Alliance e-News

Dear Colleagues,

Earth Day greetings, this year with a theme of “our power, our planet”. From its beginnings in 1970, Earth Day has served as a timely reminder of the gifts of nature, its healing power, and our responsibility to be stewards of the earth, today and for the future. I hope that you will be able to step outside at some point today, casting your gaze on whatever aspects of nature are in your surroundings. In Rachel Carson’s words, “Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts”. We certainly need sources of strength and reserves as we navigate this time of great uncertainty, disruption, policy changes, and their consequences for our schools and students.

Bringing this “down to earth”, we are continuing with plans for our summer professional development. We will once again offer virtual sessions in school leadership, July 14-18, with an invitation for participants to join arts sessions later in the day. We are constantly reminded that thriving schools need excellence in the classroom, a supportive community, and, key to success, strong, inclusive leadership.This is reflected in our sixth Core Principle, “Collaborative Leadership”.

We see many different models of leadership in our schools, and many, varied profiles of individuals filling leadership roles. We know that leadership is distributed throughout a school - among students, in a classroom, in faculty and staff, in the school community, at the Board or site council, and within the designated leadership roles of principal, director, or similar titles. We also know that changes in leadership are significant events in the life of a school and that stable, competent leadership makes a vital difference. When schools are engaged in a leadership search, they often ask if candidates must be a “Waldorf person”. Experience tells us that, depending on the school’s resources, the number of Waldorf-trained teachers, and the governance structure, a Waldorf background is not required (although it is usually an asset). However, for a school to thrive, leadership must be Waldorf-aligned, interested, supportive, open, and willing to learn.

Thriving includes clarity of the school’s mission (this should be periodically reviewed, an essential first step in our self-study process). It also includes clear job descriptions and a shared understanding of the scope of a leader’s work and authority. These are structural considerations for any school; lack of clarity can quickly lead to a push to replace a school director, a more common step than you might think. If structural issues are not addressed, a new leader will simply inherit them. In the process, there can be division, lobbying, and a fracturing of the community. Leadership turnover is, of course, inevitable, but it is also costly (time, money, and energy) and time-consuming. Effective leadership needs and deserves support and opportunities for ongoing professional development.

Our Alliance leadership course is popular for good reason. It is unique in that sessions are offered by individuals with considerable experience of leadership in Public Waldorf schools. It covers a range of topics including: the joys, challenges, and opportunities of leadership; healthy Board relationships; building school culture, community, and healthy communication; questions of conflict of interest; appropriate onboarding, training, and evaluations; compliance and regulations. This year, we are also adding a session on crisis management and trauma. Schools have wonderfully rich webs of relationships and roles: we encourage all of you in leadership roles to take time to dive into these topics, either as a refresher or because you are new to your role (for those who are brand new to Public Waldorf, we provide three days of “Fundamentals” the preceding week to help orient you). There is space for questions - and the relief of a reminder that, despite the reality that leadership can be lonely at times, you are not alone! Our leadership sessions are appropriate for anyone in a leadership position (or entering a leadership role) in a Public Waldorf school. We hope you will join us.

Liz Beaven

Executive Director

2025 Summer PD Full Schedule

Professional Development and Teacher Preparation

A listing by the Alliance is for information only and does not imply recommendation or endorsement. We encourage school leaders and teachers to fully research offerings before enrollment to ensure they align with their goals and needs. We recommend that you research familiarity with the unique needs and demands of Public Waldorf education. This is particularly important if public funds are used for professional development or teacher preparation.

