First Grade Teacher
Opening Statement
Mālamalama Waldorf School is actively seeking a full-time First Grade Teacher for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.
About
Malamalama Waldorf School was founded in 1978 by a group of devoted parents and educators seeking a different educational experience for children in the Puna district of the Big Island. MWS offers education preschool through Grade 8. MWS is located in the residential subdivision of Hawaiian Paradise Park, nestled on a 20-acre parcel in a beautiful rainforest setting. In 1979 MWS was incorporated as an independent, non-profit educational and cultural organization in the State of Hawaii. The school is a well-respected member of the Big Island community with over 40 years dedicated to Waldorf Education preschool through 8th Grade. Our graduates regularly go on to hold top academic honors in high school, including graduating valedictorians and salutatorians. They are also leaders in athletic, artistic, and performing arts endeavors.
The Big Island of Hawaii is rich in cultural diversity as well as boasting a most unusual volcanic landscape, ranch lands, and beaches. You can surf in the morning and don winter apparel for a jaunt to the summit of Mauna Kea in the afternoon.
On the Big Island, we are blessed with a beautiful natural environment, rich cultural opportunities, a temperate climate, a relatively low cost of living, and affordable housing options. The school’s salary together with its generous benefit package supports a moderate lifestyle.
Our inspiring faculty are enthusiastic with a commitment to Waldorf education delivered with warmth and through collaboration. Our dedicated Specialty Subject teachers provide Hawaiian Studies and Language, Japanese language, handwork, and music. Our parents are supportive and involved in many areas of the school, including active participation in festivals, and sharing their talents by volunteering to meet the needs of the school.
We value teachers who are open to learning about other cultures and enjoy nurturing healthy relationships with parents, students, and colleagues. We seek candidates with excellent teaching, classroom management, and communication skills and a deep understanding of students and their development.
Qualifications
Ideal candidates will be experienced Waldorf educators, have completed Waldorf training, and hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Previous Waldorf teaching experience is preferred. We are seeking individuals with a commitment to excellence in teaching along with excellent communication skills providing parent education and working collegially. Our first grade teacher will have a passion for working with youth while holding a vision of carrying this class through the 8th grade. Other valued traits would be artistic and musical abilities, social dynamic skills, a sturdy presence, and strong organizational skills for conducting a combined grades class.
To Apply
Interested applicants should email a cover letter, resume, and three professional references. In your cover letter please describe how the gifts you bring will benefit our students and our school as well as how you see calling the Big Island home.
Interested applicants are required to fill out our Employment Application form and are welcome to send a letter of introduction, resume, college transcripts, Waldorf certifications, and three references to the Recruiting Committee at Mālamalama Waldorf School.
Mālamalama Waldorf School is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment that values diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected characteristic, and we actively seek to recruit, hire, and retain a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We provide ongoing training and professional development opportunities to promote diversity and support the contributions of all employees. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply for employment opportunities at Mālamalama Waldorf School.