Kindergarten/First Grade Lead Teacher
Kindergarten/First Grade Lead Teacher
Job Category: Early Childhood and Lower School: Grades 1-5
Opening Statement
Otto Specht School is searching for a Kindergarten/First Grade teacher.
The kindergarten and 1st grade class is a small group of 3 students who bring so much to our small school. While 2 are kindergarteners and one is a first grader, they are being held as one group together with the first grader having adapted Main Lessons in short periods. The teacher will be leaving after the winter holidays due to a family relocation. We are hoping the right candidate could begin sometime in the fall in order to help the transition be as seamless as possible for these wonderful students.
Our ideal candidate will be able to teach a blended learning model of Waldorf education combined with special education interventions. The Kindergarten/1st Grade Lead Teacher must be able to flow in and out of indoor and outdoor spaces, be open to innovative curriculum and pedagogy, embrace a growth mindset, be receptive to feedback, and enjoy working collaboratively with other faculty, therapists, and administrators to create an educational environment that is aligned with the school’s mission and program goals.
About
The Otto Specht School is an independent special needs Waldorf school committed to providing a supportive and inclusive educational environment for students with diverse learning needs. We focus on personalized learning, fostering independence, and empowering students to reach their full potential. Beyond the four walls of our classrooms, our curriculum comes to life on the farm and in the forests that make up our large community campus. Our students come to us with a range of learning abilities, eager to meet and engage with the world.
Essential Job Duties
Primary Responsibilities:
- Creating and delivering developmentally appropriate lesson plans based upon Rudolf Steiner’s indications (Waldorf Curriculum) and current knowledge of child development.
- Tailoring the lessons to meet the unique needs of the students.
- Continuing to develop a deep understanding of each student’s developmental and learning challenges
- Working to understand and support each student’s pathway to learning
- Communicating with other faculty, administration, and staff about student needs and progress including team meetings
- Attending weekly faculty meetings
- Attending Professional Development trainings and seminars
- Communicating with parents, including weekly updates
- Writing student reports
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree plus certificate or MEd in Waldorf Elementary Education or Early Childhood Education
- Experience teaching special needs students
- Familiarity with relevant developmental disorders and learning disabilities including but not limited to Autism Spectrum Disorder, Pathological Demand Avoidance Disorder, ADHD, etc.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Open to colleagueship and the development of strong, collaborative professional relationships
- Fundamental belief that all students can achieve.
Employment Details
Salary commensurate with experience. Full time employees are entitled to health benefits, and are 403(b) eligible. Otto Specht School operates as part of the Threefold Educational Foundation and school and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
To Apply
Interested applicants should submit resume, three references, and a brief biography to Chela Crane at: ccrane@ottospecht.org
