This job description indicates the general duties and physical requirements of work performed by the employee with this job designation. It should not be interpreted or construed as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and physical requirements required of the employee assigned to this job, as these might vary from day to day or as business needs demand.
Position: Early Childhood Lead Teacher
Status: 3 or 5 Day Salaried
Key Contributions:
Waldorf Early Childhood teachers understand that children learn by imitation and strive to bring meaningful activities and movement, nourishing images and speech, and an attitude of soul and inner life that is worthy of imitation. Teachers are to guide the children toward self control, cooperation and social awareness, a mood of joy and harmony, and a feeling of belonging to the group as a whole.
Children who will be going into the first grade will be given activities that train their listening skills and attention, coordination, and age-appropriate responsibilities within the classroom that foster independence, self reliance and a sense of leadership. Teachers will create a classroom atmosphere of care, order and beauty because they understand that the senses of the young child are educated by their surroundings.
Classroom Responsibilities and Duties:
Specific Teaching Duties:
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Be present and prepared for student contact in the class.
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Prepare and lead daily activities such as circle, imaginative play, story, handcrafts, painting, baking, nature walks, snack, and outdoor activities
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Document student progress
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Develop and maintain a safe, harmonious social environment for the students
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Develop and maintain a clean, orderly classroom environment
Specific Administrative Responsibilities:
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Weekly Planning & Preparation time to include circle, stories, birthday celebrations, festivals, puppet shows, painting and additional activities
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Attend and participate in weekly early childhood section meetings and all-faculty meetings
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Meet weekly with assistant(s)
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Have weekly office hours for meetings or phone calls with parents
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Participate in Child Studies
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Communicate in writing at least twice each month with parents to help them keep up with activities in the class, school events, and other updates
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Maintain the room in an orderly and safe fashion
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Provide written year-end narrative reports for the student's permanent record to include, but not limited to:
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Documentation of any classroom incidents or behavior of note, whether positive or negative, and keep written record of developmental milestones or stages. Children matriculating into the first grade will be assessed as to readiness in the spring before first grade.
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Take daily attendance
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Participate in enrollment process of new students in areas such as, but not limited to, student interviews, parent interviews, student assessment and arranging for prospective student 3 - 5 day class visits. Full-time faculty may have 3 interviews per week. Part-time faculty may have 2 interviews per week.
Parent Education
Teachers are to prepare a minimum of 4 parent meetings per year, 1 ˝ - 2 hours in length. Parent evenings or mornings are multipurpose: to educate parents about the Waldorf perspective of child development, the importance of warmth and rhythm, sleep and nutrition that supports health and growth, and the positive effects of developing the senses and imagination in contrast to over-stimulation and the effects of media and electronic media devices.
These meetings allow the parents to participate in the life and growth of the class through the teacher's description of the children's experiences; and to foster a supportive relationship among the parents.
Home Visits
Teachers are to make visits to homes of children newly enrolled in their classes or if the teacher is newly hired. These visits are to develop warmth and connection, and gain insight into the child through a picture of his or her home life.
Parent Conferences
Teachers are to hold conferences with parents as indicated by the school calendar. In these conferences, teacher and parents can discuss the child's social, artistic, and development and can work together to help the changing needs of the child in our times. Conferences may be held at any time when either parent or teacher feels the need to discuss an emerging concern or question.
Additional Responsibilities:
All employees share responsibility for the well-being of the school. Aspects of this responsibility are:
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Maintaining and striving for an openness to understand and work with the Anthroposophical underpinnings of Waldorf Education and child development
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Attendance and participation in weekly faculty meetings, three (3) In-Service sessions in the beginning and end of each academic year (August and June) and spring of each year (February or March)
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Service on at least one (1) Faculty committee and/or Board of Trustees of the school. First year teachers may be exempt from this requirement
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Attendance/assistance at major all-school activities in accordance with the All School Event Guidelines
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Participate as needed in Elves' Fair puppet show, Windows on Waldorf school tours, and Experience Waldorf Day
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Attendance at the All School Meetings called by the Board of Trustees
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Create age appropriate aesthetics in classrooms including nature tables and seasonal displays
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Participate in the design and execution of an individualized plan for professional development. Willingness to attend Waldorf Education training as set forth by LWS as part of individual professional development plan
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Maintain and make readily available a lesson plan that can be given to a substitute teacher in the event of an absence
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