Early Childhood Teacher | 2025-2026 School Year

Early Childhood Teacher | 2025-2026 School Year

River Valley Waldorf School is seeking an individual to join the Early Childhood Department in a mixed-aged early childhood program beginning the 2025-2026 school year. The position requires authentic warmth, good humor, joy, and enthusiasm for working with young children. The ideal candidate must also be willing to commit to the ongoing work of diversity, equity, and inclusion and have familiarity or interest in best practices of Waldorf early childhood education. This position requires motivation, and the ability to engage in a physically active day while caring for children in the classroom space and surrounding forest areas in all seasons and weather.

River Valley Waldorf School is a compassionate and courageous community. We are a school that nurtures human capacities, fostering integrity and belonging, a connection with the arts, and stewardship of the natural world in the children we serve. We inspire freedom of thinking, strength of will, and depth of feeling to cultivate confident, creative problem solvers and advocates for justice.

General Description

The early childhood lead teacher at River Valley Waldorf School will cultivate a nurturing classroom community within the school’s welcoming early childhood building and outdoor play space, nestled in the scenic surroundings of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Each day begins outdoors, immersed in nature’s beauty, fostering an environment where children can thrive. In collaboration with a dedicated team of teachers, the lead teacher will provide kind and supportive care in a safe indoor and outdoor setting while contributing to the school’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential for collaborating with colleagues, composing parent communications such as weekly newsletters, leading parent education events, writing student reports, and facilitating meetings with parents and guardians. The lead teacher will support children in becoming their best selves by modeling behavior aligned with Waldorf pedagogy and participating in regular departmental meetings focused on planning, studying Waldorf education, and curriculum development. This role requires a safety-minded, flexible, and responsive individual with keen observational skills to support the growth and harmony of each child.

Qualifications

Candidates must have a completed Bachelor’s degree, a commitment to Waldorf education, and proven capacities for teaching. Our ideal candidate must be able to flow in and out of indoor and outdoor spaces, be open to innovative curriculum and pedagogy, and embrace a growth mindset. They must also be receptive to feedback, and enjoy working collaboratively with other faculty and administrators to create an educational environment that is aligned with the school’s mission and program goals. A Waldorf teaching certificate or current enrollment in a Waldorf teacher training program is strongly preferred. Those without Waldorf early childhood certification must agree to pursue certification.

Hours and Compensation

Daily 8:00 am – 3:30 pm with weekly after-school faculty meetings and occasional special events on evenings and weekends.

Salary ranges from $33,000 – $52,000 based on education and experience.

River Valley Waldorf School offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being and professional growth of its faculty and staff. Benefits include competitive salaries, generous health insurance options, and student tuition remission. Employees also have access to professional development opportunities to deepen their understanding of Waldorf education and further their careers. Additionally, the school fosters a supportive and collaborative work environment that values work-life balance, community engagement, and personal fulfillment, aligning with the holistic values at the heart of Waldorf education.

Start Date & Timeline

Start Date: July 1, 2025

Inservice Training: Begins two weeks before the start of the school year

School Year: September 2, 2025 – June 11, 2026

Required training obtained during employment may include:

• CPR and First Aid
• Mandated Reporter Training
• Stewards of Children – Darkness to Light
• Anti-bias Training

The 7-acres of River Valley Waldorf School sits on forested hills that overlook the Delaware River on unceded Lenni-Lenape land. We are so grateful for the First Nations people’s reverent caretaking of the land we now call Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania. Upper Black Eddy is located in Bucks County and only 40-60 minutes from major metropolitan areas. Our programs include a caretaker-child program, mixed-age early childhood classes, and grades one through eight. The River Valley Waldorf community strives to be supportive, and welcoming, and the school has recently deepened its commitment to diversity and equity initiatives. The school is a full member of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN) and is accredited by both the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) and the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS).

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resumé, and a short biographical sketch to either:

email: info@rivervalleyschool.org

mail: River Valley Waldorf School

1395 Bridgeton Hill Road

Upper Black Eddy, PA 18972

Join us in fostering a vibrant educational community where creativity, connection, and commitment to social justice are at the heart of our work.