Extended Term Substitute, Music Teacher (Sept-Nov 2025), Cambridge Street Upper School

Cambridge Public Schools; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Cambridge Public Schools is seeking a passionate Extended Term Substitute Music Teacher for the Visual & Performing Arts Department. The selected candidate will enhance the music program by teaching grades 6-8, focusing on cultural proficiency and equity. Join a community that values diverse perspectives and is committed to academic excellence for all students.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading music and chorus instruction for grades 6-8.
• Excellent skills in working with English Language Learners.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage workload effectively.

Responsibilities

• Teach general music and lead chorus ensembles for grades 6-8.
• Develop curriculum that responds to diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Manage student progress through assessment and diverse instructional strategies.

Skills

Classroom management

Culturally responsive teaching

Collaboration

Differentiation

Assessment strategies

Education

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university

MA DESE Licensure in Music

Job description

Position:

Extended Term Substitute, Music Teacher

Available September 2025 through no later than November 2025

Visual & Performing Arts Department/Cambridge Street Upper School

Cambridge Street Upper School Community :

CSUS endeavors to develop and sustain a vibrant and high functioning teaching and learning community that values social justice, affirms cultural identity, and promotes academic excellence for all. CSUS actively aspires to become a culturally proficient school that reflects equity and inclusion and affirms the rich cultural and racial diversity of our student body and their families. We are committed to challenging the opportunity gap and providing academic excellence for all.

The Opportunity:

Cambridge Street Upper School Upper School, in partnership with the Visual and Performing Arts Department, seeks a confident, creative, social-justice oriented, and compassionate Extended Term Substitute (ETS) teaching artist to lead and enhance the vision for a vibrant, culturally responsive music program. The ETS General Music and Chorus Teacher will teach grades 6-8 classes and report both to the Principal and the Director of the Visual and Performing Arts Department (VPA). The ETS General Music and Chorus Teacher works closely also with a Band teacher and the Strings/Orchestra teacher.

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 choral study that allows students to experience the excitement of creating and performing music, as well as developing a strong curriculum for music proficiency through a general music lens.

The ETS General Music and Chorus Teacher will be responsible for developing the chorus ensembles, presenting concerts, distributing and collecting school-owned instruments, and providing a culturally responsive and academically rigorous and joyous general music class. In addition to music 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 music study. The selected candidate must be computer literate, organized, must be able to accompany on piano, 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.

Your Skill Set:

As the incoming ETS Music Teacher, you will possess many, though perhaps not all, of the following characteristics and qualifications:

• Experience leading music and chorus instruction in an urban, multicultural setting in 6-8.
• Culturally responsive educator with a strong sense for social justice and equity.
• Excellent skills working with English Language Learners.
• 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.
• Collaborative disposition, eager to partner with classroom teachers, school & VPA staff, and other team members in the district on behalf of our students and families.
• Knowledge in teaching rock band and/or drumming and percussion a plus.
• 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 from an accredited college or university required
• MA DESE Licensure in Music preferred

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.