Director of School Programs

Job Summary

Company Overview: Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has been called the “Smithsonian of country music,” celebrated for its broad cultural impact, educational mission, and unrivaled collection of historically important artifacts. Chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964, the Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization that documents and interprets the history of country music. The Museum collects objects and archival materials that illustrate the evolving history and traditions of country music and provides diverse learning opportunities through educational programs, publications, and exhibitions.

First opened in 1967 on Nashville’s Music Row, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum launched its current downtown location in 2001. In 2014, the Museum unveiled a $100 million expansion that doubled its footprint. The Museum now encompasses 350,000 square feet of exhibition galleries, archival storage, retail stores, and event space. The Museum owns Hatch Show Print, a letterpress print shop opened in 1879, and it operates Historic RCA Studio B, where Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, and many others recorded. In addition, the Museum offers the Taylor Swift Education Center for students, teachers, and families, and dedicated performance spaces in the CMA Theater and Ford Theater, both of which regularly host nationally recognized live music and cultural events.

In 2024, the Museum was awarded the prestigious National Medal of Arts. The medal is the highest award given to artists and arts institutions by the United States government. The White House Citation, which accompanied the medal, recognized the Museum’s work, which “preserves history, honors giants of the genre, and inspires future generations to write their own songs about the American story.”

Job Responsibilities

Position Overview:The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum seeks an experienced educator and strategic thinker to lead its school programs team. Responsible for all aspects of curriculum-aligned services for teachers, students, and the community, this creative, curious, and organized leader will oversee programs that serve PreK–12+ grade students at the Museum, via videoconference, and in schools, as well as staff. With knowledge of country music and interest in popular culture, the Director of School Programs will guide the development of classroom resources and related programs for teachers, ranging from professional development workshops to curriculum guides that bridge learning standards with exhibit content. This position also provides direct support to the Words & Music® Program, the Museum’s flagship education program that teaches songwriting, They will combine best practices in museum education, including object-based learning, inquiry-based learning, and visual thinking strategies, with academic standards to support subject areas in an interdisciplinary way. Through strong leadership and vision, the Director of School Programs will contribute to the continued success and growth of student and teacher services in the Museum’s Taylor Swift Education Center. This full-time position reports to the Senior Director of Education and Community Engagement.

Specific Job Duties:

• Manage and evaluate full-time staff, on-call educators, and school program volunteers
• Oversee outcomes-based gallery tours, school programs, curriculum-aligned lesson materials, and online resources.  
• Oversee implementation of on-going training for tour guides including staff, on-call educators, and school tour volunteers.  
• Oversee teacher programs and offerings, including professional development programs and teacher appreciation events.   
• Manage school programs’ web content and organization, including the Teacher Resource Portal.  
• Support Words & Music school programs, including summer songwriting camp, partnership programs, student performances for Museum events, and more.
• Lead planning, staff training, and ongoing evaluation for school programs.
• Oversee development, implementation, and maintenance of curriculum-aligned programs and lesson materials, including digital resources that support asynchronous learning.  
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and training for local professional songwriters that participate in Words & Music.
• Connect current national educational initiatives to the Museum’s educational offerings, including National Arts Standards, college and career readiness, STEAM, and early childhood education, among others.    
• Lead planning and coordination for partnership theater programs including String City (school shows), All Access, and special programs.  
• Lead curriculum-aligned education initiatives related to exhibition content.  
• Support educational grant initiatives through planning, execution, evaluation, and ongoing refinement.  
• In collaboration with the Senior Director of Education and Community Engagement, plan and facilitate the annual student art exhibition and program in Taylor Swift Education Center with partner schools and contracted artists.   
• Lead evaluation efforts across all aspects of school programs, including assessment of current offerings and materials through utilizing logic model frameworks, implementing assessments, analyzing outcomes, and making modifications to ensure programs meet desired outcomes.  
• Lead collaborations with partner schools, program partners, and area school districts. Represent and promote the Museum by attending meetings, workshops, and conferences, as necessary.  
• Oversee department reporting, records, and budget with accuracy and attention to detail and oversee quarterly and annual reporting with timeliness.  
• Contribute knowledge and insights to school programs’ publicity and marketing efforts to area educators and education institutions, including the creation of e-blasts, brochures, mailings, speaking appearances, and other such pieces and engagements.  
• Increase national profile of the Museum’s curriculum-aligned offerings to grow services provided outside Tennessee.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:  

