Faculty & Staff

Chiaki was born and raised in Yokohama, Japan. Her journey into anthroposophy began in 1996 following the death of her infant son. In 1997 she moved to the United States where she taught Japanese language at Cedarwood Waldorf School for 21 years before becoming Pedagogical Director in 2018. She served in various leadership roles at Cedarwood including College Chair, Program Chair, and board member.

In 1997 she also joined the PWS community as the mother of two kindergarten children, Akari and Mayu. They were life-long Waldorf students and graduated from PWHS in 2010 and 2012.

Chiaki holds an M.Ed. degree in Transdisciplinary Healing Education for Advanced Waldorf Educators at Antioch University. The subject of her master’s thesis was “heart leadership,” an orientation in consciousness that supports her daily practice as a compassionate leader. She is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Educational and Professional Practice in Waldorf Education at Antioch University with a special focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the light of anthroposophy. Before becoming School Director at PWS, Chiaki served as the school's Pedagogical Director.

During her spare time, she enjoys cooking for her partner, Charles, (“Mr. Forster”), who taught aftercare at PWS for 23 years before he retired, playing lyre, and walking their beloved Swiss Mountain Dog, Juno.

Crystal joined the PWS Business Office in 2015 and stepped into the role of Director of Administration in the 2023-24 school year. In her previous role of Director of Finance and Human Resources, she manages both the school's human resources and finances, including contracts, billing, and tuition adjustments. She also planned and managed the school's fundraising auctions from 2016-2019 and regularly applies for grants on behalf of PWS.

Crystal brings with her many years of experience in both accounting and human resources and served as Board Treasurer of a local non-profit Waldorf-inspired cooperative preschool for five years and as their bookkeeper for two years. Crystal received her Bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University. She is also a commissioned Oregon Notary, so if you ever need something notarized, give her a call! Crystal strongly believes in PWS' core values and strives to live by them herself everyday.

Nina Churchill grew up in a family of artists, architects and designers, with art education being central to her family. Nina studied Fine Arts at Washington State University, receiving her BA in Fine Arts, Summa Cum Laude. After graduation, she moved to New York where she earned a M.S. in Communications Design from Pratt Institute with honors. Following graduation, Nina worked professionally in art, graphic design and package design. Six years later, Nina and her husband moved to the Bay Area, where she continued to work in art and design and rekindled her lifelong interest in plants and the natural world, receiving a certificate in Landscape Design from UC Berkeley. During these years, Nina’s two children were born and began their Waldorf educations. Nina began teaching at a Waldorf-inspired school in Marin County as a pre-school assistant.

Nina received her teaching certification from the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training in 2005. That year, she and her family relocated to Portland, where she began teaching at our high school. Alongside her high school teaching, she taught pedagogical sculpture, middle school art and assisted in handwork in the lower school. Nina enjoys creating art, being outdoors, gardening, sewing, reading, walking and especially spending time with her husband and two children.

Deborah was born and raised in New Jersey. She attended Rutgers University where she double majored in psychology and gender studies. In 2004, Deborah moved to Portland so her two kids could attend PWS and she could participate in the teacher training program at the Micha-el Institute. Deborah received her Waldorf teaching certificate in 2011 and completed her M.Ed program 2023. Deborah was a class teacher at Micha-el School for 14 years where she had the privilege of leading three unique and beautiful groups of students, one of which included a full 1-8 cycle.

Along with teaching children, Deborah has a passion for global history and travel. She spent a year studying in Heidelberg, Germany, taught ESLto second graders at a public school in Chiang Mai Thailand, and worked on a curriculum development project for the Waldorf School of Limassol in Cyprus. In the summer, Deborah is part of the Micha-el Institute faculty where she teaches curriculum and child development classes to pre- and in-service Waldorf teachers. Deborah is deeply moved by the power of Waldorf education and anthroposophy as transformative forces in the world and looks forward to working with the next generation of students to meet the challenges of the future.

Mae studied Human Society and the Environment and Outdoor Recreation at Middle Tennessee State University. She also holds a certification in Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education in Tennessee. Mae began her Waldorf teaching journey in 2022 at the Linden Waldorf School in Nashville, TN.

