Category: Jobs

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TK-6 INDEPENDENT SCHOOL BUSINESS MANAGER

Walden Center and School (Walden) is a leader in progressive elementary education and collective administration. Our school has a rich history of teaching creative minds and alternative thinkers over the last 60 years, with a strong commitment to a fully-integrated arts curriculum. All of our students have Spanish, Music, Drama, and Visual Art with specialists twice weekly. Here you’ll find child-centered education at its best. Our approach to teaching makes learning a multisensory, joyful, and lasting experience. We cultivate a diverse community of learners, families, and teachers to create a secure and textured learning environment. Walden students love to go to school. 

We are a school run by a collective. Decision making is consensus-based. We are a small school with big ideas and a big heart where children love to learn and teachers love to teach. If you have a vision of building a close-knit community, of working closely with kids, parents, and a small committed team of teachers, this may be the engaging, invigorating, satisfying job you are looking for. 

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Business Manager at Walden Center & School has direct responsibility for all aspects of the financial and business integrity of the school, including, but not limited to, finances, payroll, benefits administration, and long-term sustainability. The work of the Business Manager will be primarily remote, with the requirement to be on campus for meetings, certain events, to pick-up and drop off work, and as needed.

Finance & Accounting

  • Work with Collective and Board of Directors (Walden Foundation) to prepare and develop annual budget
  • Performs all bookkeeping/accounting tasks including, but not limited to AR/AP/Payroll
  • Responsible for maintaining the QuickBooks general ledger in accordance with GAAP
  • Prepares all monthly reconciliations and schedules (including bank, investment, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses, fixed assets, accounts payable, deferred revenue, fund balance, payroll and others)
  • Process bi-weekly payroll using ADP Workforce Now
  • Recommend tuition, salary adjustments and financial aid to the Foundation and Finance Committee
  • Prepare timely and accurate monthly and annual Financial Statements with budget variances
  • Day to day budget monitoring
  • Develop internal controls to ensure school assets are properly controlled
  • Maintain relationships with banks and investment firm and manage cash and investments as directed by the Walden Foundation
  • Work with Foundation in regards to Walden’s Annual Giving Fund and other fundraising events 
  • Keep school in legal compliance with IRS, State of California and other regulatory bodies
  • File annual statements of use tax, business property tax, welfare exemption, business license, 1099s, etc.
  • Manage audit if required by the Walden Foundation or other funding sources
  • Provide tax accountant with  information and ensure the timely filing of the annual IRS and State of CA tax forms
  • Complete annual census report for ERISA 403b Plan and ensure accurate filing Form 5500 
  • Monitor, review, and respond to Independent School Business Officer Administration (ISBOA) emails and attend ISBOA meetings
  • Complete insurance renewal forms yearly and make recommendations to the Walden Foundation regarding current policies
  • Lead Finance Committee Meetings and manage membership
  • Attend Foundation meetings and present financials and other finance related matters

Tuition, Accounts Receivable, & Financial Aid

  • Develop and foster professional and collaborative relationships with parents, be available to answer questions timely and manage collections in an empathetic manner
  • Maintain student billing database in billing system and reconcile to general ledger
  • Oversee school financial aid program and awards in accordance with Walden’s mission, philosophy, and financial aid policy
  • Manage summer camp billing
  • In conjunction with the Admissions Coordinator, utilize School & Student Services (SSS) platform to assess family’s financial needs. 
  • Update and maintain language pertaining to Tuition and fees in handbook, and enrollment paperwork

Human Resources

  • Manage on and off boarding of employees
  • Maintain accurate records in web-based payroll processing platform – ADP Workforce Now
  • Liaise with insurance brokers, attorneys, and other outside parties as needed to address issues as they relate to payroll and benefits
  • Produce and distribute updated compensation memos to staff on an annual basis
  • Work with Walden Personnel Committee to ensure Employee Handbook is in continued compliance with legal requirements and best practices and communicate with Walden Collective, Foundation, and Finance Committee
  • Coordinate open enrollment of Walden’s health and other benefits
  • Administer Walden’s 403b retirement plan
  • Review and, when necessary, suggest changes to the employee benefit package

Collective Administrative Responsibilities

  • Reflects on and supports the school’s vision and mission
  • Commitment to participate in collectively administering the school using a consensus model
  • Supports ongoing school business after hours and on weekends as needed
  • Supports administrative goals generated in the meeting by taking on tasks
  • Collaborate with Collective members in consensus building process
  • Reads and responds to emails regarding school business in a timely manner
  • Attends and participates in relevant school events
  • Summer Duties: admissions support, ongoing committee projects, and other tasks; meets when needed

Skills, Qualifications, Experience

  • Knowledge of accounting best practices, internal controls, GAAP, with specific application to a non-profit organization.
  • Strong familiarity with federal and California labor laws, regulations, and employment best practices
  • Experience in risk management, accounting, budgeting, process improvement, and technology solutions
  • Highly self-motivated, ability to manage time well, be self-directed and meet multiple deadlines
  • Strong problem-solving and communications skills, with the ability to establish trust
  • Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal and presentation skills
  • Ability to think ahead and plan over a one-to-five year time span
  • Strong technology skills
  • Consistent exercise of discretion and good judgement with the highest ethical standards
  • Ability to work collaboratively within a consensus decision making model
  • Experience and knowledge of QuickBooks or equivalent

Preferred

  • Experience with BigSiS/Ravenna, SSS, and ADP Workforce Now or equivalent
  • Previous experience with independent school administration

Education

Degree in Accounting or equivalent experience 

Compensation

This is a part-time salaried position. 

