Collegium 

The Collegium is the largest group in our school, composed of grades, early childhood, and specialty teachers as well as administrative staff. Weekly meetings, held on Tuesdays after school, comprises teacher department meetings, child study, anthroposophical or pedagogical study, communication for all school events, and artistic work. This larger leadership group allows teachers and colleagues to connect and deepen their work together. The Board of Trustees and the Parent Council make up the other two leadership bodies.

Within the Collegium, there are three working committees that meet regularly. The Pedagogical Committee is mandated by the Collegium to participate in the school's governance, and frequently seeks input from the Collegium. The Care Committee coordinates support for community members as needed, and oversees child study. The Community Committee coordinates community events throughout the year and works with the Parent Council on the presentation of festivals. 

Administration

The administrative staff oversee the business and daily operations of the school. General areas of responsibility include finance, legal, outreach, enrollment, health, safety, marketing, logistics, and communication. A number of staff members are needed to achieve this, including an Administrative Director, Development Director, Enrollment Coordinator, Registrar, front Office manager, bookkeeper, and Site Coordinator.

Pedagogical Director 

This individual has a wide range of responsibilities related to establishing and evolving the school’s curriculum and ensuring that the school can meet its pedagogical goals. This person acts as the liaison for the Collegium to the Board as an ex-officio Board member. The Pedagogical Director is also one of six members on the Executive Committee and works closely with the Administrative Director in addressing the various daily needs of the school community, as well as maintaining our relationships with other regional schools.

Administrative Director 

This role is responsible for overseeing the school’s operations and finances, and the administrative staff. The Administrative Director also acts as liaison between the administration and other governance bodies and works closely with the Pedagogical Director in managing relationships within and outside the school community. Similar to the Pedagogical Director, the Administrative Director is an ex-officio member of the Board, is one of six members on the Executive Committee, and serves on several other committees related to the running of the school.

Development Director

This position holds the culture of philanthropy at WHWS, ensuring the school meets its financial and philanthropic goals through strategic fundraising and outreach. The Development Director works closely with the Administrative Director, Advancement Committee, and Board to implement the annual Fund Development Plan, guides faculty, staff, and volunteers in support of our fundraising events, oversees the marketing plan for the school, and manages alumni relations. The Development Director also serves on the Executive Committee and is an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees.

Board of Trustees

The Board is responsible for overseeing the management and operations of the school as a non-profit entity, including supporting the school’s mission of bringing Waldorf education to our community. In practice, the Board’s role in governance is focused on the school’s growth and development, fundraising, financial stability, operational oversight and setting budgets. Board activities are done with long-range planning and guidance as a priority. To that end, the Board works with all governance bodies and the school community to create a shared strategic plan from which to operate. Board membership includes representatives from the current and past parent community, the Collegium, and other associates of the school. The Pedagogical Director and the Administrative Director also serve as ex-officio members. The Board has several standing committees, dedicated to topics such as Finance, Site, Long Range Planning, and Trustee Growth, which are mentioned in more detail below. The Board carries out its mandate through the school’s By-Laws.

Board Officers 

The Board has four elected officers; President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. They represent the Board in the Executive Committee, and along with upholding the Board's overall mandate, they are responsible for creating and maintaining a long-range plan for the school. The Board Officers also coordinate the Board’s hiring and peer review for the Administrative Director, Pedagogical Director, and Development Director.

Collegium Committees

Much of the planning and implementation of governance is carried out by various committees. A few of these are covered below, to give a sense of how the work happens.

Care Committee

This committee of the Collegium provides support for students and faculty where needed. Membership is drawn from faculty and staff, but must include one person from the Early Childhood program, one from the Grades faculty, one specialty teacher, and one from the Administrative Staff. Mandated activities include support for the emotional, physical, and academic needs of the school community, arranging student observations, check-ins, and action plans, communicating first grade readiness, and maintaining a resource list of community specialists.

Community Committee

This committee of the Collegium provides support for parent education and outreach, open forums, and festivals. Membership is open to any faculty or staff member, but must include the Enrollment Coordinator and Development Director. Mandated activities include  the creation of a yearly plan for community activities, coordination of the staff and Parent Council regarding festivals, communication of festival meaning to the community and encouraging participation in community events, as well as ensuring that the Collegium has ongoing & appropriate training in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Pedagogical Committee

This committee is mandated by the Collegium to be a part of the school's governance. Its role is to develop and uphold the school’s pedagogical and academic curricular standards based on AWSNA Principles. It is also responsible for the quality of teaching, including hiring, mentoring and evaluation of teachers. The Pedagogical Director is the chair of this committee. 

Mandated duties include: 

• ensuring compliance with curriculum guidelines
• setting benchmarks and homework guidelines by grade level
• coordinating teaching staff evaluations
• coordinating student assessments
• determining overall program offerings and structure 
• creating the pedagogical master calendar 
• arranging peer visits and mentoring
• coordination of student teacher placements 
• coordination of professional development for teaching staff 
• communications regarding pedagogical questions and issues.

Board Committees

Executive Committee

This small group is tasked with regularly monitoring the overall health of the school. It consists of the four Board Officers, the Administrative Director, Development Director, and the Pedagogical Director. This regular contact between representatives helps operations align with strategy and provides a hub or bridge between the various governance entities.

Finance Committee

This Board committee provides oversight over the financial affairs of the school. It is typically chaired by the Board Treasurer. The Administrative Director is expected to be on this committee as well. Mandated activities include developing the operating budget for Board approval, reporting budget performance to the Board, overseeing financial audits, and guiding the Board in short-term and long-term financial planning.

Advancement Committee

The Advancement Committee is dedicated to fostering a culture of philanthropy at WHWS and supporting the long-term advancement of the school, which includes strategic fundraising, enrollment growth, and outreach to the community. The committee is chaired by the Development Director and includes at least two Board members, the Administrative Director, the Enrollment Coordinator, and a representative from the Parent Council.  Mandated activities include oversight of the Annual Fund Develoment Plan, supporting community outreach, and reporting status and progress toward financial goals to the Board.

Long Range Planning Committee

From time to time, the Board will form a Long Range Planning Committee that serves to bring together leadership from the various parts of the school to review and revise the school’s Long Range Plan. At least one Board member will serve on this committee. The committee also serves to regularly summarize progress on goals and report any possible concerns to the Board.

Site Committee

The Site Committee is responsible for tracking, planning, and implementing the upkeep and improvement of the WHWS facilities. Membership should include at least one Board member, plus the school’s Site Coordinator. Mandated tasks include tracking current and future needs for site work, assisting in the prioritization of work, evaluating bids for contracted work, assisting with management of large projects as needed, and reporting and overview of site activities to the Board.

Trustee Committee

The Trustee Committee is tasked with caring for the growth, enrichment, and well being of the Board and its members. This is done through recommending studies and working to discover and reach out to community members for potential Board membership. This committee also facilitates the election of Board Officers as directed by the By-Laws.

Parent Council

While not a formal governance body, the Parent Council plays a critical role in facilitating healthy communication and involvement within the school community. The Parent Council oversees classroom support, helps coordinate school festivals and fundraisers and offers community events. Council structure typically includes two representatives from each class in the school, including the early-childhood programs and a Parent Council Chair. The Administrative Director, Pedagogical Director, and Board members frequently attend meetings of the Parent Council. There is also an assigned Parent Council liaison in attendance at most Board meetings.