Governance
Learn about our governance structure.
Threefold Orientation and the Pillars of School Life
At River Valley Waldorf School, we strive to work out of the spirit of social threefolding, as described by Rudolf Steiner.
This approach recognizes the importance of distinct yet interrelated spheres of social life: Cultural/Spiritual, Rights/Organizational, and Economic/Community.
While Steiner did not prescribe a specific organizational structure for schools based on threefolding, his vision calls for educational institutions to uphold the freedom of cultural life, the equity and clarity of legal structures, and the mutuality of economic life.
This vision informs the three primary “pillars” of our school community:
- The Pedagogical Leadership Group (Cultural Life)
- The Board of Trustees and Administrative Leadership (Life of Rights)
- The Parent Council and Volunteer Community (Economic Life)
Each pillar operates within its own domain of responsibility, while remaining in conversation and collaboration with the others, united in service of the school’s mission and the needs of the children.
Pedagogical Pillar – The Cultural and Spiritual Life of the School
The pedagogical leadership of River Valley includes the Pedagogical Chair, the Pedagogical Leadership Group (PLG), and the full faculty. These educators steward the inner and outer life of the school’s educational mission, holding responsibility for:
- The long-term pedagogical vision,
- Child development–centered teaching and learning,
- Programming and faculty development,
- Admissions decisions with pedagogical insight.
This pillar works to preserve the spiritual and developmental essence of Waldorf education, and to foster a living culture of reflective, collaborative, and evolving teaching practice. Drawing inspiration from the original impulse of Steiner’s “republican” faculty meetings, pedagogical leadership is grounded in shared responsibility and the inner work of the teacher.
Board of Trustees and Administrative Leadership – The Life of Rights
The Board of Trustees holds the legal and fiduciary responsibility for River Valley Waldorf School, ensuring its long-term sustainability, integrity, and alignment with its mission. The Head of School, appointed by and accountable to the Board, serves as the chief executive and is responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of the school. Working in close collaboration with the administrative and pedagogical leadership, the Head carries out the school’s strategic goals across twelve key areas:
- Board Relationships – maintaining clear communication and collaboration with the Board of Trustees
- Organization – overseeing school-wide systems, infrastructure, and administrative operations
- Planning and Analysis – guiding strategic planning, decision-making, and institutional self-reflection
- Fundraising – supporting advancement efforts, including donor relationships and development campaigns
- Academics – ensuring the delivery of a high-quality Waldorf education through program development and support
- Program & Service Support – aligning all programs and services with the needs of students and families
- Personnel – managing faculty and staff hiring, support, and evaluation
- Finance – overseeing financial health, budgeting, and resource stewardship
- Institutional Image – guiding communications and representing the school in public settings
- Environment – maintaining a safe, welcoming, and mission-aligned physical and cultural environment
- Constituent Relations – fostering strong relationships across the parent, faculty, and alumni communities
- Enrollment & Recruitment – directing strategies to attract and retain mission-aligned families
Through this comprehensive scope of work, the Head of School acts as a bridge between the Board, faculty, administration, and broader community, ensuring that the life of rights within the school is upheld with clarity, responsibility, and a deep commitment to the school’s mission.
Governance practices at River Valley emphasize transparency, appropriate delegation, and responsibility aligned with expertise and function. Informed by both Steiner’s vision and contemporary nonprofit best practices, the school’s leadership seeks to strike a balance between spiritual freedom and administrative clarity.
Parent Council – The Economic and Associative Life of the School
The Parent Council serves as a bridge between the school and the parent body, helping to cultivate an active and participatory school culture. Ideally composed of two representatives per grade, the Council:
- Coordinates key community events (such as Winter Fair and Mayfaire),
- Supports communication between home and school,
- Organizes volunteer efforts in alignment with school needs,
- Collaborates with administration and faculty to strengthen community life.
Through these efforts, the Parent Council contributes to a healthy associative life, where relationships are built on trust, shared purpose, and mutual support.
Governance in Practice
River Valley’s governance model draws inspiration from anthroposophical insights as well as the practical needs of a contemporary independent school. While the threefold social order is not directly transposed as a structural model, its principles guide how we orient our leadership:
- Cultural autonomy is safeguarded by a faculty-led pedagogical structure.
- Legal and administrative responsibility is clearly held by the Board of Trustees and Head of School.
Community participation and support is cultivated through the Parent Council and other associative forms.
Decision-Making
Decision-making authority is mandate-based, meaning committees and working groups are empowered to act within clearly defined areas of responsibility. These mandates are crafted with transparency, reviewed for alignment with the school’s mission, and supported through regular feedback and review.
Both the Pedagogical Leadership Group and Board of Trustees strive to use collaborative processes, including consensus where appropriate. While not directly derived from Steiner’s lectures, consensus has become a valued method in Waldorf schools, emphasizing deep listening, shared insight, and group responsibility.
Annual Three Pillars Gathering
At least once per year, representatives from each of the three pillars, faculty, administration, trustees, and the parent community convene to review school visioning, planning, and reflection. This annual meeting fosters transparency and strengthens interconnection across the realms of school life, in support of the children and the evolving needs of our time.
Living Into the Future
At River Valley Waldorf School, our governance and leadership practices aim to uphold this spirit: grounded in ideals, responsive to reality, and always in service to the well-being and unfolding potential of every child.
