In a Steiner school, the College of Teachers is a core group of teachers that meet every week to support the health and vitality of the school, work together collegially to discuss key issues relating to Steiner pedagogy and study foundational Steiner education texts. As the College of Teachers chair, my role is the spokesperson for the College of Teachers and I am responsible for supporting the College in continuing its spiritual work within the school. This includes ensuring the health of College meetings, meeting regularly with the Principal and attending Board meetings as a voting Director. This term, the College has been discussing the series of lectures from Dr. Rudolf Steiner’s early body of work, Foundations of Human Experience (1919). College discussions have centred around the first Steiner school as a cultural deed, developing our understanding of the thinking, feeling and willing realms of the human being and how these ideas relate to the modern educational landscape. Orana has also been lucky to host two all staff professional learning workshops this term with Lisa Devine, a renowned Steiner educator and eurythmist.
At the end of Week 7, James and I were privileged to attend the Steiner Education Australia March delegates meeting and 2025 Annual General Meeting. The meeting was held over two days at Kamaroi Rudolf Steiner School and had a healthy attendance with representatives from many other Steiner schools from around Australia. Among the numerous highlights from the conference was the opportunity to participate in eurythmy (movement and singing), hear updates on a Mathematics outcomes research project between SEA and UNSW, as well as innovative and collaborative pilot programs to support the development of experienced Steiner teachers. Staff wellbeing and school investment in Steiner professional learning was also a key theme throughout the conference. Steiner schools have long been known for their sense of warmth, collegiality and collaboration, and it was heart-warming to see this in action between all the schools in attendance. I look forward to attending the SEA delegates meeting at the Alice Springs Steiner School in August.
Warmly,
Sharaine Talip – College of Teachers Chair
