Lead Early Childhood Teacher

Overview

Singing Cedars School is growing its early childhood program to include a mixed age Nursery Program. The Lead Early Childhood Teacher will create a nurturing environment for up to 8 children, ages 18 months to 3 years old, and will work closely with an assistant, parents, and other staff in support of providing high quality Waldorf-inspired education that meets the needs of each individual child and the class as a whole.

The Lead Teacher is responsible for supporting the healthy development of all children in the class and for maintaining a beautiful, rhythmic classroom environment. The program will run from 8:30am-3:30pm, Monday-Friday. Lead teachers are expected to attend weekly meetings with other early childhood staff, as well as regular meetings with the College of Teachers. Responsibilities also include festival planning and participation, facilitating parent evenings and parent-teacher conferences throughout the year, and attending community work days.

• Create a nurturing environment for up to 8 children, ages 18 months to 3 years, and collaborate with an assistant, parents, and staff.
• Support the healthy development of all children in the class and maintain a rhythmic, organized classroom.
• Ensure the program runs from 8:30am to 3:30pm, Monday through Friday.
• Attend weekly meetings with other early childhood staff and regular meetings with the College of Teachers.
• Participate in festival planning, parent evenings, and parent-teacher conferences throughout the year.
• Attend community work days as part of school involvement.

• Experience working with young children is essential.
• The ideal candidate has Waldorf training and experience in a Waldorf or Lifeways early childhood setting.
• Consideration will be given to applicants with other teaching experience and a strong desire to learn about the Waldorf approach.

Singing Cedars School offers Waldorf-inspired education for children in preschool through Grade 4. We currently have one mixed-age, nature-based kindergarten serving children 4–6 years old and two mixed-age grades classes, situated on three semi-wooded acres, within walking distance of a forest and reservoir. We are adding a second early childhood class in , and are looking for an experienced lead teacher and assistant to join our staff.

Our campus is in rural southeast Iowa, near Fairfield, with access to walking and biking trails and a small-town, cosmopolitan feel.

Our current staff has 35 years combined experience in Waldorf kindergartens. Teachers meet regularly for study, review, and festival planning. Benefits include partial tuition remission for enrolled students of staff, a supportive collegial environment, paid time off for salaried employees, and a potential recruitment bonus offered to childcare workers by the state of Iowa. We offer competitive pay for the area, with added pay commensurate with experience and training in the classroom.

Singing Cedars places a strong emphasis on cultivating a relationship with the natural world. Our mixed-age kindergarten class begins nearly every day outdoors, in any weather. Teachers must be prepared to be outdoors in every season, rain or shine.

• Physical requirements include taking frequent walks in all weather and using hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Ability to stand and sit; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, and squat.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds routinely, and up to 40 pounds for emergencies.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform essential functions.

To apply:

please send a cover letter, resume, and a completed application to

Singing Cedars School, 2149 N. B Street, Fairfield, IA 52556

We look forward to hearing from you!