The Washington Waldorf School is proud of its exceptionally dedicated and experienced faculty and staff. All of our class teachers and lead kindergarten teachers have completed Waldorf teacher training, and most of our teachers take advantage of teacher professional development opportunities at school or at Waldorf courses and conferences. About one third of the teaching faculty have advanced degrees, and 26 faculty members have more than a decade of teaching experience.
Middle & High School Guitar Teacher
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.
Class Teacher
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.
Middle School, High School Spanish Teacher
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.
High School Drumming Teacher
After 12 years as an oboist in her adolescence and early adulthood, Kristen began drumming in 1999 as a way to support her activist pursuits. She moved to Washington, DC from St Louis, MO in 2000 and helped start the Rhythm Workers Union, an activist drumming ensemble. She began studying West African drumming with local masters, and soon founded the Young Women's Drumming Empowerment Project in 2005. In 2010 she met her partner Michael Kweku Owusu, and began taking tours of her students to Ghana (where she has been 5 times). She now leads drumming classes for students of all ages, and is the director of several local ensembles including the Bele Bele Rhythm Collective - Sisterhood of the Drum.
Lower School Teaching Assistant
Kathleen comes to the classroom after a lengthy career caring for animals, first as a veterinary technician and then as a zoo keeper at both The Philadelphia Zoo and Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park. A familiarity with Waldorf education across the years fostered her growing interest and guided her to the Explorations program; from there, the spark was lit! The intention, warmth, artistry, and intellect that a Waldorf teacher brings to each student inspired Kathleen to undertake a dual Waldorf Teacher Certification/MEd, and having just completed her second intensive summer semester, she is delighted to assist the 2nd Grade class. Kathleen lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband, two children (a 3rd Grader and a Seedling), and two cats who think they’re dogs.
High School Art Department Chair, High School Arts Teacher
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.
Seedlings Lead Teacher
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.
Music Department Chair, Music Teacher
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.
Eurythmist
Born and raised in Tanzania, Eva has lived, worked, studied in Cape Town and London UK, before coming to Washington D.C. It was on the stage of the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland, that Eva completed her five year artistic and pedagogical Eurythmy training, after which she went on to complete a two year class teacher training and to teach at the Constantia Waldorf School in Cape Town for four years. Her experience includes teaching all grades from Kindergarten to Class 12. Before joining WWS in 2019, Eva served for eleven years as the principal Eurythmist at the Waldorf School in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, England. Eva is a member of the Anthroposophical Society and the Eurythmy Association of North America.
Lower School Handwork Teacher
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.
Nursery Lead Teacher
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 Nursery teacher, as well as Childcare Director, in liaison with the State of Maryland licensing specialist. She is also a certified Medication Technician.
Songbirds Assistant Teacher
Jenni was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia. She moved to Florida at the age of 13 and completed her schooling there. In 2010 she moved to Washington, DC where she loved to experience the changing seasons, live music, and nature based escapades. After completing her Masters program on Latin America and Peace and Conflict Resolution at Georgetown University, she decided to return to Colombia where she found an unconventional path for peace building—birth work as a Doula. Upon returning to the States and making Maryland her new home, the birth of her daughters guided her to discover Waldorf education and redirected her quest of peace building to education. She embarked on her Waldorf teaching path at Acorn Hill and she is now pursuing her Waldorf Elementary Teacher Education certificate at Sunbridge Institute.
High School Theatre Arts Teacher
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.
Class Teacher
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.
High School Mathematics and Physics Teacher
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.
Children's Garden and Lower School Substitute Coordinator
Stephanie has taught in many different capacities. Upon graduating with her BA in Theatre Arts Administration, Stephanie began as an acting coach for children ages 4-18. Her love of coaching led her to pursue her Master's in Elementary Teaching. From there, she held the positions of math specialist and classroom teacher in Salt Lake City, ESL teacher in DCPS, homeschool educator to her three young children, and most recently, 2nd grade teacher at Silver Oaks Cooperative School. Stephanie is currently completing her Waldorf Elementary Teacher Training at Sunbridge Institute. Originally from Utah, Stephanie has a passion for the outdoors, including camping, climbing, hiking, and foraging. Stephanie is also a devout animal lover, who helped raise 20 rabbits last year.
