Job Description

JOB TITLE: Grade Teacher (Full Time) 2025-2026 School Year

We are seeking a full-time, trained elementary school class teacher for the 2025-2026 program year for our Waldorf Program. We value Waldorf-trained teachers, but are also open to meeting those who may bring other teaching experiences and talents. We are looking for those with an avid commitment to growing their career as a Waldorf teacher, as well as those who deeply enjoy educating children in the outdoors.

We offer the amazing benefit of being located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Truckee, CA. We are surrounded by the beautiful, big, bold outdoors with opportunities for backpacking, skiing, mountain biking, camping, swimming, and boating activities, and beyond. Come and play in the wilderness with us! Our Waldorf programs have been rooted in Truckee since 2015, and we are looking for teachers who are interested in helping to grow our program into the future!

The right individual will be responsible for teaching age-appropriate core subjects with creativity and imagination, all while striving for an equitable and inclusive classroom. We are looking for candidates with a strong commitment to looping with their class. Our grade teachers stay with their classes typically through grades 1st-4th/5th, 5th/6th-8th, or 1st-8th.

Job Purpose Statement: A Grades Teacher is responsible for providing a comprehensive education program for students in a manner that nurtures and guides them according to the needs of each individual child, the family, and the community as a whole while supporting the vision & mission of Wild River.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher)
• A certificate of Waldorf Teacher Training Completion is highly preferred.
• Prior Waldorf teaching experience preferred.
• A deep commitment to Waldorf principles and interest in self-development.
• Willingness to loop grades 1 - 8.
• Ability, willingness, and excitement to teach outside.
• U.S. work visa, if necessary.

COMPENSATION:

• Highly competitive and guaranteed Base Salary
• Pay: $60,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year, dependent on experience and training
• Health Insurance: Medical, Dental, and Vision with 50% premium cost covered by Wild River
• Discretionary bonuses
• Options for professional development stipend
• Retirement plan offering

JOB FUNCTIONS:

• We are looking for teachers with an avid interest in growing in their Waldorf teaching careers! Wild River is committed to upholding the tradition of Waldorf education through the wisdom and knowledge of Waldorf principles, in addition to practices in equity and inclusion.
• Instruct students in reading and language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, health, physical education, art, and music based on a Waldorf method curriculum and incorporating the attainment of the California Common Core Standards
• Create lively, interactive lesson plans.
• Understand the model of child development that underlies the Waldorf curriculum and provide a level of instruction based on each student’s reasonable achievement potential by drawing on and valuing individual backgrounds, interests, temperaments, development of social skills, and artistic preparation, through lesson preparation and classroom management.
• Commit to each student individually throughout their time at Wild River.
• Ability to provide for the children a conscious model of responsible behavior that together with loving authority and discipline, conveys to them a living sense of respect, reverence, and gratitude.
• Ability to develop strong cooperative relationships with both students and their parents. Maintain well-organized records and submit required work samples and attendance in a timely way.
• Promote self-directed, reflective learning for all students by engaging students in problem-solving, critical thinking, and other activities that make subject matter meaningful.
• Establish and articulate goals for student learning through the designing and implementing of both short and long-term classroom projects.
• Ability to teach academic content as well as share personal talents and interests to contribute to Wild River’s Specialty class and or after-school offerings.
• Actively engage parents in the children’s education and provide them with relevant and appropriate feedback regarding their child’s growth, development, and progress.
• Nurture a healthy, positive relationship with each parent and among the parent group.
• Continue on the path of self-development and be willing to adapt teaching methods to meet the needs of the students. Be enthusiastic about learning and commit to continuing professional development.
• Maintain a beautiful classroom space
• Have a strong sense of community and shared mission.
• Communicate with students, colleagues, and parents clearly.
• Be willing to collaborate with colleagues and parents to ensure student progress
• Attend weekly faculty meetings, scheduled in-service days, student success (SSTs) teams, I.E.P. meetings, community festivals, and other events where the teacher’s attendance is required (ie plays, assemblies, field trips).
• Perform recess, play, and before and after-hours pickup duty when needed as assigned by the director.
• Identify students who may have special needs and bring those students to the attention of the administrator for inclusion in the school’s Student Study Team.
• Uses assessments of student progress to make adjustments as necessary.
• Help organize field trips, group meet-ups, and events that help foster community within their group of students and the larger Wild River Community.
• Hold individual conferences with the families of each child a minimum of two times during the school year, once in the fall and once near the end of the school year, to share the annual written report of the child’s progress.
• Write year-end student reports for students 1st through 5th grades which will include an assessment of academic progress and the child’s social, emotional, and physical growth.
• Participate in teacher enrichment opportunities, continuing education, and workshops, particularly those that support Waldorf curriculum and education.
• Uphold school policies and procedures concerning attendance, disciplinary action, student attire, classroom decorum, etc.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience Required: 2+ years working with elementary-age children in an educational setting. Waldorf experience, training, or Certificate desirable.

Education Required: BA plus a California teaching credential preferred, or a degree in Education.

Skills: Use correct English in both written and verbal form, use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation, remain calm and focused under pressure, work effectively unsupervised, and keep errors to a minimum and efficiency to a maximum. Must have good communication skills with parents, students, and staff. Willingness and love for working in outdoor settings.

Knowledge of rules, regulations, policies, and laws applicable to educating students. Knowledge of Waldorf curriculum, therapy and behavior intervention strategies, child development, counseling and consultation methods, outdoor education, and a variety of class management and educational strategies is appreciated.

Ability  to sit for prolonged periods, work independently, understand, and carry out oral and written instructions. Ability to interact with persons of different age groups and cultural backgrounds. Ability to manage stressful situations with employees and community groups. Significant physical abilities include reaching / handling / finger movements for handwork / talking / listening, near visual acuity/visual accommodation.

Physical Demands:

• Frequent: Walking, sitting, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling
• Occasional: Climbing, running, jumping
• Maximum Weights: Lift 50 lbs. Carry 25 lbs.

Licenses, Certifications, Bonding, and/or Testing Required: Hold a valid California Teaching Credential or its equivalent. Waldorf Certification preferred. Must have a valid Driver’s License and evidence of insurability, Criminal Justice Fingerprint Clearance, TB Clearance. A First Aid and CPR, WFR or First Responder Certificate are highly desirable.

Please send the following to: hiring@wild-river.org

• Letter of intent addressing why you wish to join our team at Wild River
• Resume
• Short biography providing further insights about you and your teaching experience
• Three professional references

Thank you for your interest in working with Wild River!

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