Dear Colleagues,

As Spring slowly but surely spreads its beauty across the land, our thoughts turn to - summer! We are entering a particularly busy time of year with the ”three merry months of May” fully in view. Before that fully engulfs us, this is the time of year for schools and teachers to complete their planning for summer professional development and teacher education. There are many offerings this year, and we are delighted to let you know that our Alliance online courses will again be available. As you review your options for this summer please consider that the Alliance courses are designed by colleagues with deep knowledge of the needs of Public Waldorf classrooms. Our early childhood and grades teachers are all experienced Public Waldorf practitioners, able to bring living, relevant examples and guidance from their own schools and classrooms. They understand and work daily with the creative challenge of weaving of our Core Principles with state and district requirements 

Our professional development will take place from July 9-18. Week 1 (a partial week, Wednesday July 9-Friday July 11) is dedicated to the “fundamentals” of Public Waldorf education. This is ideal for all of those who are new or fairly new to this work - teachers, administrators, Board members, community leaders. It includes an overview of Waldorf education, the unique opportunities of Public Waldorf, and an introduction to our seven Core Principles. See details here. Note that, if you are new to this work, the Fundamentals course is a prerequisite for week 2, to ensure you have the orientation, basic principles, and vocabulary to be able to participate in the second week. 

Week 2, July 14-18, provides grade-specific preparation for the upcoming school year. There is a separate section for early childhood (pre-K and K) (see details here) and separate tracks for grades 1-8 (details here), allowing you to focus and gain specific knowledge to help with your preparation. Each grade and early childhood offers an overview of the developmental stage and the appropriate curriculum, activities, and classroom management and organization. One of the benefits is the chance to form a cohort of peers who will be teaching the same age group, often in very different settings (a wonderful spark for creative exchange!).

In keeping with our methods and to ensure nourishment for our teachers, afternoon sessions in Week 2 will be devoted to the arts and handwork. These will also be tailored to child development with sessions for early childhood, grades 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8. The emphasis will be on how to bring arts and handwork into your classroom - as well as pleasure and satisfaction for the adults engaging in them!

Week 2 will also offer our popular leadership track. This is half day only, with the option of participating in the arts and handwork sessions in the afternoon. Our leadership track is distinctive as it is offered by individuals who have deep experience in the leadership of Public Waldorf schools. With current uncertainty about policy and funding changes, this will be an opportunity for guidance and networking. See details here. 

All sessions will include ample time for questions. Our instructors go above and beyond in their desire to support educators. They are keenly aware of the wide range of individual student needs in all of our classrooms today plus the need for sensitivity to restorative practices and trauma informed approaches. In other words, they are deeply familiar with the daily juggling act that is required in our public schools!

We know that school budgets are tight and that we are dealing with financial uncertainty. Mindful of this reality, we have kept the cost of our summer professional development at last year’s level. We offer group discounts to make participation possible. We have done our best to be mindful of our range of time zones: we will start slightly earlier this year and will finish earlier, freeing up your evening or part of your afternoon for family time, you time, or the needs of the rest of your life!

We hope to see many of you online in July. If our program is not right for you, please prioritize accessible professional development that is mindful of the current demands of the classroom for all of your teachers and school leaders. It provides lifeblood for the year to come. 

Wishing you the beauty and hope of spring,

Liz Beaven

Executive Director

A note on our current landscape:

We are navigating high levels of uncertainty, and that is stressful. We know people are carrying many needs and worries into schools right now. We encourage you to do everything you can to maintain a protected space for the students (and, hopefully, one that provides a break for the adults). Keep an eye on the developmental appropriateness of conversations and debates. Ensure there are age-appropriate opportunities for restorative practices if they are needed. In our current landscape, we recommend that you ensure that your Board has a steady eye on school policies for compliance. If you don’t already have this, connect and affiliate with your state charter organization(s). They are all providing clear updates and guidance tailored to the specific needs of your state on subjects ranging from protection of immigrant families to budgets. District schools will be receiving this guidance through their district office. 

This is also a time to remind ourselves and one another of the importance of our work and the missions and values of our schools. Communicate these regularly with your school community. Holistic education that is based on a positive, hopeful image of the developing human being is needed more than ever. Thank you for all that you are carrying. 

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/

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/

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

July 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

July 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

Alliance for Public Waldorf Education: Virtual Summer Professional Development

Week #1 July 9-11, 2025: Online

Week #2 July 14-18, 2025: Online

https://alliancesummerpd2025.eventbrite.com

Leading with Spirit: The Art of Administration

July 13-18, 2025: In-Person, Whidbey Island, WA

July 20-25, 2025: Online

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

Antioch University Waldorf Teacher Education

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

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

Center for Anthroposophy: Waldorf High School Teacher Education Program

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

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

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

Aug 18, 2025 - April 30, 2026: One Week In-Person (Vancouver Island, Canada) & 8 months Online (bi-monthly)

https://haven-wood.ca/nalinstitute

Gradalis: Understanding Waldorf Education Program

Sept. 2025-April 2026: Online

https://gradalis.edu/uwe-mentorship/

Center for Biography & Social Art

In-Person or Online

Awakening Connections; Creating Community

Jennifer Militzer-Kopperl: Renewal of Literacy

On-demand support courses for literacy and language arts in the grades; access for 6 months or 1 year, Online

renewalofliteracy.teachable.com/

Ashley Radzat Consulting: Comprehensive support for educators and school communities

On demand In-Person or Online sessions & workshops

radzatconsulting.com/school-services

Alma Partners: Consulting for Schools

Workshops, Online Courses, Inclusion and Belonging Assessments, Student Leadership Conferences, and more

almapartners.net/services

Kentahten Institute for Waldorf Instruction (KIWI)

Waldorf training for public school teachers tailored for your school -- we come to you

https://www.kiwiky.com/ / Contact Dr. Mary Goral: drmarygoral@gmail.com

Please visit our website to find out about job postings at our member schools.

https://www.publicwaldorf.org/job-postings

For more information:

Liz Beaven, Executive Director 

Carly Fedor, Administrative Assistant

Alliance for Public Waldorf Education

1000 River Rock Drive, Suite 218

Folsom, CA 95630

Public Waldorf is a service mark of the Association of Waldorf Schools

of North America and is used pursuant to a license.

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