Early Childhood Preschool Lead Teacher - 2026-2027

Position Summary

The Early Childhood Preschool Lead Teacher is responsible for creating a warm and joyful Waldorf play-based program in a preschool early childhood group setting. Working with an assistant, the teacher brings the magic of the seasons through stories, circles, handwork, imaginative play, and outdoor experiences each day. Essential qualities of the lead teacher include uprightness, collegiality, a strong sense of integrity, patience, and flexibility. Our ideal candidate strives towards continual self-development and endeavors to be worthy of imitation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement age appropriate curriculum to nurture and stimulate all domains of children’s development in their care 
• Provide parent education and hold parent evenings 
• Plan, communicate and document periodic parent/teacher conferences to discuss children’s developmental progress, needs, and interests 
• Provide responsive care to all children by adapting daily caregiving routines and plans to the needs of the individual child and group 
• Coordinate daily preparations of classroom, playground, and all materials
• Provide and maintain a developmentally appropriate and aesthetically pleasing classroom environment
• Work directly with and supervise Early Childhood Assistant; providing open communication to keep them updated on all matters concerning the classroom, program, procedures, class behavior, and expectations 
• Foster strong partnerships with class families and maintain clear communication about upcoming events and student behavior 
• Ensure age appropriate classroom management and supervision of class activities
• Coordinate and participate in curricular activities such as circle time, story, birthday celebrations, festivals their cleanup 
• Coordinate weekly hike, outdoor activities, and outdoor play 
• Participate in preparing and conducting of puppet plays for Winter Faire
• Guide and support children with self-care such as toileting, dressing, and social behavior
• Maintain confidentiality in all student situations 
• Assure a healthy, safe, clean, and developmentally appropriate environment for children
• Develop and maintain collegial relationships through communication and support with faculty members
• Participate in interviews and admission events as needed including open houses and summer enrollment 
• Participate in weekly ECE sectional meetings as well as attend Plenum, beginning and end of the year in-services and as well as the February conference
• Complete daily attendance sheets
• Provide first aid as necessary
• Complete incident reports as necessary 
• Actively participate in assigned committee work 
• Coordinate preparation, serving, and cleanup of daily snacks 
• Shop for supplies and food
• Oversee orderly storage area in the Early Childhood classroom and storage sheds
• Prepare classroom at the beginning of the school year and end of school year 
• Ability to implement the SMWS Campus Emergency Plan
• Uphold State of Colorado Rules and Regulations for Childcare Centers
• This position may occasionally require the teacher to carry out or assist with other tasks in accordance with the duties listed above. This includes Open Houses and Winter Faire which are held on Saturdays.

Education and Qualifications/Regulations

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Training Certificate from an accredited Waldorf training program (or currently attending a training program) required
• Early Childhood teaching experience required
• Complete requirements for Colorado ECE regulations of Colorado Department of Human Services such as CPR, First Aid, Standard Precautions, Physical, Background Check, fingerprinting, mandatory licensing classes, registration in Colorado Shines PDIS.
• Must be an ECT (early childhood teacher) designated by the state of Colorado 
• Submit records for ongoing training and 15 hours of ECE classes per year

Work Setting

• Kindergarten classroom, playground and surrounding open spaces
• This program has a strong focus on nature and outdoor play in all weather conditions

Salary and Benefits

• SMWS offers a teaching base salary along with years of teaching experience; a comprehensive employee benefit program, professional development, and tuition remission for enrolled children.
• Waldorf-trained base salary of $56,406 with an additional $900 for each year of applicable experience
• Salary Faculty are paid monthly with annual Agreements – July – June each year
• SMWS provides a personalized benefit package including medical, dental, vision, long term disability, life insurance, 401(k), and flexible spending accounts 
• Faculty receive 3 personal days that must be pre-approved by the Governance Council.
• Faculty receive 7 sick days each school year and are expected to follow the Substitution Policy

Physical Requirements

• An employee is frequently required to walk and hike, use hands to handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, to talk and to hear.
• Employees are required daily to stand and sit; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, squat or crawl 
• This position requires the ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds and in case of emergency, a 40-pound child
• Vision requirements include the following: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception

Shining Mountain Waldorf School is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and where employees are treated with respect and dignity.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and three references to View email address on jobs.waldorftoday.com

All offers are contingent upon a successful background check.