Faculty & Administration

BM, Percussion Institute of Technology

Growing up in Frankfurt, Germany, Sven  began performing on stage at the age of 11. In the early 1980's he started studying the rhythms he found in European, Middle Eastern, American, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, and African music using traditional, self made, and computer supported instruments. In 1991 Sven moved to Hollywood, California, to continue his world music studies at the Percussion Institute of Technology, part of Musicians Institute (MI). There, he focused on American contemporary music, and drum set sight reading. Following his graduation with honors from PIT, he moved to Washington, DC In 1998 he founded Sound Pool Studios. He was recognized by the Metro DC Dance Awards for Best Sound Design and Original Composition in 2008, and nominated for the same award in 2009. He also won a grant from Meet The Composer in 2006. Sven has one child who graduated from WWS, and he has been a guitar teacher at WWS since 2013.

BA

Waldorf Education Graduate Diploma

Clare was born in New Zealand, but has spent most of her life traveling. She feels most at home where her family is, and is, therefore, now contentedly at home in Bethesda. She has worked as a personal trainer, dance teacher, and swim teacher and coach in countries as diverse as Australia, England, France and Oman. Clare began teaching games and movement in the WWS lower and middle schools, then worked as the substitute teacher before becoming the first grade teacher in 2013.

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.

BA, University of the South,

MA, Johnson State University,

Waldorf Teacher Certificate, Nova Institute.

Currently in the high school teacher training program with the Center For Anthroposophy

An avid outdoorsman, Geoff has more than 25 years of varied experience teaching guitar, outdoor education, math, history, geography, Russian, ESL, and English. He has worked in Arizona, North Carolina, Vermont, and Maryland. He did educational consulting with LRTT.org in conjunction with the department of education in Ghana in 2017, helping aspiring teachers there to improve their practice. His two children are in the lower school and high school at WWS.

BFA, University of Maryland

MFA, Pratt Institute, 

Sacramento Center for Anthroposophy, Foundation Year and Art/Teacher Training; Illuminism Workshop Series, two-year certificate

Barb Chairs the High School Art Department where she has taught studio arts, Art History and History through Architecture since 1998. Before joining the faculty here, she filled the same role at the Waldorf School in Garden City, New York. She has taught painting, drawing, and design at area-wide colleges, served as Curator of the University of Maryland UC Art Collection and worked as Visual Arts Coordinator at Strathmore Hall Arts Center. Barb has completed more than twelve public commissioned murals in and around Prince George’s County.

BA, Ramapo College

MEd, Sunbridge College

Waldorf EC Teacher Certification, Sunbridge College

NTR Advanced Therapeutic Course-Denver Center for Anthroposophic Therapies.

Lisa has worked as a Waldorf Kindergarten and Nursery teacher for 15 years, in various Waldorf schools in New York and Maryland. She is the SE Regional Representative for Waldorf Early Childhood Assoc of North America (WECAN). In addition to her work at WWS, Lisa mentors individual teachers and supports Waldorf EC programs with their WECAN membership process as well as coordinating regional EC conferences. 

Lisa has two sons. Cameron Bechmann, WWS Class of 2015, and Christian Bechmann, WWS Class of 2021. She has had a passion for singing since childhood and has done regional music theater, and choral singing as well as some solo performing on stage and television. 

BA, Eastern Mennonite University

MM, Catholic University of America

Waldorf Music Teacher Training, Sunbridge College; Werbeck Singing Certificate, Sebastopol, California

Originally from Vermont, Nevin has lived in the DC area for over 25 years. Among his previous professions, he has been a freelance pianist and accompanist, an organist at a Lutheran Church, and a singer in the Washington Opera chorus. Before becoming a music teacher, he spent many years in the eurythmy room as an accompanist.

MSW, Virginia Commonwealth University

National Institute in Relationship Enhancement, Child and Family Play Therapy Certificate 

NOVA Institute

Cecilia’s background prior to joining the WWS faculty includes residential counselor in an adolescent group home, social skills group therapy with school-age children, and play therapy private practice for children and families. Cecilia joined the WWS community with her husband and two children through the Children’s Garden. She soon became active in the Parent Organization. After finishing the Waldorf teacher training, Cecilia acted as an assistant in Grade 2. Cecilia currently works as an Admissions Associate in the Enrollment Office.

