Early Childhood Teacher Education
Program Director: Helena Renz, M.Ed.
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The Early Childhood Teaching Certificate Program at Great Lakes Waldorf Institute is a three-year, part-time program integrating philosophical, practical, and artistic preparation for teaching in early childhood. The program includes three terms each year, along with guided independent study:
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Summer term: Three weeks in July, with a combination of in-person and virtual components
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Fall term: Weekly virtual meetings (September–December) and a virtual weekend intensive (November)
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Spring term: Weekly virtual meetings (February–May) and a virtual weekend retreat (March)
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Independent study each year: Guided fieldwork and research, including observations, practicum teaching, and a final research project.
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Graduates of this 550+ hour program receive Early Childhood Waldorf Teaching Certificate recognized by the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN) and the International Association for Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Education. (IASWECE).
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Curriculum and course content include a balance of the following areas:
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Child development and Waldorf education
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Waldorf philosophy and human development
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Early childhood program design
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Contemplative work
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Artistic activities for the classroom and for the educator
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Professional and social aspects of Waldorf education
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Fieldwork - observation, mentored teaching, and practicum in well-established Waldorf early childhood program
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Capstone project
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The Great Lakes Waldorf Institute offers a three-year rotating cycle of courses, and participants may enter in any year. The program follows a cyclical developmental model rather than a linear, start-to-finish sequence. Participants in their first, second, and third years study together, which supports collegial relationships across different stages of teacher preparation while also forming a cohort with others who enter the program in the same year. Each year includes elements of both foundational and more advanced educational practice.
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Across the three-year cycle, the courses emphasize one of three focus areas each year. Participants are guided through recurring thematic threads that support the conscious development of capacities essential to Waldorf educators.
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Certificate Program Overview
Coursework Overview
You can find detailed descriptions of our program courses here.
Required Integrated Field and Research Courses
Find out more and register for integrated field and research courses here.
Learn more about our program format, including dates and virtual and in-person requirements.
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To ensure success and accessibility for all participants, GLWI instructors and staff are committed to providing accommodations to the fullest extent possible. We are committed to supporting and accommodating individual needs and working in tandem with our students for successful outcomes.
In addition, our partner school, Mount Mary University, offers these accessibility services.
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If you would like to learn more about Waldorf teaching, teacher education at Great Lakes Waldorf Institute, or our application process, we invite you to fill out our Inquiry Form; sign up for a meeting with our Director of Teacher Education, Monika Sutherland; or email or call Kira Chard, our admissions coordinator, at admissions@greatlakeswaldorf.org or
Non-Discrimination Statement: Great Lakes Waldorf Institute, Inc., encourages broad public support and participation in its management and activities, and shall not discriminate in any manner whatsoever against any person on the basis of race, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or mental or physical handicap or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and any other programs. We are committed to reflecting the diversity of our society and creating space for historically excluded and underrepresented groups to participate in all aspects of the corporation's management and activities.