Early Childhood Waldorf Teacher Training

Rudolf Steiner College offers four different Early Childhood Education (ECE) tracks for future teachers who plan to work with young children. We are pleased to offer a complete birth to seven early childhood training that prepares our students for teaching in parent-infant, parent-child, nursery and kindergarten classes. We offer both full-time and part-time programs designed to fit your schedule.

• Annual Early Childhood Symposium
• Family Ways Parenting Classes (weekends)
• Early Childhood Enrichment Series (weekends)

Matriculated (diploma / degree) Programs

• Full-Time, Residential Waldorf Teacher Training Program
  Two-year, full-time program, four days per week, September through May each year (Year 1 is the Foundation Program). Begins every September.
• Weekend / Summer Waldorf Teacher Training Program - San Francisco
  Three-year weekend/summer program, meets Friday evenings and Saturday mornings September through May in San Francisco, and for three weeks of full-time study in the summers in Fair Oaks. Begins every September.
• Summer Waldorf Teacher Training Program - Early Childhood
  Three-year summer program, includes 4.5 weeks each summer plus additional coursework, mentoring and practice teaching during the fall and spring of the first and second year. Begins every summer.
• Summer Waldorf Teacher Training Program - Early Childhood In-Service
  Three-year, part-time program, includes summer sessions each year, an additional week in the fall of the 2nd year, and additional coursework, mentoring and class observation during the fall and spring of the first and second year. This program is designed for those who have familiarity with Waldorf education and have worked at least one year in a Waldorf early childhood setting (at a WECAN member or ASWNA Waldorf School). The student must continue working in an early childhood setting throughout the course of the training. Begins every summer.

How to Apply

For information about the Admissions process, Tuition and Fees, and Financial Aid, go to our Admissions page or contact us.

Director of Early Childhood Programs

Lauren R. Hickman, MA, is the Early Childhood Department Chair, and she is a passionate advocate for young children and their families. She holds a M.A. in Education from Touro University, an Early Childhood Teaching Diploma from Rudolf Steiner College, a B.A. in International Relations from U.C. Davis and an A.A .in Chemistry from American River College. An alumna of the Sacramento Waldorf School, she has been a Waldorf Educator for over nineteen years, as a Parent-Infant, Parent-Child, Nursery and Kindergarten Teacher. She is a former Waldorf school administrator and has served on several non-profit boards. Lauren is an early childhood mentor and a Licensed Preschool Director. One of Lauren's particular interests is bringing Waldorf education into everyday life, by teaching parenting classes to homeless mothers, working with at risk families and by bringing festivals, puppetry and storytelling to the greater community.