$60,015.78/ 12 month salary

Benefits include Health, Vision, Dental, Retirement contribution, 9 PTO days 

For more information about Walden, see our website: www.waldencenterschool.org. 

We look for candidates who thrive on ownership, collaboration, service, creativity and collaboration. For more information about Walden Center & School, please visit us at waldencenterschool.org. Salary and benefits are competitive. 

Walden Center & School actively seeks to build a diverse student, staff and parent community. We are an avid equal opportunity employer and seek applicants who reflect the rich diversity of the Bay Area. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship, ethnicity, family-care status, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. 

Submit cover letter and resume to hiring@waldencenterschool.org

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Hiring: Lower Middle Group Teacher

First Grade (Lower Middle Group) Teacher/Administrator

Walden Center and School seeks a dynamic Lower Middle Group Teacher (1st) to join our teaching collective in the fall of 2026. If you have a vision of building a close-knit community, of working with kids, parents, and a small committed team of educators, this may be the engaging, invigorating, satisfying job you are looking for.

Walden Center and 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 as a teacher-led collective, which provides them with autonomy, and the right and responsibility to make decisions that affect both their own classrooms and the whole school. We are passionate about working with the diversity of our current community and strive to support an environment that feels inclusive and intentional. 

Our approach to learning encourages creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking as a means to help children develop a lifelong love of learning, a strong sense of community, and a powerful sense of self.  We believe learning should be personalized, child-centered, and joyful. 

                                             Job Description

Lower Middle Group (1st grade) Teacher:

This position is for teaching the Lower Middle Group using a self-developed curriculum. Our teachers integrate arts and play-based learning in their lessons in a hands-on, meaningful way. Walden teachers practice flexibility, openness, and keen observation to fully engage students and support their joy of learning. Lower Middle Group collaborates with the Lower group (TK-K) class which provides opportunities for community-building, leadership, and encourages playful and joyful learning..We believe that this approach honors different learning needs and life experiences. We utilize various assessment tools to inform our teaching; however we do not administer formal tests or give grades. 

Teaching Duties: 

  • Foster a warm, welcoming, safe classroom community
  • Create an engaging and developmentally appropriate multi-sensory program for First grade curriculum
  • Prepare hands-on, project-based lessons grounded in constructivist principles
  • Plan and implement thoughtful language arts, math, science, social-emotional, and anti-bias units 
  • Ability to create a positive learning environment through consistent, fair, and respectful classroom management
  • Communicate effectively about student learning and behavior with parents and students’ other teachers
  • Contribute to weekly notes home regarding curriculum, special events, and classroom needs
  • Attend parent-teacher conferences in the Fall and Spring and as needed throughout the year

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
  • Meet with a mentor once a week

Typically, in your third year at Walden, your duties will increase 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

  • Is on-site from 8:45-3:15p for teaching days and till 6p on Wednesdays for staff meetings
  • Supervising students when assigned duty
  • Collaborate with Collective members in consensus building process
  • Problem-solve classroom and administrative issues 
  • Reads and responds to emails regarding school business in a timely manner
  • Attends and participates in school events
  • Reflects on and supports the school’s vision and mission
  • Commitment to participate in collectively administering the school using a consensus model
  • Supports ongoing school business after hours and on weekends as needed
  • Supports administrative goals generated in the meeting by taking on tasks
  • Summer Duties: admissions support, ongoing committee projects, and other tasks; meets when needed

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent)
  • 3+ years experience teaching at the lower elementary
  • Knowledge of child development
  • Experience designing child-centered, age-appropriate, multi-sensory curriculum
  • Experience implementing anti-bias approaches and curriculum
  • Robust classroom management skills
  • Ability to adapt instruction to meet the diverse needs of learners
  • Familiarity with social-emotional learning curricula and/or anti-bullying programs
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Ability to be flexible

Preferred:

  • Responsive Classroom experience
  • Experience teaching lower elementary grades
  • California Multiple-Subjects Credential
  • Training in Orton-Gillingham or Science of Reading approach to literacy

Compensation:

This is a full-time salaried position 

$77,163.15/ 12-month salary

Benefits include Health, Vision, Dental, Retirement contribution, 11 PTO days 


For more information about Walden, see our website: www.waldencenterschool.org.


Please send a resume and cover letter addressing your philosophy of education to hiring@waldencenterschool.org and add “Lower Middle Group Teacher Hiring” to the subject line.

Walden Lower Middle Group ad 2026Download