Leading with Spirit is a professional development program designed to support administrative leadership in Waldorf Schools and Collaborative Institutions across the continent. It includes three one-week summer intensives that can be taken separately or as part of a two-year part-time program with monthly mentoring, research projects, independent study, and participation in online collegial seminars.

“Without the experience, resources and ongoing support, I have had from this program,

I don’t think I would have survived the last six months.

In so many ways, personally and professionally,

 it has helped me learn, grow and be successful.”

Program participant 2017

Waldorf Schools work with a new pedagogy based on a holistic, age-appropriate image of child development. They also practice a new form of community life in which teachers, administrative staff, and parents are partners in developing the community of the school. The working together of these three groups in the life of the school requires insight, social sensitivity, and competence so that the school can be healthy and best serve the needs of the children. This new professional development course offers teachers, administrators, board members and parents an opportunity to reflect on and work with the challenges of building a Waldorf School Community that is vibrant, innovative and effective while honoring the unique contributions of each member of the community.

The summer intensives are based on the successful certificate and Master’s Program in Waldorf School Administration and Community Development offered at Sunbridge College between 1991 and 2008.

Each summer seminar can be taken on its own but, when taken in sequence, the seminars will build a deeper capacity for serving the community of Waldorf education.

Program Description and Content

FULL PROGRAM: Three summer sessions, monthly class calls to explore emerging topics, four weekend workshops, Mentoring, Independent Research, Online Cohort Support

 Understanding the Social and Spiritual Foundations

• School and the Image of the Human Being

• The Dynamics of School Governance

• Leadership in a Collaborative Spiritual Organization

• The Healing Social Life: Working Together

 Working Together in Community

• Dialogue in Human Encounter

• Group Roles and Team Development

• Decision-making, Consensus and Facilitation

• Understanding Conflict

• Developing Community Dialogue over Time

 Deepening Principles, Roles and Practices

• Self-Administration and Collaboration

• Phases of Administrative Development and Administrative Leadership

• Our Dialogue with the World: Marketing, Enrollment, Finance and Development

• A New Imagination for Partnership: Administration, Board and Faculty Relationships

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TYPICAL DAILY SCHEDULE

Each day will consist of presentations, case work, artistic work and a seminar on inner development.

8:30-10:30   Singing, Verse and Morning Presentation

10:30-11:00   Morning Break

11:00-12:00   Case Study Work in Groups

12:00-12:30   Biography Conversations

12:30-1:45     Lunch Break

1:45-2:30     Case Study and Group work – session 2

2:30- 3:30     Painting and Observation or other arts.

3:30-4:00       Afternoon Break

4:00-5:00       Inner Development Seminar

5:00-5:30       Singing and Review of the Day

Core Faculty

(see about us page for more background)

Marti Stewart 

Sian Owen-Cruise, Ph.D. 

Michael Soule, MA 

Lisa Mahar, MA

Co-director, Leading with Spirit  

Christine Scherding  

Program Advisor

Christopher Schaefer, Ph.D. 

Full Program 

Leading to a Certificate in 

Waldorf Administrative Leadership

Three Summer Intensives with Summaries

Attending all three summer intensives and writing a brief summary of learning paper for each week is required for the completion of the certificate program. The summer weeks are designed to be experienced in sequence, but consecutive attendance is not required.  The weeks can be completed in any order and still meet the program requirements.

➢ Week I: The Soul and Spirit of Waldorf School Administration

➢ Week II: Working Together in Community

➢ Week III: Principles, Roles, Practices in Waldorf School Administration

Advising/Mentoring Sessions

➢ One hour each month, ten sessions per year (typically beginning after attending the first summer intensive) over two school years

➢ At the beginning of entry into the certificate program, each participant will be assigned an advisor/mentor

• Sessions begin as soon as mutually agreed upon between the LWS advisor and

the participant

• Advisors can be available for a call between sessions when needed

Continuing Professional Development 

• The LWS certificate program requires that each student attend two

professional development workshops, seminars, and/or classes per school year, intended to provide specific training pertaining to the student’s professional goals and to offer training and skills building in areas of interest or need.

• Professional development topics/workshops are discussed with the advisor to assure that the content is applicable.

Independent Research Project 

Each participant will complete a research project over the course of the program.  The goal of the independent research project is to deepen and develop personal and professional practice through completing a study pertinent to the student, the student’s  school, and to the wider Waldorf School Movement.  A full outline of expectations, format, and examples of past topics will be shared.  The completed research project is generally five to ten pages and is usually an iterative process with drafts and final draft leading to completion.

Tuition and Fees

Full Program Registration Fee $100 

Summer I         $850 +dep $50 

Advising/Mentoring School Year I $1500

Summer II       $850 +dep $50 

Advising/Mentoring School Year II $1500

Summer III         $850 +dep $50 

Total                                 $5800

Leading with Spirit will prepare and send invoices for each step in the program.

Partial Program Option Available

 The program may also be taken in parts. Summers intensives, weekend seminars, and professional mentoring support are available separately.

Join the program in one of our locations this Summer and further your journey

“Seek the real practical life but seek it in a way that does not blind you to the spirit working in it. Seek the spirit, but do not seek it from spiritual egoism, from spiritual greed but look for it because you want to apply it unselfishly in practical life, in the material world. Make use of the ancient principle: spirit is never without matter, matter never without spirit.” – Rudolf Steiner