• Master’s degree in education, museum studies, music, or related field  
• A minimum of 5 years work history in a museum or school  
• A minimum of 3 years supervisory experience  
• Significant understanding of museum education practices, including object-based and inquiry-based learning, visual thinking strategies, as well as knowledge of K-12 curriculum and                           standards
• Significant experience working with children and adults through educational programming in                   diverse settings
• Comfort navigating databases and analyzing reports  
• Proven ability to write high-quality, outcome-based lesson plans/curriculum    
• Previous experience designing and facilitating professional development programs for adult educators   

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Experienced music educator
• Proficiency in songwriting, playing a musical instrument, and sound recording technology
• Knowledge of ELA, STEAM, and arts integration  
• Experience with Ticketure and Tableau  
• Experience using WordPress to update Teacher Resource Portal content
• Passion for and deep knowledge of country music  
• Knowledge of current music copyright and royalty laws 

Key Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):

• Excellent writing, editing, and content development skills with strong attention to detail
• Knowledge of American music history, songwriting, and educational pedagogy
• Passion for children and a solid understanding of child development   
• Dedication to providing developmentally appropriate, engaging, and high-quality educational opportunities   
• Strong project planning, time-management, research, organizational, and analytical skills  
• Excellent dialogue-based teaching, public speaking, and written communication skills  
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work independently and as part of a team  
• Ability to work with accuracy and close attention to detail  

 Conditions of Employment:  

• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends  
• Willingness to travel throughout Middle Tennessee and occasionally out of state
• Valid driver’s license
• Special instructions to applicants: In order to be considered for this position, all applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and lesson plan/instructional work sample.

Additional Information

Benefits

What We Offer for Full-Time Staff:  

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance Options
• Competitive Pay
• Paid Vacation and Sick Days
• Paid Holidays (14) and Floating Holidays (2)
• 401(K) with Up to 3% Employer Match
• Employee Assistance Program (Free Counseling and Legal Services)
• Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness 
• FREE 24/7 Downtown Parking and Transit Benefits
• Continuing Professional Offerings
• Reciprocal Partnerships with Local Venues (The Nashville Zoo, National Museum of African American Music, tours at The Opry and The Ryman Auditorium, and more)
• Up to 25% Discount in Retail Stores and Onsite Restaurant Venues
• Opportunities to Attend Exhibit Openings, Concerts and Special Events
• Employee Engagement Activities and Opportunities
• FSA and Dependent Care Options
• Dog Friendly Work Environment
• Volunteering and Community Engagement Opportunities

How to Apply

Notes to Applicant:

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is an equal opportunity employer. We respect the varied attributes, characteristics, and perspectives that make each person unique. The museum promotes an environment of respect, communication, and understanding, while actively providing opportunities for all employees of all backgrounds the skills, experience, and information necessary to succeed. The museum does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), national origin, political affiliation, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information or characteristics, age, membership in an employee organization, military or veteran status, or other non-merit factor. The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum does not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. 

We are a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer that welcomes all qualified candidates to apply for open positions. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for its staff and visitors. All offers of employment are subject to and contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and employment verification, including federally mandated E-Verify processes, as required for position. 

Due to the high volume of applications received for this position, hiring managers will only contact candidates they are interested in scheduling for an interview. Please refrain from calling to inquire about the status of your application.

Please upload a resume and cover letter when applying for the position.

Applications are only accepted online on our career page: https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/careers

Details

• Date Posted: October 2, 2026
• Type: Full-Time
• Job Function: Other
• Service Area: Education