Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director

• Reports to: Head of School
• Full-Time Staff, yearly position (12 months) 
• Salary commensurate with experience, range is $70,000 to $95,000 
• Benefits include medical and dental health insurance coverage, retirement, flexible spending, transit benefits, long and short term disability.

About the Brooklyn Waldorf School (BWS)

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. 

Job Description 

Strategically lead DEI work at the School

• Support the HOS in developing, implementing, evaluating and reporting on DEI strategic goals in close partnership with the DEI Committee (DEIC)
• Understand the DEI needs, aspirations and capabilities of our staff and community
• Utilize this understanding of our community to create a multi-year strategy for advancing the equity work of the organization within the broader context of BWS’ strategic plan
• Ensure systems and processes for the collection, auditing and reporting of demographic data are utilized to track progress on DEI initiatives. 

Partner with the HOS and Faculty Council to provide leadership for faculty, staff, and Board around DEI topics

• Work with Faculty and Pedagogical Leadership to ensure the curriculum is culturally aware and delivers anti-bias content, as well as being culturally responsive across all areas of the School.  
• Develop, lead, and facilitate faculty and parent workshops and discussions around DEI topics
• Partner with teaching staff to develop and implement age and pedagogically appropriate DEI methodologies for classroom management
• As a member of the Faculty/Staff Development Committee,  create and and implement professional development goals around DEI for each teaching faculty member
• Develop and oversee DEI-related aspects of a pilot teacher mentorship program
• As a member of the Faculty/Staff Development Committee, create and implement professional development goals as part of the school’s overarching approach to staff development
• Meet regularly with the DEIC

Provide individual and group support for faculty, students, and families for DEI related topics

• Serve as the in-house point person and coordinator of the school’s DEI initiatives
• Facilitate affinity groups
• Work closely with our existing Care Team  (school counselor, SEL teacher, Learning Support, etc.) to provide support for children through a DEI lens 

Partner with Admissions, Communications, Community Outreach, and other Administrative areas.

• Develop strategies for outreach to families who are under-represented in our school population
• Work to make sure strategies are implemented and reviewed, and responsive to changes in the larger Brooklyn community as well as the educational climate.
• Contribute to the creation and review of HR policies and practices that support a diverse and healthy employee community, ensuring accountability of faculty and leadership.

Participate in the larger school and local community. 

• Develop and maintain healthy neighbor relations, including being a “listening ear” for community members.
• With Festivals, Assemblies and All School Events Committee, ensure DEI is used as a lens in the planning of our school’s festivals and events
• Attend weekly staff meetings and monthly faculty meetings on a regular basis, and weekly section meetings as needed.
• With Festivals, Assemblies and All School Events Committee, actively participate in planning and holding occasional special events (open houses, festivals, fair).

Skills Needed: 

• Bachelor’s degree in ethnic studies, sociology, psychology or social work, education, or another DEI-adjacent field.  Master’s or other advanced degree preferred.
• At least 4 years prior DEI experience in a pre-K-8 school, or similar environment, including at least one year in a leadership or executive role.
• At least 7-10 years prior experience in a pre-K-8 school, or similar environment. 
• Familiarity with Waldorf education and/or an openness to doing professional development about Waldorf education.
• Familiarity with Brooklyn neighborhoods. Knowledge of Bedford-Stuyvesant’s history and community is preferred.
• Knowledge of and experience with relevant federal, state, and local laws (Title VII, Title IX, etc.) 
• Proven capacity to design and lead professional development programs.
• Experience with conflict resolution processes and/or restorative justice methods.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed discipline or trauma-informed pedagogical practices preferred.
• Proficiency with Gmail, Google suite, Microsoft Suites, and databases.  

Physical Requirements: 

• Be able to be present physically and move about the building during school hours.
• Be able to remain in a stationary position (e.g. work on a computer) for multiple hours. 
• Observe academic lessons, school events, and social interactions.  
• Converse with community members regularly.

Accountability

The DEI Director will be accountable and report to the HOS for satisfactory performance of their role and duties outlined in this job description.  The DEI Director will be reviewed after the first 90 days and annually.

Brooklyn Waldorf School is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for its students, visitors, faculty, and staff, and to ensuring that educational and employment decisions are based on an individual’s abilities and qualifications. BWS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender (which includes a person’s actual or perceived sex, as well as gender identity and expression), age, marital status, disability, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, familial status, predisposing genetic characteristics, actual or perceived domestic violence victim status, unemployment status, caregiver status or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local law, in carrying on its educational activities or in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, employment policies, financial aid programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. People of color and other historically underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

If interested, please apply here: https://fs6.formsite.com/tbws/form142/index.html