2025-2026: Percussion Teaching Artist

Why WHIN?

WHIN Music Community Charter School is the first school of its kind! Built on the principles of El Sistema, WHIN is a place where children learn, grow, and make music together. At WHIN, we are building a nucleo, a community where staff, families, and students work together to make a powerful shift in public education that puts learners’ needs first.

Our Mission:

To provide our diverse student population with rigorous academic instruction, intensive music education and a positive learning environment so that every student can thrive academically and personally.

We believe…

• that all children deserve a high quality education, with access to academic rigor, music creation, and a holistic approach to developing character.

• that a collaboration with families ensures the greatest success for our learners.

• that restorative justice, inquiry-based hands on learning, and authentic learning experiences provide the most effective environments for growth, success, and joy.

We are looking for educational leaders who are…

• looking to grow and prosper in a collaborative work environment

• excited about working in a school and neighborhood where diversity is central.

• committed to supporting students be their best in pursuit of our mission

In action, our mission looks like caring deeply about all aspects of our young learners’ potential. We make academics a priority while also ensuring students’ character and personal growth. With music at our core, students experience working together to create something bigger than their individual skills every single day, and this approach extends to our classrooms where project-based, hands-on learning cultivates curious, creative, and hardworking learners.

WHIN is currently seeking a Percussion Teaching Artist ready to help grow a unique school community where compassion, kindness, and curiosity drive each and every day.

Specifically, the Percussion Teaching Artist at WHIN reports to the Director of Music and is primarily responsible for:

• Fostering a love of making music in an ensemble setting

• Modeling high-quality musicianship and citizenship within the WHIN community

• Leading daily small group sectionals

• Creating, submitting, and implementing objective-driven lesson plans

• Employing a variety of instructional strategies to meet the diverse needs of all learners

• Holding all students to high musical, academic, and behavioral standards

• Developing consistent and safe routines and procedures to ensure all students have access to safe, orderly, and fun rehearsals

• Administering regular music assessments and using data to drive instruction

• Maintaining inventory of instruments; performing small instrument repairs as necessary

• Keeping an organized and tidy classroom conducive to music-making

• Assisting with all aspects of bi-monthly concerts and weekly “informances”

• Fully participating in music departmental meetings and full-faculty professional development

• Collaborating with other music teachers and classroom teachers to foster a music-infused curriculum across the school

• Attending all WHIN concerts, community performances, and departmental programming

• Participating in school-wide tasks and responsibilities as needed

• Developing and maintaining strong and professional relationships with WHIN families

Qualifications for the Teaching Artist positions are:

• Minimum education level: BA/BM in music education or music performance (MA/MM preferred)

• Experience teaching elementary music in an urban school setting

• Advanced proficiency on Percussion (including experience with varying styles from jazz to classical to Latin percussion, Afro-Cuban, world drumming, drumline, drumset, mallets, etc.), an understanding of childhood music pedagogy, and a pleasant singing voice

• The ability to accompany children on piano, guitar, and/or percussion

• Demonstrated success raising achievement levels of all students

• An unwavering belief that all students can achieve at a high level

• The ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and exciting environment

• The ability to commit regular hours to WHIN for a full academic year

• A sense of humor

Advanced proficiency or experience in one or more of the following areas is strongly preferred

• Bilingual (Spanish)

• Experience in El Sistema-based music instruction

• Active gigging musician

• Dalcroze, Suzuki, Orff Schulwerk, Kodály, Gordon’s Music Learning Theory, and/or Praxialism

• Responsive Classroom, Love and Logic Student Management, and/or Restorative Justice

Compensation and Benefits: Compensation & Benefits
WHIN offers a competitive salary, determined through an equity-focused approach that considers an individual’s skills, education, and relevant experience. Our teacher pay scale is available for viewing here.

As a full-time employee at WHIN, you will be eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. Additionally, we offer a 403(b) retirement plan with an employer match and paid family leave.

EEO Policy: WHIN Music Community Charter School is an equal rights and opportunity agency and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, ancestry, marital status, or any other legally protected classification in its activities, educational programs, or employment practices as required by Title VI, IX, and Section 504.