Shining Mountain Waldorf School Shining Mountain Waldorf School
Shining Mountain Waldorf School
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Admissions

Shining Mountain welcomes international students on both an exchange (non-paying) and a non-exchange (tuition paying) basis from Waldorf and non-Waldorf schools around the world during the student’s High School years (grades 9-12). The length of the visit or exchange is from one semester to multiple years. Please apply 8-10 months prior to the semester or year in which you are interested.

INTERNATIONAL (NON-PAYING) EXCHANGES

Shining Mountain Waldorf High School has a long tradition of successful exchanges with schools around the world. Due to shifts in our language program, we are pursuing exchanges with Spanish-speaking communities in Central and South America only. Please check back for updates to this page in the 2025-26 school year, or email amarks@smwaldorf.org with your inquiry. 

INTERNATIONAL (TUITION PAYING) STUDENTS

Shining Mountain Waldorf High School has a limited number of spaces for paying international students, who may come per semester or per year, beginning in the 9th grade. If accepted, you would pay our current rate of tuition, plus additional fees for athletics, visa, travel, and ESOL classes, based on your TOEFL score. You would also pay additional fees for housing with a local family and we encourage you to bring at least $200 per month in spending money. Shining Mountain Waldorf School is authorized to grant I-20 student visas and we will help you find housing with a local family (if needed).

Requirements:

Paying International Students may come for one or more semesters beginning in 9th grade through 12th grade. We do not offer this program in the lower or middle school programs. To achieve the maximum benefit, we prefer you attend for at least one school year.

  1. You will need to take the TOEFL exam and score a minimum of 45 to be accepted into our program.
  2. While you are here, you will be required to take private ESOL 323, English for Speakers of Other Languages. These classes will need to be arranged for by the family independently of the school. A score of 94 or higher will exempt you from this course.
  3. You will need to apply to our High School and pay the $90 application fee. This application includes student and parent questionnaires, your TOEFL exam score, two letters of reference, and your agreement to follow our school’s media policy, dress code, drug and alcohol policies, as well as all local laws. Your parents will also need to sign a document giving authority to the host parents to act as the parental authority while you are staying in their home.
  4. You and your parents will conduct a SKYPE interview with our International Student Coordinator, Admissions Director, High School Faculty Chair, or one other faculty member.
  5. In addition to our standard tuition and fees of $38,840 for the 2025-2026 school year*, additional costs include: housing fees of $1,500 per month (if applicable), ESOL classes (if needed), your own spending money (recommended $200+ per month), athletic participation fees, visa fees, as well as travel expenses to and from Boulder, Colorado.
    *For students enrolling for one semester only, tuition and fees amount to $19,420 for the 2025-2026 school year, plus the additional costs listed above.
  6. Acceptance to the program will not be granted until housing has been secured.
  7. Priority will be given to international students staying more than one year, to their siblings, and students who can secure their own housing.
  8. Our Host Families are not responsible for providing housing for parents who are visiting or any other guests of the international students during the course of their enrollment at SMWS.
  9. If you are not coming from a Waldorf School, we require that you do research on the Waldorf Curriculum as our teaching methods and mission are different than current American public or private independent schools and that you understand this difference prior to applying. A good resource is the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA).

International Students and College Advising:

Shining Mountain Waldorf School is committed to developing an international network of students. Currently, 2% of our matriculated high school student body represents countries outside of the United States, such as China, France, Switzerland, Brazil and Germany. Our international students enrich our school environment with their different experiences, perspectives and cultures. Our College Advising program supports international students in their journey from high school to college and beyond.

We share our educational philosophy with over 1,000 Waldorf Schools around the world, over 850 of which are outside of the United States. In a similar manner, our curriculum aims to instill in our students a sense of global preparedness. A diverse student body is integral to this central aim.

95% Shining Mountain students go on to attend a four-year college or university after high school and 5% participate in a Gap Year, attend trade school, or engage in a community college environment.