**Coming Soon**

BA, University of Maryland

Year In-Service Training in Spatial Dynamics, Certificate, Waldorf Institute of Mercy College. Waldorf teacher training at the Waldorf Institute of Mercy College of Detroit from 1973-75.

Our most experienced teacher, John has guided several classes through the Lower School, taught history blocks in the High School, and served as a movement teacher, athletic director, and coach.

BA, Case Western Reserve University

MEd, University of Pittsburgh

Sunbridge College, Applied Arts Certification, Teacher Training

Nova Institute, Foundation Studies

Center for Anthroposophy

Barbara has worked in several capacities at WWS for 30 years. She began her work here as the receptionist when the responsibilities included admissions and financial aid, as well as tending to the phones, sick children, and the abundance of ice that had to be bagged each day. She is a founding member of the College of Teachers. She has been the chair of the Lower School and has also served on the Trustees Council. She is currently the chair of the Evaluation Committee and is a member of the Grade 1 Committee. She has been a delegate representing WWS at the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) for the last eight years. She was the regional representative to two AWSNA task forces: Waldorf Principles and rewriting the Path to Membership for the association.

Bachelors Degree - CUNY Hunter - Anthropology
Associates Degree - SUNY Fashion Institute of technology
Waldorf Teacher Training Certification - Eugene Waldorf Teacher Training

Christine grew up on Long Island, New York but has lived and worked throughout the United States, Europe, and Africa. Her initial teaching experience was working in public and community schools in Mali, West Africa as an environmental educator. Upon returning to the United States, she enrolled in an alternative teacher training/certification route and began teaching art in Prince George's County, Maryland. After learning about Waldorf Education, Christine enrolled in the Eugene Waldorf Teacher Training program in Eugene, Oregon. Since then, she has been a class teacher, early childhood assistant and arts educator at Waldorf schools throughout the country.

BA, Smith College

MA, Tufts University

Emerson College (UK), Teaching Certificate in Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Education 

Vanessa has taught in multiple learning environments as an early childhood educator, from her own home-based after-school program to a university lab school, to a daycare in Virginia and Acorn Hill Waldorf Kindergarten and Nursery. Her first class was a pre-kindergarten class at River Song Waldorf School in Fort Collins, Colorado. Vanessa serves as the Seedlings and Nursery teacher, as well as Childcare Director, in liaison with the State of Maryland licensing specialist. She is also a certified Medication Technician.

BFA, University of North Dakota

MFA, University of Minnesota

Nova Institute’s Waldorf Teacher Training Program

Following her directing internship with the Guthrie Theater, Jane came to Washington, DC and completed an internship with The Kennedy Center. This led to additional work at The Kennedy Center and a permanent relocation to the area. Throughout her over twenty years in professional theater, Jane feels quite fortunate to have worked with a variety of students, performing artists, companies, and institutions. She has worked as a teacher, director, stage manager, production manager, casting/production associate, scenic designer, lighting designer, actor, and stage technician. Her theater experience has included educational, world premiere, Washington, DC area premiere, regional theater, national and international touring productions.

BS, University of Maryland

Nova Institute, Waldorf Teaching Certificate

Michele’s background prior to joining the WWS faculty includes working in the advertising department of a retail chain, starting and running her own graphic design business, and raising four children. At WWS, Michele worked as an assistant in the Lower School for 6 years and taught middle school art for two years. She also spent many years prior to that co-chairing the Holiday Bazaar and the Parent Organization. She is currently the third grade teacher, the co-chair of the Lower School, and a member of the College of Teachers. 

Michele and her husband have three sons and one daughter. Three of her children have graduated from WWS and her fourth child is currently in the high school.

