Lead Teacher, Early Childhood

TERM: 2026/2027

REPORTS TO: Interim Head of Schools

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Exempt

COMPENSATION: $65,559-$113,636/Annually; depending upon relevant experience

LOCATION: 11 Jefferson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238 (on-site)

Role Overview

The Lead Teacher, Early Childhood guides a class of young children through a nurturing, play-based Waldorf program, partnering with a Support Teacher to create a warm, rhythmic classroom environment. This teacher leads daily curriculum planning and delivery, communicates regularly with families, and helps carry forward BWS's mission of educating the whole child.

Responsibilities
• Create an engaging play-based Waldorf Early Childhood curriculum focused on nurturing the whole child-intellectually, emotionally, and physically-through a balance of structured activities and creative play.
• Oversee daily operations, guide and oversee the class Support Teacher
• Maintain student records
• Prepare student end-of-year reports for parents in accordance with school policies
• Write bi-weekly newsletters updating parents on class activities
• Establish and maintain a positive and professional relationship with students, parents, and other teachers and school personnel

Expectations
• Be available to parents for collaboration on student needs through Class Meetings, biannual parent-teacher conferences, and individual meetings
• Establish and maintain a positive and professional relationship with students, parents, and other teachers and school personnel
• Attend weekly faculty meetings and occasional special events (open houses, festivals, fairs)
• Assist in school governance by serving on at least two committees relevant to grade, interest, and expertise (after your first year)
• Maintain an aesthetically pleasing and organized classroom space
• Comply with the established policies and procedures of the school as stated in the Faculty and Staff Handbook

Please Note: This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change, i.e., emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, rush jobs, or technological developments.

Requirements

Requirements
• Bachelor's degree and experience as a Teacher (Required); Waldorf experience (Highly preferred)
• A love of children ages 2-6 and a deep desire to support their growth, through observation and collaboration
• Previous Waldorf training and/or a willingness to take Waldorf courses within the first few years of employment (professional development funding is available to partially offset associated costs)
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for significant periods of time, use staircases often, and lift up to 50lbs
• Ability to be outdoors with children in all seasons
• Musical and artistic ability
• Enthusiasm, flexibility, and a warm demeanor
• A strong connection to and appreciation for nature
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to connect with children, parents, and colleagues
• Physical stamina and enthusiasm for spending significant time outdoors in various weather conditions, and walk up to 2 miles
• Dedicated to fostering a Waldorf Pedagogy that moves beyond European-centric perspectives and prioritizes a diverse, multicultural curriculum.

Benefits

Benefits
• Full-Time Faculty, yearly employment agreement
• Competitive salary, commensurate with experience, non-exempt
• Benefits include medical and dental health insurance coverage, retirement, flexible spending, and Metrocards (where applicable)
• Opportunities for professional development
• Reduced tuition for dependents
• Childcare during faculty meetings and parent-teacher conferences