Careers at Richmond Waldorf School

1301 Robin Hood Rd
Richmond, VA, 23227
(804) 377-8024 |

Job Title

First Grade Class Teacher

• About Richmond Waldorf School

  Richmond Waldorf School was founded in 1996 with a passion for providing children a holistic education that falls in alignment with their natural human development through hands-on, nature-rich, and play-based experiences. We are dedicated to providing a learning environment that cultivates creative thinking, genuine inquiry, and a love of learning. RWS has grown from a single Kindergarten classroom to a campus that serves almost 200 students from Pre-K through 8th grade. Our specialty program includes Movement Arts, Mandarin, French, Biking, Music & Strings, Handwork, Woodwork, Visual Arts, and Latin. Richmond Waldorf School is a Candidate School of AWSNA (Association of Waldorf Schools of North America), SAIS (Southern Association of Independent Schools) and is a member of WECAN (Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America). We have a College, Board of Trustees, and Parents Association that help ensure support for the health of the school.

  Our school is located on a beautiful, urban campus in the Northside of Richmond, Virginia in close proximity to Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Richmond, and only a few hours from the Blue Ridge Mountains, Washington, DC, and the coastal beaches of Virginia and North Carolina. Richmond is a rapidly growing city with amazing restaurants, a thriving art and music scene, and a plethora of outdoor parks and walking trails. The James River winds its way through the heart of the city, offering four seasons of adventure and beauty.

Job Description

Position Responsibilities

Summary:

The teacher will plan, organize, and implement appropriate instruction that follows our school curriculum, which is rooted in Waldorf pedagogy and embraces today’s culture in a manner that is inclusive, compassionate, and nurturing. The first grade class teacher serves as the leader of the class community and oversees its educational, social, and practical functions. As a RWS teacher, you will work closely and collaboratively with colleagues, parents, and administrators to create a learning environment that guides and encourages students to develop and fulfill their academic and personal potential. This job is for the 2027/2028 school year.

Essential Functions:

• Researches the curriculum and methodologies for the grade level being taught to engage students in appropriate intellectual, artistic, practical, and social activities
• Creates the year’s main lesson block plan and plans for on-going classes (language arts, math, painting, modeling, form drawing, etc.) and reviews the effectiveness of blocks presented to the class
• Prepares appropriate activities, trips, and outings to effectively instruct the class
• Presents lessons that are inspired by and expressive of Waldorf pedagogy
• Nurtures the class community of students, parents and colleagues
• Collaborates with specialty teachers to support their work with the class
• Prepares for bi-annual parent-teacher conferences and schedules other parent conferences, as necessary
• Coordinates a minimum of 3 parent evenings per year
• Works with colleagues in faculty and section meetings
• Works with parents and volunteers in committee meetings, task forces, and on projects
• Make use of rubrics for conferences, submit quarterly and semester reports (middle school), and submit end-of-year reports
• Writes student recommendations as needed
• Works with mentor at least bi-weekly (for teachers in their 1st year of teaching their subject and/or at RWS weekly meetings with an advisor will be arranged)
• Attends and participates in Open Houses, Festivals, school Events, all-school work days
• Prepares substitution plans for main lessons and for on-going classes
• Substitutes for specialty classes when needed
• Conducts interviews of potential students and meets with their parents
• Maintains positive relationships with parents and responds to all parent concerns
• Maintains positive, professional relationships with colleagues and responds to all collegial concerns
• Engages in on-going professional and personal growth
• Fulfills other duties, as assigned, relative to the job responsibilities

Competencies:

• Ability to learn content of lessons, present it appropriately, develop relevant assignments
• Ability to meet students' academic, social, and emotional needs
• Ability to manage the class and to provide appropriate guidance and discipline
• Working with Anthroposophy to provide a Waldorf education
• Excellent human relationship skills with children and adults
• Positive, professional relationships with colleagues
• Positive, professional relationships with parents and volunteers
• Clear and timely communication with parents and colleagues
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

Job Requirements

Experience

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution
• Certification in Waldorf teacher training or agreement to obtain Waldorf Certification
• Experience and education (to be determined by the College)

Preferred:

• Waldorf teaching experience
• Other teaching experience

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing. The employee must frequently lift and/or move items up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a 40 hour per week position. The salary rate for this regular, full-time, exempt position is $41,000 to $65,000 per year, depending on exact experience and qualifications. This is a 12-month school year position beginning on or around July 1, 2027. RWS offers the following benefits to full-time staff:

• Health, Dental and Vision insurance
• Retirement plan with employer contribution
• Life insurance
• Short- and Long-Term Disability insurance
• 80 hours Paid Time Off (PTO) per fiscal year (July 1 to June 30)
• Paid Holidays & School Breaks (~30 days; subject to finalized school schedule each year)
• 90% Tuition remission for dependent child/ren enrolled at RWS
• Free Aftercare for dependent children during scheduled work hours (children must also be enrolled in a school program.)

To apply

Interested applicants should complete the application and submit their resume and cover letter. Priority consideration will be given to candidates that apply by December 15th; the position will remain open until filled.