Lower School Music Teacher

Posted: 29-Jul-26 • Austin, Texas • Full Time

About St. Michael’s Catholic Preparatory School

Located in the hills of southwest Austin, Texas, St. Michael’s Catholic Preparatory School is an outstanding co-educational Independent Catholic school serving students from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. The Lower School comprises PreK 3–4th grades, the Middle School houses grades 5–8, and the Upper School contains grades 9–12. We are distinguished by our Catholic tradition, a welcoming and diverse community, excellent academic programs, and a variety of extracurricular activities. We are a technology-rich school, and teachers and staff are expected to demonstrate meaningful skill with technology and an enthusiasm for technological growth to create authentic learning experiences for students. Teachers serve as role models that inspire students to critically think, reflect, explore, and apply their faith concretely to their lives.

Our values: Integrity, Courage, & Excellence

Our mission: St. Michael’s Prep cultivates a transformative, Independent school experience rooted in Catholic spirituality where we seek excellence in every pursuit and form virtuous leaders who positively impact the world. We are anchored by the Catholic Social Teachings (CST) and promote inclusion by advocating for a society based on love and justice, where all people have inherent dignity. We are passionate about cultivating a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment, celebrating and supporting differences.

About the Role

St. Michael’s Prep seeks a dynamic, experienced, collaborative, and creative Lower School Music Teacher. The ideal candidate will possess an understanding of music theory and composition. This is a full-time, 10-month assignment beginning in August 2026.

Responsibilities

• Implement music lessons that emphasize the joy in learning
• Conduct music classes following a curriculum that develops musical skills and appreciation for diverse musical genres and cultures while engaging all students
• Direct school performances and special events throughout the school year
• Manage classroom behavior through the application of social-emotional learning best practice approaches (Responsive Classroom) and process-based learning to create a positive, inclusive learning environment that fosters a feeling of significance, belonging, and fun for all students
• Collaborate with other special area teachers and classroom teachers to integrate music into core curriculum and support school-wide initiatives and events
• Use a variety of instructional techniques and practices to meet the learning needs of all students
• Maintain instruments and equipment, ensuring proper care, storage, and safety of all musical materials and technology
• Assess student progress through observation, participation, and performance-based assessments
• Maintain accurate records and communicate with families about student growth
• Perform assigned duties such as carpool, lunch, and recess duties
• Participate in shared faculty responsibilities and duties as assigned by the Head of Lower School

Requirements

• Knowledge and understanding of music pedagogy and child development across early childhood and elementary grades
• Strong musical ability with proficiency in at least one instrument; keyboard and/or guitar skills strongly preferred
• Possess a growth mindset with a positive attitude and a willingness to approach learning new skills in flexible and creative ways
• Willingness to integrate and learn new technology platforms and applications in meaningful and appropriate ways
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Organizational and time-management skills to juggle multiple classes, rehearsals, and performances
• A collaborative and inquisitive approach to teaching and learning with excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to work on a team
• Orff or Kodály certifications preferred
• At least two years as a classroom teacher
• Bachelor’s degree required

Ideal Candidates

Ideal candidates for positions at our school are experienced in and continue to develop expertise in social-emotional learning, project-based learning, STEAM integration, technology-rich, and differentiated instruction. Ideal candidates thrive in a collaborative environment designing and delivering innovative and creative cross-curricular instructional units to students with diverse learning styles and needs.