International Students are expected to work closely with the college advisor throughout the college application process even if they are working independently with an outside college consultant. Upon admittance to SMWS, international students and their parent(s) will meet with the College Advisor to discuss, in more detail, the college program and create a roadmap for the college application process.

During the end of Junior year and the beginning of Senior year, International Students are expected to:

  • Attend the weekly College Counseling Seminars
  • Attend a meeting in July or August after junior year with the College Advisor and sign the Student Responsibilities Check-list.
  • Meet regularly with the college advisor throughout senior year
  • Provide a college list and deadlines to the college advisor by the beginning of October of senior year
  • Keep the college advisor updated about TOEFL Scores (if appropriate)
  • Take the SAT or ACT (if appropriate)
  • Make sure that all necessary college application forms are completed

Contact the College Counselor, Molly Mackinnon, if you have any questions at mmackinnon@smwaldorf.org.

If you meet these requirements, please contact our Admissions Director at admissions@smwaldorf.org to begin the application process.

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Job Details

  • Job Title: Facilities & Grounds Assistant

  • Program: Administration

  • Reports to: Facilities & Grounds Director

  • FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

  • Date: January 2026

Position Summary

Shining Mountain Waldorf School (“SMWS”) is a PreK-12th grade campus consisting of 8 acres and 15 buildings located at the foothills of North Boulder, Colorado. In conjunction with the Facilities Director, the Facilities and Grounds Assistant provides year-round maintenance, seasonal upkeep, and improvement of school buildings and grounds to support our nature and outdoor school curriculum. Maintenance, safety, and improvement projects are essential to welcome visitors and the SMWS community to the natural beauty of the SMWS campus.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Required skills to address issues relating to campus maintenance: plumbing, electrical, carpentry, painting, HVAC, care of the grounds, etc.

  • Daily tour of campus and playground for hazards, trash, safety, and wildlife concerns

  • Daily response to requests for repairs and campus assistance

  • Daily late afternoon safety checks for campus and building safety

  • Weekly service and safety inspection of school buses (fuel, oil, tires, etc.)

  • Weekly cleaning and organizing of facilities and grounds workshop

  • Weekly safety inspections of playground equipment

  • Preparation for school events and meetings, including setup and breakdown of tables and chairs

  • Seasonal work, inspecting and maintaining classrooms, air conditioners, swamp coolers, furnaces, water heaters, thermostats, etc.

  • Supplement early morning seasonal and evening snow removal and ice management throughout campus in preparation for the student and parent arrival and departure of the school day

  • Delivery and moving of items throughout campus classrooms and buildings

Additional Responsibilities

  • Outdoor work, walking, repairing, and attention to our 8-acre campus

  • School events set up and break down – festivals, concerts, and plays   

  • Driving ability to include driving school truck with trailer   

  • Working knowledge of automotive care and maintenance   

  • Working with faculty and assisting in moving and preparing classrooms   

Education and Qualifications

  • Familiarity with landscaping and irrigation, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, painting, HVAC, and general maintenance items

  • Friendly and approachable temperament working with faculty, staff, students, and community

  • Previous construction, trade, and technical skills

  • Self-starter in recognizing and completing necessary campus needs and maintenance

  • Skill and ability to operate power tools in accordance with proper safety guidelines

  • Basic computer skills

  • Driver’s license required with excellent driving record

  • Available to work a flexible schedule at times when work is needed outside of normal working hours – early mornings and weekends (early/late snow removal, event set up and break down, facilities emergencies, etc.)

Work Setting

  • Status: Full time – 40 hour a week non-exempt position

  • Type: This is an hourly, year-round position

  • Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (may require some early morning and evening hours)

  • Environment: Work setting varies based on assignment – indoor and outdoor work on campus and buildings

Salary and Benefits

  • Pay: Hourly wage of $25.00 per hour – overtime paid (time and ½) when over 40 hours are worked per week

  • Time Off: Personal Time Off (monthly accruals of 2 weeks and 3 weeks after 1+ years)

  • Sick Leave: Colorado Paid Sick Leave (1 hour earned each 30 hours worked up to 48 hours each calendar year)

  • Holidays: Up to 15 Paid National Holidays per calendar year, including a paid week during the December holidays

  • Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability, 401(k) with match (determined annually), flexible spending account, and other ancillary benefits

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the Essential Duties and Responsibilities of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to perform:

  • General construction work-related requirements, including but not limited to: lifting, bending, standing, kneeling, carrying items, working on a ladder, etc.

