Lead Early Childhood Teacher

Singing Cedars School; Fairfield (IA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Partial tuition remission for staff's enrolled students

Paid time off for salaried employees

Potential recruitment bonus offered by the state of Iowa

Job summary

An early childhood educational institution in Fairfield, Iowa, is seeking a Lead Early Childhood Teacher to create a nurturing environment for a mixed-age Nursery Program. The ideal candidate should have experience with young children, preferably with Waldorf training. Responsibilities include supporting child development and maintaining a beautiful classroom. The school offers competitive pay, benefits, and a supportive community. Applications are welcome via email at [e-mail].

Qualifications

• Experience in a Waldorf or Lifeways early childhood setting is preferred.
• Strong desire to learn about the Waldorf approach will be considered.
• Consideration will be given to applicants with other teaching experience and a strong desire to learn about the Waldorf approach.

Responsibilities

• Create a nurturing classroom environment for up to 8 children.
• Support healthy development and maintain a rhythmic classroom.
• Attend weekly staff meetings and community work days.
• Attend weekly meetings with other early childhood staff and regular meetings with the College of Teachers.
• Participate in festival planning, parent evenings, and parent-teacher conferences throughout the year.
• Attend community work days as part of school involvement.

Skills

Experience working with young children

Waldorf training

Teaching experience

Education

Waldorf training or Lifeways background

Job description

Overview

Singing Cedars School is growing its early childhood program to include a mixed age Nursery Program. The Lead Early Childhood Teacher will create a nurturing environment for up to 8 children, ages 18 months to 3 years old, and will work closely with an assistant, parents, and other staff in support of providing high quality Waldorf-inspired education that meets the needs of each individual child and the class as a whole.

The Lead Teacher is responsible for supporting the healthy development of all children in the class and for maintaining a beautiful, rhythmic classroom environment. The program will run from 8:30am-3:30pm, Monday-Friday. Lead teachers are expected to attend weekly meetings with other early childhood staff, as well as regular meetings with the College of Teachers. Responsibilities also include festival planning and participation, facilitating parent evenings and parent-teacher conferences throughout the year, and attending community work days.

Responsibilities

• Create a nurturing environment for up to 8 children, ages 18 months to 3 years, and collaborate with an assistant, parents, and staff.
• Support the healthy development of all children in the class and maintain a rhythmic, organized classroom.
• Ensure the program runs from 8:30am to 3:30pm, Monday through Friday.
• Attend weekly meetings with other early childhood staff and regular meetings with the College of Teachers.
• Participate in festival planning, parent evenings, and parent-teacher conferences throughout the year.
• Attend community work days as part of school involvement.

Qualifications

• Experience working with young children is essential.
• The ideal candidate has Waldorf training and experience in a Waldorf or Lifeways early childhood setting.
• Consideration will be given to applicants with other teaching experience and a strong desire to learn about the Waldorf approach.

About Singing Cedars

Singing Cedars School offers Waldorf-inspired education for children in preschool through Grade 4. We currently have one mixed-age, nature-based kindergarten serving children 4–6 years old and two mixed-age grades classes, situated on three semi-wooded acres, within walking distance of a forest and reservoir. We are adding a second early childhood class in 2026-2027, and are looking for an experienced lead teacher and assistant to join our staff. Our campus is in rural southeast Iowa, near Fairfield, with access to walking and biking trails and a small-town, cosmopolitan feel.

Work Environment & Benefits

Our current staff has 35 years combined experience in Waldorf kindergartens. Teachers meet regularly for study, review, and festival planning. Benefits include partial tuition remission for enrolled students of staff, a supportive collegial environment, paid time off for salaried employees, and a potential recruitment bonus offered to childcare workers by the state of Iowa. We offer competitive pay for the area, with added pay commensurate with experience and training in the classroom.

Outdoor & Physical Requirements

Singing Cedars places a strong emphasis on cultivating a relationship with the natural world. Our mixed-age kindergarten class begins nearly every day outdoors, in any weather. Teachers must be prepared to be outdoors in every season, rain or shine.

• Physical requirements include taking frequent walks in all weather and using hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Ability to stand and sit; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, and squat.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds routinely, and up to 40 pounds for emergencies.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform essential functions.

How to Apply

To apply: please send a cover letter, resume, and a completed application to [e-mail]

Location

Singing Cedars School, 2149 N. B Street, Fairfield, IA 52556

We look forward to hearing from you!