Garden Teacher 2026-2027
Opening Statement
It’s a truly exciting time at the Santa Cruz Waldorf School (SCWS). With a thriving enrollment, a team of experienced and collaborative colleagues, a deeply supportive community, and a dedicated Board of Trustees, our school is brimming with possibility. As we look forward to the 2026/2027 academic year, we remain committed to fostering diversity, growth, and meaningful campus renewal. Guided by a thoughtful strategic plan, we feel inspired and energized by the opportunities ahead to strengthen our foundation and nurture the vibrant spirit of our school for years to come.
We are seeking a warm, organized, and enthusiastic Garden Teacher to join our faculty at Santa Cruz Waldorf School. This role offers a meaningful opportunity to steward our school garden as a living classroom while bringing a rich, developmentally appropriate gardening curriculum to students across the grades.
The Garden Teacher will care for and cultivate the garden space throughout the seasons, while guiding students in a hands-on exploration of the rhythms of nature, ecological awareness, and sustainable growing practices. Through practical work and observation, students are invited to develop a relationship with the land, an understanding of natural cycles, and a deep appreciation for the sources of their food.
The ideal candidate will bring both practical gardening experience and a love for working with children, along with the ability to create a nurturing, purposeful, and well-organized learning environment.
About
Founded in 1976, SCWS is nestled on a beautiful, forested campus in the Santa Cruz Mountains, providing a nurturing and inspiring environment for 160 students from preschool through 8th grade. SCWS honors students’ individual development and capacities and nurtures a love of learning through our rich, AWSNA-accredited curriculum, inspired by Rudolf Steiner. Our community, led by creative Waldorf-trained teachers, encourages the protection of childhood and respect for all life.
An hour and a half south of San Francisco by car, Santa Cruz is located at the northern end of Monterey Bay. It is known for its moderate climate, natural environment, coastline, redwood forests, and the presence of the University of California. Approximately 65,000 residents enjoy an active, progressive, and engaged community that maintains a small-town style.
Essential Job Duties
Key Responsibilities
- Curriculum & Instruction: Develop and lead engaging, hands-on garden lessons that reflect the developmental stages of the child and align with the principles of Waldorf education. Lessons should cultivate curiosity, practical skills, and a deepening relationship with the natural world.
- Garden Stewardship & Animal Care: Care for and cultivate the school garden as a living, seasonal classroom, using sustainable and biodynamic practices to maintain its health and vitality. Tend to the school’s poultry (chickens and ducks) with attentiveness and respect, upholding high standards of animal welfare and integrating their care meaningfully into the educational program.
- Student Observations & Reporting: Observe and thoughtfully document each student’s engagement and growth. Contribute narrative end-of-year reports and provide clear overviews of the curriculum, reflecting both the practical and developmental aspects of the work.
- Community Engagement: Engage warmly with families by participating in parent-teacher conferences and school events, offering insight into the garden program and each child’s experience within it.
- Collaboration: Work in close collaboration with class teachers and specialty colleagues to weave garden experiences into the broader curriculum, supporting a cohesive and integrated learning journey for students.
Qualifications
Our new colleague will be warm, energetic, and Waldorf-trained with a strong commitment to personal and professional development and an enthusiasm for collegial work. A commitment to working out of Anthroposophy and Social Justice is required.
Inclusivity and diversity are core values at SCWS, and we celebrate them by encouraging diverse candidates and those underrepresented in our community to apply. We are committed to the active practice of diversity, equity, and inclusivity principles in our curriculum, enrollment, community, and festival life. We are actively anti-racist in our approach to pedagogy, policies, decisions, and structure. We believe that diversity enriches our learning and work environments by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand the world, identify challenges, and discover and deliver solutions – thereby allowing our entire community to thrive. SCWS is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in admissions, hiring, or employment practices on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, or other statuses protected by law.
Employment Details
This is a full-time position with full benefits, including medical, dental, flexible spending plans, retirement plan, and tuition remission for eligible dependents in our Preschool-Grade 8 program (Staff fees apply). The annual salary range is $74K—$76K.
To Apply
A comprehensive position description and information regarding compensation for this full-time salaried position are available upon request. Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and three references to: peddirector@santacruzwaldorf.