She has worked as a wildlife educator, substitute teacher, an early childhood assistant/co-teacher, and is currently enrolled at Sound Circle Center for Arts and Anthroposophy. In her downtime, Mae enjoys galavanting with her family in the great outdoors, digging in the dirt, playing her piano, singing, painting, crafting, and spending time with her copious amount of animals.

Alison grew up exploring the forests and beaches of the Pacific Northwest where her love of nature and creative movement bloomed. Alison believes that education should be a truly liberating and empowering experience that equips students with critical thinking skills, confidence and hope. She also believes that positive social change is possible through Waldorf education.

Alison’s journey in Waldorf education began in 2005. She has worked in independent and charter Waldorf schools as an assistant in a Kindergarten classroom, a support teacher, a class teacher and an administrator. Prior to pursuing a career in Waldorf education, Alison was a professional contemporary dancer which brought her much joy. Alison loves hiking with her daughter, swimming in cold lakes, devouring books, picking berries, running in Forest Park and, of course, dancing.

Alynn grew up singing and playing in the Wasatch mountains of Utah. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Art History from Mount Holyoke College, and a Waldorf Grades Certificate from the Micha-el School in Portland, Oregon. Alynn has been an educator for over 20 years, serving in Montessori-based and Waldorf schools. She has been a class teacher at PWS since 2007, most recently promoting her last class in 2021.

Alynn enjoys bringing innovation to the curriculum based on Waldorf pedagogy, collegial collaboration, and the current and future needs of the students. She has recently worked on innovations in the areas of sex education, technology, and DEI and Social Justice.

When asked if Alynn is a glass half-full or half-empty kind of person, she enthusiastically replies, “I’m just happy to have a glass! Outside of school, she enjoys adventuring and relaxing with her husband, two children, and Mini Australian Shepherd.

Ms. Hibbard grew up in California and Oregon. She loves the Coast Live Oaks and Douglas Firs of her childhood homes. She is an only child, raised by University of Oregon professors. She holds a BA in Romance Languages, an MA in Media Studies, an MFA in filmmaking and a Certificate in Waldorf Education. Her short, experimental, animated films have screened at film festivals around the world. Her work and studies have allowed her to live in Italy, Iowa City and New York City.

She has been teaching people of all ages since 1996. Johanna discovered Waldorf education through her three children. Her work as a class teacher at Portland Waldorf School is the most meaningful, challenging, rewarding and fulfilling of her life.

In Johanna’s free time, she enjoys walking in her Hawthorne neighborhood with her family, daily runs with her husband, snuggling with her 2 dogs and 3 cats, cooking, writing, reading and Reiki.

Ms. Di Cicco grew up on a farm in California, digging in the dirt, watching seeds grow, and caring for baby quail with gentle hands. Ms. Di Cicco pursued her passion for art in college; she received a bachelor’s in art history from the University of Washington and a master’s in History of Art and Architecture from the University of Pittsburgh. She taught art history at the college level for eight years before discovering her passion for Waldorf education. Her journey with us began as a second-grade assistant at PWS, and she later transitioned to lead teaching at Micha-el School. She is eager to join the faculty at PWS and shepard the rising fourth grade class through eighth grade.

Outside of school, Ms. Di Cicco enjoys gardening, foraging, and creating her own natural art pigments and dyes. She shares her joy for life with her husband and their toddler. They can be found trying new hobbies and cuisines locally in Portland or traveling to explore new locations globally.

Jenny grew up on a big sheep farm near the beach in rural New Zealand. She went to school in New Zealand and the UK and has a BFA from the University of Auckland. Jenny moved to the USA with her husband in 2008.

In 2017, Jenny completed her training in Waldorf Education at the Micha-el Institute and is certified in both grades and early childhood education.

Jenny led the Bluebell preschool class at PWS for 3 years, where she put her aesthetic training and rural life values into puppet shows, sourdough bread, gardening and hauling firewood with the 3 year olds.

While homeschooling her two children through the pandemic, Jenny was a specialist art teacher and substitute teacher for the whole lower school. In her free time Jenny continues her art practice and enjoys reading, knitting and growing roses.

