The Waldorf School of Princeton seeks an experienced teacher with strong leadership skills to help guide our School in building pedagogical strength to serve the diverse and academically-minded community of Princeton, New Jersey.

Love where you work! The Waldorf School of Princeton sits on 20 acres of beautifully tended campus, including access to a creek, forest walks, and carefully tended gardens. The campus is within easy reach of the thriving village center of Hopewell and the college town of Princeton. Further afield, New York City, Philadelphia, and the Jersey Shore provide endless entertainment at weekends.

An Associate Member of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America, the Waldorf School of Princeton is committed to providing a rich Waldorf education to all its students, from pre-K through 8th grade. In 2021, the school committed to a nine-year plan to build our school into a beacon for the local community, with a team of dedicated, well-supported, excellent educators at its heart. Since 2020, our enrollment has grown from 107 to 149 students and we are preparing for continued growth in the coming years.

Joining the Waldorf School of Princeton, you will find yourself among kindred spirits. Our faculty and staff form a supportive group, working together for the children in our care, encouraging one another to do their best work, and extending grace when we struggle.

Position Overview

The Faculty Chair manages the pedagogical program for the school under the direction of the College of Teachers. Along with the College of Teachers, the Faculty Chair is accountable for the quality and consistency of instruction. The Faculty Chair serves as the supporter and coordinator of the faculty in their roles as educators and cultivates an optimal environment that upholds Waldorf teaching of the highest quality. The Faculty Chair works with the College to maintain the pedagogical voice of the school and uphold the principles and practices of Waldorf education in working with all groups within the school.

The Faculty Chair reports to the School Administrator. These two positions in partnership provide day-to-day leadership and decision-making for the School. The Registrar and other members of the administrative team provide support. 

This is a full-time, year-round, primarily administrative position, with the expectation of about 6 instructional hours per week. Pay is based on our teachers’ salary scale, with a 122% multiple applied to account for the year-round work. The position carries a minimum salary of $77k for the 2023-24 school year, and a maximum of $103k, for someone with exceptional qualifications and experience. The position includes health and retirement benefits. The Faculty Chair position requires flexibility in scheduling including making time available outside the school day, at weekends, and during school closures.

Candidate Specification

You have a strong commitment to Waldorf education and a deep interest in providing a vibrant, relevant, experiential curriculum for a diverse group of students. 

You are a seasoned, certified Waldorf teacher or faculty leader. Experience as a middle school class teacher is a plus. You are either experienced in or highly curious about school administration. You are attracted to an opportunity to help build a growing school and help shape a dedicated middle school team with the needs of a diverse community in mind.

You have excellent interpersonal and written communication skills and a capacity for servant leadership. You have undertaken meaningful personal work in the realm of identifying and undoing racism. You have the ability to bring warmth to difficult conversations and help bring about a resolution to conflicts. You have an aptitude for problem-solving, troubleshooting, and conflict resolution, and provide a wise head in a crisis. You have the ability to collaborate, ensuring that your colleagues share ownership in key decisions affecting them. Comfort with scheduling software, spreadsheets, and financial statements is a plus. You will be comfortable operating in a (close to) paperless office environment.

You are seeking a position for at least three years and can offer at least one specialist subject. We would particularly value spacial dynamics or math as a specialty, but this is not a requirement. 

Position Responsibilities

Leadership and Supervision:

Day-to-day supervision of all members of the faculty.  

Coordinate the professional development of all faculty, with guidance from the Faculty Development Committee, including:

• Personally visiting and observing classrooms and providing feedback to teachers
• Providing support, and mentoring Hiring external mentors where needed
• Supporting the College in the development and delivery of the school curriculum
• Updating the curriculum annually to reflect current needs 
• Managing the annual evaluation and performance review process

Provide oversight and support for the Early Childhood Faculty Coordinator.

Lead the preparation of the School’s Scope and Sequence reflecting current pedagogical practices.

Lead the faculty hiring process.

Lead weekly all-faculty meetings and design and participate in a schedule of regular meetings among faculty to support their collaboration and professional development. 

Collaboration: 

Work collaboratively with the College of Teachers and School Administration to implement School policies and agreements relating to pedagogical matters.

Co-lead the School’s efforts to support diversity, equity, and inclusion, both within the curriculum and in the School’s policies and practices.

Support members of the faculty in resolving parent concerns and addressing student needs. 

Serve on these committees and groups:

• College of Teachers
• Executive Committee
• Finance Committee
• Compensation Committee
• Faculty Development Committee
• Care Group / Learning Support Committee

Administration:

Ensure that part-time faculty members are fairly compensated for their work.

Create and manage the pedagogical schedule for the school and ensure that teachers have the resources and support they need to carry out their work.

Create and oversee a system for ensuring that teacher substitutions may readily be arranged.

Provide regular as-needed written communication, including contributions to the School newsletters ‘The Windy Hill’ and ‘Short and Sweet’ and joint announcements to the community with the School Administrator.

Serve as a point of contact for parents to express concerns and share ideas.

Serve as a liaison to AWSNA on behalf of the school.

Assist the School Administrator in creating an annual budget.

To apply: Send resume and covering letter to School Administrator. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.