Upcoming Professional Development

and Teacher Preparation

Kairos Institute: Healing in a World of Need

Spring & Summer, 2025: Online

bit.ly/Kairos2025te-emergency-pedagogy/

WECAN: Parent and Caregiver Events

Spring 2025, Online

https://waldorfearlychildhood.org/news-and-events/parent-and-caregiver-events/

Alma Partners: Informed Adolescence: Supporting Teen Resiliency and Wellness

Apr. 30, 2025: Online

Informed Adolescence with Heidi Sproull

Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training: Weaving Wonder into Everyday Life with Toddlers

Apr. 27, 2025: Online

https://events.humanitix.com/taster-day-weaving-wonder-into-everyday-life-with-toddlers

Center for Anthroposophy: Waldorf Leadership Development

May 10, 2025- April 2026: Hybrid (In-Person & Online)

https://centerforanthroposophy.org/programs/waldorf-administration-and-leadership-development-program/

Emergency Pedagogy Training

May 16-18, 2025: In-Person, Los Angeles, CA

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/emergency-pedagogy-without-borders

Waldorf Handwork Educators: Handwork Teacher Development Open House

May. 18, 2025: Online

https://www.waldorfhandwork.org/tt-open-house

Gradalis:

Teaching as an Art Week

Jun. 22-27, 2025: In-Person, Boulder, CO

https://gradalis.edu/teaching-as-an-art/

Teacher Training

Jun. 22- Jul. 11, 2025: In-Person, Boulder, CO

https://gradalis.edu/

Sunbridge Institute: Summer Series-

Leadership, Early Childhood & Grades 1-8

Jun. 22-27, 2025: Early Childhood, In-Person, Chesternut Ridge, NY

Jun. & Jul. 2025: Online

https://www.sunbridge.edu/courses-workshops/summer-series/

Center for Anthroposophy: Renewal Summer Course

Jun. 29-Jul. 4, 2025: In-Person

Jul. 7-11, 2025 Online

https://centerforanthroposophy.org/programs/renewal-courses/

Great Lakes Waldorf Institute: High School Summer Professional Development

Jun. 30-Jul. 3, 2025: Online

Jul. 7-11, 2025: In-Person, Milwaukee, WI

https://www.greatlakeswaldorf.org/high-school

Kairos Institute: Healing in a World of Need

Jul. 6-11, 2025: In-Person, Wilton, NH

bit.ly/Kairos2025te-emergency-pedagogy/

Journey School: Summer Renewal 2025- Art of Teaching

Jul. 7-11, 2025: In-Person, Aliso Viejo, CA

rsvpartofteaching2.pdf

Leading with Spirit: The Art of Administration

Jul. 7-11, 2025: Online

Jul. 13-18, 2025: In-Person, Whidbey Island, WA

Jul. 20-25, 2025: In-Person, Freeport, ME

https://www.leadingwithspirit.org/art-of-administration-leadership-training

Alliance for Public Waldorf Education: Virtual Summer Professional Development

Week #1 Jul. 9-11, 2025: Online

Week #2 Jul. 14-18, 2025: Online

https://alliancesummerpd2025.eventbrite.com

Antioch University Waldorf Teacher Education

Jul. 12-27, 2025: In-Person, Wilton, NH

https://www.antioch.edu/academics/education/waldorf-education-med/

Waldorf Handwork Educators: Online International Conference- Deep Roots, Strong Branches: Child Development, Classroom Leadership, and Collaboration in Waldorf Special Subjects

Jul. 14-17, 2025: Online

https://www.waldorfhandwork.org/july-2025-conference

Center for Anthroposophy: Waldorf High School Teacher Education Program

Class of 2027 enrolls this summer, Jul. 2025. Online & In-Person

https://centerforanthroposophy.org/programs/waldorf-high-school-teacher-education/whistep/

Waldorf Handwork Educators: 2-Year Online International Handwork Teacher Development Program

Aug. 2, 2025, Online (Applications open May 1, 2025)

https://www.waldorfhandwork.org/teacher-development

Youth Section of North America: The Light Between Conference

Aug 16-10, 2025: In-Person, Harlemville, NY

https://www.nayouthsection.org/about-the-conference

New Adult Learning Institute: Grounded in Practice: A New Waldorf Foundation Year