Math - Science Teacher STEM
2 days ago
Austin
Job Description Job Title: STEM Teacher - Science and Mathematics (“STEM Teacher” or “Teacher”) Waldorf High School (Grades 9-12) 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. How to Apply If you are qualified and interested in joining a warm, hospitable, and growing community such as ours, please email your updated resume and letter of intention along with three professional references, to awsrecruitment@austinwaldorf.org. Place the job title and your full name in the subject line of your email message and address it as shown below. If you are applying for multiple jobs, please send a separate message for each job. Address to: High School Director Austin Waldorf School 8700 South View Road Austin, TX 78737 awsrecruitment@austinwaldorf.org 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 student's intellectual growth, practical competence, and path toward freedom. ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES The STEM Teacher must perform the following essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation. 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, • Differentiate 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. Advisor duties include: • 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 & Work Environment Requirements Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions of this role. In this position, the teacher is expected to: • Communicate clearly and effectively in English, both verbally and in writing, with students, families, and colleagues, • Demonstrate strong listening and interpersonal skills in a classroom and school environment, • Learn, retain, and apply information related to curriculum, student support, and school procedures, • Use standard classroom and office technology, including computers and keyboards, for extended periods of time, • Perform tasks requiring repetitive hand and wrist movements, such as typing and writing, • Manage responsibilities effectively in a dynamic environment with changing priorities and deadlines, • Move throughout the classroom and campus environment, including sitting, standing, walking, bending, reaching, and lifting or carrying light classroom materials as needed, • Remain engaged and attentive throughout the school day in support of student learning and safety