6th–8th Grade Flute Teacher
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.
High School Book Arts Teacher
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.
Movement Education, Games Teacher
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.
Songbirds Lead Teacher
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.
Library Assistant
Tammy has worked in the museum, archive, and library fields for over 30 years. In addition to working at WWS, Tammy has been a photo archivist for AbramsBooks in NYC, a slide librarian and curatorial assistant for the West African and Native American Art collections at a museum in Ohio, an archivist for the Dumbarton Oaks Landscape Design Collection and the Acquisitions Librarian for a Genealogy Library in DC. She love being a librarian because she enjoys organizing knowledge and helping people find the information that they are looking for. Tammy also loves reading, especially children’s books, and she particularly enjoys witnessing the glee that book finding and reading bring to our students.
Tammy came to Waldorf Education when her two daughters were young. She was a founding parent, board member, and substitute teacher at the Potomac Crescent Waldorf School. She lives in Falls Church, VA with her husband Nick and two cats.
Director of Communications & Marketing
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.
Enrollment Associate
Prior to joining the team at WWS, Torie worked as Director of Admissions and Enrollment at Potomac Crescent Waldorf School in Alexandria, VA. Torie spent over a decade as an education researcher, focused on evaluation of education reform efforts and uses of mindfulness in schools. She taught in various settings, from a small town in Costa Rica to a Google Classroom. Torie graduated from Williams College with a bachelor's degree in psychology, Stanford University with a master's degree in education, and holds a Waldorf teaching certificate from Antioch University New England. Outside of work, Torie enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with her family. She has two children at WWS.
School Counselor
Jessica supports students, staff, and families at the intersection of social/emotional health and academics. Jessica comes to us with 13 years of school counseling experience in Montgomery County Public Schools where she has worked at the middle school and high school level. She has extensive experience in the summer camp setting working with youth ages 5-14. Jessica is also a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) in the state of Maryland, and she has a mental health practice where she sees older adolescents and adults for individual and group therapy.
Jessica is an Atlanta native and graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelors degree in history. She earned her Master's Degree in Counseling from The George Washington University. Jessica loves to incorporate nature and the arts into her counseling work. In her free time, you will likely find Jessica on hike with her 7 year old daughter and husband or writing music on her guitar.
Educational Support Teacher
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.
High School Math Teacher
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."
Delegating School Nurse
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. Shelly also works full time as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She and her husband Andre have 3 children who have all attended WWS.
Administrative Associate
**Coming Soon**
Director of Development
Stephanie brings a diverse nonprofit background to Washington Waldorf School, with experience in fundraising, strategic planning, board leadership, leadership development, program and volunteer management. In her previous role at the nonprofit consulting firm Capacity Partners, Stephanie worked on fundraising and strategic planning projects for clients, including capital campaign feasibility studies and campaign management. Additionally, she supported operations and business development functions at the firm. Stephanie has a strong interest in leadership and organizational change, and for the last four years, she has facilitated an online course titled Leading Healthy Teams for National Arts Strategies’ Executive Program in Arts and Culture Strategy.
In other previous roles, Stephanie managed a capital campaign and annual fund for Potomac Crescent Waldorf School, and served as Leadership Development Program Manager for the national arts advocacy organization Americans for the Arts. In a volunteer capacity, she has participated as a grants panelist for both the Arts Council of Fairfax County and Alexandria Commission for the Arts, and chaired the board of directors and development committee for Arts on the Horizon, a theatre company that produces interactive and non-verbal performances for children ages 0 – 6 and their families.
Stephanie lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two young children, and has enjoyed being a part of the Washington Waldorf community as a parent since her oldest son was in kindergarten.
Nursery Assistant Teacher
Kate grew up here in Montgomery County. After graduating from the University of Maryland in 2019, she moved to Austin, TX and spent two years working at the Austin Waldorf School, before moving back to Maryland to be closer to family. She loves music of all varieties, and has a pet cat she adores!
Middle School Math Teacher
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.
Eurythmy Accompanist
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.
