Many Waldorf teachers are thrust into leadership roles outside of the classroom: committee chair, Chair of the Faculty, Chair of the College of Teachers to name but a few. These positions require additional time, energy and human resources. Often the school is not in the position to provide adequate support for these volunteer leaders, and the tasks can become onerous. School leaders are often selected based upon collegial respect and appreciation, but sometimes the skill sets are not adequate for the job. Where can they turn? How can they find the resources to serve?

Administrators, Business Managers, Development Directors and others are also under tremendous pressure at times, especially given current economic circumstances. How can they carve out time for their own professional development and renewal?

Board Presidents and chairs of board committees are volunteers who give much needed expertise to the school on a volunteer basis. Some may have been parents for years; others may be new to Waldorf. Again, how can one create a culture that supports board development and individual growth 'on the job'?

Our new MEd Program offers a focus area for just such people. Through brief residency in NH, first two weeks in summer 2009 and then three weeks in summer 2010, with on going mentorship and research back home, participants will be able to take up work that might otherwise have been deferred. Research questions might include:

Working with group dynamics and managing meetings
Conflict resolution from an Anthroposophical point of view
Leadership development - how can we "groom" and prepare future leaders, provide greater support and promote healthy transitions?
From friendraising to fundraising
Assessing governance needs
Restructuring and change efforts

Each participant will design their own research question and do field work as well as academic research over the course of an entire year. We will match students with experienced professionals in the Waldorf movement to support and mentor through the process. The final Masters Project will be submitted for peer review in the second summer and be presented at a special symposium.

Finally, participants in the program will do artistic work, singing, movement, painting etc on an advanced level all the while earning an accredited Masters Degree. We plan to have fun, share humorous stories as well and our horror stories all the while working in a small cohort group that honors confidentiality and promotes adult learning.

This program is for faculty leaders (or those who may become leaders in the near future), administrators, PTO and Board leaders as well as those who find it fascinating to study organizational dynamics and how people work together.

Torin Finser, Ph.D. is Director of the Waldorf Teacher Education Program at Antioch University New England and founding member of the Center for Anthroposophy, Collaborative Leadership Training, and Templar Associates in New Hampshire. He has been an educator for three decades and has been a keynote speaker at conferences in Asia, Europe, and throughout North America. He has consulted with many public and Waldorf schools in areas of facilitating change, designing mentoring and evaluation programs, and leadership development.

Last Updated: 11/10/08