Early Childhood Lead Teacher
Opening Statement
The Lead Teacher, Early Childhood at the Brooklyn Waldorf School (BWS) is responsible for fostering a nurturing and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children ages 2-6. This role is grounded in Waldorf pedagogy, integrating intellectual, emotional, and physical development through structured activities and creative play. The Lead Teacher oversees classroom operations, provides guidance to the Support Teacher, and builds meaningful relationships with students and families to support early childhood development.
About
The Brooklyn Waldorf School is a vibrant and dynamic school nestled in the heart of Bedford-Stuyvesant. The Brooklyn Waldorf School provides an education that meets the needs of each student in a developmentally appropriate manner, integrating critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and a deep connection to the arts through the curriculum founded by Rudolf Steiner. Through leading a balanced and well-rounded school life, students are expected to understand themselves as agents of change in an ever-evolving world.
Our faculty hails from all over the world and includes both seasoned Waldorf teachers and those new to Waldorf education. Serving over 160 students from pre-K to grade 8, teachers typically remain with a class through multiple grades, forming deep relationships over time. BWS teachers care for their students as whole individuals and provide not only for their academic development, but also for their emotional intelligence, artistic capacities, and physical knowledge of their surrounding environment. Teachers develop their own classroom content through active engagement with curricular resources prepared by our Faculty Council and reflect our local urban environment and community values.
The Brooklyn Waldorf School was founded in 2005 by a body of parents and Waldorf graduates who sought a nurturing space within the city where their children could discover and explore their inner potential. As the school community grew, classes expanded to include Parent-Child, Early Childhood, Elementary, and Middle School.
Essential Job Duties
- Create an engaging play-based Waldorf Early Childhood curriculum focused on nurturing the whole child—intellectually, emotionally, and physically—through a balance of structured activities and creative play.
- Oversee daily operations, guide and oversee the class Support Teacher teacher
- Maintain student records
- Prepare student end-of-year reports for parents in accordance with school policies
- Write bi-weekly newsletters updating parents on class activities
- Establish and maintain a positive and professional relationship with students, parents, and other teachers and school personnel
- Be available to parents for collaboration on student needs through Class Meetings biannual parent-teacher conferences, and individual meetings
- Establish and maintain a positive and professional relationship with students, parents, and other teachers and school personnel
- Attend weekly faculty meetings and occasional special events (open houses, festivals, fairs)
- Assist in school governance by serving on at least two committees relevant to grade, interest, and expertise (after your first year)
- Maintain an aesthetically pleasing and organized classroom space
- Comply with the established policies and procedures of the school as stated in the Faculty and Staff Handbook.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree and prior teaching experience
- A love of children ages 2-6 and a deep desire to support their growth, through observation and collaboration
- Previous Waldorf training and/or a willingness to take Waldorf courses within the first few years of employment (professional development funding is available to partially offset associated costs)
- Ability to sit, stand, and walk for significant periods of time, use staircases often, and lift up to 50lbs
- Ability to be outdoors with children in all seasons
- Musical and artistic ability
- Enthusiasm, flexibility, and a warm demeanor
- A strong connection to and appreciation for nature
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to connect with children, parents, and colleagues
- Physical stamina and enthusiasm for spending significant time outdoors in various weather conditions and walk up to 2 miles
- Dedicated to fostering a Waldorf Pedagogy that moves beyond European-centric perspectives and prioritizes a diverse, multicultural curriculum.
Employment Details
- Full-Time Faculty, yearly employment agreement
- Competitive salary: $62,000 – $65,000, commensurate with experience, non-exempt
- Benefits include medical and dental health insurance coverage, retirement, flexible spending and Metrocards (where applicable)
- Opportunities for professional development
- Reduced tuition for dependents
- Childcare during faculty meetings and parent-teacher conferences
To Apply
You can apply via this link or through the Employment page of our website.