BA, Johns Hopkins University

MAT, Johns Hopkins University

Nova Institute Waldorf Teaching Certificate

Laura’s background before coming to WWS includes working with young people in many different capacities. She taught public school, ran a church Sunday School program, worked in the Mayor’s Office of Baltimore City as the Juvenile Justice Planner, and served as the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director for Social Services Administration at the Maryland Department of Human Resources (DHR). It was while working at DHR that she met John, her husband of 21 years. Their two daughters  brought the family to WWS in 2004. Since then, Laura has held a variety of positions at WWS including the Lower School Substitute Teacher, and has been a Class Teacher since 2008. She is a member of the College of Teachers and one of the School’s Association of Waldorf Schools of North America's (AWSNA) Delegates.

The Cox family lives on a boat on the Potomac River with their two cats and dog.

BA, Albion College

Waldorf Institute of Southeastern Michigan

Center for Anthroposophy 

A native of Michigan and a graduate of the Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor, Nick graduated from Albion College with a bachelor of arts in physics and a minor in math. At Albion, he was a teaching assistant and tutor, which stimulated his interest in teaching. After graduation, he taught and tutored at the Steiner School in Ann Arbor. While doing high school teacher training at the Center for Anthroposophy, he became acquainted with WWS, and was able to move to Maryland and take up a post teaching high school physics and math.

**Coming Soon**

Bachelor, Recreation management; Sweden;

M.Ed. University of Georgia;

Waldorf Training at The Rudolf Steiner Institute.

Tove was born in Sweden and raised on a farm. Studying recreation management and his subsequent employment in that field led to the study of the relationship between work and leisure at the University of Georgia where he received a M.Ed. Prizing variety, he was even done a stint as a merchant marine. Since 1985, Tove have worked at WWS as a class teacher and then, later, as the school's artisan teacher.

Tove's many interests include: biking, photography, languages to name some, though art and nature and literature seem to suffuse most of them. Tove's  children are all graduates of WWS.

DMA, University of Illinois
MM, San Francisco Conservatory
BA, Middlebury College

Diana is an active cellist and teacher in the Washington, DC area. Always passionate about chamber music, she is the cellist in the West Shore Piano Trio, which has performed from coast to coast throughout the United States and recently celebrated its 10th anniversary as a trio. She also performs locally with Apollo Symphony, Maryland Symphony, and is principal cellist with Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra. In addition to cello performance and chamber music, her graduate work included a focus on Russian/East European Studies and ethnomusicology in the Balkans. During her free time she enjoys hiking, yoga, staying active, and being out in nature.

MA

Cornelia Florescu is a second-generation musician with a master’s in musical pedagogy. She has performed and taught in three countries and has 35 years of pedagogical experience. Currently, she works at three schools: WWS, Lone Oak Montessori, and Woods Academy. She also offers private lessons at her home studio.

BS, Northwestern University

JD, Georgetown University

MA, Corcoran College of Art and Design

This year marks Julie’s return to teaching high school after a 30-year hiatus, during which she practiced law, retired, returned to school at the Corcoran, and earned her MA degree in book arts. As a lawyer, Julie initially advised clients on communications and intellectual property law issues, and later worked in-house as a corporate lawyer focused on international trade policy. Her work as a book artist can be seen in the Library of Congress, numerous university libraries, and private collections.

St. Bonaventure University

After attending Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School from kindergarten through 12th grade, Christian Gardiner attended St. Bonaventure University where he played men’s volleyball and division 1 baseball. Before teaching at the Washington Waldorf School, Christian completed a biodynamic farming apprenticeship and worked as an organic farmer and a stone mason. While continuing his own athletic pursuits, Christian coached basketball, baseball and volleyball at Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School in New York, and later coached both middle school and varsity baseball for the Orcas Island Public School District in Washington State. Christian considers his study of movement to be life-long and continues his education by attending ongoing educational workshops with institutions such as the Spatial Dynamics Institute and the National Outdoor Leadership School.

Indiana University - BS Physics. Minors: Astronomy, Mathematics, Spanish
Stanford University - MS Physics
Foothill and De Anza Colleges - Early Childhood coursework
Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training

Erica grew up in Kentucky studying the classical violin. She earned her MS in Physics, with doctoral research in biophysics, at Stanford University on full fellowship. Erica has been working in Waldorf and Waldorf-inspired schools since 2006 in both support and lead roles, and earned her California Early Childhood Master Teacher and Program Director permits by 2009. She graduated from the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training program where she completed the coursework for Early Childhood, Grades, and High School, with apprenticeships in kindergarten and high school math and physics. She still enjoys performing solo, ensemble, and orchestral works on her violin.

