Waldorf Teachers.com - Waldorf Employment in Waldorf Schools

The Austin Waldorf School (AWS) is seeking an experienced and motivated Coordinator of High School Counseling and Student Support Services. The High School Counseling and Student Support Coordinator works directly with students, teachers, parents, in-house specialists, and outside specialists, and reports directly to the High School Director and the Pedagogical Administrator.

Founded in 1980 and nestled on 33 acres in the beautiful hill country of central Texas, the Austin Waldorf School provides a unique education to students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The curriculum is designed to meet each stage of a student’s development from early childhood, through adolescence, into young adulthood. The programs demonstrate a continued commitment to providing a well-rounded educational experience integrating academic, artistic, and practical disciplines. The school’s mission is to “nurture, inspire, and engage, and to enlighten the journey towards a more humane, just, and sustainable future.”

The school is accredited through the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) and the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS). The Austin Waldorf School is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion; we welcome and encourage applicants of any religion, race, color, sexual orientation, gender, and national or ethnic origin to apply.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

- If not already expert, be willing to develop familiarization with the therapeutic education indications of Rudolf Steiner and the Waldorf developmental model and approach to the journey from early childhood through adolescence
- Provide direct student support through small group and one-on-one instruction
- Track individual students’ progress through classroom observations and assessments
and initiate relevant support strategies
- Make referrals for professional evaluations for students who are flagged as potentially having an undiagnosed learning challenge or disability
- Oversees and potentially delivers the high school study skills program
- Serve as an advocate for individual students regarding classroom
accommodations: engage individual and small groups of teachers in discussions about students’ needs
- Collaborate with teachers to develop effective whole group practices, small group interventions, and individualized learning activities
- Support teachers in differentiating plans for students based on their unique learning profiles so that all students are engaged and challenged, and each student achieves personal goals
- Assist teachers with tracking data to determine the effectiveness of interventions
- Maintain a dynamic web of communication among students, parents, tutors, and the faculty, and for taking an active role in the identification and remediation of individual student learning issues in order to help promote and support academic achievement
- Lead professional development on strategies to meet the needs of a student body with diverse learning profiles
- Maintain coherence and continuity of our overall program and respond to issues relevant to the academic, social, and emotional well-being of students
- Read and interpret learning specialists’ evaluations; make suggestions for appropriate accommodations and pedagogy, and draft learning profiles
- Work with the College Counselor to advise teachers and high school director on modification processes for any standardized assessments
- Collaborate with student support services in the Grades section (1-8) and support the smooth transition for students from the Upper Grades (6-8) into the High School
- Assumes other responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

- A bachelor’s degree is required, master’s degree is preferred in special education, counseling, or related fields
- Minimum 5-7 years of teaching experience in special education or student learning support setting, preferably in independent schools
- Familiarity with Waldorf education
- Personal qualities of maturity, humility, self-reflection, strong work ethic, and “whatever it takes” attitude
- Acute attention to detail coupled with the ability to think and act strategically
- Entrepreneurial energy and ambition necessary for a growing program
- Comfortable with and capable of being both a leader and follower
- Capacity and inclination for quality “life coaching” of students and colleagues
- Ability to maintain a calm, professional demeanor in the face of competing demands and external pressures

TO APPLY, qualified candidates should visit our website, https://austinwaldorf.org/explore/career-opportunities/, to complete the online application, and submit the following:
- Cover letter indicating specific interest in the Counseling and Student Support position
- Current resume
- A list of 3-5 references, including at least 2 who have directly supervised the candidate’s work (no contact will be made without candidate approval).