Middle School Instrumental Music Teacher with Jazz Band

Job Title                      MS Instrumental Music Teacher     

Reports to                  Building Principal

Norwalk Community School District (Norwalk, IA) is seeking a dynamic, positive, and engaging teacher to join our staff as a 1.0 Middle School director.  Details about the position are listed below.  

About Norwalk:

Norwalk Community School District is a southern suburb of the Des Moines area, which is a growing district that serves approximately 3,300. We are a standard-referenced grading school with vertical teaching throughout our music department.  We are a 1-to-1 building where every student is issued a chromebook. We have incredible community and administrative support, as evidenced by our state-of-the-art facilities, including a 925-seat Concert Hall opened in 2011.

The Norwalk Band Program has developed a tradition of excellence over the past three decades, and has experienced significant growth over the last 10 years. Ensembles have consistently received Superior ratings at SCIBA contests in the areas of concert, jazz, and solo and ensemble contests. With this additional position, we will have 5 full-time band directors serving over 600 band students in grades 5-12. The middle school band program involves almost 300 students in grades 6-8, and has the potential to continue expanding based on enrollment in the lower grade levels.

This position will include the following responsibilities and duties:

• Direct one 6th Grade Concert band
• Direct one 7th Grade Concert band
• Direct one middle school jazz ensemble
• Teach lessons on all instruments 5-8 (Minimal 5th Grade Lessons )
• Shared honor band responsibilities
• Help prepare students for Solo/Ensemble Contest
• Administrative duties

Position Purpose

Under the general supervision of the building principal, to facilitate student success and growth in academic and interpersonal skills through implementing district and state approved curriculum; documenting teaching and student progress/activities/outcomes; addressing specific educational needs of individual students by creating a flexible, safe and optimal learning environment; and providing feedback to students, parents and administration regarding student progress, expectations and goals.

Essential Performance Responsibilities

• Develops and administers district and state approved curriculum consistent with school district goals and objectives.
• Promotes a classroom environment that is safe and conducive to individualized and small group instruction, and student learning.
• Develops lesson plans and instructional materials and translates lesson plans into learning experiences so as to best utilize the available time for instruction.
• Conducts ongoing assessment of student learning, and modifies instructional methods to fit individual student's needs, including students with special needs; conducts individual and small group instruction as needed.
• Continues to acquire professional knowledge and learn of current developments in the educational field by attending seminars, workshops or professional meetings, or by conducting research.
• Organizes and maintains a system for accurate and complete record-keeping, grading, and reporting for all student activities, achievement and attendance as required by district procedures and applicable laws.
• Encourages parental involvement in students' education and ensures effective communication with students and parents.
• Ensures that student conduct conforms to the school's standards and school district policies, and establishes and maintains standards of pupil behavior needed to achieve a functional learning atmosphere in the classroom.
• Coordinates with other professional staff members, especially within grade level and department, to evaluate and assess curriculum, and participates in faculty meetings and committees.
• Selects and requisitions appropriate books, instructional aids and other supplies and equipment and maintains inventory records.
• Supervises students in activities that take place out of the classroom during the school day, including activities involving school transportation.
• Administers standardized tests in accordance with district testing programs.
• Performs other related tasks as assigned by the principal and other central office administrators as designated by the superintendent.

Note: The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities.  It is not meant to be all inclusive of every task or responsibility.

Essential Skills Required:

• Valid Iowa Teaching License for 5-12 Music
• Prior success teaching concert band, jazz band and group lessons
• Experience teaching jazz improvisation and beginning rhythm section
• Experience using music technology
• Performance experience on woodwind/percussion instruments preferred but not required
• Ability to communicate with students & parents effectively, including experience with social media and technology
• Candidates must be able to effectively co-teach in a comprehensive program where responsibilities of all aspects are shared.