Pedagogical Chair
Pedagogical Chair
Job Category: Early Childhood, Lower School: Grades 1-5, and Middle School: Grades 6-8
Opening Statement
Orchard Valley Waldorf School, an infant through grade 8 school, seeks a full-time Pedagogical Chair with teaching responsibilities.
At Orchard Valley Waldorf School, the Pedagogical Chair inspires the self-development of all teachers so that the strength of our faculty can find its truest expression. The Pedagogical Chair also inspires a culture of collaborative initiative and ensures that the faculty addresses matters of prime importance necessary for the school’s effective functioning and overall health.
The Pedagogical Chair ensures healthy communication between faculty, the Board, and the school administration in day-to-day operations. They are a conduit for managing sensitive issues and the concerns of the parent community.
The Pedagogical Chair reports to the Administrative Director, and is a member of the Collegial Circle. The Pedagogical Chair can act independently under the direction of the Administrative Director and Collegial Circle.
This key role supervises and supports all faculty to ensure their success in delivering quality Waldorf pedagogy to students, families, and the broader community. The OVWS Pedagogical Chair will serve in the following capacities to support both administrative and pedagogical practice at Orchard Valley Waldorf School, in collaboration with the Administrative Director:
About
Orchard Valley Waldorf School is a vibrant, rural school set on two beautiful campuses in the heart of Vermont, with close proximity to Montpelier, Vermont’s capital. It’s a small town with big city amenities – a lively arts and music scene, great restaurants, and an active outdoor community.
Our Faculty are warm, collaborative and curious about the world around them. We provide education and care for children from infancy through Grade 8 and currently have 120 students in our programs – which include three Infant-3 year old classrooms, two Pre-K classrooms, one Kindergarten and fixed combined Grades classes: ½, ¾, ⅚, and ⅞.
Orchard Valley Waldorf School is an AWSNA Associate member and WECAN member school. Our birth through PreK programs are Vermont DCF Child Development Division Center Based Child Care Programs. Orchard Valley Waldorf School is an Approved Independent School and Pre Qualified Preschool program by the Vermont Agency of Education.
Essential Job Duties
Primary responsibilities are:
1) In collaboration with the Administrative Director:
- Ensure pedagogical accountability of faculty and staff.
- Ensure strong collaboration between the administrative and pedagogical realms of the school.
- Provide leadership to the Collegial Circle.
- Assist in the advancement of the Board of Trustees.
- Coordinate and support peer mentoring for teaching and administrative faculty, including as an individual or small group mentor.
- Address parent and community concerns in a proactive, articulate, and timely way.
- Maintain a connection to the regional, continental, and global Waldorf movement and the pulse of education in Vermont.
- Align the school’s daily needs with the strategic and financial priorities.
2) Imbue Anthroposophy into all aspects of the organization by:
- Coordinating study and enrichment at faculty meetings.
- Assisting faculty members with pedagogical questions.
- Assuring implementation and continuity of parent education stemming from a broad understanding of human development and how Waldorf Pedagogy meets today’s child.
3) Work collaboratively with the Administrative Director, Branch Chairs, and Branch Administrators to ensure robustness in the daily operations:
- Coordinate substitution for grades and support across all branches.
- Support strong systems that ensure the school’s physical/skeletal, social/emotional, rhythmical, and conceptual bodies are tended.
These areas are considered 50% FTE and will be complemented by teaching responsibilities and the particular gifts/skillsets of the hired individual to fill a 100% FTE position.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Waldorf Teacher Training Certificate
- Position involves working in and out of doors. Must be able to work outside for long periods of time in changing weather conditions; i.e., rain, snow, wind and/or cold. Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds, walk over uneven terrain.
- At least 5 years experience in Waldorf education
- Experience in at least two of our programming areas: birth-3, 3-6 years, and 1-8 grades, and commitment to children of all ages;
- Good computer skills and working knowledge of Google Suite;
- Collaborative Leadership experience
- Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills;
- Flexible, detail-oriented, personable, positive, and calm demeanor;
- A natural desire to be in service to others; and
- An interest in and commitment to the success of the school
- Desire and expectation to be working in relationship to the land
- Active engagement in the work of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Employment Details
Terms of Contract: 12-month, 100% FTE position. Benefits include a wellness stipend, Vacation and PTO, and tuition remission. The salary range is $$45,103 – $52,353 and is dependent on education and experience.
To Apply
To apply, submit a resume, a general letter of interest, and three references to employment@ovws.org.
Orchard Valley Waldorf School is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, and developing the most qualified employees without regard to their race, religion, gender, gender identity, disability, family status, sexual orientation or national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, where employees are treated with respect and dignity.