Early Childhood Assistant Teacher – Seasonal Full Time
Early Childhood Assistant Teacher – Seasonal Full Time
Job Category:听 Early Childhood
Opening Statement
The Chicago Waldorf School 丑补蝉听several openings听for Classroom Assistants听for the 2026-2027听school year! These are full-time seasonal positions that offer the opportunity for growth and collaboration. We especially welcome diverse applicants to apply for these positions.听Come and听join our team!听
About
About the Chicago Waldorf School
Founded in 1974, CWS is an established Waldorf school offering a full curriculum that听remains听deeply committed to its urban roots. We explore and enrich the Waldorf curriculum through the arts, equity and inclusion, and the specific time and place in which we live.听
For the past听seven听years, we have been settled in our permanent home: the landmark Lyman Trumbull building in Andersonville. Our campus includes 49 classrooms and offices, a gym, an auditorium, and two outdoor parks. We听maintain听active partnerships with many businesses and organizations in the surrounding neighborhood, ensuring the school is a functional part of the local community.听
Our faculty members come from around the world and represent all stages of life. We prioritize a supportive transition for听new staff, including:听
- Mentorship:听Every new teacher is assigned a mentor and provided with weekly mentoring meetings.听
- Professional Development:听Faculty have regular access to PD funds and听participate听in weekly meetings to study听Rudolph Steiner鈥檚听pedagogical insights, current educational perspectives and for artistic work听
- Ongoing Training:听We provide training in first aid, sexual harassment prevention, and trans-inclusivity, alongside SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) seminars, and curriculum-based preparation听
In addition to core academic subjects, we teach music, German, Spanish, Eurythmy, gardening, parkour, and practical and fine arts. Our families are international and reflect diversity in many forms, united by a shared desire for a developmental curriculum that recognizes the whole child and听celebrates听individual differences.听
At Chicago Waldorf School, we offer the unique opportunity to practice Waldorf education within a thriving, urban landscape. As听one of the most established听Waldorf schools听in the United States, we provide a professional home where educators are empowered, celebrated, and supported.听
Our Community by the Numbers:听
- 100%听of our faculty feel trusted to teach with autonomy and professional听creativity.*听
- 96%听of our faculty would enthusiastically recommend CWS as a place to听work.*听
- 50 Years:听Celebrating a half-century听of听educational excellence in Chicago.听
- 46%听of our students identify as BIPOC, reflecting our commitment to equity.听
- 46 Zip Codes:听Our community spans the entire Chicagoland area.听
- 34 Countries & 22 Languages:听A truly global community in one building.听
- 9 Specialists:听Robust support through our Social Work and Learning Support departments.
听
*Results from the听2025 and 2026 Climate and Equity Survey听
Equal Opportunity Employer听听
The Chicago Waldorf School does not discriminate听in听its hiring practices, and beyond that听has a deep commitment to respect and celebrate the differences听in听students and staff听from widely diverse social, economic, cultural, linguistic, intellectual, racial, educational,听and religious backgrounds. There is a sustained effort to improve and clear recognition that听our听educational excellence and fulfillment of our school鈥檚 mission is dependent on听embracing diversity in our school community. We听seek听to fully include and affirm faculty,听staff, and students in听all听their identities.听In everything we听do,听we work toward freedom,听responsibility,听and excellence. The Chicago Waldorf School听provides听its teachers,听staff听and听families with听ongoing听opportunities to study and discuss aspects of diversity.听
听
Essential Job Duties
Classroom听Assistants for Early Childhood听听
The Early Childhood Assistant works closely with and is guided by the lead teacher of the class. Working together, the Lead teacher and assistant create a warm,听joyful听and inclusive classroom community. During the morning, the lead teacher supervises the class and the assistant acts as听a support听to the lead teacher.听听In the lead teacher鈥檚 absence, the assistant may take on the role of the lead in the class. This position begins in听late-August听and interviews will happen听in early June.听听
Our Early Childhood Program听
You may be a great fit for our Early Childhood Program if you share these values:听
- children should have no or听very limited听time on screens听
- children learn through play before formal academics are introduced听
- teachers should provide a healthy model for meaningful work and speech that children can imitate听
- outdoor play in all weather is healthy and fun听
- education is to build capacities of independence and empathy听
- risk and challenge are important听
- steady rhythm and predictability are nurturing听
- children are not little adults听
- less talking is better听
Qualifications
Qualifications **听
The ideal candidate will be someone who:听
- Demonstrates听joy and reverence for childhood听
- Spends听time outdoors in all weather听
- Can sit and stand for听long periods听of time, sometimes on the floor听
- Prepares听simple snacks听
- Prepares听and tidies听the room听
- Prepares听materials for classroom activities听
- Helps听with festivals and celebrations听
- Participates听in daily song and movement activities听
- Assists听children in bathroom and during nap time听
- Has knowledge/experience with 海角社区 and Early Childhood听
- A candidate with a B.A. or equivalent is preferred for this position and a degree is听required听for advancement in our school听
Employment Details
Compensation & Amenities听
The salary is听commensurate听with听experience beginning in the range of $29,000 and continuing upwards.听听听
We encourage you to听forward听this job opening to others who may be interested. To apply please send your resume and letter of interest to:听听recruitment@chicagowaldorf.org.听
**Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job post. We are most interested in finding the best candidate and future听colleagues. We would encourage you to apply, even if you听don鈥檛听believe you meet every one of our qualifications described.听
To Apply
We encourage you to听forward听this job opening to others who may be interested. To apply please send your resume and letter of interest to:听听recruitment@chicagowaldorf.org.听
