K-6 DRAMA TEACHER (THEATER, DANCE & MOVEMENT)
Walden Center and School seeks a dynamic Drama Teacher (theater, dance/movement) to join our teaching collective in the Fall of 2025. (Ideal start date Dec 1st) If you have a vision of building a close-knit community, of working with kids, parents, and a small committed team of teachers, this may be the engaging, invigorating, satisfying job you are looking for.
Walden Center & School has been a leader in progressive elementary education and collective administration for over 65 years. Walden is an independent, K-6 school where drama, music, language, and art sit alongside traditional academic subjects as our core curriculum. At Walden we believe that children learn best when their academic, emotional, physical, and social needs are addressed and families are an integral part of our community. Teachers take an individualized approach in designing their curricula in order to meet each child where they are developmentally. Also, the teachers run the school by a collective, which provides them with autonomy and flexibility in the classroom and direct participation in school-wide decision making.
Our approach to learning encourages creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking as means to help children develop a lifelong love of learning, a strong sense of community, and a powerful sense of self. Walden’s graduates are self-directed and have a joyful confidence that allows them to contribute positively to the world around them.
JOB DESCRIPTION
We are looking for a Drama teacher who has the passion, energy, and mindset to inspire elementary school children to take risks, develop a confidence in, and appreciation of the performing arts, along with proficiency teaching theater, dance & movement. The position includes planning and running performance showcases during the school year, with a culminating theatrical production by the combined 4th-6th grade class near the end of the year. Our ideal candidate also demonstrates a commitment to anti-racist and culturally responsive practices.
In addition to classroom teaching, the Drama teacher will become part of our teaching collective. This means collaboratively running our school by way of weekly staff meetings, committee work, and other administrative duties. The Collective uses a consensus model to reach decisions. Not only does this allow for every voice to be heard, it ensures that multiple viewpoints can be considered. Our goal is a governance structure that models positive and peaceful decision-making and conflict resolution for children and the entire community.
STATUS: Part-Time (equivalent to 3 teaching days/week)*
SALARY: $50,433.43 Annual Salary (pro-rated)
BENEFITS: Medical, Dental & Vision, PTO, (Retirement plan available 2nd year)
START DATE: Dec 1st, 2025
Responsibilities include:
- Create, plan and teach theater, dance & movement lessons for K-6 grade
- Create an engaging and age-appropriate, multi-sensory program
- Communicate effectively about student learning and behavior with students’ other teachers.
- Meet with mentor weekly
- Participate in weekly staff meeting on Wednesdays from 3-6 pm
- Attend and actively support administrative committees, community events and assemblies
- Plan showcase of learning performances for families by class during the year, including a major theater production at the end of the school year of the 4th-6th grade students.
Qualifications:
- 3+ years experience teaching theater, dance & movement at the elementary level
- Ability to design an inspiring, child-centered, and developmentally appropriate curriculum
- Experience creating a positive classroom culture and safe space for expression
- Commitment to anti-racist and culturally responsive practices
- Experience supporting diverse learning profiles through different modalities, including neurodiversity
- Ability to adapt instruction to meet the needs of students in a multi-grade setting
- Strong classroom community-building/management skills
- Experience with and enjoyment of working in a collaborative environment
- Flexibility in problem-solving classroom and administrative issues
- Ability to work within a diverse community of students, parents, and teachers
- Commitment to participate in collectively administering the school using a consensus model
- Excellent communication skills
Administration (Collective duties)
At Walden, there is no “principal” of the school. We operate as a collective, meaning that the teachers are solely responsible for all matters pertaining to the school’s day-to-day operation and leadership functions. In this non-hierarchical structure, all teachers play an equal role in the running of the school, and decisions are made on a consensus model.
For your first two years, your duties as a member of the collective will include the following:
- Actively participating in weekly staff meetings
- Participating in the planning and executing of school events, including community-wide events and assemblies
- Collaborating to ensure the smooth operation of the school, which might include coordinating schedules, making admissions decisions, and communicating with other stakeholders
- Implementing and managing school policies and procedures, helping to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment
- Participating in at least two school committees
- Supporting other administrative needs as they arise
Typically, in your third year at Walden, your duties will shift as you become a core collective member. This will entail:
- Additional time with the other core collective members for sensitive and pressing issues
- Leadership positions on school committees
- Evaluating, mentoring, and managing fellow employees
- Ultimate responsibility for community-wide issues, complaints, problems
- Managing the recruitment and hiring of new staff
Other Collective duties
- Being on-site from 8:45-3:15p for full teaching days and till 6p on Wednesdays for staff meetings
- Supervising students when assigned duty, and as needed
- Covering and teaching other classes as needed
- Reading and responding to emails regarding school business in a timely manner
- Reflecting on and supporting the school’s vision and mission
- Commitment to participate in collectively administering the school using a consensus model
Desired:
- MFA/BFA/BA (preferably in a field of Performing Arts)
- Teaching Credential
- Experience and skills in school or small business administration
For more information about Walden, see our website: https://waldencenterschool.org/about/mission-philosophy/
Please send a cover letter of interest in teaching at Walden Center and School and your resume to: hiring@waldencenterschool.org