Job Openings for 2015-16 Academic Year

About Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm

The vision of Lakeside School is to create a school community at Black Kettle Farm where birth to grade three education based on the Waldorf philosophy and biodynamic farming come together so children and their families can participate in education, the arts, movement, agricultural cycles, and stewardship of the land. Lakeside School’s mission is to:

• Honor and protect childhood
• Allow children to develop in their own time and at their own pace
• Instill a life-long love of learning
• Foster a love of nature and the arts, respect for others, and the world around us
• Prepare children to meet the world in an engaged and positive way

Lakeside School is located in Essex, NY – the heart of the Champlain Valley in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York. The schoolhouse is a historically restored 18^th century farmhouse on 213 acres of farm and forestland. The children participate in a variety of farm activities as well as utilize the woodlands and trails including streams, ponds, and waterfalls.

While the faculty has strong foundations in Anthroposophy, Waldorf Education, and outdoor education, we continually look at ways to build our programs to meet the needs of the children of the North Country. We work to create a culture of collaboration and initiative.

This region provides ample opportunity for outdoor activities and budding cultural life. The central location leads to easy access to Lake Champlain and the High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. When a bigger city is desired, Burlington, VT and Plattsburgh, NY as well as two-time Winter Olympics host Lake Placid are within driving distance.

Positions Available

Early Childhood Teacher Position
Lakeside school at Black Kettle Farm is seeking a Teacher of the 4 day Sprouts Program for walking 1 year olds to 3.5 year olds. This person should be able to carry a strong rhythm that includes preparing nourishing snacks, play, toilet training, diapering and napping. The Sprouts Teacher should be skilled at modeling the domestic arts and facilitating healthy social interactions with the children. We highly encourage applicants from people with farm or outdoor education experience, as our school is uniquely situation on many acres of farm and forestland, which we strive to incorporate into or everyday rhythms. The candidate hired will be responsible for up to 6 children dependent on the constellation of the ages of children. Applicants should have strong communication skills and a willingness to collaborate with parents and colleagues. The ideal candidate has working knowledge of Waldorf Early Childhood Education and a dedication to respectful care of the young child.

3^rd Grade Class Teacher
The Lakeside School, a farm-based school that works out of the philosophy of Waldorf education, is seeking a Third Grade Class teacher for the 2015-2016 school year.  The ideal candidate will have Waldorf teacher training, or a solid understanding of Waldorf education with experience and a willingness to seek training.  We highly encourage applications from people with farm or outdoor education experience, as our school is uniquely situated on many acres of farm and forest land, which we strive to incorporate into our everyday rhythms.  The class teacher will be responsible for teaching a developmentally appropriate curriculum to a small but mighty group of students from extraordinarily committed families, including language arts, mathematics, nature studies, form drawing, painting, music, and modeling. The class teacher is also responsible for working with parents, and participating in the overall running of the school through faculty committees and general meetings.

Administrator
Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm in Essex, NY is looking for a full-time Administrator. Lakeside recognizes that candidates will have an unique combination of experience from the fields of management, education, and non-profit leadership. The ideal candidate will have a background in Waldorf education and school administrative experience.

The Administrator reports to the Board of Trustees and oversees the administrative and business operations of the school, ensuring that the school adheres to and pursues its stated mission, achieves and maintains financial health and stability, complies with all applicable laws and regulations, appropriately manages risk, and implements strategies and policies set by the Board of Trustees. The Administrator provides leadership to the school as a whole, supervising and guiding the work of all administrative staff and committees, ensuring adequate communication among all School constituencies, as well as the broader community, and supporting the faculty in their pedagogical work with the students.

DESIRED ATTRIBUTES, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
Strong candidates for this position will be mission driven and able to sustain organizational integrity and high standards of community interaction. He or she must have the ability to manage the sometimes competing demands of the various constituencies of the School, including by effective delegation, prioritization and oversight. A high level of energy, a positive attitude and presence and sense of humor are essential.

We also seek:

• Experience in administration and/or education
• Bachelor’s or higher degree
• Ability to manage day-to-day responsibilities
• Motivated self-starter with a positive, “can-do” attitude
• Exceptional leadership skills and ability to work collaboratively with teaching faculty, staff, parents and the Board of Trustees
• Fiscal management skills and experience developing and managing budgets
• Experience with human resource policies, procedures and practices
• Fund development and donor relationship skills
• Strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills; demonstrated ability to write clearly
• Ability to manage conflict resolution with integrity and diplomacy
• Computer skills with Microsoft Office and Excel; knowledge; experience with database programs, data entry with attention to details

To apply, please send resume, letter of intention, a brief biographical sketch, and two professional phone references. E-mail Kathleen at admin@lakesideschoolinessex.org. Deadline: March 1, 2015.