Nursery Teacher or Experienced Assistant

Country Day Little School is seeking a nursery/kindergarten teacher to join our faculty, as wait-list of children is continuing to grow! Country Day is a Waldorf inspired early childhood program in Palo Alto, CA. For over forty years, we have been providing a nurturing, play-based, developmentally attuned school environment for our students and families.

Our program is inspired by Helle Heckmann’s model at Nokken, and our students, ages two to six, spend their days in mixed age groups that flow together through the day. Our activities are typical of a Waldorf early childhood, with extensive time spent out of doors, a focus on practical work, and most importantly, the children’s self-directed play. We cultivate a space in which families join with a commitment to protecting childhood and working with their family life to meet their children’s developmental needs. We welcome parents in the classroom to discover the warmth, joy and magic of their children’s experience at school, building a strong relationship between home and school.

Our program is informed by an Anthroposophical understanding of human development, as well as current research on child development and education. Our striving to gain insight and improve our practices makes for a creative working environment in which nothing is taken for granted and everything is open to thoughtful development. As a standalone early childhood program, we are blessed with latitude and ample resources that make possible nearly everything we teachers can dream up! 

We support our colleagues in our day to day at school, in professional development, and self development. We are looking for a teacher who enjoys working collaboratively with colleagues; in our co-teaching environment, sharing in the responsibilities of pedagogical and practical work that is rewarding, creatively inspired, and conscientiously achieved. Our teachers discover growth and fulfillment at Country Day, working together in a way that supports each member of our faculty in sharing their gifts with students and colleagues, while finding warm support in areas that invite further learning and growth. 

Country Day is centrally located in Palo Alto. The community is strongly influenced by Stanford University and the many tech companies that call it home. Our school is community minded, wonderfully diverse, and draws parents who are looking for a haven from the fast pace of the area for their children. We are an easy commute from San Francisco, the Santa Cruz Mountains and the beautiful northern California coast. In our temperate climate, there are many opportunities for both urban and rural pursuits. 

Our ideal candidate would be a fulltime experienced teacher, or a very skilled and confident assistant who is ready to grow in her work. The ability to work lovingly with children of today, recognizing the need for patience, boundaries and rhythm is imperative. If you are excited to join us in providing a homelike setting and embracing the importance of caring for the school environment, enjoy seasonal festivals and working with parents~ we would love to hear from you.

Teachers who have experience with Waldorf, Lifeways, Pikler or RIE are encouraged to apply. We look forward to sharing more about our school, and learning about what gifts you may bring to our students, families and faculty! 

Please send your resume and cover letter to View email address on jobs.waldorftoday.com

Feel free to reach out with questions~Peggy Jane View phone number on jobs.waldorftoday.com)