Class Teacher
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.
Adjunct HS Printmaking Instructor
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.
High School Science Teacher
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.
Seedlings Assistant Teacher
Lucila Kanadani is originally from Brazil, where she graduated and worked as a psychologist before moving to the USA in 2015. Since then, she has taught Portuguese as a heritage language in a Brazilian NGO, where she also offers storytelling and art crafts workshops. Lucila has also worked as an assistant teacher for a Montessorian preschool. Outside of work, she loves crocheting, storytelling, and music.
Operations Coordinator
K. Kiley loves visiting art museums and listening to albums on their record player. They are passionate about healthy living, cooking, the beach, and being a Mom.
Waldorf in the Woods Lead Teacher
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.
Class Teacher & College Chair
Kate was born and raised in Wisconsin, met Waldorf Education in Los Angeles, was trained and taught at the Chicago Waldorf School, then continued Waldorf training and teaching in Dornach, Switzerland and Berlin, Germany. She spent several years as a teacher and administrator at Waldorf schools in New Hampshire and New York before returning to Wisconsin and co-founding the Tamarack Waldorf High School in Milwaukee. There she served as humanities and arts faculty before moving with her family to the D.C. area in 2019.
Sunflowers Lead Teacher
Yulia is happy to join the Washington Waldorf School after having taught at Potomac Crescent Waldorf School. In addition to teaching children, she is a movement therapist and Feldenkrais Method Instructor for adults and children with advanced training from The Field Center for Children's Integrated Development in NYC.
Enrollment Director
Contact Lezlie at 301-229-6108, or by email.
Lezlie is a mom to two Waldorf lifers who attended 4 different Waldorf schools. She loves 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!
High School English Teacher
Front Office Manager & Lower School Administrative Assistant
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 Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice.
IT & Facilities Manager
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.
Business Manager
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.
High School Administrator
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.
Reading Specialist
April is originally from upstate New York and has taught in DC area independent elementary schools for over 25 years. She lives with her husband and she likes to read, spend time with friends, and do yoga.
Class Teacher
Lauryn studied environmental sustainability and social entrepreneurship in Canada, South Africa, Sweden, Kenya, and the USA. She is passionate about anti-bias education and the wisdom of stories.
Prior to joining the WWS community, she hiked on the Appalachian Trail, travelled locally and abroad, co-founded an organic/biodynamic farm and CSA program, and was a class teacher and then tutor for the lower grades at a Waldorf school in New Hampshire.
Outside of school, Lauryn enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and playing roller derby.
Woodworking Teacher
Ram is a passionate educator that navigates the intersection of the creative and intellectual worlds with respect and compassion for all individuals. His path to WWS has included facilitating wilderness survival education, building homes, socio-economic field research, teaching invention and fabrication, and an eclectic array of intellectual and artistic pursuits. Ram's happy place is on a quiet river in a canoe with his wife and daughter.
High School Humanities
Julian is an English and History of Art teacher of many years experience. He came from the UK with is wife Eva (WWS Eurythmist) and their son Henry (Nursery). He is delighted to have the opportunity to spend some time with our High School students while covering another teacher's parental leave.
Julian taught at a Waldorf School in Hertfordshire, UK for many years, and he loves exploring history, art and beauty with people of all ages.
College Advisor
Danielle is a native Washingtonian and graduate WWS, having transferred in her junior year of high school. As a student at WWS she fell in love with Waldorf Education. She knew she wanted to work at a Waldorf School at some point in her adult life, so she pursued her Foundations Certificate through the Rudolf Steiner Centre in Toronto in 2011.
Before joining the WWS faculty, Danielle worked as a college and career advisor at Futures Academy in Aurora, Colorado. She also coordinated young professional networking events for a Denver based nonprofit. Danielle founded Inner Compass Coach in 2014, where she integrates career development and psychology to help her clients get unstuck and guide them towards a fulfilling career. Danielle is excited to join the WWS team, where she can combine her love for Waldorf education and college and career advising.
Athletic Director, High School Humanities Teacher
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.
Middle School, High School German Teacher, High School Book Arts Teacher
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.
