Interim Upper School Music Teacher

Carolina Friends School; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Carolina Friends School seeks an Interim full-time Upper School Music teacher for the 2025-2026 school year. This role involves teaching music electives, directing productions, and supporting students in a Quaker learning environment focused on personal and community growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in music or music education required.
• Experience teaching music is essential.
• Strong understanding of adolescent teaching relationships.

Responsibilities

• Teaching a minimum of 4 music electives.
• Directing the Upper School spring musical.
• Providing audio technology support.

Skills

Teaching instrumental music

Teaching vocal music

Creative electives

Communication skills

Flexibility

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in music or music education

Job description

Carolina Friends School (CFS) seeks an Interim full-time Upper School Music teacher to join our staff for the 2025-2026 School year only. The teacher will join an Upper School team committed to continually developing a rigorous, student-centered, and mission-driven curriculum. CFS offers teachers an opportunity to engage with students in and out of the classroom, and utilizes a narrative-based approach to student evaluation instead of letter or number grades.

The Upper School

The Upper School at CFS strives to be a learning community rooted in Quaker philosophy and values where teenagers can find and can help create a safe place for the exploration of themselves and the world. Students and teachers address one another without titles as an expression of the equality we see in one another. We believe that a child’s secondary education experience should challenge them to develop the critical thinking, reading, and problem-solving skills that not only prepare students for life beyond graduation but also for participation in the world as active agents right now. We require students to have a wide variety of curricular experiences, from traditional academic requirements to extensive work in the arts and community service. Upper School students are asked to see themselves as stewards of the whole Community.

This teacher’s responsibilities will include:

• Teaching a minimum of 4 electives in the Upper School in music and related electives
• Serve as the Musical Director for the Upper School’s spring musical production
• Providing audio technology support to the Performing Arts Center
• Participation in the Upper School End of Year (EOY) experience, which may require travel

Skills & Abilities:

• Demonstrate an ability to teach instrumental music through flexible ensembles that include non-traditional instrumentation and students of varying skill levels
• Demonstrate an ability to teach vocal music, which may include traditional chorus, a cappella groups, and/or musical theater
• Demonstrate an ability to offer creative electives that would be open to all levels of musical skill
• Demonstrate an appreciation for and knowledge of a variety of music styles and traditions, and an appreciation of the cultural context of various forms of music
• Enjoy working with, mentoring, and supporting teenagers in a variety of ways
• Help our students to make music a positive part of their lives
• Demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrate a willingness and ability to collaborate on curriculum development and pedagogical approaches.
• Demonstrate an affinity for and interest in the Quaker values as embodied in the CFS community.
• Demonstrate commitment to understanding and exploring how power and inequality, influenced by factors such as race, class, gender, sexuality, neurodivergence, and different physical abilities, impact our students, families, and colleagues
• Understand the primacy of relationships in teaching adolescents and demonstrate an understanding of the importance of partnering with parents/guardians in the lives of children
• Possess diverse pedagogical tools and methods suited for a wide range of student learning needs
• Have an ability to integrate technology into the curriculum and have the ability to utilize a variety of electronic communication platforms, including Learning Management Systems like Google Classroom
• Be flexible in the face of the varied and changing needs of the Upper School and the school as a whole
• Demonstrate strong organizational and time management skills

Experience & Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in music, or music education
• Experience in teaching music
• Demonstrated understanding of the primacy of relationships in teaching adolescents, and demonstrates an understanding of the importance of partnering with parents/guardians in the lives of children

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit, when possible in one complete PDF file, the following:
· Cover Letter
· Resume
· Statement of Educational Philosophy
· Names and contact information for 3 references

Please compile all these documents into one complete packet and submit to [e-mail]. Please indicate Upper School Music Teacher in the email subject line.

Review of resumes will begin immediately and continue until filled. CFS reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as all materials can be compiled.

APPLICANTS: Please review the Who We Are, Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity, and Important Information for All Applicants sections on the CFS Job Opportunities page.

Carolina Friends School actively strives to be a community of staff, students, and families of diverse backgrounds. CFS does not discriminate based on age, race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, socio-economic background, family structure, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, or military service in the administration of its policies and programs.