High School Life Science and Biology Teacher – Starting August 2024

Waldorf Education is the fastest growing independent school movement in the world. This dynamic, 100-year-old approach to child development and education is continually evolving to meet the needs of current students. Waldorf education inspires life-long learning in students and enables them to fully develop their unique capacities.

The San Francisco Waldorf School (SFWS) was founded in 1979 and serves more than 400 students across a parent-child program, a preschool program, kindergarten, and grades 1 through 12. Our Early Childhood and Grade School campuses are in the Pacific Heights neighborhood, and our High School campus is in West Portal.

SFWS asks all employees to proactively commit to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to create an environment where all members of the community can flourish.

FTE to be determined:  .65 – 1FTE
Start Date: August 1, 2024

Summary:

San Francisco Waldorf High School is seeking an enthusiastic and experienced High School Life Science and Biology teacher to start August 1, 2023.

This position may include a combination of eight Life Sciences main lessons blocks per year across all four grades (9-12) and one year-long 12th grade elective in Honors Biology.

The right teacher for this position will have a commitment to using the methodologies of Waldorf Education, especially the phenomenological/ experiential approach to teaching science. This teacher needs to be comfortable teaching all four grade levels of high school in a developmentally appropriate way and be able to teach students with a wide range of abilities and learning styles while maintaining a joyful and productive classroom atmosphere, in addition to carrying all full-time faculty duties. We are looking for a candidate who wants to join a Waldorf faculty and work in a highly collaborative environment.  SFWS asks all employees to proactively commit to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to create an environment where all members of the community can flourish. Diversity is celebrated and faculty of color are welcomed, valued, and supported.

The specific teaching load will depend on expertise and interest but could include Anatomy, Embryology, Geology, Meteorology, Botany, Zoology or Environmental Science.

Job duties for the Life Sciences teacher include, but are not limited to:

• Maintaining live species in the laboratory, the greenhouse, and the possibly the bee hives
• Managing the Biology budget and inventory of supplies
• Maintaining an organized and safe classroom and laboratory space
• Designing and carrying out laboratory experiments that adhere to safety guidelines and meet the curriculum
• Meeting regularly with a mentor to go over class planning
• Maintaining a relationship with Ardenwood and access to the forest behind the school
• Attending all Science Department meetings
• Having periodic evaluations from an outside evaluator

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Life Sciences, Botany, Physiology or similar required
• Graduate degree preferrable
• Waldorf Teacher Training certificate completed or the willingness to begin a Waldorf Teacher
• Training program by the second year of employment with SFWS
• Significant high school teaching or experience working with teens

Benefits and Compensation:  

Benefits include medical (.75FTE or greater), dental, flexible spending plans, retirement plan (employer contributions after one year of employment), and tuition remission for eligible dependents. The full 1 FTE annual salary range is $60K – $85K depending on experience.  It will be prorated for less than full FTE.  Salaries are paid on a 12-month schedule.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

• Work intermittently in outside weather conditions, including heat and cold
• Regularly sitting or standing 4-8 hours
• Be able to occasionally lift to 30 lbs.
• FLSA Classification:      Faculty; Exempt from overtime

Reports to:                       High School Chair

Hired by:                           High School Steering Committee

Date Modified:                 April 2023

Please send resume and letter of interest to jobs@sfwaldorf.org

SFWS is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, or any protected class. We recognize that the range of ethnicities, nationalities, languages, socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientation, learning differences, and life experiences within our community enhance the school’s learning environment. We are committed to fostering equity and inclusion.