Jack joined PWS in 2019 as a class teacher. He currently serves as the Grades Chair and as a member of the College of Teachers. Before coming to PWS, Jack taught at a Waldorf charter school in Hawaii, as well as a public charter school in New Orleans. He studied at Lewis & Clark College and Antioch University. Jack loves cycling, cooking, and time in nature.

Lukas is a Waldorf “lifer.” The son of biodynamic farmers, he attended Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School from kindergarten through 12th grade, and went on to double-major in music and German at Wheaton College in Massachusetts. After college, he spent a summer teaching cooking and farming skills at a Hawthorne Valley summer camp. There, he realized two things: he loved working with 7-12 year-olds; and he was so inspired by the joy and enthusiasm these students found when working with their hands, discovering nature, and exploring their environment. Out of his own experience as a student, Lukas remembers these lessons as the most inspiring—the ones where lessons from the classroom were given shape out in the world. Field trips, class plays, practical arts, and athletics transformed academic and social concepts into active and tangible lessons. He believes that learning through these real experiences gives Waldorf students the particular strength and confidence to dive into new projects without the fear of not knowing the outcome. Lukas was a class teacher at Swallowtail Waldorf School before joining PWS. Lukas began his Waldorf teacher training at Micha-el Institute completed his training at the Hawthorne Valley Alkion Center in New York.

Kim has held many positions here at PWS in addition to classroom teacher, including first grade assistant teacher and Director of Auxiliary Programs. Kim received her BA from Northeaster, and graduated from Antioch University New England with her Waldorf Teacher certificate and a Masters in Education. She has also received a Forest Kindergarten certification from Cedarsong on Vashon Island, WA. Kim began her teaching journey in 1998 as a Music Together teacher and program director in Concord and Lexington, MA. She then taught Waldorf-inspired early childhood and handwork at The Living Ethics School in Fairview, TX, and introduced their first Forest Kindergarten and Waldorf-inspired events and festivals. Kim has managed all the aftercare, camp and club programs, at PWS, ensuring they were developmentally appropriate for our early childhood and grades students and were aligned with Waldorf pedagogy. Kim is now happy to be the teacher for the class of 2029. Kim’s daughter Finley is at PWS.

Amy Joy graduated from Portland State University with a B.S. in Marketing and Management in 2002. In 2011, she left the corporate world and entered the Micha-el Institute’s Waldorf Teacher Training Program. She has since gained broad teaching experience that stretches from early childhood through high school. Wanting to meet the varied developmental needs of her students, she sought ways to deepen her understanding of child development and support through the completion of multiple holistic modality programs. In 2020, she completed the 3-year comprehensive Waldorf Learning Support Program. Since 2017, she has offered private remedial educational and developmental support for young students, consulted with teachers, and provided school screenings and assessments through her private practice. Amy Joy has two boys, also attending Portland Waldorf School. She is a dog lover, gardener, and at times professional actor. It is with spirit, heart, and a warm supporting hand that Amy Joy lives her life as a Waldorf educator.

Dexter Brightman studied printmaking and illustration at The Academy Of Art San Francisco & The San Francisco Art Institute. An alumnus of the Santa Cruz Waldorf School, he began his teaching career in 2011 at the San Francisco Waldorf School before returning to his childhood school in Santa Cruz where he taught in the grade school for 9 years.

He is enthusiastic and curious to explore all creative mediums and passionately pursues a personal engraving practice, heavily inspired by incunabula, folk and esoteric art. In addition to art and being in nature, Dexter enjoys personal study and furthering his understanding of history, science and philosophy from around the world. Cultivating a rich inner life is the source from which he draws in order to foster a more just and beautiful shared world for all the students in his care.

Prior to joining PWS, Rochelle worked as a Case Manager for The KINDNESS Project in New York, where she provided case management, screening/assessments and educational support for children with learning and behavior differences. She also worked at Sierra Vista Child and Family Services in Modesto as an Early Intervention and Childcare Consultant providing counseling services that focused on early intervention and identification of mental health needs of children. She brings strong skills in collaboration and clear communication to her role at PWS where she coordinates our Educational Support Program, including coordinating student assessments, tutors and therapists, and communicating support programs to teachers, parents and the Student Care Committee. Rochelle graduated from UC Santa Cruz and has also completed several professional development courses on executive function success, teaching students to study smarter not harder, engaging career paths for teens with ADD and early childhood assessment implementation. Rochelle is the parent of three children at PWS.

