New York, NY

The Browning School is a K-12 boys school located on 62nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York. Founded by scholar and teacher John A. Browning, The Browning School has been a leader in fostering the intellectual and personal growth of boys and young men since 1888. Serving roughly 450 students in kindergarten through grade 12, Browning strives to combine the best of a traditional prep school environment and curriculum with imaginative teaching and a strong value system – all in a single-sex setting.

MISSION STATEMENT AND VALUES
 

The Browning School fosters growth of courageous and compassionate men of intellect and integrity who aspire to contribute meaningfully to our world.

The Browning gentleman develops amid a community that upholds these values…
 

HONESTY
We speak the truth, act with integrity, and take responsibility for our actions.

DIGNITY
We honor and celebrate the dignity of all people and support the power of a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming community.

CURIOSITY
We encourage and celebrate open-minded inquiry about our world and the perspectives of those around us.

PURPOSE
We believe that education encourages exploration and discovery in pursuit of meaning and enduring fulfillment.
 

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

The Browning School strives to create a diverse community in which all members are safe, respected and valued. We believe that in actively promoting a diverse learning environment, we are fostering intellectual, social, and emotional growth for all. Recognizing and pursuing diversity, however, are not enough; we seek to transcend mere tolerance of differences and aspire to a celebration of the varied appearances, abilities, perspectives, and values that characterize our community.

BROWNING PHILOSOPHY OF LEARNING

Boys come to Browning to be known, challenged, and inspired.  When a boy’s capacities and aspirations are known and understood by his teachers, that boy can be guided, year after year, to take increasing ownership of his learning.  He will develop the disposition not only to respond to others’ questions, but also the ability to craft questions of his own, questions that will drive his class’s process of inquiry.  Through this activity, the boys are likewise challenged to ask similar searching questions of themselves.  It is through this questioning that they come to understand their identities as intellectual and moral agents, and recognize the opportunities they have to develop and refine their senses of self and character.  In reflecting upon the bigger, essential questions that arise from their self-examination and academic work alike, Browning boys are inspired to seek a deeper level of understanding and to build a sense of purpose that will engage their passions and skills in the service of the world beyond themselves.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Browning is looking for a full-time Upper School music teacher for the 2025-2026 academic year. The position will begin on or around August 20, 2025. The expected annual salary range for this position is $70,000-150,000, commensurate with experience. A bachelor’s degree or considerable experience in the role is required. An advanced degree in a related field is preferred. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.

Overview

This is a brand new position. As such, the Upper School music teacher will, within the context of the arts department and School’s mission, values, and philosophy of learning, concept a full musical program and curriculum, and then directly teach or oversee all aspects of that curriculum as the Upper School moves into its new building, physically separate from but culturally consistent with the Lower and Middle Schools. The teacher will build upon the Lower and Middle Schools’ musical programs, the musical aptitudes and extracurricular involvement of current Browning students, and the modest existing Upper School curriculum to design a vision for Upper School music at Browning that deliberately and joyfully incorporates music into students’ lives - and then map out the steps to attempt to realize that vision .

Key Responsibilities

All Browning teachers are responsible for building strong relationships with students and for delivering the Browning program more broadly. Browning teachers believe in and desire the growth of all their students and have a passion for their subject matter and for the art and science of pedagogy. Ultimately, teachers are responsible for the most important work of our School: knowing and supporting our boys and teaching them well.

Among other things, the music teacher will:

1. Develop and teach a required, half-credit, semester-long, ninth grade music course
2. Assess and potentially adjust the current required, half-credit, semester-long, tenth grade music course curriculum in the context of their evolving programmatic vision
3. Develop and teach full- or half-credit musical electives centered on theory, composition, performance, and/or appreciation for eleventh and/ twelfth grade students
4. Direct, oversee, or advise existing musical ensembles - rock band, an a cappella group, chamber - that may meet outside regular academic hours
5. Communicate regularly and occasionally in person with the Lower and Middle School music coordinators to ensure clarity and consistency of vision, program, and curriculum
6. Identify opportunities for, and communicate with parents regarding, community performances, competitions, and collaborations to showcase student talent
7. Coordinate a robust program of after school music lessons for Upper School boys, including the hiring of instructors, managing registration, and organizing schedules
8. Manage department budget
9. Implement supervisory duties as assigned, such as lunch or study hall coverage
10. Collaborate as a professional, collegial, and inspirational member of the arts department
11. Participate in professional development to grow the self, department, and school
12. Create trusting relationships with faculty, staff and students built on Browning’s core values of honesty, dignity, curiosity, and purpose

Key Competencies

In general, successful members of the Browning faculty are: 

• Champions of boys -- They believe in and love the expansive potential in boys. 
• Relationship-oriented -- They actively build meaningful relationships with students and families.
• Purpose-driven -- They are inquiry-minded, curious and resourceful in finding solutions and growth opportunities.
• Justice-seeking -- They seek to address students and their needs with an equity-oriented and antiracist lens and engage in the deep work of equity in the classroom and school community.
• Can-do collaborators -- They seek collaboration and listen deeply to others, and they believe that a can-do attitude allows a team to accomplish more.

A successful Upper School music teacher will collaborate well with others, delight in the content and pedagogy of teaching music, maintain a high level of connection to and belief in the students, and contribute meaningfully to meeting Browning’s diversity and equity goals, as well as other strategic plans and goals. Communicating clearly and consistently with students, families, and fellow department members is of the utmost importance.

Those interested in the position should address their résumé and cover letter to Kate Bancroft and submit their application via this link.