Dean of Students

Waldorf Education; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Brooklyn Waldorf School seeks a Dean of Students to support EC-8th graders by managing behavior, developing behavior plans, and fostering a positive school culture. The ideal candidate is student-centered, communicative, and ideally possesses Waldorf experience, contributing to a strong educational community.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of K–12 teaching or assistant teaching experience.
• Skilled in engaging families and navigating challenging conversations.
• Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily behavioral support for students.
• Develop Waldorf-aligned behavior plans.
• Collaborate with the Student Support Team.

Skills

Communication

Organizational Skills

Conflict Resolution

Cultural Competence

Team Collaboration

Student Engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

NYC DOE fingerprint clearance

Job description

Job Category: Early Childhood, Lower School: Grades 1-5, Middle School: Grades 6-8, and Student Support

Opening Statement

The Dean of Students at Brooklyn Waldorf School will support our EC-8th grade students. They’ll manage daily behavioral support, develop Waldorf-aligned behavior plans, collaborate with our Student Support Team, and cultivate a positive school culture. Must be student-centered, a strong communicator, team-oriented, and ideally have Waldorf experience.

About

At Brooklyn Waldorf School, we educate our students as whole individuals, providing for their academic success and the development of their artistic capacities, emotional intelligence, and physical knowledge of our world. BWS fosters a purposeful and well-rounded learning experience, prioritizing a strong sense of community-belonging among students, families, and educators.

BWS was founded in 2005 by a small and energized body of educators and families dedicated to providing exceptional and adaptive Waldorf education to New York City children. Guided by a commitment to communitarian values and relational care, our founders strived to expand upon Rudolf Steiner’s pedagogic principles, cultivating a compassionate and sustainable model of Waldorf education that meaningfully reflects our diverse city.

Beginning with just two Early Childhood Classrooms nestled within the Brooklyn Music School building in Fort Greene, the community blossomed quickly, expanding year by year to include Parent-Child (Caregiver & Child), Elementary and Middle School classrooms. To accommodate our burgeoning community, BWS moved in 2011 to our permanent home in Bedford-Stuyvesant’s historic Claver Castle, a center of cultural and educational exchange since its construction in 1931.

Centering a balanced and conscientious school experience, BWS’ comprehensive curriculum continues to revitalize essential tenets of Waldorf education while striving to authentically reflect our evolving world, urban home, and shared values. Our teachers inspire as they educate through hands-on learning that deepens our students’ bonds with the natural world, emphasizes traditions and mythologies of global cultures, and enriches curricular studies in language arts, history, science, mathematics, choral and orchestral music, Mandarin, Castellano, movement, handwork, and woodworking.

From the thoughtfully guided child-led play of Early Childhood to the Middle School’s dynamic academics, we empower our students to recognize themselves as active contributors to their own learning, and passionate stakeholders in our ever-evolving world.

The Brooklyn Waldorf School is a developing member of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) and a full member of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN).

Implement Culture Systems:

• Drive consistent implementation of school-wide culture systems in hallways, common areas, and classrooms, ensuring alignment with the school’s expectations for safety, joy, and student engagement
• Develop intervention strategies to address bullying and harassment issues
• Supervise arrival, dismissal, and middle school recess and lunch times
• Create a safe environment by working with teachers and students to promote a positive learning environment
• Partner with families to reinforce school-wide behavior expectations, support student development, and resolve concerns with empathy and consistency
• Model positive and respectful interactions with students, faculty, and parents.
• Actively promote the core values and principles of the school and Waldorf education.
• Support student leadership initiatives and opportunities for positive peer interactions.
• Collaborate with teachers to integrate social-emotional learning into the curriculum and daily routines.
• Help to organize and participate in school events that foster a strong sense of community.

Behavior Management & Student Support:

• Implement clearly defined school-wide procedures for discipline
• Ensuring students follow the school’s code of conduct and track student behavior and consequences
• Lead the development and day-to-day implementation of behavior management strategies that support all learners
• Intervene when a student is significantly disruptive and address violations of school rules and regulations by imposing consequences
• Look into misbehavior by investigating incidents
• Serve as a primary point of contact for teachers and staff regarding student behavioral concerns in EC through 8th grade.
• Observe student behavior in various settings (classroom, playground, etc.) to gain a comprehensive understanding of individual needs.
• Provide direct support and guidance to students experiencing behavioral challenges, utilizing restorative practices and Waldorf-aligned techniques.
• Communicate effectively with parents regarding student behavior, progress, and support strategies.
• Make recommendations for additional support services or interventions when necessary.

Faculty & Staff Support:

• Coach and support teachers in maintaining strong, predictable classroom environments and upholding common picture systems, in collaboration with instructional leaders
• Design and lead school-wide initiatives that promote a positive school climate (i.e. professional development on behavioral systems and procedures for Staff and Faculty)
• Coordinate with the school mental health clinician to refer students for in-school counseling services
• Communicate with the Faculty Administration and Support Services Departments when students with IEPs/IESPs are suspended

Leadership:

• Serve on school committees and contribute to the overall leadership and decision-making processes.
• Assist with student supervision during non-instructional time, as needed.
• Support the implementation of school policies and procedures.
• Engage in ongoing professional development to enhance leadership skills and knowledge.
• Other duties as assigned by the Senior Leadership Team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, knowledge, or skills
• NYC DOE fingerprint clearance
• Minimum three years of K–12 teaching or assistant teaching experience with a record of high expectations
• Skilled in engaging families and navigating challenging conversations
• Strong organizational, planning, and independent execution abilities
• Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with respect for varied backgrounds and identities
• Effective communicator and collaborator across school communities
• Maintains confidentiality in all professional interactions
• Leads with energy, kindness, and a sense of humor
• Enjoys working with children and contributing to school life

EMPLOYMENT STATUS : Exempt/Full -Time

TERM : 2025/2026 School Year

LOCATION : 11 Jefferson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238 (on-site)