Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has announced an exciting new initiative: the launch of a long-term mariachi education program. FCPS is seeking a motivated, energetic educator with deep knowledge of mariachi performance to help build this program from the ground up and establish it as a vibrant part of the division’s instructional offerings.

This is a full-time, year-round teaching position (260-day schedule) with a competitive salary and full benefits, including a generous retirement plan and multiple health insurance options. For candidates who meet the minimum requirements, the combined starting salary is about $83,000, aligned with the pay scale for a band director. Advanced degrees and prior experience are rewarded on the salary scale (see job announcement link below). A relocation allowance of up to $2,000 is also available.

This is a truly extraordinary opportunity. FCPS serves the dynamic Washington, D.C. metropolitan region, home to more than 6 million people and a rich array of cultural institutions and events. FCPS is one of the most diverse school districts in the country, with a student population that is 29% Hispanic and families who speak more than 200 languages at home. From a national perspective, this would be the first, full-fledged, formal mariachi curriculum for middle and high school students on the East Coast, and it will be housed within the nation’s ninth-largest school system, serving more than 183,000 students across 199 schools.  The program has strong support from senior FCPS leadership. Please see the links below for the official job announcement, salary scale, and additional background about Fairfax County Public Schools.

Apply now! The position is open until filled, and FCPS hopes to move quickly.

For questions about the application process, the point of contact is: Amos Simms-Smith, Department of School Improvement and Supports, FCPS, 571-474-7203, AOSimmsSmith@fcps.edu.

Here is a link to the basic job announcement.

Thanks to Daniel Sheehy (pictured below holding the vihuela), former director of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and resident of Fairfax County for sharing this information.  Sheehy says “this is a regionally groundbreaking opportunity in mariachi education, likely the first of its kind on the East Coast, on par with high school bands and orchestras.  Fairfax County Public Schools are located in the nationally prominent Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.  Basic details on the job responsibilities, pay range, and main contact person are included, but if someone would like to communicate with me as a longtime Fairfax County resident and active mariachi performer and supporter, they should feel free to reach out to me at sheehyd@si.edu.”

Thanks to Daniel Sheehy for sharing these photos of Mariachi Los Amigos performing for President Obama, at the 2025 Smithsonian Lowrider exhibition and for the pre-game at the Washington Nationals Baseball Park. Photos are also taken at the Virginia Latino Festival and at the U.S. House of Representatives Offices.