Upper School Director
Opening Statement
The Upper School Director at the Hartsbrook School is a key leadership position responsible for the overall management and success of the Upper School Program, including academic, social, and emotional development of students in Grades 6–12.
Reporting to the Head of School, this role ensures that the Upper School’s curriculum, teaching practices, and student experience are rooted in the values and philosophy of Waldorf education, fostering a culture of academic excellence, personal growth, and community engagement.
Reporting to the Upper School Director are the upper school teachers, the high school administrative coordinator/registrar, and the athletic director. In this role, the Director leads the Upper School faculty, supports student learning and well-being, and builds strong relationships with Upper School families and the broader school community.
About
Hartsbrook has been a leader in the independent school movement in the Pioneer Valley for over forty years. Our graduates are known for integrated, flexible and creative thinking, high standards, and the capacity to bring ideas into the world with passion, and excellence. Our families develop lifelong connections and find support for their parenting journey. The Hartsbrook School was founded in 1981 in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts by parents. As a fledgling Waldorf school, located on a biodynamic farm, we began with one teacher and a handful of kindergarteners. Today, The Hartsbrook School continues to thrive, enrolling over 250 students from early childhood through grade twelve at our 54 acre campus in Hadley, Massachusetts.
Hartsbrook’s campus encompasses extraordinary acres of preserved land, working farmland, woodlands, wetlands, and an ever-changing view of the Holyoke Range. Forty-two of our 54 acres are part of the Agricultural Preservation Restriction program, which grounds our integrated Land Stewardship program: agricultural arts, animal husbandry, pollinators, and CSA. Our teaching spaces include our original 1900s farmhouse, new sustainable buildings, advanced science labs, barnyards, greenhouses, gardens, forest classrooms, and fields.
The Hartsbrook School offers our students an education that builds the capacities needed to meet the challenges of today’s world. Our programs – from early childhood through high school – fully engage each child, nurturing and inspiring them as their unique gifts unfold. Our approach is unhurried, intentional, and deeply informed by our understanding of childhood and adolescent development. Academics are learned through experience and experimentation. Days are filled with arts, music, movement, academics, and meaningful work guided by our teachers who are committed to excellence and authorities on their subject matter, as well as storytellers, musicians, artists, and actors.
The Hartsbrook School stands on the ancestral homelands of the Nipemaug, of Awanusk and her people of the Kwinitekw Valley. We honor and deeply respect the Indigenous peoples of these broad lands. It is our task to understand the history that led to The Hartsbrook School being here today, including the harms of colonization both past and present; to develop relationships with the Indigenous peoples in this area; and, through our approach to the education of children and in joining with others, to restore balance and health to the land, to the human community, and to the being of the earth. The Hartsbrook School and Waldorf education embraces our common humanity. We promote an understanding of all the world’s peoples and their experiences. We are independent and non-sectarian, educating all children while valuing our many cultural or religious backgrounds. The Hartsbrook School is committed to antiracism and strives to make this work a priority in the life of the community. We reject discrimination based on racial identity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, creed, religion, national origin, or ethnicity.
Essential Job Duties
Educational Leadership
- Lead the ongoing process of Upper School curriculum evaluation, development, and implementation, based in Waldorf pedagogy and informed by the school’s unique mission and vision.
- Steer the continued evolution of our program for young people in the context of a 54-acre campus, 42 acres of which are under agricultural restriction, with unique opportunities for land stewardship and place-based education.
- Lead and engage faculty in purposeful pedagogical dialogues regularly, ensuring that curriculum and teaching practices reflect the developmental stages in grades 6 through 12.
- Structure and continually improve the transition from Middle to High School for students and caregivers.
- Monitor and support student progress, ensuring high academic standards and personal growth.
- Encourage interdisciplinary learning and creative problem-solving through pedagogical and curricular dialogues with teachers and colleagues.
- Foster opportunities for students to excel in their intellectual passions, including through community engagement or new course offerings.
Faculty Support and Development
- Recruit, hire, and retain highly qualified Upper School faculty prepared to deliver Waldorf pedagogy and uphold the school’s mission, and support their training and development as Waldorf Educators.
- With Head of School, develop and implement professional development programs for faculty focused on pedagogical and professional growth.
