ART OF TEACHING

While Lisa Babinet has been teaching mathematics for over forty years, she was brought to Waldorf Education as a parent of a young child, first joined the Waldorf School of the Peninsula community as a parent over twenty years ago, and is now the parent of two "Waldorf Lifer Alums." Shortly after enrolling her child at WSP, Lisa became a faculty member and embarked on earning a certificate in Waldorf Teacher Education through Rudolf Steiner College. Having been a teacher educator, (at the University of Pennsylvania and Chestnut Hill College), she later became a member of the faculty at RSC and also taught in Waldorf Teacher Training Programs abroad. For the past fifteen years Lisa has been involved with the Association of Waldorf School of North America, where she was a delegate for six years and has been a member of the AWSNA Leadership Council as the leader for the Northern California/Nevada region for the past nine years. Lisa has always felt very connected to Sacramento Waldorf School and has spent many summers there, especially enjoying the Mulberry trees, the farm, the river, and the amazing community.

Amy came to Waldorf education after marveling at the one-sided intellectual development she noticed around her and seeking to find a new home where all aspects of being human were valued. “Much of my schooling honored intellectual prowess alone, but the humanity and artistry that we bring into the world is equally important,” she says. “After researching many pedagogies, Waldorf’s foundations rang most true to me.”

Amy has been a middle school class teacher both at Sacramento Waldorf School and Cedar Springs Waldorf School. She is currently working with the student support team at SWS.

Her goal in her current role is to serve our Middle School community, contributing to building a school that is worthy of all children.

Michelle studied Political Science but ultimately chose dance as her path. She opened a dance academy, where she developed a program to coach students through an alchemical creative dance process that included inner work, choreography, costume design, and dance technique, culminating in a final presentation. She later worked at the Waldorf School of Guatemala, where she taught movement class for several years before being invited to develop and teach an Arts program for the entire high school, from eighth through twelfth grades. Michelle deeply identifies with Waldorf education and loves studying Anthroposophy.

Marianne has been a Grades teacher and Middle School support teacher for over three decades, while also teaching in the Summer Teacher Training Program at Rudolf Steiner College. With a BA in Studio Art from University of California, Santa Barbara and a Waldorf Teacher Education Diploma from Rudolf Steiner College, Marianne enjoys drawing, painting, clay modeling, gardening, reading, and astronomy.

Ari holds a BA in French Literature and Art History and Education from California State University, Northridge. She earned a Waldorf Teaching Certificate from the Waldorf Institute of Southern California. Ari has taught in Waldorf schools for nearly 30 years. She currently teaches Middle School Math and Science at Sacramento Waldorf School and was a part of the teacher education department at Rudolf Steiner College.

As a professional speech and language therapist, speech artist and Waldorf educator, Molly has been long dedicated to helping children and adults develop their speech and language skills. Molly has been offering courses in speech and storytelling in Waldorf educational settings for decades,

Doug began his Waldorf Teacher Education in Eugene, OR in 1997 has taught in public and homeschool communities. At Sierra Waldorf School, he carried a class from Fourth Grade through graduation and then came to Sacramento Waldorf School where he has been a grades class teacher, a high school art teacher, and a teacher of Algebra.

Doug appreciates the ability of students and teachers alike to thrive in a Waldorf school as it is founded in respect for the profound journey that life presents. He believes that teaching requires a good sense of humor and a solid sense of organization, matched with the enthusiasm to push students lovingly into the unknown.

Christiana has been involved with music-making in the larger Anthroposophical community and in the Waldorf classroom for nearly 40 years. Graduating from college with a BA in music (specializing in vocal performance), she enhanced her singing with the study of exercises from the Werbeck school, completed the Orff-Schulwerk level 1 training, and is an Advanced TaKeTiNa rhythm facilitator. Her classes have always been noted for her enthusiastic, high-energy style, and for her capacity to inspire people of all ages to discover their unique capacity for song. Post-Covid, she continues to provide possibilities for people seeking transformation through the musical arts.

Andrew Sullivan is a poet, philosopher, teacher, and interdisciplinary artist. He teaches adults and adolescents at Sacramento Waldorf School, his alma mater, and is currently a doctoral student in the Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness program at California Institute of Integral Studies. He has been a student of anthroposophy since he tried to read Foundations of Human Experience in Spanish in 1992 while teaching in Mexico at Colegio Waldorf de Cuernavaca.

Megan has taught in Waldorf schools for more than 20 years, in grades K-12 as a Class Teacher and as a specialist in Australia and the United States. She also has administration experience in a start-up Waldorf High School, and extensive experience as a guest teacher, presenter, and lecturer in the field of Sex Education and Social Emotional Learning. Megan completed Waldorf Teacher Training at Chrysalis School for Rudolf Steiner Education in Australia. She also completed coursework at Rudolf Steiner College and earned a BS in Psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco.