BA, Literature and Creative Writing, University of California Santa Barbara

Foundation Studies, Center for Anthroposophy

Waldorf High School Teaching Certificate, English, Center for Anthroposophy

Liva grew up in Sacramento, California, where she graduated from the Sacramento Waldorf School. During a gap year from college, she volunteered as a coworker in a Camphill community, where she first began to realize that she might want to become a Waldorf teacher. Liva dove deeply into the study of literature and creative writing at UC Santa Barbara, and also spent a semester abroad, studying German and political science in Berlin. Following her graduation, she taught English in southern Austria through the Fulbright Program, exchanging her knowledge of German for a facility with the Austrian dialect.

Prior to joining the WWS faculty, Liva completed a high school humanities teaching apprenticeship at the Maine Coast Waldorf School, and previously taught high school humanities at the Sacramento Waldorf School and the Haleakala Waldorf High School on Maui. While completing her Foundation Studies through the Center for Anthroposophy, Liva was a part of the residential life faculty at High Mowing School. When she has spare time, Liva enjoys spending time with her husband, knitting (mostly baby hats), reading about new ideas, exploring eurythmy, making art, and being the adoring aunt of two little nephews.

BA, University of Virginia

MA, Ohio University,

MLS, Texas Woman's University.

Tammy has previous experience as an Archivist at Dumbarton Oaks, an Acquisitions Assistant at the DAR Genealogy Library, and as an Art History Teacher at Trinity High School. She also served on the Board of the Potomac Crescent Waldorf School where her daughter attended.

A native of the DC area, Alia is an alumna who attended WWS for preschool through 8th grade. Most recently Alia worked as a senior member of the Network for Good product team analyzing and improving their customers' experience and engagement. She also supported the company's marketing efforts through analysis and the creation of product videos, content, and other materials. Before NfG, Alia worked as a consultant and she began her work in the technology sector as an integral part of the team creating custom software and performing process reviews for cause oriented organizations at Apex Digital Systems/TerpSys.

Alia received her BFA in Theatre Arts with high honors from Hofstra University. She has worked with a number of local theatre companies and continues to be involved in the theatre scene - primarily as a playwright and director. 

PhD, University Tuebingen, Germany

Nova Institute Teacher Training, Waldorf Elementary Certificate,

Association for Healing Education, Educational Support Program, Waldorf Extra Lesson Certificate

Judith grew up in Germany. Her background prior to joining the WWS faculty is in science. Judith’s transition to WWS started with assisting in the Children’s Garden afternoon program at Acorn Hill, the nursery and kindergarten that her children attended. Upon joining WWS, she taught in the high school and in the afternoon program of the Children’s Garden, was an assistant in first and fourth grade, and worked as a math tutor. Judith is now the Educational Support Teacher for grades one through eight, teaches jump rope and movement in grades one and two, and serves on several faculty committees.

BS Mathematics Education at the University of Central Florida

Bailey grew up in Olney, MD but lived in three different states before starting the 4th grade. Before moving back to Maryland from Florida, she worked as a math support teacher. Bailey is passionate about math and enjoys being able to share that passion with students.

"I know I can't make everyone love math like I do, but I'm hoping students take away an appreciation for what math brings to our lives."

BSN, Goshen College

MSN, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Shelly is the Delegating Nurse at WWS. She oversees the the training of the WWS Medication Technicians and the administration of medications for the students at our school. She has over ten years experience in this role. Shelly also works full time as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She and her husband Andre have 3 children who have all attended WWS.

**Coming Soon**

BA, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

MS, Mercy College

Center for Anthroposophy, High School Teacher Training in Mathematics and English

Sarah’s background before joining the faculty includes working as a special education teacher in elementary education, Admissions Director and middle school math specialist at the Rudolf Steiner School in New York City. Sarah took a 6 year hiatus from WWS to start a family and run Foxhall Catering, a company she founded with her husband, Eron Picus. Sarah is a graduate of the WWS high school and her two children attend WWS.

