Swallowtail Waldorf School & Farm is seeking an experienced Waldorf teacher to shepherd our current 5th graders from their 6th through 8th grade. This class is well-formed, with a supportive parent group and students who eagerly participate in the curriculum and have close social bonds with one another. They particularly enjoy physical work (building, planting, animal care, etc) and projects that utilize their creative capacities, and they can work well as a cohesive team. They can focus for longer periods of quiet classroom work as well, and are skilled storytellers. They will be well met by a teacher who will challenge them, and who enjoys theater and creative writing, hands-on exploration, and time spent outdoors.

Swallowtail Waldorf School & Farm serves students from Preschool through 8th Grade. We are located in the heart of Washington County where forest and farmland meet the Portland suburbs. Our main campus is located on 6 acres of open field and mature trees and our school building features large, thoughtfully designed classrooms with ample storage. Our farm property includes sustainable agriculture plots as well as native forest, meadow, and variable wetland areas within the McKay Creek basin of Hillsboro, OR. At Swallowtail we are fortunate to have an exceptionally committed and supportive community of families and a close-knit collegial group who value working together in collaboration. Grades classes are well supported by subject offerings, and classes spend one day per week at our farm property where they work with our Farm Educator and full time Farmer to deepen their connection to and understanding of the land.

Required Trainings/Attributes

• A dedication to Waldorf Education

• Waldorf Grades Teaching Certification (completed or in process) and BA in education or related field. Preference given for MA in education.

• At least one year of classroom teaching experience.

• A love of children and a deep desire to support their growth.

• Excellent classroom management skills.

• Willingness to be part of a culture that values professional growth and ongoing positive and constructive feedback.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• The desire and ability to work collaboratively with all members of the school community.

• The ability to adapt the curriculum to the skills and needs of a class or individual child.

• Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and an openness to embracing new stories and perspectives in the classroom curriculum.

Physical requirements

• Prolonged periods of standing and walking (up to 2 miles/day) outdoors in all weather.

• Kneel, stoop, crouch, or crawl.

• Ability to walk and/or run at a pace to keep up with children 6-14 years old.

• Must be able to lift, push, pull, or carry up to 50 pounds at a time.

Swallowtail School is an associate member of AWSNA and WECAN. Salary is based on education and experience. Benefits include tuition remission for dependents and medical/dental/vision. To apply, please send a letter of intent, resume, and three references to Jessica Foster at jfoster@SwallowtailSchool.org

Swallowtail Waldorf School & Farm is seeking a dynamic, caring, and experienced class teacher to lead our rising first grade class for the 2024-25 school year. Our class teachers ideally continue to guide their students on their journey through the eighth grade. At Swallowtail we are fortunate to have an exceptionally committed and supportive community of families and a close-knit collegial group who value working together in collaboration. Grades classes are well supported by subject offerings, and classes spend one day per week at our farm property where they work with our Farm Educator and full time Farmer to deepen their connection to and understanding of the land.

Swallowtail Waldorf School & Farm serves students from Preschool through 8th Grade. We are located in the heart of Washington County where forest and farmland meet the Portland suburbs. Our main campus is located on 6 acres of open field and mature trees and our school building features large, thoughtfully designed classrooms with ample storage. Our farm property includes sustainable agriculture plots as well as native forest, meadow, and variable wetland areas within the McKay Creek basin of Hillsboro, OR.

Required Trainings/Attributes

• A dedication to Waldorf Education

• Waldorf Grades Teaching Certification (completed or in process) and BA in education or related field. Preference given for MA in education.

• At least one year of classroom teaching experience.

• A love of children and a deep desire to support their growth.

• Excellent classroom management skills.

• Willingness to be part of a culture that values professional growth and ongoing positive and constructive feedback.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• The desire and ability to work collaboratively with all members of the school community.

• The ability to adapt the curriculum to the skills and needs of a class or individual child.

• Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and an openness to embracing new stories and perspectives in the classroom curriculum.

Physical requirements

• Prolonged periods of standing and walking (up to 2 miles/day) outdoors in all weather.

• Kneel, stoop, crouch, or crawl.

• Ability to walk and/or run at a pace to keep up with children 6-14 years old.

• Must be able to lift, push, pull, or carry up to 50 pounds at a time.

Swallowtail School is an associate member of AWSNA and WECAN. Salary is based on education and experience. Benefits include tuition remission for dependents and medical/dental/vision. To apply, please send a letter of intent, resume, and three references to Jessica Foster at jfoster@SwallowtailSchool.org

Swallowtail School seeks a Waldorf Early Childhood teacher to join our highly supportive and collaborative EC team. Our Early Childhood teachers welcome new families into the embrace of the school community, holding their classes with warmth, rhythm, and a reverence for nature and for one another. As a farm school, we hold a deep value of connecting children to the land and spend much of the day outdoors in our varied early childhood play areas. In the fall and spring, classes spend one day each week at our farm property. Classes are capped at 14 students in preschool and 18 in kindergarten, and each lead teacher is supported by an experienced full time associate teacher and an afternoon assistant.

Swallowtail Waldorf School & Farm serves students from Preschool through 8th Grade. We are located in the heart of Washington County where forest and farmland meet the Portland suburbs. Our main campus is located on 6 acres of open field and mature trees and our school building features large, thoughtfully designed classrooms with ample storage. Our farm property includes sustainable agriculture plots as well as native forest, meadow, and variable wetland areas within the McKay Creek basin of Hillsboro, OR.

