Grades 4-8 Performing Arts Educator: St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School

Position Title: Performing Arts (Grades 4-8)
Department: SAA-SDS Junior High (7th & 8th grade)
Contract Period: Full-Time, 10 Months
Reports to: Assistant Dean of Junior High

Position Summary: The St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School community is a special place to work for caring and invested educators. In accordance with our school’s mission and tradition, teachers at St. Agnes-St. Dominic must demonstrate a passion for cultivating a rich intellectual life in students while deepening their relationship with God. 

The Performing Arts educator should have a passion for working with students across the elementary and Junior High levels and an enthusiasm for awakening a passion for the performing arts including choir, instrumental music, and dramatic performance. The Performing Arts courses across grades 4-8 involve a heavy element of choral music, as well as learning to read and play music with the use of recorders (grades 4-6) and handbells (7-8).

Performing Arts classes meet once per week for class sections across grades 4-6, and four days per week with sections of Junior High students (grades 7 & 8). All classes are composed of mixed levels of knowledge and experience with performing arts. The instructor of this course is expected to develop daily instructional plans that demonstrate knowledge of best practice in differentiated instruction and implement pedagogical approaches that encourage curiosity, creativity, and confidence.

Additional duties for this Performing Arts position include collaborative planning for events that involve musical performances such as weekly gatherings for Mass. For such duties, the most preferable candidates will have the ability to perform as an accompanist on the piano. It also involves direct oversight of the planning, preparation, and production of the Lower School Christmas Program in December and the Lower School Musical each Spring. As part of the collegial culture of our faculty, a willingness to invest in collaborative efforts, professional growth, and the broader life of the school is expected in work at St. Agnes-St. Dominic.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities of Educators at SAA-SDS:

• Recognize and support the unique Catholic, Dominican Mission of St. Agnes-St. Dominic by living out the Four Pillars of Prayer, Study, Community, and Service
• Model competence in teaching by demonstrating thorough knowledge of the curriculum and subject matter and communicating effectively with students
• Plan and teach highly engaging, academically rigorous lessons that are inspiring, relatable, and relevant
• Establish and uphold classroom expectations that support students to develop increased agency, responsible autonomy, and ownership over learning
• Engage in professional learning, including co-planning, department meetings,grade-level meetings, and other learning work
• Build strong, lasting relationships with students, inspiring them to hold themselves to a high academic and personal standard
• Contribute to the school community by attending school events, leading a club, or other initiative(s)
• Maintain close relationships with families, including phone calls and conferences that highlight the positives more often than the areas for improvement
• Counsel students to improve academic performance, encourage appropriate behavior, enhance problem-solving techniques, and support when struggling with personal matters
• Make effective use of technology to augment, differentiate, and enhance classroom learning
• Monitor students in a variety of educational environments to provide a safe and positive learning environment
• Cooperate with school administration; effectively work with all staff members to promote positive relationships with students and parents
• Perform other related duties, as assigned, to ensure the efficient and effective operations of St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School

An ideal candidate for this position would possess the following qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in an appropriate field of study from a four-year college or university, or post-graduate work in subject matter; an advanced degree is valued.
• Three years of teaching experience in an independent school setting is preferred for any teaching position. Consideration may be afforded to any qualified individual who has either worked in other educational settings or is new to the teaching profession, and who has a strong sense of vocation to work with students in an independent, college-preparatory environment.

The ideal candidate will be excited about the opportunity to work collaboratively in an
inclusive, values-based, Catholic, independent school community.

Click https://www.saa-sds.org/career-opportunities to submit an application and upload a resume and cover letter.

St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School is a Catholic, independent PK2-12 school in Memphis inspired by the Dominican Pillars of Study, Prayer, Community, and Service. We prioritize relationships while preparing our students for their future. Our innovative and caring faculty is committed to growing well-balanced students--mind, body, and spirit--in a supportive faith filled environment.
                             
St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to promoting diversity in the workplace and strongly urges all qualified individuals to apply.