- Conduct regular classroom observations and provide constructive feedback to support teacher growth.
- Foster a collaborative and innovative teaching environment across the entire school.
- Encourage teachers to engage in continuous professional learning and development that is substantive and meaningful.
Student Support
- Promote a positive and respectful school culture grounded in the School’s mission and traditions, evolving these thoughtfully in accordance with the values of Waldorf education.
- Develop and maintain an effective Restorative Justice based student support system.
- Collaborate with student support staff, ensuring the effective implementation of developmentally appropriate behavior management and conflict resolution strategies to support student success.
- Collaborate with faculty, student support staff, and parents to implement students’ academic and social-emotional plans.
- Ensure that the school environment is safe, inclusive, and conducive to learning.
- Meet with families to discuss student progress, concerns, or disputes.
- Coordinate with teachers, college advisors, and/or academic support to track student progress.
Parent and Community Engagement
- Act as the primary point of contact between the Upper School and families for supporting individual students’ academic and social-emotional success.
- Communicate regularly with parents about school events, student progress, and policies.
- Organize and lead parent meetings, educational workshops, and community events.
- Build strong relationships with families and the broader school community.
Administrative and Strategic Leadership
- Develop and manage the Upper School budget in collaboration with the Finance Director.
- Responsible for the program schedule for the Upper School, including scheduling of classes, field trips, plays, and extracurricular activities.
- Ensure compliance with school policies, accreditation standards, and state regulations.
- Participate in strategic planning with the Head of School and Board of Trustees.
- Represent the Upper School at Board meetings, school events, and public functions.
- Coordinate with the Admissions Director, the Head of School, and other administrative and faculty staff to attract and retain mission-appropriate students.
Qualifications
If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Our preferred candidate will bring most if not all of the following:
- Deep understanding and commitment to Waldorf education principles and adolescent development.
- Bachelor’s degree in Education or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
- Completed Waldorf Elementary or High School teacher training or bringing similar experience.
- Minimum of 5–7 years teaching and/or administrative experience in a Waldorf or independent school setting. Experience in an AWSNA-recognized program preferred.
- Minimum of 5–7 years of teaching and/or administrative experience, preferably in a Waldorf or independent school setting.
- Visionary and strategic leadership, strong decision-making, communication, and interpersonal skills, including conflict resolution.
- Ability to inspire and support faculty and students, creating an environment promoting academic rigor and social-emotional support.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities.
- Enthusiasm about the school’s commitment to fostering inclusion, diversity, equity, and social justice demonstrating cultural competence.
- Ability to engage, collaborate and promote trust with diverse staff, students, parents, and community members within and outside of the school.
- Proficiency with school management software and communication platforms. The school uses Blackbaud and Google Suite for Education.
Employment Details
Location: Hartsbrook Waldorf School, Hadley, MA
Reports To: Head of School
Supervising: Upper School Faculty and Staff
Schedule: Year-round position
Compensation: $66,100–80,800
Benefits include employer contributions to health and dental plans, long-term disability insurance, life insurance, sick time, personal time, vacation time, and professional development funding. Tuition remission is available for eligible children enrolling at Hartsbrook.
403(b) retirement contributions have been paused for the 2025-2026 school year. The contributions from the school generally begin only after one year of working at the school.
Requirements:
First Aid/CPR/AED Certification
Allergy/Epi-Pen training
Completion of required compliance trainings, e.g., mandated reporting, bullying prevention
Ability to pass background checks
Work Environment:
This job operates in a professional office/environment and requires strict professionalism with students, families, and colleagues
To Apply
Please send your complete application for the above openings to employment@hartsbrook.org which will include:
- A cover letter explaining your interest and suitability;
- Your most recent and up-to-date resume;
- A completed Employment Application including the names of at least three (3) references;
- All employees need to pass a background check, including fingerprinting, and must possess the legal right to work in the United States.
The Hartsbrook School is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, or any protected class. People of color and others underrepresented in our community are encouraged to apply. We recognize that the range of ethnicities, nationalities, languages, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientation, learning differences, and life experiences within our community enhance the school’s learning environment, and we are committed to fostering equity and inclusion. The Hartsbrook School is dedicated to dismantling racism and oppression, to continuing to learn and grow and ask the difficult questions of ourselves, our communities, and the world.