Required Trainings/Attributes

• A dedication to Waldorf Education

• Waldorf Early Childhood Teaching Certification or currently enrolled in a WECAN accredited program

• At least 1 year Waldorf classroom experience (could include assisting)

• A love of children and a deep desire to support their growth

• Excellent classroom management skills

• Willingness to be part of a culture that values professional growth and ongoing positive and constructive feedback

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• The desire and ability to work collaboratively with all members of the school community

• The ability to adapt the curriculum to the skills and needs of a class or individual child

Physical requirements

• Prolonged periods of standing and frequent bending.

• Kneel, stoop, crouch, or crawl.

• Ability to walk and/or run at a pace to keep up with children 3-6 years old.

• Must be able to lift, push, pull, or carry up to 50 pounds at a time.

Swallowtail School is an associate member of AWSNA and WECAN. Salary is based on education and experience and benefits include medical/dental/vision and full remission for all dependents. To apply, please send a letter of intent and resume to Jessica Foster at jfoster@SwallowtailSchool.org

Swallowtail School’s music program is for students in grades 2 through 8 and consists of vocal music, flute and recorder, and chorus. The music teacher brings a deep understanding of Waldorf Education and the ways music and rhythm support the developing child and main lesson curriculum. This position requires authentic warmth, good humor, joy, and enthusiasm for teaching. The music teacher develops their own curriculum based on the needs of the students in each grade, prepares material for each class to present during seasonal assemblies, and provides support for class plays when needed.

Required Trainings/Attributes

• A dedication to Waldorf Education

• Preference for Waldorf Trained teachers or Waldorf school graduates

• Experience with music instruction for grades 1-8

• At least one year of classroom teaching experience

• A love of children and a deep desire to support their growth

• Excellent classroom management skills

• Willingness to be part of a culture that values professional growth and ongoing positive and constructive feedback.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• The desire and ability to work collaboratively with all members of the school community

• The ability to adapt the curriculum to the skills and needs of a class or individual child

Physical requirements

• Prolonged periods of standing and frequent bending.

• Kneel, stoop, crouch, or crawl.

• Ability to walk and/or run at a pace to keep up with children 6-14 years old.

• Must be able to lift, push, pull, or carry up to 50 pounds at a time.

Swallowtail School is an associate member of AWSNA and WECAN. Salary is based on education and experience. To apply, please send a letter of intent and resume to Jessica Foster at jfoster@SwallowtailSchool.org

Substitute teachers should have classroom experience and an interest in Waldorf Education. All substitutes must pass a background check and those who work in our Preschool or Kindergarten must also be listed in the Central Background Registry through the Early Learning Division of the Oregon Dept. of Education.

To be considered for substitute work during the 2023-24 school year, please send a letter of interest and resume to Jessica Foster at jfoster@SwallowtailSchool.org

The Farmer works closely with the Agricultural Arts Teacher to maintain the Swallowtail Farm Campus in a way that improves the health of the land and enriches the educational opportunities for our students. Our farm property includes sustainable agriculture plots as well as native forest, meadow, and variable wetland areas within the McKay Creek basin of Hillsboro, OR. The majority of the acreage is committed to a 20 year grant project dedicated to the restoration of native habitat in the riparian and wetland zones. Our students visit the property once a week to engage with the land and learn about sustainable food production and how we can care for and restore natural areas.

The Farmer brings knowledge and experience related to biodynamic or other sustainable farming practices as well as natural resource management. This includes the use and making of soil amendments, conservation grazing, cover crops, soil erosion control measures, integrated pest management, management of invasive species, and land drainage and health of waterways and wetlands. The Farmer might also provide input regarding city permitting, grant management, agricultural contracts and bidding, or community engagement.

Specific duties for the Farmer position include:

• Care for the Swallowtail School farm property

• Work collaboratively with the Agricultural Arts Teacher to prepare spaces for class activities (for example: by preparing planting beds, mowing fields, or procuring native plants)

• Assist with property management and restoration activities including mowing, understory thinning, removal of invasive species, and restoration with native plants

• Occasionally attend Farm Committee meetings related to the use of the property

• Use agriculture and wild harvest to bring the benefits of the food from the farm to the students and school community

Required Trainings/Attributes

• Demonstrated knowledge of sustainable farming practices, with preference given for biodynamic farming experience

• Ability to work outdoors in all kinds of weather

• A willingness to accept both positive and constructive feedback, and to be part of a culture that values professional growth

• A desire and ability to communicate and connect with many different groups (students, families, teachers, and community partners) as they use our farm property

• Knowledge of standard land management practices, materials, and tools such as plowing, mowing, pruning, carpentry, irrigation, planting, and harvesting

• Ability to operate a variety of tools and power equipment

• Ability to develop and maintain an efficient workflow, ability to manage several projects simultaneously and adapt to frequent changes

• Ability to analyze, prioritize, and solve problems

Other expectations/Physical Requirements

• This is a full time, salaried position. On-site hours are at least 40 hours per week, with some of those occurring during school operating hours. Due to the nature of the work, a flexible schedule with some evening and weekend work may be required

• Prolonged periods of walking, standing, and frequent bending.

• Kneel, stoop, crouch, or crawl

• Must be able to lift, push, pull, or carry up to 50 pounds at a time

Swallowtail School is an associate member of AWSNA and WECAN. Salary is based on education and experience. This position includes 100% tuition remission for dependents and full medical/vision/dental insurance. To apply, please send resume and cover letter to Jessica Foster at foster@swallowtailschool.org.