BA, Soochow University

After completing her music degree in Taiwan, Christina taught piano, flute, recorder, and pan flute in both private and group settings. Following her move to the United States in 2004, she became the piano accompanist for the Northwest High School choirs and several Washington-area Chinese choirs. In 2013, Christina became the choir director/organist at Fairhaven United Methodist Church and in the same year began her career at WWS as the eurythmy accompanist.

BA, University of Maryland

Nova Institute, Waldorf Teacher Training Certificate

Rudolf Steiner Center, Toronto, Canada, Grades Training Early Childhood Certification

Prior to teaching at WWS, Wendy taught in early childhood at a Montessori School and at Georgetown Day School. Her interest in Waldorf was sparked by a visit to the Hawthorne Valley community just after her daughter was born. In addition to teaching in the Children’s Garden at WWS, Wendy taught grades one through three at Potomac Crescent Waldorf School in Arlington, Virginia. She has served on the College of Teachers and on various committees at WWS.

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Corcoran College of Art and Design

Recipient of the Academic Studies Faculty Award for Academic Excellence, 2008

Carolee is a painter and printmaker from Northern Virginia. After receiving her BFA from the Corcoran College of Art and Design, Carolee set up Dead Run Studio in McLean, Virginia. Her current work combines printing and painting techniques and explores the visual continuum between representation and abstraction. Carolee’s work can be found in the collections of the Pew Charitable Trust, the National Gallery of Art: Corcoran Collection, the Library of Congress: Rare Books Collection, and other public and private collections in the United States and abroad.

BS & MS in Biology from Freie Universitaet Berlin, Germany

MS in Environmental Science from University of California, Berkeley

Gogi spent much of her childhood in her native Germany roaming the local woods, where she was always curious about the natural world. She followed her dream of working in a tropical rainforest by doing a Master’s thesis on the ecology of bats in the jungles surrounding the Panama Canal. Determined to apply her scientific training to help solve environmental problems, she moved on to pursue a graduate degree in applied environmental sciences at UC Berkeley.  There, she researched sustainable food systems and solutions to climate change.

Striving to pass on her passion for and knowledge of the natural world to others, she worked as a naturalist and science educator for both children and adults on three different continents. As a high school science teacher for a semester-at-sea program, she crossed the Atlantic twice on a traditional wooden sailing ship, taking students half way around the world. Prior to joining the WWS faculty, she taught naturalist and environmental science classes at the Audubon Naturalist Society, and worked as a science writer and editor for Science Journal for Kids, an online science journal that aims to make cutting edge science accessible to children and teenagers. In her spare time, she enjoys, hiking, biking, camping, orienteering, socializing, and goofing around with her two young children.

**Coming soon**

BA, Boston University

Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Training Certificate, Sunbridge Institute

Linc was born and raised in New England. He attended Boston University and graduated in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. He started as an early childhood assistant at the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs. He then went on the Potomac Crescent Waldorf School in Arlington, Virginia,, where he taught for 9 years as a lead kindergarten teacher. During this time, he completed Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Training at the Sunbridge Institute as well as a Waldorf Early Childhood Therapeutic support course in Denver, Colorado. Linc started teaching in 2015 at WWS’s newly formed Waldorf in the Woods Children’s Garden program.

BFA, California Institute of the Arts

Born and raised in Wisconsin, Kate has lived, worked, studied, and taught in Los Angeles, Chicago, Milwaukee, southern New Hampshire, upstate New York, Berlin, Filderstadt, and Schwerin (Germany), and Aesch (Switzerland). Before joining WWS this year, Kate served as a humanities and arts teacher at Tamarack Waldorf High School in Milwaukee. Her Waldorf training has also taken her far and wide (from Northridge to Chicago, Waterville, Sacramento, Dornach, Berlin, Mannheim, and Wilton, New Hampshire). She considers herself blessed to have learned from and taught alongside so many wise and wonderful Waldorf masters (some of whom are here at WWS). Kate has three boys, who join her this year at WWS.

