Employment

Current Openings at Westside School

Why would you want to work at Westside?

Our teachers and staff work collaboratively to inspire creativity, innovation, and to deepen our sense of community. Westside faculty are exceptionally qualified in their fields, committed to being lifelong learners, and are passionate about their work. Our academic structure places a high value on integrated curriculum and project-based learning, with intentional administrative support.

Working at Westside offers unique opportunities for enthusiastic teachers to implement an academic program that is challenging, stimulating, and nurturing, in alignment with our core values.

At Westside School, we value different backgrounds and ideas.

Individuals from all cultures and communities are encouraged to apply.

Westside School's Diversity Statement: Westside School is committed to promoting inclusiveness, diversity, and cultural competence in its education, employment practices, school community, and governance. It views inclusiveness as a fundamental value, diversity as a key element, and cultural competence as a vital skill necessary to prepare students to participate in and contribute to a global society. Westside uses the term diversity broadly to encompass differences in the attributes of individuals, families, and communities.

A teacher helping a student with a project

Teacher teaching two students to play ukulele

A teacher listening to a student tell a story during lunch

MUSIC TEACHER (PS-4TH GRADE)

Westside School teachers and staff work collaboratively to inspire creativity, innovation, and to deepen our sense of community. Westside faculty are exceptionally qualified in our fields, committed to being lifelong learners, and are passionate about our work. Our academic structure places a high value on integrated curriculum and project-based learning, with intentional administrative support. At Westside School we value different backgrounds and ideas, and we strive to build an inclusive community. Individuals from all cultures and communities are encouraged to apply.

Located in the Arbor Heights neighborhood of West Seattle, Westside serves 380 students in preschool through eighth grade. 34% of our student body are Black, Indigenous and People of Color. Westside’s Early Learning division serves 60 students in preschool and pre-K, our Lower School division serves 190 students K-4th grade. Westside has a robust arts program and is home to a beautiful theater and music space.

Position Overview

Music and creative movement have an important place in the culture of Westside School. The purpose of the music and performing arts program at Westside is to build students’ knowledge of these arts in joyful, participatory and engaging ways. Students learn musical concepts experientially, using their voices, bodies, imaginations and instruments in ways that are responsive to their interests; often integrating stories and themes that are meaningful to them. Musical concepts are embodied as students develop locomotor and spatial awareness through dance and movement, and music is experienced through singing, listening and moving to a variety of songs, rhymes and chants. Students can make connections with the role of music in culture and community, sing and play instruments, create and compose music, and learn musical notation. The music program gives students the foundation to develop their voice and expand their interests out in the world, and to participate in the performing arts with knowledge, skill, joy, and confidence.

The Early Learning and Lower School Music Teacher is part of a five-person arts team, and works in collaboration with the team, particularly with the Middle School music teacher to teach, foster and develop the music and creative movement concepts outlined above. Westside is looking for an exceptional teacher who designs, integrates and teaches music and movement in joyful and lasting ways. The successful candidate will be committed to building cultural competencies and awareness through their teaching. They will work collaboratively with classroom teachers, will participate fully in the life of the school, attending meetings and staff retreats, curriculum nights, school celebrations, and will uphold the mission, vision, and values of Westside School.

Reports to: Lower School Division Head

Start Date: August 2023

Responsibilities

Teach Early Learning classes and Lower School music classes.
Promote and advance the cognitive, emotional, social and physical well-being of the students during music classes.
Implement and adapt an engaging experiential curriculum.
Coordinate regularly with classroom teachers about curriculum and classroom areas of study.
Meet with classroom teachers as needed to discuss student progress and identified needs.
Assess student learning and present in formal reports and conferences.
Communicate with parents as needed.
Maintain music curriculum materials.
Organize and lead school concerts and assemblies.
Cover recess duties.
Other duties as assigned.

Successful candidates will have the following personal and professional attributes:

Minimum of two years of Preschool and/or Elementary music teaching experience.
A bachelor’s degree (or higher) in music, music education, or a related field.
Experience in a variety of instructional techniques and approaches in both music and creative movement.
Skill and experience at differentiated instruction.
Ability to integrate technology into classroom instruction.
Familiarity and facility with current research informing teaching and learning.
A commitment to building cultural competencies and awareness through one’s teaching.
Joy, passion, energy, caring and commitment.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time position for the 2023-2024 school year. Westside School offers a generous benefits package to full-time employees, which includes health, dental, and vision insurance, professional development, and some flexibility with time off.

Salary Range: $59,285.00-$90,000.00 per year.

To Apply

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, statement of educational philosophy, and a list of 3-5 references to employment@westsideschool.org.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

Westside School is looking for both teachers and instructional assistants with experience working with children in grades, preschool and eighth grade, to add to our substitute roster. We also need substitutes for music and performing arts, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, physical education, and visual arts.

The ideal candidate will be accessible for early morning calls. Candidates with partial availability during the week are also encouraged to apply. Please submit resume and references to employment@westsideschool.org.

Compensation

$35.00/hour

Westside School is an equal opportunity employer.

Westside School Mission

Westside School prepares students for the world by challenging them to achieve academic success, and by connecting their human spirit and imagination to learning.

Westside School's Diversity Statement

Westside School is committed to promoting inclusiveness, diversity, and cultural competence in its education, employment practices, school community, and governance. It views inclusiveness as a fundamental value, diversity as a key element, and cultural competence as a vital skill necessary to prepare students to participate in and contribute to a global society. Westside uses the term diversity broadly to encompass differences in the attributes of individuals, families, and communities.

Westside School is an equal opportunity employer seeking to build a more culturally diverse workplace. Westside does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ethnicity, economic status, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.