Central Coast Steiner School is delighted to announce the appointment of Eleanor Waterford as Deputy Principal, commencing in 2027.
Eleanor joins the school from Mount Barker Waldorf School in South Australia, where she has served as Assistant Principal since 2020. She brings more than 25 years of experience in Steiner education and leadership, having developed her practice through a deep engagement with Rudolf Steiner’s vision of teaching as an art and his understanding of the developmental journey of the child.
Much of the foundation for Eleanor’s work was formed during her 15 years at Orana Steiner School, where she had the honour of being the first former student to return as a teacher. Across her career she has worked in Early Childhood, Primary and High School settings, as well as in pastoral care and curriculum leadership roles. These experiences have given her a deep appreciation for collaborative practice, professional learning and the wisdom that comes from working alongside experienced colleagues.
Eleanor holds a Master of Education (Steiner Education) and has particular interests in developing teacher pedagogy and communities of learning, as well as designing meaningful, holistic learning experiences with students at the centre. She continues to value opportunities to create responsive, creative and challenging learning experiences for young people, both as a teacher and as a school leader.
In recent years, Eleanor has contributed to research projects within the South Australian independent school sector focused on educational innovation and the future of schooling. She has collaborated with colleagues across the independent sector on conference presentations and research papers and has led a multi-year research partnership with the Berry Street Education Model exploring what children need to thrive at school.
Beyond her school leadership role, Eleanor has contributed significantly to leadership development and professional learning within the Steiner education movement. She has delivered workshops and presentations at Steiner Education Australia mentoring conferences, the National Teachers Conference and the Governance, Leadership, Administration and Management Conference. She also established the National Steiner Mentors Network, which she continues to chair with the support of Steiner Education Australia.
Eleanor brings to her new role a strong commitment to collaborative leadership, professional learning and supporting teachers in their work with children and young people. She said her leadership is grounded in “care, courage and an enduring sense of hope for the future of education and the young people we serve.”
She is looking forward to joining Central Coast Steiner School and contributing to the wonderful work already taking place across the school community to help students flourish.
We are very much looking forward to welcoming Eleanor and her family to Central Coast Steiner School in 2027 and to the strong contribution she will make to our school community in the years ahead.
Founded in 1995, Central Coast Steiner School is nestled on 7 acres of breathtaking bushland in Fountaindale, just 100 kilometres […]