About Pingry
The Pingry School, a prestigious K-12 coeducational, independent day school with a rich history dating back to its founding by Dr. John F. Pingry in 1861, stands at the forefront of academic excellence in the United States. With campuses located in Basking Ridge, Pottersville, and Short Hills, New Jersey, Pingry is celebrated for its academic programs, a student-written Honor Code that underpins our community values, and a comprehensive commitment to arts, athletics, community, and civic engagement. Our mission is to inspire in our students a lifelong passion for learning, personal development, and social responsibility, preparing them to be global citizens and luminaries of the 21st century. Rooted in relationships and guided by our foundational philosophy, Pingry is a vibrant community of more than 1,100 students hailing from over 90 towns across New Jersey and New York. At Pingry, we are united by a love of learning and a commitment to preparing students to navigate the complexities of the 21st century with confidence and integrity. For more information, we invite you to visit our website at pingry.org or connect with The Pingry School on Facebook, X, and Instagram to discover why we love school. 

Position Summary
The Pingry School seeks a dynamic, inspiring, and compassionate Middle School Drama and Musical Theatre Instructor for the 2025–2026 school year who believes in the transformative power of the arts in education. This educator will guide Middle School students through the world of drama, movement, and musical theatre, helping them build confidence, develop performance skills, and grow in empathy and self-awareness. The ideal candidate will bring both artistic expertise and a genuine enthusiasm for working with Middle School Students, creating an inclusive and supportive classroom that reflects Pingry’s commitment to character development, collaboration, and creativity.

This is a one-year, full-time position. During the fall semester, the school will begin evaluating how to best structure the Middle School Dramatic Arts program in alignment with existing K–12 performing arts offerings in the Lower and Upper School Divisions. The person hired for this role is welcome to apply for the reimagined position, which will begin in the 2026–2027 school year. That future role will be part of a national search during the next hiring cycle.

Responsibilities

• Teach trimester Middle School drama and musical theatre courses:
• Drama 6 & Drama 7 
• Drama 8: Adventures in Acting 
• Direct two seasonal productions:
• Fall – Play in the Attic
• Winter TBD
• Spring – Middle School Musical
• Teach a Friday afternoon drama class and be available to cover other courses. These courses are during the curricular day. 
• Direct Middle School productions (Play in the Attic and Middle School Musical, managing all aspects from choosing a show, casting, scheduling, and running after-school rehearsals to managing the final performance, ensuring a successful and supportive experience for all participants. 
• Provide individualized support and mentorship to students, encouraging their artistic, personal, and academic growth. 
• Foster a safe and welcoming environment where students feel comfortable exploring different aspects of their identity and understanding others through the lens of performance.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the School to enhance the overall educational experience of students. 
• Participate in professional development opportunities to remain at the forefront of educational and theatrical best practices.
• Serve as a substitute advisor to a group of students when teachers are absent.
• Fulfill any additional duties as assigned by the Middle School Director. 
• Participate in all required meetings.
• Participate in all required professional development activities.
• Providing extra support for students during flex and community times.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Theatre, Musical Theatre, Education, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• Teaching and/or directing experience with middle school students.
• Strong background in theatre arts, including directing, performance, and production.
• Ability to create engaging, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate curriculum.
• Collaborative mindset and strong interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive classroom and community.
• Comfort with educational technology and learning management systems.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple responsibilities effectively.
• Familiarity with managing production budgets and spaces is a plus.
• In addition to honor and character, commitment to intellectual engagement, and appreciation for stewardship and sustainability, the candidate’s ease with diverse constituencies and demonstrated commitment to an inclusive school community are especially important.

Qualified candidates are invited to apply online at https://www.pingry.org/careers.  

About The Pingry School

The Pingry School, a prestigious K-12 coeducational, independent day school with a rich history dating back to its founding by Dr. John F. Pingry in 1861, stands at the forefront of academic excellence in the United States. With campuses located in Basking Ridge, Pottersville, and Short Hills, New Jersey, Pingry is celebrated for its academic programs, a student-written Honor Code that underpins our community values, and a comprehensive commitment to arts, athletics, community, and civic engagement. Our mission is to inspire in our students a lifelong passion for learning, personal development, and social responsibility, preparing them to be global citizens and luminaries of the 21st century. Rooted in relationships and guided by our foundational philosophy, Pingry is a vibrant community of more than 1,100 students hailing from over 90 towns across New Jersey and New York. At Pingry, we are united by a love of learning and a commitment to preparing students to navigate the complexities of the 21st century with confidence and integrity. For more information, we invite you to visit our website at pingry.org or connect with The Pingry School on Facebook, X, and Instagram to discover why we love school.

Connections working at The Pingry School