Meet PWS’ Pedagogical Director
We are so happy to introduce you to Chiaki Uchiyama, our new Pedagogical Director.
At PWS, some of the many responsibilities held by a Pedagogical Director include overseeing curriculum policy and development; serving as the pedagogical liaison with our community, and overseeing processes that ensure our program quality, consistency, coherence and continuity.
Chiaki was born and raised in Yokohama, Japan. Her journey into Anthroposophy began in 1996 when her infant son died and she sought to understand the meaning of his brief life.
She moved to the United States in 1997 and taught Japanese language at Cedarwood Waldorf School for 21 years before she became Cedarwood’s Pedagogical Director in 2018. She has served in various leadership roles at Cedarwood beginning as Board member, College Chair, Program Chair, and Pedagogical Director.
She holds an M.Ed. degree in the Transdisciplinary Healing Education for Advanced Waldorf Educators at Antioch University in New Hampshire. The subject of her master’s thesis was “heart leadership,” which has been supporting her daily practice as a compassionate leader. She is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Educational and Professional Practice, Waldorf Education, at Antioch University with special focus on DEI and social justice in the light of anthroposophy. Her two daughters graduated from PWS’ High School in 2010 and 2012.
We asked Chiaki a few questions, so we can get to know her better.
Q: What do you love about Waldorf education?
CU: Waldorf education is designed for educating each student’s seed of genius into an ever-growing tree with an abundance of fruit. We teach our students “how” to think rather than “what” to think, so the effects of this education are everlasting.
Waldorf education honors the students’ becoming, a process through which they develop into moral human beings filled with creative stamina, innovative minds and social maturity. They have the capacity to become leaders since they know what is needed in the environment and how to change it into a place full of goodness, beauty and truth. Throughout their entire lives, they remain open, inclusive, kind, humane, courageous and insightful by following their strong sense of self and conscience, which leads them to purposeful action towards their destiny.
As an immigrant from Japan, I feel that my whole being, including my ancestry stream, has been fully supported by Waldorf education and anthroposophy. Both of my daughters are bilingual and bicultural and are steadfastly traveling on their life paths toward their unique destinies with confidence. On the basis of personal experience, I strongly believe that every human being will benefit from this education regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, social status, or ability.
Another remarkable aspect of this education is that teachers, staff, parents – the whole school – must find a way to work together and become a growing and evolving organism as an intentional community in order to support the healthy growth of the students. This collective effort and commitment to each other forms a warm heart center, which pulsates out to the society. This mutual work is not always easy but every effort is rewarding.
Q: What draws you to join the Portland Waldorf School?
CU: I first joined the PWS community in 1997 as a parent. My daughters graduated from PWHS in 2010 and 2012, and my partner worked at PWS as an aftercare teacher for 23 years. I know many teachers and administrators at PWS, and have been working side-by-side with these committed colleagues throughout my career at Cedarwood.
I am excited to rejoin the PWS community and to nurture its origin, which is rooted in anthroposophy and Waldorf pedagogy, with a dedicated team of teachers and staff. My passion is to foster Waldorf education which meets the students of today in the most humane and inclusive way. As a leader of color, I am committed to a diverse community, and I will work diligently to ensure that the light of each student shines within our school. The more diverse the community is, the deeper the learning becomes. We are here to acknowledge differences, make the necessary changes to support each other, and co-create an integrated whole together. I believe that Waldorf pedagogy and anthroposophy facilitate this truly human endeavor.
During the high school years, students develop various skills to express their unique thoughts, creativity, layers of personal identities, and genuine interest in the world, as the culmination of their early childhood and primary school learning. Therefore, I value Pre-K through 12th grade Waldorf schooling, as its span is true to the original intention of this education. I am honored to be a part of the PWS community.
Q: What is something you’d like your new community to know about you?
CU: I have a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog who is nearly as big as I am. Her name is Juno. In my spare time, I walk Juno, cook Japanese food, and play lyres, anthroposophical as well as Greek.
We are so happy to welcome you to our community, Chiaki!