Early Childhood Support Teacher
Opening Statement
The Support Teacher, Early Childhood at the Brooklyn Waldorf School (BWS) plays a vital role in creating a nurturing and engaging environment for young learners. This position works closely with the Lead Teacher to implement the Waldorf Early Childhood curriculum, ensuring the physical, emotional, and intellectual well-being of children. The Support Teacher assists with classroom activities, transitions, and behavior management while fostering a warm, safe, and organized learning space.
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
- Assist the Lead Early Childhood Teacher in implementing the daily curriculum by supporting transitions, activities, material preparation, behavior management, organizing the classroom/playground, and performing other tasks as assigned by the Lead Teacher.
- Engage children in cooking a freshly cooked family meal for daily snack time
- Be aware of the safety of all children during class time and emergency procedures.
- Ensure the classroom is well-kept and organized
- Other duties as requested by the Lead Teacher and the school
- Exhibit a strong ability to closely monitor children both indoors and outdoors, always ensuring their safety
- Express an understanding of or openness to learning about Waldorf Education
- Establish and maintain a positive and professional relationship with students, parents, and other teachers and school personnel
- In the lead teacher’s absence, be able to take on the role of the Lead Teacher in the class for short periods
- 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 and/or childcare experience
- 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 bend down for significant periods of time, use staircases often, and lift up to 50 lbs
- Ability to be outdoors with children in all seasons and walk up to 2 miles
- Strong culinary skills
- Enthusiasm, flexibility, and a warm demeanor
Employment Details
- Part-Time Faculty
- Competitive salary: $39,000 – $42,000, commensurate with experience, non-exempt
- Benefits include medical and dental health insurance coverage, retirement, flexible spending and Transit Benefits (where applicable)
- Opportunities for professional development
- Reduced tuition for dependents
- Childcare during faculty meetings and parent-teacher conferences
To Apply
Please apply directly via this link or through the Employment page of our website.