Walden is Hiring – 4-6th Grade Math/Science Teacher

Upper Group Math/Science

Walden Center and School seeks a dynamic Math/Science teacher for our 4th-6th grade co-taught classroom to join our teaching collective. 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 TK-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. We believe that tests and grades are not the best measure of a child’s learning. Instead teachers are guided by informal assessments, and close observation. We do not give tests or grades. 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:
This position is for co-teaching the Upper Group (grades 4, 5 & 6), using a self-developed math and science curriculum in collaboration with the Upper Group Language Arts/Social Studies teacher. Our Upper Group teachers integrate arts and experiential learning in their lessons in a hands-on, meaningful way. This mixed grade class provides opportunities for community-building, leadership, and encourages playful and joyful learning for 4th, 5th & 6th grade students. Walden teachers practice flexibility, openness, and keen observation to fully engage students and support their joy of learning and cultural awareness. We believe that this approach honors different learning styles and life experiences. We utilize a variety of assessment tools to inform our teaching, and do not administer formal tests or give grades.

Teaching Duties:
Collaborate with the Upper Group team (Language Arts / Social Studies co-teacher and Arts teachers) to develop a cohesive, robust program.
Create an engaging and developmentally appropriate multisensory math and science program.
Prepare hands-on, project-based lessons grounded in constructivist principles
Plan and implement thoughtful math, science, social-emotional, and anti-bias units
Conduct informal assessments to track progress, inform teaching and engage learners
Foster a warm, welcoming, safe classroom community
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

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
Supporting ongoing school business after hours and on weekends as needed
Supporting 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
3+ years experience teaching at the elementary school level
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 3rd-6th grades
Multiple-Subjects/Elementary Teaching Credential

Desired:
Experience in mission-driven nonprofit work
Skills and experience that will add to our Collective Administration: event planning, finance, marketing, project management, construction, gardening, scheduling, tech skills, social media
Knowledge or experience of collective/worker cooperative model workplaces, non-hierarchical organizations

Compensation:
This is a full-time salaried position
$75,000-$78,617/ 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 “UG Math Teacher Hiring” to the subject line.

Winter Frolic – December 14

Join us for Walden’s Annual Winter Frolic!

Saturday, December 14, 1:00 – 4:00pm

  • Yummy food and drinks
  • Fun family activities/ Winter crafts for all ages 
  • Cookie Decorating 
  • Walden Student Performance
  • Scavenger Hunt
  • Book Swap: Build community by participating in our book swap! Bring a book, get one, and experience the joy of giving

Please note that we are a peanut and tree nut-free school.

Walden Paints a Community Mural

Saturday May 11, 10:30am – 1:00pm

Dear Walden Families,

Walden students have been invited to participate in painting a community mural in Berkeley that will be painted on a fence located on the east side of Shattuck Avenue between Dwight and Blake streets. The mural painting day is April 20th, from 10:30AM-1:00PM. No preparation is needed, but please RSVP, and wear clothes that can get a little messy!

The mural has been designed by local artist Nigel Sussman, and is called “We are all Neighbors!”

Please RSVP as soon as you can, so I can let the organizers know how many students from Walden are planning on participating. This is a great opportunity to use your art skills to uplift your local community and leave your mark!

-Ruth

RSVP HERE

Summer Camp 2024 Registration is Open!

Walden Center and School presents: Summer Fun! Learn More Here


Welcome to Walden’s Summer Camp! Our goal is to support kids in building friendships and community that connect us to our sense of adventure! At camp, kids stretch their imaginations, utilize Walden’s beautiful campus, and play creatively with one another. Each week has a different theme:

MINI WORLD! June 17-24 (Wednesday off for Juneteenth, costs $370)
Creative projects about teeny tiny things!

OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY June 24-28
Field trips around the East Bay to connect with exciting locations in our community!

CREATIVE WRITING July 1-5 (full week, no day off for 4th)
Books, comics, art – this week, kids make the narrative.

COOKING July 8-12
Get ready for some delicious surprises! During Cooking Week, we will cook, taste, plan recipes, and try new foods.

SPIRIT WEEK! July 15-19
Summer ends with Spirit Week! With a new topic each day, we will have celebrations, dress-up themes, and games to show our spirit!

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER TODAY!