Early Childhood Lead Teacher — Nature School (3-4 Year Olds)

Sanderling Waldorf School is seeking a nurturing, adventurous, and experienced early childhood educator to join us as a founding teacher of Sandersprouts Nature School — our forest school program for children ages 3–4. This role is ideal for an educator who is deeply committed to child-centered, developmentally appropriate education and who feels at home outdoors, believing that nature itself is the greatest classroom.

About Sandersprouts & Sanderling Waldorf School

• Sandersprouts Nature School is a forest school program rooted in the early childhood philosophy of Sanderling Waldorf School — North County San Diego's only accredited Waldorf school.
• At Sandersprouts, we bring Waldorf's time-honored wisdom outdoors, weaving together the rhythms and imaginative richness of Waldorf early childhood education with the child-led, nature-immersive spirit of forest school pedagogy.
• We value collaboration, reflective practice, and strong partnerships with families.

Position Overview

• The Sandersprouts Nature School Teacher creates a warm, rhythmic, and wonder-filled outdoor learning environment for children ages 3–4.
• The teacher guides children through nature-based play, seasonal rhythms, storytelling, and hands-on discovery, honoring each child's developmental needs while fostering a deep connection to the living world around them.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead daily outdoor rhythms, including morning circle, nature exploration, imaginative play, and seasonal activities.
• Create a safe, nurturing, and predictable outdoor classroom environment that invites curiosity and independence.
• Facilitate child-led discovery and open-ended play in natural settings.
• Observe and thoughtfully support each child's social, emotional, and physical development.
• Communicate regularly and warmly with parents and caregivers.
• Collaborate with Sanderling faculty and participate in school-wide events and festivals.
• Conduct and document regular outdoor risk assessments to ensure child safety.
• Maintain required documentation and program organization.

Qualifications

• Experience working with preschool-aged children; ages 3–4 strongly preferred.
• Background or training in Waldorf early childhood education and/or forest school methodology, or a strong passion for pursuing such training.
• Comfort and confidence leading children in outdoor environments across varying weather and terrain.
• Deep attunement to young children's developmental needs and a play-based, unhurried approach to learning.
• Ability to work collaboratively and warmly within a small school community.
• Wilderness First Aid and CPR/First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain.
• Required state licensing or credentials (as applicable).

How to Apply

• Please submit a résumé, three references, and a brief cover letter describing your experience with early childhood, outdoor, and/or Waldorf education — and what draws you to the forest school model — to View email address on jobs.waldorftoday.com.