Pedagogical Lead
Opening Statement
The Pedagogical Lead at Maple Village Waldorf School is responsible for leading and overseeing the school’s pedagogical life, supporting faculty development, guiding curriculum development and implementation, and ensuring alignment with Waldorf principles. As a member of the collaborative leadership team, the Pedagogical Lead works to uphold and advance the educational quality of the school by fostering a shared vision, supporting pedagogical excellence, and ensuring that decisions reflect the school’s mission and Waldorf educational values.
About
Our School:
We are a progressive suburban school housed in a historic church building in the quiet neighborhood of Belmont Heights. Our relationship with Long Beach Parks and Recreation allows us to utilize four parks within walking distance for partial school days. Our school was recently one of six private schools in the country to be named a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School for environmental sustainability, health and wellness, and STEM. We are located minutes from the beach, 1.5 hours to the desert, 2 hours to the mountains, and 30 minutes from a Waldorf high school. We have a diverse population, and we are focused on equitability and inclusion for people of all religions, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and gender identities/expressions. Our Village has a lot of heart, strong parent participation, and is centered on families, community, parent education, collaboration, and mutual respect. MVWS is an Associate Member of AWSNA and a Developing Member of WECAN.
Teaching Culture:
Our school is entering its 18th year and programs include Parent/Baby, Parent/Toddler, 3 Preschools, 2 Kindergartens, and Grades 1 – 8. We have an experienced faculty, strong peer mentoring program, and together we study, listen, counsel, laugh, eat, and celebrate. Our specialty subjects include Handwork, Woodwork, Spanish, Japanese, Games, Strings, Chorus, and Gardening. We also have a strong Early Childhood and Grades Extended Care program.
Essential Job Duties
Duties
Faculty Development & Evaluation
- Mentor and support Grades teachers–primarily in pedagogical planning and classroom management–with some support provided to Early Childhood faculty.
- Visit all classes (including subject classes) to ensure effective delivery of the educational program.
- Coordinate and oversee internal and external mentorship for new teachers.
- Conduct formal observations and coordinate evaluations in collaboration with the Pedagogical Committee.
- Support the development and implementation of annual professional development plans.
- Identify appropriate and meaningful trainings for ongoing education for faculty and manage professional development budget.
- Lead the continuing creation of a comprehensive Scope and Sequence that aligns with Waldorf principles, supports developmental learning goals, and reflects the progression of skills and content across all grades.
- Guide and maintain an active teacher evaluation calendar, ensuring timely documentation and follow-up.
- Facilitate conflict resolution among faculty when pedagogically relevant.
- Attend monthly Specialty Teacher meetings.
- Facilitate regular communication between Main Lesson and Specialty teachers.
Curriculum Oversight
- Ensure that the curriculum is developmentally aligned and consistent with Waldorf pedagogy and DEIJ practices.
- Review and provide guidance on pacing, block rotation, and vertical integration across grades.
- Support Specialty Teachers and Class Teachers with curriculum coordination and planning.
- Provide leadership in aligning the educational program with AWSNA accreditation requirements.
- Advises teachers of field trip opportunities and helps with field trip notices
- Stays abreast of current educational strategies and news
- Attends LBUSD Private School Meetings and works with faculty, administration and the district on the management of Title Funds.
- Works with LBUSD on all IEP students, including setting up observations, communicating with parents, and attending all IEP meetings.
- Works with LBUSD and MVWS families on the High School Admission process.
- Completes reference requests for all private high school applicants.
Faculty Governance & Participation
- Serve as the chair of the Pedagogical Committee.
- Leads the design and rhythm of faculty meetings, guiding pedagogical study.
- Coordinates Faculty In-Service Days with support of Founding Director and Administrative Director
- Attend leadership team meetings and participate in school-wide planning and initiatives.
- Contribute to the faculty’s work on calendar planning, festival life, and hiring.
Parent & Community Engagement
- Act as the primary point of contact for parent concerns related to pedagogy and academic progress in alignment with the school’s communication protocol.
- Support class teachers in family meetings or class evenings when pedagogical leadership is needed.
- Coordinate or support Parent Education events related to Waldorf pedagogy.
- Represent the educational program at outreach events, open houses, and high school placement evenings.
Qualifications
Competencies
- Waldorf teacher training and certification.
- Minimum 5 years of Waldorf classroom experience in Grades 1-8 preferred.
- Experience in a school leadership or mentoring role.
- Deep understanding of Waldorf pedagogy, child development, and the stages of learning.
- Strong communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to prioritize and lead within the constraints of a part-time role.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Live Scan and TB clearance
Employment Details
Compensation:
Full-time salary $71,000
Relationships
- Reports to: Board of Trustees
- Works in a collaborative partnership with the Founding Director and the Administrative Director as the day-to-day leadership team of Maple Village Waldorf School Administration.
Work Schedule
- 24 hours/week to full-time, as agreed.
To Apply
Hiring Process:
We invite you to complete our job application on our website (available at https://maplevillagewaldorf.org/career-opportunities/) and submit it, along with a cover letter, resume, and letters of reference to MVWS Dean of Education Lisa J. McCarthy at Lisa.McCarthy@maplevillageschool.org. Eligible applicants will be contacted for a phone interview, references will be contacted, and qualified applicants will be invited to an interview with our Hiring Committee.
MVWS is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace where every staff
member feels heard, supported, valued, and can share their authentic brilliance to move
the MVWS mission forward. MVWS is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.
Folx who are queer, trans, non-binary, Black, Indigenous, people of color, parents,
women, people with disabilities, immigrants, and anyone who has experienced systemic
oppression and/or gender-based violence are encouraged to apply. We are committed
to addressing issues of racism and inequity internally and externally.
To learn more about our school, please visit our website, Facebook, and Instagram pages at:
https://www.maplevillagewaldorf.org/