High School Band Director (Application Deadline: 5/22/2026)

New Orleans

Wednesday, 20 May 2026

Program Vision and Growth. Develop and execute a compelling vision for a high school band program that reflects the cultural heritage of New Orleans and the mission of KIPP New Orleans Schools. Create and implement a strategic 5-year plan to grow and sustain the band program to at least 75 students, with annual enrollment growth of 10% or more, including strong recruitment, retention, and feeder middle school alignment. Design and implement effective recruitment strategies for middle school students with a strong focus on KIPP New Orleans middle schools. Build strong relationships with students, families, alumni, and community partners to support program growth and visibility. Instruction and Student Development. Plan and deliver rigorous, standards-aligned instruction in instrumental music for students at varying skill levels. Develop students’ technical proficiency, music literacy, and performance skills. Foster a joyful, disciplined, and inclusive classroom culture that promotes teamwork, leadership, and pride. Performance and Cultural Engagement. Lead and coordinate performances at school events, community events, parades, and competitions. Ensure the band program actively participates in and contributes to New Orleans traditions such as second lines, Mardi Gras events, and other cultural celebrations where appropriate. Build partnerships with local musicians, universities, and arts organizations. Marching Band and Summer Programming. Plan, organize, and lead an annual summer band camp, including rehearsals, logistics, staffing, and student engagement. Design and execute a competitive and engaging marching band season, including show design, rehearsals, and performances. Recruitment and Retention. Develop and implement strategies to recruit incoming students into the band program, including outreach to middle schools and community events. Maintain high levels of student engagement and retention through strong relationships and program excellence. Operations and Logistics. Manage inventory, maintenance, and procurement of instruments, uniforms, and equipment. Oversee the band budget and fundraising efforts, while remaining fiscally compliant with network policies at all times. Coordinate travel, scheduling, and compliance with school and district policies, including oversight of all auxiliary units to ensure alignment with and consistent adherence to network expectations. Collaboration and School Engagement. Collaborate with school leadership and staff to align the band program with school priorities and culture. Communicate regularly with families about student progress, expectations, and opportunities. Serve as a positive ambassador for KIPP New Orleans Schools in the community. Qualifications. Bachelor’s degree in Music Education or a related field (Master’s preferred). Valid Louisiana teaching certification (or ability to obtain). Demonstrated experience leading a high school band program, including marching band. Strong understanding of and appreciation for New Orleans musical traditions. Proven ability to grow programs and drive student participation. Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills. Preferred Qualifications. Experience working in urban schools or with diverse student populations. Experience building programs from the ground up or significantly expanding enrollment. Connections to local music networks and community organizations. Work Environment and Physical Demands. The physical demands and environmental conditions described below are representative, but not exhaustive, of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the role. All of these physical requirements should be able to be performed with clarity, coherence and connectedness of the KNOS vision, and reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the individual is regularly required to communicate information and ideas effectively so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations, including noisy environments such as cafeterias and playgrounds, to more moderate situations such as classrooms or large group professional settings. Specific vision abilities required by this job include the ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as laptop computers and various digital devices, and one needs to be able to read, analyze, and interpret data (emails, memos, letters, etc.) and maintain visual attention and mental concentration for significant periods of time. Ability to meet the physical demands of classroom teaching (standing, circulating, occasional lifting/moving of classroom materials); Able to sit and work at a desk/computer for extended periods of time. Ability to safely lift and move up to 50 lbs independently. Duties may require traveling to other school facilities using employee's personal transportation. This is a full-time, 100% on-site position; Regular work hours, Monday through Friday, will be established with your supervisor. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. Work Authorization. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer. Commitments. Maintain a friendly, respectful, professional and courteous attitude with all people, including all KNOS employees, Board members, community and philanthropic partners, funders, and vendors. Model superior customer service behavior by maintaining positive relationships with all KNOS stakeholders. Contribute as a positive and effective team member; work effectively with other team members to accomplish KNOS goals. Be prompt and available for flexible scheduling; be honest and fair in all professional dealings.

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