Afterschool Teacher grades 1st thru 5th

Aftercare Lead Teacher – Grades 1-5

Beginning 2026/27 School Year

At Chicago Waldorf School, we offer the unique opportunity to practice Waldorf education within a thriving, urban landscape. As one of the most established Waldorf schools in the United States, we provide a professional home where educators are empowered, celebrated, and supported.

• 100% of our faculty feel trusted to teach with autonomy and professional creativity.*
• 96% of our faculty would enthusiastically recommend CWS as a place to work.*
• 50 Years: Celebrating a half-century of educational excellence in Chicago.
• 46% of our students identify as BIPOC, reflecting our commitment to equity.
• 46 Zip Codes: Our community spans the entire Chicagoland area.
• 34 Countries & 22
  
  Languages:
  
  A truly global community in one building.
• 9 Specialists: Robust support through our Social Work and Learning Support departments.

* Results from the 2025 and 2026 Climate and Equity Survey

The Chicago Waldorf School is looking for someone who enjoys being outdoors in all weather and can create a supportive and positive after school experience for students grades 1-5. The candidate will collaborate with the Aftercare Supervisor to prepare a healthy snack each day and then pick-up students from their teachers and transition them to a supportive afternoon of play, rest, and creative activity.

• Demonstrates joy and reverence for childhood
• Experience working with elementary aged children
• Comfortable helping to resolve conflicts and apply restorative justice as needed
• Spends time outdoors in all weather
• Can sit and stand for long periods of time, sometimes on the floor
• Organize supplies for aftercare activities and assist students with basic craft projects as needed.
• Prepare simple whole-food snacks and follow CWS kitchen protocol.
• Work in tandem with the Aftercare Supervisor to expedite room tidying and dishwashing at the beginning and end of each day
• Stay in close communication with the Aftercare Supervisor in the spirit of flexibility and collaboration

Official training in Waldorf education is not required, but the ideal candidate will have an understanding of Waldorf education and a commitment to its principles.

Hours:

Monday-Friday, 2:30-6:30 p.m.

Compensation:
Hourly starting wage $17.

Founded in 1974, CWS is an established Waldorf school offering a full curriculum that remains deeply committed to its urban roots. We explore and enrich the Waldorf curriculum through the arts, equity and inclusion, and the specific time and place in which we live.

For the past seven years, we have been settled in our permanent home: the landmark Lyman Trumbull building in Andersonville. Our campus includes 49 classrooms and offices, a gym, an auditorium, and two outdoor parks. We maintain active partnerships with many businesses and organizations in the surrounding neighborhood, ensuring the school is a functional part of the local community.

Our faculty members come from around the world and represent all stages of life. We prioritize a supportive transition for new staff, including:

• Mentorship: Every new teacher is assigned a mentor and provided with weekly mentoring meetings.
• Professional Development: Faculty have regular access to PD funds and participate in weekly meetings to study Rudolph Steiner’s pedagogical insights, current educational perspectives and for artistic work.
• Ongoing Training: We provide training in first aid, sexual harassment prevention, and trans-inclusivity, alongside SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) seminars, and curriculum-based preparation.

In addition to core academic subjects, we teach music, German, Spanish, Eurythmy, gardening, parkour, and practical and fine arts. Our families are international and reflect diversity in many forms, united by a shared desire for a developmental curriculum that recognizes the whole child and celebrates individual differences.

The Chicago Waldorf School does not discriminate in its hiring practices, and beyond that has a deep commitment to respect and celebrate the differences in students and staff from widely diverse social, economic, cultural, linguistic, intellectual, racial, educational, and religious backgrounds. There is a sustained effort to improve and clear recognition that our educational excellence and fulfillment of our school’s mission is dependent on embracing diversity in our school community.

We seek to fully include and affirm faculty, staff, and students in all their identities. In everything we do, we work toward freedom, responsibility, and excellence. The Chicago Waldorf School provides its teachers, staff and families with ongoing opportunities to study and discuss aspects of diversity.