Lower School Music & Arts Teacher

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Instruction and Student Learning

• Design and deliver developmentally appropriate art, music, and movement experiences for PreK and Kindergarten students.
• Create authentic opportunities for students to explore visual arts, sound, rhythm, movement, and creative expression through multiple modalities.
• Foster creativity, curiosity, and student agency through open-ended exploration of materials and artistic processes
• Integrate singing, rhythm, movement, storytelling, and visual arts into engaging early years learning experiences.
• Differentiate instruction to meet diverse developmental, linguistic, sensory, and learning needs.
• Encourage risk-taking, imagination, and joyful participation in the creative process.

Learning Environment and Studio/Atelier Practices

• Create and maintain a welcoming, well-organized, and inspiring studio and music environment that reflects early childhood best practices.
• Curate and care for high-quality materials and instruments that invite exploration, creativity, and independence.
• Ensure safe and responsible use of art materials, tools, and musical instruments.
• Establish routines that support independence, collaboration, and respect for shared materials and spaces.

Documentation and Assessment

• Document student learning and creative processes through photographs, displays, and narrative reflection.
• Share student learning with classroom teachers and families in developmentally appropriate ways.

Performances, Exhibitions, and Community Engagement

• Plan and facilitate developmentally appropriate opportunities for students to share their creative work with families and the school community (e.g., performances, exhibitions, or sharing experiences).
• Collaborate with school leadership and classroom teachers to integrate arts experiences into school events and community celebrations.

Collaboration and Professional Practice

• Collaborate closely with PreK and Kindergarten classroom teachers to support interdisciplinary and inquiry-based learning.
• Partner with other specialists and student support teams to ensure inclusive access to creative experiences for all learners.
• Contribute to a reflective, collaborative culture focused on early childhood best practices.

Certifications and Education

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, Art Education, Fine Arts, or a related field.
• Valid teaching certification (licenciatura) in related fields (recognized in Brazil).

Desired

• Master’s degree in Music, Visual Arts, Education, or related discipline.
• Training in elementary arts methodologies (e.g., Orff, Kodály, Dalcroze, studio-based learning).

Experience

Required

• Minimum of five years of teaching experience.
• Demonstrated experience teaching music and/or visual arts to elementary-aged students.

Desired

• Experience working in Montessori, Reggio Emilia, or inquiry-based environments.
• Experience documenting and making student learning visible through displays or portfolios.
• Experience planning and leading student performances, exhibitions, or creative sharing opportunities.
• Experience in international or multicultural school settings.
• Experience integrating multiple artistic disciplines into cohesive programming.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Required

• Strong understanding of early childhood development and creative learning.
• Ability to design engaging, play-based, and inquiry-driven arts experiences.
• Skill in facilitating music, movement, and visual arts experiences for young children.
• Ability to create inclusive environments that support diverse learners.
• Strong classroom management and organizational skills in active, hands-on learning environments.
• Effective communication and collaboration with colleagues and families.

Desired

• Familiarity with Montessori and Reggio-inspired approaches to creativity and expression.
• Skill in documentation and visible thinking practices.
• Ability to integrate cultural diversity and multiple artistic traditions into instruction.