, mixed-skill music and performing arts electives, including but not limited to
- Middle School Music
- Upper School Band
- Vocal Technique
- Musical Theatre Showcase
- Support students as they showcase talents in all Arts events.
- Serve as a timely and fully present daily collaborator in designing, staging, and rehearsing annual shows both after school and during the school day (Fall Play, Arts Night, Spring Musical, and other events)
- Support student sound and technical apprentices
- Serve as advisor to a small cohort of students, facilitating reflection, goal-setting, belonging, and strong family partnership
- Design and facilitate electives and interdisciplinary offerings as appropriate
- Design inquiry-driven learning experiences that extend beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries
- Differentiate instruction within heterogeneous classrooms
- Assess student growth through competency-based frameworks
- Communicate feedback clearly and proactively
- Lead and/or support Experiential Education programs, including immersive week-long intensives that may require overnight travel
- Collaborate with the Student Support Team to ensure all learners are supported academically and socially
- Participate fully in staff meetings, curriculum development, professional development, and divisional design initiatives
- Potentially teach within the Global Impact Diploma framework and mentor long-term impact or capstone projects
- Attend required evening and weekend events that strengthen community and program coherence
- Perform shared community responsibilities (e.g., chaperoning, substitute coverage, car circle) that sustain divisional health
- Communicate thoughtfully and effectively with families to build and maintain strong partnerships
- Actively cultivate an intentionally inclusive community grounded in cross-cultural competency and culturally responsive and sustaining practices
Position Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree in music or a related field
- At least 2-3 years of teaching experience with Middle and Upper School students.
- Strong content knowledge in your discipline and flexibility to support learning in other disciplines
- Demonstrated ability to design and facilitate human-centered interdisciplinary and experiential learning experiences
- Strong classroom management and scaffolding skills
- Comfort teaching in mixed-grade, mixed-readiness environments
- Commitment to competency-based growth and authentic assessment in the arts
- Skill in building relational trust with adolescents and families
- Collaborative mindset and willingness to engage in iterative program design
- Flexibility and reflective growth practices
- A belief in the power of restorative practices
- Strong interpersonal, relationship-building, and organizational skills
- Sought but not required: Experience with dance, choreography, and/or technical theatre design/direction
The Ideal Candidate
- Understands the developmental arc of adolescence and young adulthood
- Can move fluidly between conceptual teaching and targeted skill support
- Believes structure and autonomy are complementary forces in learner growth
- Thrives in collaborative, design-oriented professional cultures
- Communicates with clarity, warmth, and professionalism
- Approaches curriculum design and school change with flexibility, creativity, optimism, and reflective practice