Jeremy Bates grew up in Utah, where he learned to work hard in school and get along with his five siblings. He studied science and teaching at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and taught for two years in mainstream schools before accepting a position at a Waldorf Kindergarten in Salt Lake City. He has been teaching at Waldorf schools ever since and completed his Waldorf teacher training at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, California. Jeremy comes most recently from Mendocino County, California, where he took a class from third to eighth grade. While there, he developed a passion for teaching mathematics, especially in the middle school. Jeremy enjoys running, hiking, reading, recreational mathematics, woodwork, fishing, general relativity, playing the guitar, and spending time with his family.

Guodong grew up in the mountain areas in southern China. He revels in nature’s abundance, acceptance, diversity, and vitality, along with its stable rhythm of seasons that mirror his soul. When he was 18, as a result of assisting those less fortunate than him, he began seeking a greater meaning, and went onto major in mathematics at Shenzhen University, determined to be a good educator.

After graduation, he taught math in a public school, and then studied Anthroposophy and Waldorf education in residence for two years at Rudolf Steiner College. He taught mathematics in the US and China for over 20 years before joining PWS. He believes that math helps students develop various human virtues and thus promotes humankind to flourish.

He tries to make math accessible so that everyone can benefit from math learning. The moment the teacher and students resonate together is the highest blessing time for him. In his leisure time, Guodong enjoys hiking, gardening, reading, recreational mathematics, yoga, singing, and spending time with his family.

Millie Kimes grew up along the West Coast, headed to the Midwest for college, then returned west to work, attend grad school, and finally stay to teach. A B.A. and a double major in Mathematics and Geology from Carleton College, a few years working for an architect, an M.S. in Mathematics Education from Oregon State University, an Oregon Professional Teaching License with an endorsement in Advanced Mathematics, 10 years teaching at Corvallis High School, and years of math tutoring-experience have all led her to Portland Waldorf School.

She has been lucky enough to make a career out of sharing her love for math, endeavoring to help make mathematics more accessible for as many people as possible. She has taught most high school math courses, from General Math through AP Calculus AB, specializing in Calculus and half-paced Algebra 1. Overall, Millie is a big math nerd who loves to laugh, loves to teach, and loves to spend time with those she loves.

Aaron has enjoyed a rich life of music that has led him down many paths of exploration. He started playing guitar and piano as a young child and eventually moved to the violin at age 10. Aaron attended Marin County public schools and was a member of the middle school and high school orchestras in the area. After high school he pursued degrees in classical music with a focus on violin performance. He earned a bachelors degree from the University of California at Irvine and a Masters degree from the New England Conservatory of music in Boston. Aaron spent an additional two years at the University of Kansas furthering his education. It was there he started to delve deeply into bluegrass, Celtic music, Jazz and improvisation.

In 2002 Aaron joined the band Hot Buttered Rum and proceeded to play concerts all over the country and beyond. In 2013 Aaron and his wife moved to the town of Sonoma where their son Koya was born. In Sonoma, Aaron helped to start a youth music program based on the El Sistema principles, helping the most at-need children in the area access orchestral instruments and instruction. He also taught at the Sonoma Montessori school.

Maestro Victor studied Business Administration and worked in the movie industry for seven years as a Production Engineer. He then became a language teacher in Oaxaca, Mexico and has worked in many different settings: universities, language schools, art schools and high schools. He has taught history, dance, art and languages. He received his Waldorf Teacher Training Certificate in 2008 and has been teaching at PWS since 2004.

Amy grew up in a small village surrounded by nature in southern China. Waldorf education has been a constant and beloved interest for Amy since she was a college student. She worked at Chun Tong Waldorf School in Zhu Hai, China for a few years. And came to PWS in 2017. She finds deep fulfillment in sharing her culture with the community through food, creative activities, music and stories and has translated Waldorf curriculum material from English to Mandarin.

She believes language learning never stops because it’s culture learning, personal growth and endless improvements.