BA, George Washington University

MEd, George Washington University

Debbi has been the reading specialist at WWS for more than 10 years. Prior to discovering WWS, Debbi taught children with emotional and learning differences at The Episcopal Center for Children for 12 years. When she left work to stay home with her children, she began tutoring students at home, focusing mainly on reading skills, and later began tutoring through the Lab School. Debbi has been trained in the following reading programs: Orton-Gillingham, Phono-Graphix, Wilson Reading, and Read Naturally. She helped develop the WWS Reading Program more than 11 years ago, and enjoys working closely with the teachers to help students who need additional support in reading. She also tutors children who need support in writing, spelling, organizational skills, and English as a Second Language (ESOL).

A fourth-generation native Washingtonian, Stacey graduated from DC public schools and immediately went to work for government unions. Stacey then enrolled in the Catholic University of America and double majored in social work and psychology while working full-time. She has been at WWS since 2005, where she has served as Assistant to the Faculty Chair, Lunch Coordinator, and Financial Aid Coordinator, among other administrative support roles.

Contact Lezlie at 301-229-6108, or by email.

Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Tennessee
Course work in Art Education & Ceramics from Georgia State University and University of New Orleans
Waldorf Administration and Community Development certificate from Sunbridge College

Lezlie is a mom to two Waldorf lifers who attended 4 different Waldorf schools. She love baseball, gardening, singing, and music festivals. For Lezlie, getting to see children's artwork, hear them sing, and watch them play everyday makes coming to work a joy!

BA, Michigan State University

Graduate Studies, SUNY, Cortland

Certification in Waldorf Remedial Training, Association for Healing Education.

ABA,SUNY Cobleskill

CLMT, Potomac Massage Training Institute

Christen's background prior to joining WWS includes, working in microbreweries to fine dining restaurants across the country, owning a Massage Therapy business in McLean, Virginia, where she worked in conjunction with Physical Therapists and Chiropractors to help heal people naturally, worked in the Corporate HR sector of Tyson's Corner, and was an Assistant Teacher at The Virginia Beach Friends School where she found her love of working with children. Since June of 2016 Christen has enjoyed being the Front Office Manager of WWS as well as being a class parent, volunteering at various functions of the school and serving as a member of the Diversity Committee.

BA, Concordia College

Craig’s background prior to joining the WWS faculty includes running his own computer consulting business, being a Systems Engineer for a web hosting company and ISP, and farming in Montana. Here at WWS, Craig taught movement and technology courses for a year, helped coach the middle and high school baseball teams, served as the co-chair of the POSC for 2 years, and was the technology consultant for 9 years. Craig is currently the IT Manager.

Craig and his wife Meghan have one child attending high school at WWS. While not busy at school, Craig enjoys baseball, singing, traveling, working on cars, and spending time with his family and animals.

BA, Connecticut College

MArch, University of Washington

Foundations Studies Certificate

Prior to joining the WWS staff, Caitlin was involved for 15 years in non-profit affordable housing development, finance and grant writing, working for local and national non-profits in Maine, Maryland, and Washington, DC, including Coastal Enterprises, Inc., Housing Assistance Council, and Enterprise Community Partners. She also has construction management experience, as well as in commercial, school, and residential architectural design. 

As a Washingtonian, Caitlin grew up whitewater kayaking on the Potomac, and still enjoys teaching whitewater and sea kayaking and canoeing to children and adults. Her interests include sustainable green building design and community building. She is a LEED-accredited professional.

MM, PhD, Ciprian Porumbescu Conservatory, Bucharest.

BS, University of Maryland

Marie grew up in Maryland, but moved to Pennsylvania for high school. She returned to Maryland after high school to attend college. Before coming to the Washington Waldorf, Marie worked for 5 years as the Practice Manager at an orthopedic practice in Silver Spring. She is also a trained massage therapist from the Baltimore School of Massage. Marie has three children, all of whom attended WWS.

Hampshire College

Antioch University, Foundation Studies Certificate

Bonnie joined and graduated in the first WWS high school class (Class of 1988). She was grateful for that experience and is an admirer of the capacities of classmates who were Waldorf-educated from the early grades. Her young son had already brought her back to WWS as a parent when, in the spring of 1999, there was an opening in the WWS high school office. After 8t years in Retirement and Benefits work at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Bonnie left her cubicle behind to work at WWS.

