High School
Natalie Adams
Faculty Chair, Main Lesson Teacher, History of Philosophy, 1992
BA, Philosophy, Harvard University; Foundation Year, Emerson College, Forest Row, England; Waldorf Teaching Certificate, Waldorf Pedagogical Seminar, Stuttgart, Germany
As an undergraduate, Natalie sought answers to questions that the study of philosophy provoked in her. She was given a great gift when a friend introduced her to the work of Rudolf Steiner which spoke more deeply to her than anything she had previously encountered. Her readings soon led her to Waldorf education which she marveled at as a treasure trove of wisdom and insight. Deciding to become a part of movement that offers so much to children and through them to the world, she did her best to learn German and traveled via England, to Germany to engage in teacher training.
These early studies also introduced her to Goethe’s scientific works which rekindled a love she had lost for science and mathematics, and over the years Natalie has taken courses whenever possible in the philosophy and science that flows from Rudolf Steiner’s work. After completing her teacher training in Stuttgart, she returned to her hometown of New York City to teach the first grade at the Rudolf Steiner School. She loved her students and was grateful for the experience and depth within faculty. After teaching grades one through five in New York, she married her husband John, and together, they moved to Washington, DC when he joined the US Foreign Service. Within a year they were sent to Bangkok, Thailand where their son, Jay, was born. Life in the diplomatic service has taken the family, with their daughter Sasha as well, to Romania and to Azerbaijan.
Most recently John was stationed in Nepal where the family visited him several times. These overseas postings and the incredible travel opportunities throughout Central Asia, Europe and Egypt during vacations, have given Natalie a deep appreciation of different cultures and religions and a love of the beauty of the earth. In both Bangkok and Bucharest she was involved in a variety of ways in Waldorf education. Most recently she was the class teacher of 2009, grades six through eight, and she has taught main lessons in the high school, most consistently a History of Western Philosophy to seniors. Over the past several years she has enjoyed the chance to work both with the students of the Center for Anthroposophy’s Foundation Studies and those of the Nova Institute’s Teacher Training.
Like her mother and two sisters, she loves to garden. Also, she has always welcomed the Waldorf demand to develop in all the arts.
Laurent Andre
Middle School, High School Spanish, 2000
License of Natural Science, Biology, University Orsee, Paris Sud, MITCM, Acupuncture, ESL, San Francisco
Laurent is a French and Spanish native. He studied Biology at Orsay University in France. In addition to his teaching, he is a certified reflexologist, and licensed acupuncturist. Laurent enjoys clowning workshops, Aikido and the outdoors. He first came to the US to run the NYC marathon with his mother, followed by a visit that lasted more than the planned two weeks.
Barbara Bancroft
Art Dept Chair., HS Studio Arts, Art History, History of Architecture, 7th & 8th grade studio art, 1997
BA, Fine Arts, University of Maryland; MFA, Painting and Drawing, Pratt Institute; Foundation Year & Artistic Year, Rudolf Steiner College, 4 years Illuminism Workshop in Anthroposhical Painting, Certificate (with Leszeck Forczek)
Of the many opportunities Barb has chased down in her life, fine art and Waldorf Education have so far stuck the longest. Born in New Jersey, she wandered off to pursue various majors in various colleges and various other things, until finally being introduced to Anthroposophy as a twenty-one-year old by her childhood babysitter’s father, Martin Keimling. She put an ad in the Village Voice, found a driver to split the gas and pointed her Volvo 122S to California, where she promptly lost her dog in Lake Tahoe near the ski-cabin of her husband-to-be. John found the dog and his future wife a few weeks later, and lent his live-in laundry truck to Barb for a roof over her head while she renovated the old goat barn she’d call home for the next two years while studying at the Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks.
Barb did end up finishing college and went on to teach art at the Garden City Waldorf School for four years before moving to Brooklyn to get her MFA from Pratt. She and John got married, renovated the old Hyattsville Victorian they still call home and had a couple kids, who are now off to college. Barb has taught art at many area colleges as an adjunct instructor, and directed the Visual Arts Program at Strathmore Hall for several years before becoming curator of the Maryland Collection at UMD University College. She’s chaired the Art Dept. at Washington Waldorf since 1999 (what!?) when her children began attending school here. Two years ago Barb built another barn where she currently maintains an active mural and fiber arts studio.