Tom worked as a commercial fisherman, was the vice president of the United Fishermen of Alaska, and was on the board of directors of the SE Alaska Fishermans’ Co-op. He then became foreman of SE Alaska’s largest shipyard until moving back to Portland in 1979 to open a custom woodworking shop. Tom has taught as a woodworking teacher at PWS since 1992. He completed the three-year applied arts course at Sunbridge College and has taken continuing Waldorf education classes through the Micha-el Institute, where he teaches adult woodworking and teacher training classes. Tom is a founding member of PWHS.

Handwork has been a constant and beloved interest for Mariama since she learned to knit in grade one. After graduating from the pioneering class of the Portland Waldorf High School, Mariama continued her education at Whitman College, where she earned a B.A. with honors in her self-designed major of Post-Colonial Studies. Mariama became the handwork assistant at PWS in 2008 and she began to attend Waldorf conferences and eventually enrolled at Rudolf Steiner College to pursue her interest in Anthroposophy and handwork teacher’s certificate. Mariama continued to assist for five years before becoming lead handwork teacher. A Portland native, Mariama feels strong ties to her Austrian and Senegalese heritage and is proud that her grandparents were tailors, an indigo dyer and a weaver by trade. Her most recent hobby is learning about plant dyes. In addition to handwork, she loves to dance, watch plays (particularly Shakespeare), do home improvement projects, laugh with friends and practice eurythmy.

Sunny began her journey working with children when she was studying Ethnomusicology at UCLA for her undergraduate degree. Singing and dancing with kindergarten children first sparked her love of teaching. After college Sunny moved to San Francisco and Oakland where she taught elementary school in the Mission neighborhood for 7 years, focusing on social justice and performing arts. Sunny moved to Portland after her children were born, and worked as the grade 1 assistant at PWS in 2019. She is thrilled to be back in the classroom, further developing her handwork skills and getting to know students in the grades.

In addition to making things with her hands, Sunny has a deep passion for social and environmental justice, growing plants, cooking, dancing and instigating adventures.

Justice grew up in Houston, Texas, before moving to the Pacific Northwest and graduating from Washougal High School. Justice graduated with his Bachelor’s degree from Washington State University in Personnel Psychology and Human Resources. While attending classes, Justice coached basketball in Beaverton for four years, traveling across the country for basketball tournaments and events. Justice brings great knowledge and experience to leading, and enhancing the entire essence of a sports experience.

Jordan grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and holds a BFA in Dance Performance from Arizona State University. She grew up playing team sports, swimming, and spending time outdoors. Jordan fell in love with dance as a teen after discovering it integrated her passions of physicality and the arts.

Jordan spent over 15 years as a professional dancer and teacher. She is a Dance Instructor/Choreographer at Polaris Dance Theater and has performed with Portland-based dance artists Ela Fala Dance Collective, Push/FOLD and Graham Cole. She has presented her own choreography through Polaris Dance Theater, Coho Productions, and N.E.W. Expressive Works as an Artist in Residence.

Jordan volunteers with White Bird Dance to bring outstanding dance performances to Portland residents. Before joining PWS, she taught movement classes from grades 1-8 at Swallowtail Waldorf School as well as at Micha-el School, and substituted here at PWS. She draws inspiration from nature, spending time with loved ones, meditation, reading & writing and constantly being open to new experiences.

Amanda grew up in rural Montana, where the span of land and sky left space for her to freely explore movement, music and drama. She tried out urban life and graduated from Seattle Pacific University. Longing for the feel of the country, Amanda moved to the biodynamic intentional community of Camphill Minnesota, where she met anthroposophy and eurythmy. She had the distinct knowing that she was meant to become a eurythmist.

This led her to England, to Camphill Botton Village, and back to beautiful Boulder, CO, where she studied at the Sound Circle Eurythmy Training. Amanda came to Portland to perform with the Portland Eurythmy group and found work in the early childhood aftercare program at PWS. She began teaching eurythmy at PWS in 2020.

When Amanda is not doing eurythmy, she loves to spend time with her family, ride her bicycle, take adventure walks, play and sing with the ukulele, and dig in the dirt.