**Coming Soon**

BA, College of William and Mary

Certification in Event Management, George Washington University,

Maria worked at America Online as an editor and project manager for several years before starting her own event management business. She was the Director of the Leonsis Foundation for four years, served on the Board of Directors for the Fund for William and Mary from 2000–2008, and was an elected member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors at William and Mary from 2008–2012. Maria has two children at WWS.

**Coming Soon**

BS, Northwestern University

JD, University of Georgia

Antioch University, Waldorf Elementary Certificate 

Jennifer’s background prior to joining the WWS faculty includes teaching middle and high school choral music and history as well as coaching track and field and softball in the public-school system; practicing law in Maryland and the District of Columbia; and serving as the Director of the Simple Abundance Charitable Fund. At WWS, Jennifer has been a class teacher for 11 years, taught lower school music, and served on multiple parent and faculty committees. She is currently the Faculty Chair, Chair of the College of Teachers, and a member of the Trustees Council. 

Culinary Institute of America

Head Chef Rudolf Steiner Institute; Chef Omega Institute; over 20 years of catering and restaurant experience. Chef Eron began his work at WWS recently after extensive experience in the restaurant and catering world. In addition to running the food program at WWS, Chef Picus has also run his own event catering company for more than 15 years.

**Coming Soon**

BA, Guilford College

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 American History at WWS in 2003, along with become the school’s Athletic Director.

BA, University of Konstanz, Germany

MA, California Institute of Integral Studies

Center for Anthroposophy, High School Teacher Training

Gabriele specialized in teaching German as a foreign language during her undergraduate studies. Originally from Köln, Gabriele has lived in the Southwest of Germany, Boulder, Colorado, and San Francisco, California, before moving to DC. She has taught people of all ages, from preschool students to adults in subjects including German, calligraphy and book arts, and childbirth preparation.

BA, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

MA, George Washington University

Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits in college counseling

Foundation Studies

 Marta grew up on a trout hatchery in rural Vermont and moved to the DC area at age 10. After graduating from college in 1972, Marta’s work in theater lead her to the Smithsonian Institution, where she worked for several years on the annual Festival of American Folklife. Upon completing her graduate studies in 1979, she became Curator of Education for Hale Farm and Village, a living history museum set in the 1840’s in northeastern Ohio for 7 years. Upon returning to the East Coast, she and her husband, Paul Squire, discovered Waldorf education. Marta worked part-time for several years for the Washington Revels as Public Relations Director and Associate Producer. Since 2004 she has worked as Registrar, College Advisor, and Foreign Exchange Coordinator at WWS.

BS, Michigan State University

MS, Central Michigan University

Foundation Studies

Gary has had a passion for the sciences from an early age, always wanting to know how nature works. He fondly remembers the cheap microscope he received as a present one year, and how it ignited his innate curiosity. He spent his formative years in Michigan and moved to Maryland in 2008.

Gary and his wife Shannon have four children who will all be attending WWS. Outside of school, Gary likes to play hockey and competes in Scrabble tournaments.

BA, Syracuse University

MA, Johns Hopkins University

Antioch New England College, Foundation Year Studies Certificate

Steve currently serves as the Human Resources Director and Registrar at WWS. He previously was Director of Development, Director of Advancement, and Director of Communications. Steve worked for more than 20 years as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Defense, and to various local governments. He then transitioned into non-profit work, focusing on fundraising, communications, strategic planning, and project management before coming to WWS in 2005.

**Coming Soon**

**Coming Soon**

Diploma in the arts of Speech and Drama., PerformInternational
M.Ed., Waldorf Educaton, Antoch University New England
B.S. Elementary and Special Education, Syracuse University.

Debra was a class teacher at WWS for twenty-one years and received her Goetheanum diploma as a speech artist from PerformInternational in 2016. She now combines these two loves, bringing creative speech to the children and faculty of WWS and to teachers and students nationwide; her unique perspective from her years as a class teacher enlivens plays, poetry, and story in grades 1-12. Debbie is also an adjunct instructor teaching speech, drama, storytelling, and curriculum to graduate students at Antioch University New England and the Center for Anthroposophy.

