Director of Music

Director of Music

Washington Heights and Inwood (WHIN) Music Community Charter School provides a diverse student population with rigorous academic instruction, intensive music education, and a positive learning environment so that every student can thrive academically and socio-emotionally. Every WHIN student participates in both Orchestra and Choir every day in the El Sistema tradition. The goal is to effect social change through intensive daily ensemble music education. Working in an ensemble enables all children to experience being an asset to their community and grow into citizen artists prepared to make the world a better place.

WHIN Music Community Charter School is actively seeking a passionate and visionary Director of Music who is deeply committed to enriching our vibrant school community through a performance-based, inclusive orchestral and choral music program. This critical role is designed for a leader who values compassion, kindness, and curiosity, and aims to integrate these principles into the fabric of our everyday learning environment. The Director of Music position is pivotal to the growth and success of our school's unique music-infused educational model.

As the Director of Music, you will work in close collaboration with the Executive Director to shape and implement an innovative, school-wide El Sistema-based orchestral and vocal music curriculum that aligns with WHIN's mission and vision. Your leadership will extend to managing and mentoring a dedicated team of music educators, promoting student growth, and enhancing our educators' abilities to create a positive, engaging, and effective learning environment that supports the whole child through music.

Your responsibilities will be broad and impactful, including leading efforts to foster a culture of love for learning and inclusivity through music, coordinating performances and music events, and driving professional development initiatives that elevate teaching quality with a focus on pedagogical approaches that support music education. A significant part of your role will also involve promoting responsive classroom techniques within music instruction that encourage a supportive and engaging classroom environment, enabling students to thrive both musically and socially-emotionally. You will champion a data-driven culture aimed at continuous improvement, implement and oversee student assessment systems in music, mentor instructional staff to foster pedagogical growth, and actively engage families and the broader community to support children's holistic development through music.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of a school-wide El Sistema-based orchestral and choral music curriculum that is rigorous, engaging, and inclusive.
• Coordinate and support the development of standards-aligned music units, lesson plans, and assessments.
• Model excellent, responsive teaching that reflects best practices in both music pedagogy and classroom management.
• Implement and support daily music classes that are joyful, challenging, and grounded in ensemble performance.
• Ensure a consistent and integrated approach to music instruction across grade levels.

• Supervise and evaluate the performance of music educators through observations, coaching, and professional development.
• Build the capacity of teachers to deliver high-quality music instruction.
• Provide strategic guidance to the music team, fostering collaboration and innovation.
• Cultivate a supportive team culture rooted in accountability, learning, and equity.

• Foster students' social-emotional growth and musical identity through an inclusive music program.
• Lead the planning and execution of performances, concerts, and community events.
• Build relationships with families, keeping them informed and engaged in their children's musical development.

• Partner with school leaders to integrate music into the broader academic and cultural vision of the school.
• Analyze student data and instructional trends to inform continuous improvement in music education.
• Collaborate with external partners, including teaching artists and musicians, to enhance the school's music program.
• Support school-wide culture and operational systems as a member of the school's leadership team.

• Master's Degree in Music Education and/or Music Performance, or an education-related field.
• 4+ years of successful music classroom teaching experience, preferably in an urban school setting.
• Advanced proficiency on an instrument and/or voice (orchestral string instrument highly preferred).
• Expertise in El Sistema-based music education models or similar approaches.
• Experience working with students, families, and staff from various cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
• Experience in school leadership, teacher mentoring, content coaching, and/or possession of New York State School Building Leader (SBL) certification or equivalent from another state is preferred.
• Strong organization and communication skills.
• Written and spoken Spanish language skills preferred.
• Advanced proficiency or experience in one or more of the following areas is strongly preferred:
• Music Performance
• Dalcroze, Suzuki, Orff Schulwerk, Kodály, Gordon's Music Learning Theory, and/or Praxialism
• Responsive Classroom, Love and Logic Student Management, and/or Restorative Justice