With a BA in Education from Union Institute & University, Isabelle did graduate coursework in American History at Adams State University and holds a Waldorf Teacher Education Diploma from Rudolf Steiner College. A Waldorf educator for nearly 30 years, Isabelle has taught in various teacher education programs, at Rudolf Steiner College, in the San Francisco Bay Area, and abroad.

Rev Bowen, M.A., earned his Waldorf Grades Teaching Certificate in 2000. He worked as a grades teacher for 18 years, a Pedagogical Development Director for two years, and a School Administrator for one year. Rev completed the First through Eighth Grade journey with two classes, then taught a third class for the Seventh and Eighth Grades. In addition to his enthusiasm for the Waldorf curriculum and pedagogy, he has a keen interest in understanding the relationship between the skills and habits that are fostered in Waldorf education and the development and balance of human forces throughout life, both for the student as well as the teacher. His son and daughter completed Pre-K through Eighth Grade in a Waldorf school.

Patti Connolly has worked in Waldorf education as a Class Teacher (K-8), Remedial Specialist, Pedagogical Director, Teacher Trainer, Mentor, Evaluator, and Workshop Leader for 30+ years, in public charter and independent Waldorf schools in the US and abroad. She is currently the third grade teacher at the Waldorf School of the Roaring Fork in Colorado. Patti is passionate about supporting teachers using a creative phonics-based approach to literacy. She has been presenting live and online workshops on this subject with Janet Langley and Anna Rainville since 2018 through their website: www.waldorfinspirations.com.

Jenny has been a Waldorf educator since 1994, beginning as an early childhood educator at Seattle Waldorf School and as a founding teacher at Three Cedars Waldorf School in Bellevue, Washington. She fell in love with Eurythmy during her teacher training and later decided to continue her studies in Järna, Sweden where she graduated in 2001. After several years performing with Eurythmy stage groups in Europe, she returned to the US to focus on teaching. Jenny has taught full time Eurythmy for grades K-12 as well as adults in the Seattle area, New Hampshire, and in Princeton, NJ. She has most recently served as a Lead Class Teacher at the Princeton Waldorf School in Princeton, NJ and will begin this fall as First Grade Teacher at Haleakala Waldorf School on Maui. When not teaching, you’ll find Jenny surfing with friends in the beautiful waters of Hawaii, her childhood home.

Janet Langley is co-author of The Roadmap to Literacy: A Guide to Teaching Language Arts in Waldorf Schools Grades 1 through 3 and graduated her second class in 2008. As an adult educator of 20 years, Janet has taught in various teacher training programs, mentored teachers in all eight grades, and, together with Patti Connolly, created www.waldorfinspirations.com,

a free teacher resource website. Since 2018, Janet and her colleagues, Patti Connolly and Anna Rainville, have presented live and online workshops where they have shared their passion for teaching early literacy with over 700 Waldorf teachers worldwide.

As a professional speech and language therapist, speech artist and Waldorf educator, Molly has been long dedicated to helping children and adults develop their speech and language skills. Molly has been offering courses in speech and storytelling in Waldorf educational settings for decades.

Anna Rainville has been involved with Waldorf education since 1978. She has experience as a class teacher at the Lexington Waldorf School and the Waldorf School of the Peninsula and as a public-school Kindergarten teacher, where she received an award from the California Kindergarten Association for outstanding work in early childhood education. Anna joined Janet Langley and Patti Connolly in presenting innovative literacy workshops. She has lifted spirits with singing games and group harmony for decades and is the author of Singing Games for Families, Schools, and Communities. She travels widely to mentor and work with teachers nationally and internationally.

Hema believes that learning best happens when there is a love of learning and knowing more. She enjoys exploring ways to bring a subject to life in the classroom and appreciates being in the joyful presence of children.

Over the last decade, Hema has immersed herself in Waldorf education through teaching at Waldorf Schools in Toronto and Calgary, along with studies in Anthroposophy and Education in Toronto and Fair Oaks.

Among the few simple things closest to Hema’s heart are her family, music, and meditation.

Andrew Sullivan is a poet, philosopher, teacher, and interdisciplinary artist. He teaches adults and adolescents at Sacramento Waldorf School, his alma mater, and is currently a doctoral student in the Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness program at California Institute of Integral Studies. He has been a student of anthroposophy since he tried to read Foundations of Human Experience in Spanish in 1992 while teaching in Mexico at Colegio Waldorf de Cuernavaca.

With a BA in Education from Union Institute & University, Isabelle did graduate coursework in American History at Adams State University and holds a Waldorf Teacher Education Diploma from Rudolf Steiner College. A Waldorf educator for nearly 30 years, Isabelle has taught in various teacher education programs, at Rudolf Steiner College, in the San Francisco Bay Area, and abroad.