1st Grade Lead Teacher

Job Title

1st Grade Lead Grade Teacher

Maple Village Waldorf School in Long Beach, California, is seeking a dedicated and developmentally attuned Lead Grade Teacher to guide a Grade 1 class, beginning in the 2026–2027 school year. This position offers the opportunity to carry a class forward through the elementary grades and to work collaboratively within a collegial, mission-driven Waldorf school community.

The Grade Teacher is responsible for creating a warm, structured, and imaginative learning environment that supports the academic, social, and emotional development of each child in accordance with Waldorf pedagogy and child development. The candidate should possess strong interpersonal and communication skills, effective classroom management, joy, warmth, flexibility, and enthusiasm.

The Lead Grade Teacher is responsible for guiding students academically, socially, and emotionally through the elementary and middle school years in alignment with Waldorf pedagogy and child development. Beginning with Grade 1, the teacher designs and delivers a rich, developmentally appropriate curriculum that evolves with the growing capacities of the children as the class progresses through the grades.

The teacher plans and teaches main lesson blocks and subject instruction in core academic areas, integrating storytelling, movement, music, rhythm, and the arts to support deep understanding and joyful learning. Instruction reflects a strong awareness of developmental stages and the changing needs of students from early childhood through early adolescence. Ongoing observation and assessment of students inform instructional planning, classroom management, and individualized support.

As the primary guide for the class, the teacher cultivates a warm, orderly, and respectful classroom environment that supports healthy social dynamics, clear expectations, and a strong sense of community. The teacher works thoughtfully with individual students and the class as a whole, addressing academic progress, social relationships, and emotional well‑being with care and professionalism.

The Lead Grade Teacher maintains regular and meaningful communication with parents, prepares written student reports, and participates in parent‑teacher conferences and class meetings. Clear communication and partnership with families are essential to supporting students’ long‑term development and success.

The teacher collaborates closely with specialty teachers, support staff, and school leadership to ensure coherence across the curriculum and continuity of care for students. Active participation in faculty meetings, pedagogical discussions, professional development, and school events is an integral part of the role. The teacher is expected to engage in ongoing self‑reflection, professional growth, and contribution to the broader life of the school community.

Required or Strongly Preferred

• Waldorf teacher training or enrollment in an AWSNA‑recognized teacher education program
• Experience teaching in an elementary or primary classroom setting
• Strong understanding of child development, particularly the lower grades
• Commitment to Waldorf education and its pedagogical principles
• Excellent communication, organizational, and classroom management skills

Additional Assets

• Experience carrying a class or teaching early grades
• Background in the arts (music, movement, handwork, visual arts)
• Experience working collaboratively in a faculty‑led or shared‑leadership environment
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and respect for human dignity

• Plan, prepare, and deliver developmentally appropriate instruction in accordance with Waldorf pedagogy and the school’s educational program.
• Teach core academic subjects and design main lesson blocks that integrate artistic, practical, and experiential elements appropriate to each developmental stage.
• Establish and maintain a safe, respectful, and well‑organized classroom environment that supports student learning, social development, and emotional well‑being.
• Observe, assess, and document student progress academically, socially, and emotionally, and use these observations to…