Susan Elfstrom
HS Biology, Chemistry, Geology, 1995
BA, Religious Studies and Biology, Vanderbilt University; Science Teaching focus year, Georgia State University; MEd, Environmental Education specialization, University of Georgia
Susan's abiding interest in biology-sorts-of things started early. Growing up with acres to roam, a father who was a small town doctor, and an aunt who was a CDC bacteriologist, she found everything botanical, anatomical, and microbiological fascinating. She has spent a few years and many vacations in rural Sweden and is sort-of-fluent in Swedish, if you don't count spelling. In Sweden she first met Waldorf education and considers herself profoundly lucky to be teaching in a dynamic Waldorf high school. When she isn't grading papers, washing test tubes or planning class trips, she enjoys gardening, hiking, canoeing, having her 3 grown children home.
Frank Hall
HS English, History, 1984
BA, English Education, North Carolina State University; MA, English Language and Literature, North Carolina State University; Diploma, Waldorf Education, Waldorf Institute of Mercy College of Detroit
Frank is an amateur magician. His special magic act is making milk vanish in a large vase. He also does magic with decks of cards, but no fortune telling. Frank is an amateur astronomer, with naked eye as well as telescope and believes strongly that the four moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn are must sees. He writes poetry of different styles and contents, including haiku and sonnets. Some of Franks poems have been read at special school events over the years. Finally, tennis is his sport of choice-- the ball usually finds its way into the court.
Valerie LeBlanc
HS English, Library, 1995
BA, English Literature, history minor; Certified teacher for grades 7–12 in English and social studies, Michigan State University; Additional graduate work in English Literature, SUNY, Cortland; Certification in Waldorf Remedial Training, Association for Healing Education
Ann Kong
B.S. Mathematics, University of Richmond; M.S. Mathematics Education, Towson University
Ann received a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Richmond, and recently completed her M.S. in Mathematics Education from Towson University. Among her previous professions, Ann has been a part of teaching students with learning disabilities for three years. Her interests include traveling, climbing, and hiking.
Abraham Ramsey
HS Physics, Math, 2007
PhD Physics, Howard University, Waldorf HS Teacher Training Program, Center for Anthroposophy, in progress
Abraham has worked as a science teacher and research scientist at a number of organizations. His interests include reading scientific articles, working with puzzles, and listening to music. He also enjoys playing basketball, tennis, skiing, and mountain hiking with his family.
Taisto Saloma
High School Chair, Athletic Director, HS Humanities, 2003
BA History, Guilford College, concentration in sports studies
After graduating from Guilford College in 1998, Taisto became a professional golfer. He worked at Indian Spring CC and Columbia CC as a teaching professional and he played professionally for four years. Taisto left the golf world in 2002 to pursue a career in high school teaching and coaching. He became the varsity basketball coach for WWS for both the boys and girls in the 2002-2003 season. Taisto began teaching America History at WWS in 2003, along with become the school’s Athletic Director. His interests include politics, sports, exercise and animals, particularly dogs. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Abby, and his friends.
Elizabeth Sawers
Drama, Eurythmy, Stagecraft, 1985
Georgia State University; Speech and Eurythmy, Emerson College, Sussex, England; Eurythmy Diploma, Performance Diploma, Eurythmeum, Stuttgart, Germany
Liz's appreciation of history, geography and travel began as a young child while traveling with her family around the United States and Canada. It continued when she studied and performed during her ten years in England and Germany. She was lucky to be a member of the touring company, Eurythmeum Stuttgart and go on tour throughout Europe and North America. She also fell in love with theater at an early age. She feels fortunate that she is able to meld her interests of Waldorf education, Anthroposophy, eurythmy and drama into her life's path and career. Liz owns a chair which was at one time in Margaret Mitchell's home. Clark Gable liked to sit in the chair while visiting Mitchell during the filming of "Gone With the Wind."
See Also
