Lower Grades Class Teacher 25-26
Lower Grades Class Teacher 25-26
Job Category: Lower School: Grades 1-5
Opening Statement
The Charlottesville Waldorf School is seeking a teacher for the 2025-26 school year to enter the 2nd or 3rd grade with the intention of looping 1st-3rd into the future. Experienced teachers and those new to teaching who are interested in Waldorf pedagogy are encouraged to apply. We provide in-house mentoring and instructional coaching, and fully fund annual professional development programs for our teachers. Waldorf teacher training/certification is welcome but is neither required for applying nor an expectation for continued employment at CWS.
About
Located in the heart of Charlottesville, with the University of Virginia as a close neighbor, CWS draws in a vibrant community of people who care deeply about Waldorf education. The school celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2022.. We are a faculty and staff of 35, including Early Childhood, Grades 1-8, and Specialty teachers, and an administrative staff of School Director, Program Director, Enrollment Coordinator, Business Manager, Operations Manager, Communications and Events Coordinator, and a Maintenance Technician. In first grade, the students are taught by a specialty teacher for handwork, music, Spanish, movement, and nature study. The class teacher is the instructor for painting, form drawing, Community Class, and periods used for language arts and math practice. We are in the second year of Community Class for our Grade School. This is a program that involves community service and how we interact with and respect each other in community.
The Charlottesville Waldorf School exists to offer education based on an anthroposophical understanding of the human being as developed by Rudolf Steiner and as nurtured through the active self-development and child observation of our faculty. We seek to provide each child with the physical environment and stimulation of the imagination needed at each stage of his or her growth in order to awaken the new capacities required to reach his or her full adult potential.
The school is committed to the following statement regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion: The Charlottesville Waldorf School values the humanity of all people in their individuality and embraces their race, ethnicity, nationality, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, culture, religion or spirituality, and socio-economic experience. We commit to actively engaging in the essential and ongoing process of accessing the intended potential and strength of the Waldorf Curriculum by moving beyond its European roots, fostering an environment of inclusivity, and holding each other accountable for growth. We are actively working together, while acknowledging the history of our location, to bring social responsibility to the forefront of our mission as a center for education.
We invite you to learn more about our school and program on our website cwaldorf.org and through social media on Facebook and Instagram @cvillewaldorf.
Essential Job Duties
Teaching Responsibilities
- Plan and carry out all areas of curriculum according to Waldorf pedagogy.
- Keep classroom supplies in good working condition. Order supplies within your budget allocation.
- Create and maintain a clean and orderly classroom space, including seasonal changes
- Keep a daily record of attendance.
- Review and keep documentation of children’s emergency and dismissal forms, as well as the list of children who have health concerns (allergies, medical conditions etc.)
- Communicate all student and parent concerns in a timely and professional manner.
- Attend faculty meetings and workdays according to the school calendar.
- Prepare progress reports for mid-year and end-of-year reports and participate in two parent-teacher conferences per school year.
Administrative Responsibilities
- Support the 2nd Grade assessment process. Requires knowledge of and experience with 2nd grade assessments, ability to clearly communicate the process and results to parents, and strong collaboration skills to partner with the Educational Support Coordinator.
- Use school issued email address for regular and responsive school correspondence.
- Be familiar with school policies and procedures as outlined in the Faculty Handbook.
- Collaborate with other faculty and administrative members on school-wide initiatives and events.
- Support admissions process by providing timely feedback about availability for student visits and assessments of visiting candidates.
- Participate in ongoing professional development to stay current with educational best practices. This includes annual observations and periodic evaluations.
- Stay up-to-date with required training, including Red Cross/CPR First Aid certification/Medicine Administration training, mandated reporter training, etc.
- Maintain a working knowledge of the School’s Safety Plan and the emergency procedures contained therein.
Qualifications
- Education and Certification:
- Bachelor’s degree in Education or a related field.
- Certification in Waldorf Education from an accredited institution.
- Valid teaching credential (preferred but not required).
- Experience:
- Previous teaching experience in a Waldorf school (preferred).
- Experience working with children in a classroom setting.
- Skills:
- Strong understanding of Waldorf educational philosophy and methods.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to create and maintain a positive and engaging learning environment.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Ability to use software systems like Blackbaud.
- Creative and flexible approach to teaching and problem-solving.
- Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and the school community.
- Personal Qualities:
- Passion for teaching and a deep commitment to student development.
- Patience, empathy, and a nurturing attitude.
- Enthusiasm for lifelong learning and self-improvement.
- Dedication to fostering a supportive and inclusive classroom community.
- Reliability and punctuality
- Willingness to work out of Anthroposophy
- Acknowledging the inherent eurocentric bias and the social justice intentions of the Waldorf curriculum, have the ability to work toward consciously decolonizing the curriculum
- Willingness to pursue further Waldorf training
Employment Details
Salary information is based on each person’s educational and professional background and can be sent once a resume is received.
- Base Salary: $34,500 annually plus applicable increments, based on certification, degrees and experience.
Tuition reduction: 50% for up to three children, with a 10% increase each year of employment up to 90% (incremental increases do not apply to Early Childhood students) - Benefits: $3,000 health care stipend per year
Leave/Sick Days: 10 days
To Apply
Interested candidates are invited to send a cover letter and resume to hiring@cwaldorf.org.