Music Teacher and Accompanist Leave Replaceme in New York, New York at Ethical Culture Fieldston School

Who we are?

Ethical Culture Fieldston School is a progressive PreK-12 independent school that has been serving students from throughout New York City and the surrounding suburbs since 1878. ECFS offers a rich curriculum in the arts, sciences, and humanities. A co-ed, nonsectarian school, it serves an inclusive community of about 1,700 students on two campuses -- one in the Riverdale section of the Bronx and the other in Manhattan. The Fieldston Middle and Upper campus located in Riverdale has approximately 400 students in 6-8th grades and 600 students in 9-12th grade.

What is essential about working at our school?

The Ethical Culture Fieldston School has a long history of inclusion and belonging deeply rooted in our mission and the educational philosophy of our founder, Felix Adler. We embrace all aspects of an individual, including their ancestry, family, identity, culture, and beliefs. We affirm both our differences and commonalities and strive to balance individuality and community. In keeping with our progressive tradition, we are dedicated to increasing our students’ cultural literacy to help them understand multiple perspectives and see the world beyond the self.

We expect members of our community to engage in open dialogue about living and learning in an inclusive environment inside and outside the classroom. We see this work, with its creative tensions, as a catalyst for individual and collective growth. On a daily basis, we are committed to making this vision of a democratic, pluralistic, and progressive school a reality.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Music Teacher and Accompanist leave replacement who is a highly experienced chorus teacher and pianist who is passionate about working with middle and high school aged students. The candidate must be both a teacher and a skilled pianist, in and out of a traditional classroom setting, creating an inclusive space and placing the highest premium on belonging and inclusion. The candidate must be able to work collaboratively with various members of the School community while supporting the department's goals.

This is a part-time leave replacement position beginning September 1, 2026 - March 30, 2027, with the possibility of extension through the end of the school year. It is a .50 FTE (full time equivalency) and the hiring range for this role is $21,951-$53,908.

Please note that this is an onsite role and not performed remotely. Ethical Culture Fieldston School retains its right to modify job duties in accordance with changing operational needs.

Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities of the Music Teacher/Accompanist will include:

• Teaching 4 class periods per week of 7th grade chorus;

• Accompanying the upper and middle school chorus on piano approximately 10 hours per week;

• Performing as the accompanist at all music events such as chorus concerts, opera performances, assemblies, and other related music rehearsals as needed;

• Having a collaborative approach with other colleagues, including sharing resources and communicating about curriculum and students;

• Preparing for and communicating details about student performance and growth with parents and/or guardians at scheduled conferences;

• Appropriately addressing student behavioral issues and other challenges that may arise in the classroom in order to maintain a safe environment and a sense of calm in such situations;

• Maintaining accurate student record-keeping including grades and attendance;

• Providing encouragement to students to help support their social and emotional growth;

• Ensuring confidentiality of student information as necessary;

• Attending all departmental, divisional, and school-wide meetings;

• Maintaining compliance with all school policies, state regulations, and educational standards; and

• Performing other related projects and duties as needed and assigned.
  
  

Position Requirements

The successful incumbent will possess:

• A Bachelor's Degree in Music, Education, or a related area.

• A passion for teaching with a pleasant and positive demeanor toward all forms of teaching and learning;

• The ability to collaborate and build strong relationships with faculty, administrators, students, parents, and the overall community;

• A commitment to cultural competency and to fostering an inclusive environment that supports students of all backgrounds;

• Excellent verbal, written, and oral communication skills;

• A positive attitude and the ability to listen effectively and be receptive to feedback;

• The ability to manage time effectively, stay organized, and prioritize required tasks;

• A commitment to engaging in ongoing professional development and proficiency in utilizing and learning new technologies (i.e., Google Workspace tools);

• The ability to work evenings and weekends as needed;

• Reliability, punctuality, and consistent attendance; and

• The ability to cultivate a welcoming culture in which all members of our community feel valued and appreciated.

All candidates should visit our employment page at www.ecfs.org to apply. Please send a letter of interest, a resume, a statement of your educational philosophy, and contact information for three references.

EEO

ECFS is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to be a welcoming community of professionals that broadly reflects the people of the metropolitan New York City area, our students, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion or religious practices, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national origin, age, ability status, military status, unemployment status or any other category protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. We are committed to hiring practices that ensure all candidates are given fair consideration in alignment with our institutional mission and goals.