Educator, writer, consultant, and world traveler.

Funeral Service ~ 1 pm, Sunday, January 12, 2025 - Linden Hall, Sacramento Waldorf School

Teacher, Mentor, Adult Educator, Colleague, and Friend

The Sacramento Waldorf School extends its deepest condolences to the family of Betty Staley, who passed away on January 5th. Many of the alums and teachers here at Sacramento Waldorf School were lucky to receive her clear, thought-provoking lessons in her high school classes and at Rudolf Steiner College. Betty was a supporter of Waldorf education not only here but across the globe, and her loving mentorship of teachers and schools helped Waldorf education grow and thrive in many places.

We can never repay Betty for all that she gave to Sacramento Waldorf School, but we can honor her work as we move into the future by doing our utmost best to educate children and adolescents as caring, upright citizens of the world.

-Nicole Fields, SWS Faculty and Alum ‘85

Betty Staley died peacefully in the early hours of Sunday, January 5th at her home in Fair Oaks, CA. Her son George and daughter Sonya were with her in her final weeks and hours. She was surrounded by great love and appreciation.

In addition to her son and daughter, Betty is survived by five beloved grandchildren. She remained close to her stepson Jimmy Staley, his wife, and their son. She was preceded in death by her oldest daughter, Andrea, her first husband Franklin Kane, and second husband Jim Staley, who were both long-time Waldorf teachers.

Betty leaves an international network of friends and colleagues. Her remarkable body of work will continue to have a lasting influence on education and the lives of children and teachers. She devoted her life to Waldorf education with a career that started young and spanned 60 years. Her work included the re-founding of the Sacramento Waldorf School, the establishment of its high school, and many years of teaching there. She was a founder of Rudolf Steiner College, and many current teachers have benefitted from her knowledge and wise counsel.

She was a leading, pivotal figure in the founding and development of Waldorf in public schools from the Milwaukee Urban Waldorf School onwards and remained active on the Board of the Alliance for Public Waldorf Education. She was also deeply committed to the core principles, integrity, and values of Waldorf education and was a member of the Pedagogical Section Council of North America for over 40 years.

Betty was a life-long champion of social justice and equity and followed current events and politics closely. She was an enthusiastic traveler who participated in and led journeys including through Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and North America. She connected deeply with people and was interested in the biography of everyone whose path she crossed.

Betty had a remarkable ability to communicate clearly, practically, and with warmth – a skill evident in her books. Her published works, many translated into multiple languages, included books for teachers on Africa and Russia; on adolescence and child development for teachers and parents; on biography and human development; and two books for young children.

We invite you to reflect on Betty’s extraordinary life and the ways it has touched so many children, adolescents, and adults. Heartfelt thanks to you, Betty Staley.

The following tribute was written by Liz Beaven, former Whole School Administrator at Sacramento Waldorf School, which beautifully illustrates Betty Staley’s many talents and gifts that she shared generously throughout her life.

From the Staley Family - To those looking to give something in Betty’s name, thank you. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Sacramento Waldorf School, where Betty taught for decades, and where her oldest daughter, Andrea Kane, worked for many years. Betty cared deeply about poverty, hunger, civil rights, democracy, the environment, refugees and immigrants, public television and radio, and much more. She would be gratified if her death engenders a small tsunami of giving to organizations in any of those areas.