Job Title: Part-Time Lower School Music Teacher

Role Type: Ten Month, Part-Time (75%), Salaried, Benefits Eligible

Department: Lower School Reports to: Head of Lower School  

Start Date: August 17, 2026

Friends Community School (FCS), founded in 1986, is a progressive, co-ed Quaker K-8 day school serving a diverse student body from the greater Washington, D.C. area. FCS’s LEED-certified building is situated on 17 acres surrounded by Greenbelt National Park, nine minutes from the University of Maryland, College Park, and thirty minutes from Washington, D.C.

Educators at FCS nurture lifelong learners, courageous risk takers, and joyous peacemakers through the expression of our commitments to Quakerism, Progressive Education, equity, and inclusion. Our progressive pedagogical approach emphasizes depth over breadth, creativity and innovation over memorization, and hands-on collaborative projects over rote schoolwork. Our curriculum engages students in the exploration of values rooted in our Quaker Heritage – simplicity, peaceful conflict resolution, integrity, community, equality/equity, and stewardship – from a range of perspectives.  

Job Summary

FCS is seeking a part-time Music Teacher to lead instruction for students in Kindergarten through 4th grade. It is the goal of the music program to foster an awareness and appreciation of music.  Music is an important form of creativity and self-expression fostered in the school.  Music provides a rich opportunity for children to gain confidence as individuals and as members of a group.  Our goal is to encourage joyful participation and appreciation, and at the same time to introduce basic skills.  

The qualified candidate will possess and demonstrate an understanding of music education, child development, and progressive pedagogy. The qualified candidate will be trained on multiple instruments and able to lead effective instrumental and vocal instruction. They will also possess strong classroom management skills and the ability to create a welcoming and supportive classroom environment using Responsive Classroom. We seek an individual who respects and understands issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion and incorporates them into their practice and the curriculum.

You should be familiar with Quaker processes and values and participate actively in our community, which is dedicated to the care and nurture of each individual.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Teach 16 classes per week (two classes for each section),  for  approximately 45  minutes per class.
• Teach small group ensembles/lessons three times a week during Ed Centers.
• Offer a music program that will develop an understanding of music through experiences in rhythm, note reading, instrumental work and singing.
• Expose students to different kinds of music and provide the opportunity to write and improvise their own pieces.
• Collaborate with the Middle School music teacher to prepare students for multiple performances throughout the year.
• With the Middle School Performing Arts teacher, ensures that there is a clear scope and sequence of music skills and content across the full school (K-8).
• Communicate regularly with staff especially when there is a problem with a student or with the class.
• Communicate children's progress to parents, including through written report cards in January and June.  

Other Duties

• Attendance at weekly staff meetings.
• Oversee purchasing and the budget for the music program.
• Participate in oversight of Lunch/Recess.
• Contribute to the FCS school-wide community
  • Participate in weekly Meeting for Worship
  • Facilitate non-violent conflict resolution
  • Participate in scheduled school events such as parent-teacher conferences, Back-to-School Night, and field trips
  • Attend major school-wide events
• Ensure communication across constituencies 
  • Work in partnership with all members of the teaching team and the administration
  • Communicate proactively and responsively with individual families
  • Complete all report cards and student recommendations in a professional and timely manner, emphasizing the individual strengths and challenges for each student
• Continuously integrate the school’s commitment to Quakerism, Progressive Education, and Equity in your classroom
  • Participate in weekly staff meetings
  • Engage in continuous, ongoing professional development
  • Collaborate with colleagues in professional learning communities
  • Partner with a colleague to facilitate peer-to-peer relationships among middle and lower school students during Meeting Partners 
• Other duties as assigned 

Commitment to Diversity

FCS is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive educational community and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or a person's status as a qualified candidate with a disability in administration of its educational program, admission policies, financial aid program, staff hiring, and other school-administered programs.

In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, we actively seek faculty and staff of varied backgrounds and encourage them to share their unique gifts to cultivate a rich educational experience. We strive to create a learning environment that exposes students to the value and breadth of differences, informs their perspective, and prepares them to shape the world.  

To Apply

Please send a cover letter, résumé, and the names and contact information of three professional references to jobs@friendscommunityschool.org. 

Desired and/or Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (required)
• Formal training in Music/Music Ed or a related field (preferred)
• Kodaly/Orff training (preferred)
• Minimum of three years of classroom experience in music or a related field
• Proficiency in playing/teaching multiple instruments
• Understanding of child development
• Understanding of Progressive Education (preferred)
• Commitment to equity and inclusion
• Openness to Quaker beliefs and practices
• Experience integrating technology into teaching practices
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to collaborate with coworkers and other school community members  

About Friends Community School

Connections working at Friends Community School