Director of School Programs

Company Overview: Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has been called the “Smithsonian of country music,” celebrated for its broad cultural impact, educational mission, and unrivaled collection of historically important artifacts. Chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964, the Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization that documents and interprets the history of country music.

The Museum collects objects and archival materials that illustrate the evolving history and traditions of country music and provides diverse learning opportunities through educational programs, publications, and exhibitions.

First opened in 1967 on Nashville’s Music Row, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum launched its current downtown location in 2001. In 2014, the Museum unveiled a $100 million expansion that doubled its footprint. The Museum now encompasses 350,000 square feet of exhibition galleries, archival storage, retail stores, and event space. The Museum owns Hatch Show Print, a letterpress print shop opened in 1879, and it operates Historic RCA Studio B, where Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, and many others recorded.

In addition, the Museum offers the Taylor Swift Education Center for students, teachers, and families, and dedicated performance spaces in the CMA Theater and Ford Theater, both of which regularly host nationally recognized live music and cultural events.

In 2024, the Museum was awarded the prestigious National Medal of Arts. The medal is the highest award given to artists and arts institutions by the United States government. The White House Citation, which accompanied the medal, recognized the Museum’s work, which “preserves history, honors giants of the genre, and inspires future generations to write their own songs about the American story.”

Position Overview: The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum seeks an experienced educator and strategic thinker to lead its school programs team. Responsible for all aspects of curriculum-aligned services for teachers, students, and the community, this creative, curious, and organized leader will oversee programs that serve PreK–12+ grade students at the Museum, via video conference, and in schools, as well as staff.

With knowledge of country music and interest in popular culture, the Director of School Programs will guide the development of classroom resources and related programs for teachers, ranging from professional development workshops to curriculum guides that bridge learning standards with exhibit content. This position also provides direct support to the Words & Music® Program, the Museum’s flagship education program that teaches songwriting, They will combine best practices in museum education, including object-based learning, inquiry-based learning, and visual thinking strategies, with academic standards to support subject areas in an interdisciplinary way.

Through strong leadership and vision, the Director of School Programs will contribute to the continued success and growth of student and teacher services in the Museum’s Taylor Swift Education Center. This full-time position reports to the Senior Director of Education and Community Engagement.

Specific

Job Duties:

• Manage and evaluate full-time staff, on-call educators, and school program volunteers
• Oversee outcomes-based gallery tours, school programs, curriculum-aligned lesson materials, and online resources.
• Oversee implementation of on-going training for tour guides including staff, on-call educators, and school tour volunteers.
• Oversee teacher programs and offerings, including professional development programs and teacher appreciation events.
• Manage school programs’ web content and…