  • Ability to lift at least 60 pounds

  • Work in tight spaces – work may be in small spaces within buildings, crawl spaces, and frame restrictions

  • Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 


Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and three references to hrmgr@smwaldorf.org

Shining Mountain Waldorf School is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing, and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, religion, gender, gender identity, disability, familial status, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, where employees are treated with respect and dignity. 


Job Details

  • Job Title: Substitute Teacher

  • Program: Grades 1 through Grade 12

  • Reports to: Campus Operations Director

  • FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

  • Date: October 2024

Position Summary

Shining Mountain Waldorf School, a PreK to High School, is seeking Substitute Teachers. In order to create an encouraging learning environment for students while their regular Teacher is absent, our Substitute Teachers will need to effectively manage and instruct the class. We are looking for individuals who have teaching experience, love the classroom environment, and are available (sometimes on very short notice) to work during the week. Knowledge of Waldorf education is a plus.

Essential Responsibilities

  • Teaching and supervision of students in the event that their regular teacher is unable to lead class.

  • Manage classroom behavior and follow lesson plans provided by the regular Teacher to create a cohesive and consistent learning experience for students.

  • Manage the classroom effectively to encourage student participation, minimize distractions and maintain a positive learning environment.

  • Adapt teaching methods to fit the needs of each individual student.

  • Supervise students in and out of the classroom, including in class transitions, and on the playground.

Work Setting

  • Classroom and playground environment

Salary and Hours

  • Pay: $25 per hour with a 2-hour daily minimum

  • Timesheets are required to be completed

  • Substitute Teaching hours vary and are contingent on SMWS Faculty absences from the classroom and class needs

  • Calls to Substitute Teach may be made on very short notice – evening and morning hours

  • Substitute hours are based on SMWS need for classroom coverage

Education and Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree

  • Teaching experience and classroom experience required

  • Comfortable with students and academic focus

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the Essential Duties and Responsibilities of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to perform:   

  • Sitting and standing for class presentations   

     

  • Lift 25 pounds, bending, stretching   

     

  • Mobility to move about the classroom, walking around our 12 -acre campus, and playground   

     

  • Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.  

 
Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest and resume to hrmgr@smwaldorf.org.

Shining Mountain Waldorf School is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, religion, gender, gender identity, disability, familial status, sexual orientation or national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, where employees are treated with respect and dignity.



Kim Rector
Kim Rector

Admissions Director

Kim brings more than 12 years of dedicated experience in Advancement and Admissions within Waldorf Education. Kim’s journey with Waldorf Education began in 2013 at the Austin Waldorf School, where she discovered a deep passion for Waldorf pedagogy and Anthroposophy. After relocating to Colorado in 2014, Shining Mountain Waldorf School quickly became a second home for her family. That same year, Kim stepped into the role of Lower School Receptionist, marking the start of nearly a decade of service and leadership at SMWS.

With over 15 years of experience in non-profit fundraising and event management, Kim was a natural fit for the position of Development Director at Shining Mountain, a role she held from 2017 to 2020. She then transitioned into Admissions, serving as Admission Director from 2020 until her family’s return to Austin in 2023. Kim continued work in Waldorf Education by serving as Admission Director at the Austin Waldorf School for the following three years.

Kim studied Biochemistry at Texas State University and has completed her Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy.

Outside of her professional life, Kim and her husband, Julian, are parents to their three children, Sydney, Suri, and Julian. Together, they enjoy hiking, fishing, camping, skiing, and cooking as a family.