High School Chemistry, Math, and Technology Teacher
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 attend WWS. Outside of school, Gary likes to play hockey and competes in Scrabble tournaments.
Human Resources Director & Registrar
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.
High School Chamber Singers Assistant Teacher
**Coming Soon**
Class Teacher
Allysun, a native Californian, grew up in Huntington Beach. An avid athlete for many years, she worked as a lifeguard and competed in local triathlons. In college she ran on the cross country team, and competed in regional regattas for the crew team. Now married for 20 years, and with one child (a WWS student) her family is incredibly happy to be living in Maryland and wish we moved here years ago.
Allysun loves painting, drawing, and poetry and is an avid museum goer. She love birds, eating breakfast on her patio, and movies. She has traveled to Hong Kong, Russia, Switzerland, Mexico, Guatemala, and Finland.
Prior to teaching, Allysun worked in telecom creating bids and proposals, monitoring imports and exports, and coordinating beta trials. Before joining WWS, she taught grades 1-8 at Waldorf School of the Peninsula in the Silicon Valley and was also a class teacher for two years at Sacramento Waldorf School.
Speech Teacher
Debra, a former class teacher at WWS for two decades, received her Goetheanum diploma as a speech artist from PerformInternational. 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. Debra teaches pedagogical creative speech, including drama, poetry and storytelling to graduate students as an adjunct professor at Antioch University New England, and in various programs at the Center for Anthroposophy. In addition, Debra also has a private practice teaching students of all ages in groups and individual lessons. She is the pedagogical lead at Shining Willow, a proposed Waldorf Inspired Charter School in Baltimore City, Maryland. She and her husband Chuck are proud parents of three WWS alumni.
Class Teacher
Dawn came to WWS in 2003. Prior to joining the WWS faculty, she was a class teacher at the Waldorf School of Baltimore for eight years. 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, and on the Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice. She completed the Mentor’s Colloquium in 2009 and completed her master's degree in education at Antioch University in 2011.
Dawn and her partner are the parents of two WWS graduates. While not at work, she enjoys traveling, cycling, gardening, hiking with her two dogs, and spending time with family and friends.
Grades 1-7 Spanish Teacher
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.
Interim Head of School
Prior to joining WWS, Lelia excelled in a variety of operationally challenging roles. Lelia is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and earned a Bronze Star while commanding a tactical communications company during Desert Storm. Lelia also has a master’s degree in business from Purdue University and has over 20 years of corporate work experience. After beginning her Waldorf journey as a Children’s Garden parent (her son is now in the WWS high school), she became our Operations Manager in 2017. Lelia has completed the Waldorf Education Foundation Studies course and is a member of the WWS College of Teachers. She has also coached our basketball and swimming teams and serves as the middle school math assistant teacher and served as our Operations Manager before assuming the role of Interim Head of School.
Librarian, Eurythmist
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 and pedagogical eurythmist. She also serves on several school committees.
Class Teacher
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. She also worked for many years as a Registered Nurse. At WWS, Lynn has served as an Assistant Teacher in the Waldorf in the Woods program, Lower School Assistant, Co-Class Teacher and Handwork Teacher. When not teaching, Lynn enjoys running, handwork of all kinds, history, and gardening.
Sunflowers Assistant Teacher and Afternoon Lead
University of Maryland, College Park: Global Health & Advocacy graduate
Julia is excited to be a part of the WWS community! She grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and comes from a global health background. She is looking forward to this more interactive, child-centered position. When not working, she loves to be outside - mainly hiking, rock climbing, or biking.
Director of Alumni and Community Relations
Miriam has spent her career in non-profit administration, including positions at arts, healthcare, and educational organizations. Most recently Miriam worked in higher education, managing alumni programs and outreach. She previously served for a decade as the Director of Operations at the Music Center at Strathmore where she managed volunteer and internship programs as well as a wide variety of events.
Miriam graduated from Amherst College with honors earning a dual degree in music and religion. Born in Chevy Chase, Miriam is thrilled to be back in the DC area. Outside of work, Miriam enjoys crafting, musicals/opera, and genealogy research. She lives in Kensington with her husband and young sons.
