SY 26-27 Founding Lead Music Teacher / Program Lead

Manhattan Charter School; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Job summary

Manhattan Charter School on the Lower East Side of New York City seeks a Founding Music Teacher / Program Lead to launch an El Sistema–inspired program, blending teaching, design, and leadership to build a joyful, rigorous, and inclusive culture of music-making.

The ideal candidate embraces trauma-informed practice, equity through music, and thrives in classroom and startup settings, overseeing ensembles, recruitment, partnerships, and program growth to empower students across K–8.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, Performance, or related field.
• Experiences in restorative practices and de-escalation techniques.
• Demonstrated success teaching music in an ensemble setting (K–8 preferred).
• Commitment to social equity and belief in the transformative power of music.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills; comfort with start-up environments.
• Fluency in Spanish or another community language (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Teach group instrumental classes and direct ensembles.
• Use trauma-informed practices to create a safe, supportive learning environment.
• Develop students’ technical, musical, and social-emotional skills through daily practice and performance.
• Establish systems, routines, and expectations to maintain strong classroom management.
• Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of beginners through advanced students.
• Design the founding program structure and calendar.
• Lead recruitment of students and families into the program.
• Collaborate with school leadership and other educators to align music programming with the broader mission.
• Monitor and track student progress, attendance, and engagement.
• Serve as the public face of the program to stakeholders.

Skills

Restorative practices

De-escalation techniques

Leadership

Start-up mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in Music Education/Performance or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Manhattan Charter School is a high-performing charter school located on the Lower East Side in New York City. The School is committed to providing its students with the tools and support necessary for success. Since its founding in 2005 as a 501c3 nonprofit organization, Manhattan Charter School (MCS) has consistently achieved high levels of success.

Vision

Our vision is to offer a high-quality, public school education that will help close the opportunity, imagination, and achievement gaps for our high-need students by empowering, inspiring, and equipping them to fulfill their potential.

Mission

Our mission is to teach our students how to learn and love doing it, how to cultivate their curious minds for the rest of their lives, and how to develop a solid foundation on which to base wise choices and build meaningful lives.

Position Overview

The Founding Music Teacher / Program Lead will launch and lead our El Sistema–inspired music program, building a joyful, rigorous, and inclusive culture of music‑making. This role combines teaching, program design, and leadership responsibilities, ensuring that students experience the power of ensemble, discipline, and creativity as part of their daily learning. The ideal candidate is a passionate, trauma‑informed music educator who believes in music as a vehicle for equity and social change and who thrives in both the classroom and organizational start‑up settings.

Key Responsibilities

• Instruction & Ensemble Leadership
  • Teach group instrumental classes (string, wind, percussion, or other core focus) and direct ensembles.
  • Use trauma‑informed practices to create a safe, supportive, and responsive learning environment.
  • Develop students’ technical, musical, and social‑emotional skills through daily practice and performance.
  • Establish clear systems, routines, and expectations to maintain strong classroom management.
  • Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of beginners through advanced students.
• Program Design & Leadership
  • Design the founding program structure (class structures, ensemble groupings, repertoire selection, performance calendar).
  • Establish systems and routines for rehearsal, practice, and performance aligned to El Sistema principles.
  • Lead recruitment of students and families into the program, cultivating a strong community culture.
• Collaboration & Team Building
  • Mentor and support program support staff/teaching assistants.
  • Collaborate with school leadership and other educators to align music programming with the broader school mission.
  • Coordinate with families, community partners, and artists to enrich student experiences.
• Operations & Growth
  • Support grant writing, fundraising, and community partnerships to sustain the program.
  • Monitor and track student progress, attendance, and engagement.
  • Serve as the public face of the program, representing its mission to stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, Performance, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• Experiences in restorative practices and de‑escalation techniques
• Demonstrated success teaching music in an ensemble setting (K–8 preferred).
• Commitment to social equity and belief in the transformative power of music.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills; comfort with start‑up environments.
• Fluency in Spanish or another community language (preferred).

Compensation

$70,000 - $80,000 per year

Work Remotely

• No

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: In person

Equal Opportunity Employer

Manhattan Charter School provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.