STEM Teacher - Science and Mathematics

Austin Waldorf School; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 49,330 - 54,811; Full time

Job summary

Austin Waldorf School in Austin, Texas, seeks a STEM Teacher for grades 9-12 to guide students in exploring scientific inquiry and mathematical thought. This full-time position involves teaching various disciplines like Ecology, Physics, and Chemistry while integrating hands-on learning with theoretical understanding. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in a science or math-related field and a commitment to Waldorf pedagogical principles. Salary ranges from $49,330 to $54,811 based on qualifications and experience.

Qualifications

• Experience teaching science and/or math, preferably at the high school level.
• Demonstrated ability to design engaging, hands-on, and integrated science lessons.
• Strong classroom management and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Teach high school science and mathematics courses for grades 9–12.
• Provide consistent, timely feedback on student work.
• Guide students through scientific inquiry and mathematical reasoning.

Skills

Classroom management

Engaging lesson design

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Hands-on learning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a science-or-math-related field

Tools

Google Workspace

Job description

STEM Teacher - Science and Mathematics

Waldorf High School (Grades 9–12)

Job Title: STEM Teacher - Science and Mathematics ('STEM Teacher' or 'Teacher')

Reports to: High School Director

Classification: Full-time, Exempt, Benefit-eligible

Supervisory responsibility: No supervisory responsibilities

Salary: Waldorf Trained, minimum: $54,811, annualized; Non-Waldorf Trained, minimum: $49,330, annualized. Salary offered depends on qualifications and years of teaching experience.

Position Purpose

The STEM Teacher guides high school students through a rich, developmentally sequenced exploration of the natural world and mathematical thinking. Teaching out of an anthroposophical understanding of adolescent development, this teacher integrates scientific inquiry and mathematical reasoning to cultivate curiosity, precision, conceptual understanding, and a sense of responsibility toward the natural and human-built world.

Through observation, experimentation, laboratory work, and guided discovery, the STEM Teacher supports students in developing increasingly independent thinking and disciplined inquiry. All teaching is directed toward fostering each students intellectual growth, practical competence, and path toward freedom.

Essential Job Duties

Teaching Duties

Science & Mathematics Instruction

• Teach high school science and mathematics courses for grades 9–12, including block-style science and math main lessons as well as skills-based math, and advanced science instruction.
• Teach across multiple scientific disciplines, such as:
  • Ecology
  • Physics (including Mechanics, Kinetics, Electricity & Magnetism)
  • Chemistry (Organic and Inorganic)
  • Human Physiology and Comparative Anatomy
  • Earth Science, Geology, and Environmental Studies
• Teach high school mathematics, including Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Business Math, and Statistics, and collaborate with other math faculty to ensure curricular coherence.
• Design, facilitate, and teach lessons that emphasize:
  • Careful observation and phenomenological inquiry
  • Experimentation and laboratory work
  • Conceptual understanding before abstraction
  • Meaningful application and real-world connection
• Craft lessons that engage students intellectually, emotionally, and through hands-on, practical work.

Pedagogical Approach

• Teach out of an anthroposophical understanding of human development and its relationship to scientific and mathematical thinking.
• Balance experiential, observation-based learning with increasing conceptual rigor and abstraction as developmentally appropriate.
• Differentiated instruction to support a range of learners while maintaining high expectations.
• Integrate interdisciplinary connections with Humanities, World Languages, and the Arts where appropriate.
• Bring curiosity, clarity, and enthusiasm to teaching and lesson design.

Assessment & Feedback

• Provide consistent, timely, and meaningful feedback on student work.
• Assess student learning through lab work, written work, problem-solving, projects, and presentations.
• Maintain accurate records of attendance, assignments, and assessments.
• Produce narrative-based quarterly reports and final grades in alignment with Waldorf High School practices.

Class Advisor Duties

All faculty at the Waldorf high school serve both as subject teachers and as class advisors. Advising is a core pedagogical duty and a central way teachers accompany students through adolescence.

Each Teacher serves as a Co–Class Advisor, holding a class together with another faculty member across all four years of high school (grades 9–12). A class is divided into two advising groups, and each Advisor works closely with a subset of approximately 10–15 students, for whom they are the primary point person.

• Co-holding the class with another advisor, supporting class culture, identity, and developmental needs.
• Meeting regularly one-on-one with advisees (approximately every other week) to support:
  • Goal setting and reflection
  • Academic progress and workload management
  • Executive functioning and accountability
  • Social-emotional well-being
• Guiding students in selecting and completing independent work, work experience placements, and long-term projects, including senior projects.
• Acting as an accountability partner as students navigate disciplinary steps and graduation requirements.
• Communicating regularly with parents regarding advisee progress, expectations, and developmental insights.
• Collaborating closely with the co-advisor, counselors, student support staff, and administration as needed.

Collegial and Community Duties

• Carry shared responsibility for the STEM program in collaboration with other science and math faculty.
• Collaborate closely with Humanities, World Language, and Arts faculty to support interdisciplinary learning.
• Maintain, organize, and inventory laboratory materials and ensure student safety during all lab activities.
• Attend and participate fully in departmental faculty meetings and full faculty meetings.
• Participate in faculty mentoring, evaluation processes, and ongoing curriculum development.
• Substitute for colleagues as requested.
• Participate in school festivals, assemblies, open houses, year-start and year-end trips, and community events.
• Represent the STEM program and the school professionally to parents and the wider community.

Operational and Professional Duties

• Teach an average of 22-27 class periods per week (900–1200 minutes/week), including main lesson blocks and skills classes.
• Be on campus during the regular school day (typically 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.).
• Check and respond to email daily and communicate promptly with students, families, and colleagues.
• Demonstrate proficiency with Google Workspace and familiarity with learning management systems.
• Maintain accurate attendance, grading, and reporting records.
• Take responsibility for the physical classroom and laboratory environments, contributing to order, beauty, safety, and care of shared spaces.
• Report health and safety concerns promptly.
• Act professionally at all times and contribute positively to a strong, collaborative faculty culture.

Qualifications and Experience

The STEM Teacher must possess the following qualifications and experience.

Required or Strongly Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in a science-or-math-related field (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Ecology, Physiology).
• Experience teaching science and/or math, preferably at the high school level.
• Demonstrated ability to design engaging, hands-on, and integrated science lessons.
• Foundational competence in high school mathematics (Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry).
• Strong classroom management and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with or openness to Waldorf pedagogy and block scheduling.
• Commitment to collaborative, relationship-centered teaching.

Highly Valued

• Graduate degree in a science, math, or education field.
• Waldorf teacher training (completed or in progress).
• Experience managing a high school science laboratory.
• Interest in interdisciplinary collaboration with Humanities and Arts faculty.
• Capacity to support or coach a student club, sport, or extracurricular initiative.

Physical and Mental Requirements

• The ability to learn, understand, remember, and communicate effectively information about the job.
• The ability to understand the meaning of and use and speak words understandably and effectively in the English language.
• Good hearing and listening abilities, that is, the Teacher must be able to hear spoken words from students, parents, co-workers, and others.
• Good motor coordination skills, that is, the ability to coordinate his or her eyes, hands and fingers rapidly and accurately in order to handle precise movements such as typing.
• Make and use repetitive hand motions over an extended period, as when typing.
• Work effectively under pressure and deadlines.
• Sit, stand, move around, bend, reach, grasp, stretch, push and pull, and remain sitting or upright for extended periods of time in one room.