BS, Towson University

MEd, Antioch New England Graduate School

Antioch New England Graduate School, Certificate in Waldorf Elementary Education

Dawn came to WWS in 2003. Prior to joining the faculty, she was a class teacher at the Waldorf School of Baltimore for eight years. In Baltimore, Dawn also worked with the Coming of Age Project and developed and led workshops for adolescent girls and their mothers in the Baltimore area. In addition to her class teacher duties at WWS, she has served as the lower school department chair, as an AWSNA delegate, and as a member of the College of Teachers, the Diversity Committee, Social Health Coordinating group, and the Student for Social Action committee. She completed the Mentor’s Colloquium in 2009, and completed several of the Collaborative Counseling Training sessions with Kim John Payne.

Dawn and her partner are the parents of a WWS graduate, and are the foster parents of six teenagers, one of whom attends WWS. While not at work, she enjoys traveling, cycling, gardening, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

BA, St. John Fisher College

MA, University of Rochester

Nova Institute Waldorf Teacher Training

Before moving to the DC area, Suzanne traveled throughout Europe and studied in Spain, France, and Mexico. She taught Spanish and French at the middle school and community college levels. Suzanne's love of Waldorf education began at Potomac Crescent Waldorf School and from the parent-child classes into the grades. The Tapia family spent 3 years in Brazil at the Escola Turmalina where Suzanne worked with teachers, parents, and students, gaining new perspectives and a deeper knowledge of Waldorf education across continents. Upon returning, the spent one year as the Lower School substitute before becoming the 6th grade teacher and subsequently the Lower School Spanish teacher.

**Coming Soon**

BS, United States Military Academy, West Point

MBA, Purdue University

Prior to joining WWS, Lelia excelled in a variety of operationally challenging roles. She served on active duty in the U.S. Army for 9 years and had the opportunity to command a tactical communications company during the Gulf War. After leaving active duty, she worked as a consultant for McKinsey & Co. and then for many years at Comcast, most recently as Senior Director. Lelia joined WWS in 2017 as the operations manager. Lelia has a son started at WWS in the Children’s Garden in 2010.

BA, Sweet Briar College

MAT Early Childhood Education, Trinity University

Early Childhood Teaching Certificate, Sunbridge Institute

Lynn is a native Washingtonian, wife, and mother of two children. She began her career in Waldorf Education as a regular substitute teacher at Acorn Hill Waldorf School in Silver Spring in 2011. In 2012, Lynn joined the faculty at Acorn Hill as an Assistant Teacher and worked in the Young Nursery and Kindergarten classrooms until 2014. She was the Lead Teacher in the Nursery Classroom at Potomac Crescent Waldorf School prior to teaching here at WWS in the Fall of 2016.

BA, Franklin and Marshall College

MLS, Drexel University

Eurythmy Spring Valley, Artistic Eurythmy Diploma

Antioch New England, Pedagogical Eurythmy Certificate

Peredur Centre for the Arts, UK, Therapeutic Eurythmy Diploma

Susan’s background prior to joining the WWS faculty includes working as a college textbook manager and as a librarian in art museum, college, and public libraries, as well as bringing pedagogical and therapeutic eurythmy to several Waldorf schools in New York State. Since arriving at WWS in 2006, Susan has worked as the school librarian and as a therapeutic eurythmist. She also serves on several school committees.

RN, St. Clair County Community College

BS, Wayne State University

MFA, University of Colorado at Boulder

Certified Movement Analyst, Laban/Bartenieff Institute, 

Nova Institute, Waldorf Teacher Training Certificate

Lynn’s background prior to joining the WWS faculty includes serving on the faculties of Creighton University, University of Colorado, George Mason University, George Washington University, The University of Maryland, and The Laban Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies as a dance/movement specialist/professor, as well as dancing and choreographing nationally. At WWS, Lynn has served as an Assistant Teacher in the Waldorf in the Woods program, and as First Grade Assistant and Handwork Assistant. 

**Coming Soon**

Coming soon!