Summary
Description
Elementary Music Teacher
FTE: 1.0 FTE
Job Summary: K – 5 elementary music teachers at Lakes International Language Academy (LILA) demonstrate strong content knowledge in music education. Establish and implement a music program to engage students in rigorous inquiry-based lessons, higher order thinking skills, and push academic rigor with critical thinking questions. LILA teachers look at each student in a balanced holistic view. They equally value academic, social, and emotional growth within each of our students. They utilize Response Classroom practices to help students develop the needed social skills that will allow them to function in our society as a productive member. LILA teachers also understand that each child is an individual, and they work tirelessly to meet those needs. They also collaborate continuously with their colleagues to share ideas, plan lessons, and form relationships. Because of LILA’s collaborative culture, teachers typically form close relationships with their colleagues.
Essential Functions: Teachers develop curriculum materials using engaging and age-appropriate instructional strategies; infuse international-mindedness into the curriculum on a continual basis; incorporate hands-on learning activities into daily instruction; communicate closely and encourage parental involvement regarding program goals, classroom activities, homework, school functions and student progress; create a safe and welcoming classroom environment; collaborate with grade-level teachers, program specialists, teacher mentor, coordinator, director and other staff regarding their teaching; maintain knowledge of current and emerging trends; participate in regular planning and staff development activities; participate in professional development for Responsive Classroom and the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program.
Required Qualifications:
Candidates must have a valid K-12 Vocal and Classroom Music Minnesota teaching license or the ability to earn permission to teach in MN prior to the start of the school year.
Bachelor’s Degree, or equivalent, with major or minor in Music Education.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience teaching/living abroad is preferred.
Teaching experience at the age level of the open position is preferred.
Teaching experience in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years is preferred.
Experience with Responsive Classroom is preferred.
Opportunities:
Travel: Teachers are provided opportunities to participate in training provided in the Twin Cities, across the U.S., and sometimes internationally in the areas of Language Immersion, International Baccalaureate, and Responsive Classroom or Developmental Designs. Occasional travel is required.
Work in a diverse culture: Many of our teachers were born in Mandarin and Spanish speaking countries. Nearly all have traveled extensively, with the large majority having lived in a Mandarin or Spanish speaking country for at least a semester.
Social functions: We usually start the school year with an overnight staff retreat in August, and have a January staff party with guests as well. Each Friday, various staff members offer well-attended gatherings around sports or exercise, including volleyball, football (soccer), kettlebells, or Zumba. Other social activities abound.
Professional Development: Lakes International provides professional development for new staff depending on needs and interest, but always including best practices of teachers in the International Baccalaureate programs and building a safe and inviting classroom climate for learning.
Career Track and Advancement: Many leadership positions are available to Lakes International teachers, depending on their interests, efforts, and expertise.
Grants to Teachers: The LILA Foundation frequently offers “Inquiry 360” grants to teachers to pursue enriching experiences that they can bring back to share in the classroom. Teachers are encouraged to pursue these experiences abroad. Inquiry 360 grants are competitive and are awarded in April for use the following summer.
Physical Requirements:
This position requires vocal communication, hearing, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, standing, walking, sitting, pushing, pulling, use of hands to grasp and feel, and vision abilities including close, distance, and adjusting focus. Lifting/moving required frequently up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds or more. Work occasionally requires exposure to bloodborne pathogens and is generally in a moderately noisy location. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