Carrie attended a Waldorf school in California from grades 3 to 8. She then completed the four-year eurythmy training in Spring Valley, NY in 2002 and spent an additional year doing artistic training, followed by a year of pedagogical training. Carrie has worked with various performing groups and ensembles over the years and currently works and tours with Portland Eurythmy. Carrie began teaching eurythmy in 2005 at the Live Oak Charter School and the Sebastopol Independent Charter in California. Carrie came to PWS in 2008 and enjoys teaching eurythmy to students in the grades, parents, alumni and the larger community.

Ciara was born and raised swimming, hiking, and camping in the Pacific Northwest. Her childhood was rooted in embracing the region's natural beauty and appreciating the stories it had to tell. This love of storytelling led her to study environmental literature and native writers while obtaining her English degree at Portland State University.

Ciara first started working with kids as a water safety and swim instructor with the Red Cross. She enjoys teaching children because of the unique perspectives they bring to each lesson and the unexpected gifts they offer us, like a surprising turn of phrase or a goodbye hug.

Outside of the classroom Ciara is a voracious reader and spends many weekends cuddled up with a good book and her beloved cat Mr. Julius.

A native of Gaithersburg, MD, Joshua Sommerville is a singer, pianist, music director, and composer who graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science in Music. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of working with many esteemed artists such as the late Dr. Walter Turnbull (Director of the Harlem Boys Choir), Dr. Ysaye Barnwell (of Grammy Award-Winning Vocal Group: Sweet Honey in the Rock), Stanley Thurston, Bill Colosimo, Dr. Karen Kennedy, Dr. Joyce Garrett, Patrick Lundy, Richard Odom, Dr. Stephen Holmes, Dr. Marco Merrick, Twinkie Clark (Multi-Grammy Award Winner), Melba Moore (Multi Grammy Award-Winning Award Winner), and many more.

He founded three semi-professional groups: His W.I.L. Community Choir, Unique Sounds of Love, and To Be Continued Youth Choir. He also created the acclaimed workshop, How Much Do You Love It?, that has traveled to Bermuda, Italy, Guatemala, Germany, and Africa. He also tours as music director for the world-renowned choreographer Rennie Harris.

In 2020, he was hired by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC to be their assistant conductor as well as conductor of their vocal ensemble, Seasons of Love. At the same time, he was also hired as assistant conductor of The Arlington Children’s Chorus of Arlington, VA. In 2022, he moved to Portland, Oregon to be the Director of Performing Arts for BRAVO Youth Orchestras. He also serves as the Worship Coordinator at West Linn Lutheran Church and the Artistic Director of the Portland Boychoir in Milwaukie, OR.

Dionne joined our administrative team in 2013 as our receptionist/main office person extraordinaire, but she has been a part of the Portland Waldorf School community since her daughter began Parent/Child classes in 2007. Dionne’s interest in Waldorf education began many years before, when she was teaching meditation and studying esoteric psychology.

Her studies led her to an interest in Anthroposophy and she delved into Waldorf Foundational Studies and teacher training. She now keeps many day-to-day elements of the school running smoothly as Operations Manager. Dionne spends most of her free time working in her garden.

Contact Dionne for chaperoning and driving, space use, calendaring, and event information

Alyssa is a native Oregonian who discovered the wonder and joy of learning through her own, early Waldorf education in Southern Oregon. She has enjoyed a lifetime of learning rooted in the study of languages (Spanish, German, Latin, Portuguese, French), culture, music (violin & viola, chamber music), and the arts (dance). As a young person discovering the world, she traveled with Up with People in 1999-2000, and thereafter earned her B.A. in Spanish from Vanderbilt University. Alyssa also holds a Certificate in Paralegal Studies, and in 2012 earned her M.Ed. through Portland State University’s Bilingual Teacher Pathway Program.

Alyssa joins PWS after a decade of teaching Spanish Language and Literature at a Portland public high school. During her time teaching, she also participated in the Oregon Writing Project and in the Center for Equity and Inclusion’s Equity Certificate program. Prior to becoming an educator, Alyssa worked in Immigration Law as a paralegal and community outreach coordinator. She looks forward to bringing the best of what she has learned in her previous positions into her new roles at the Waldorf School, and is honored to continue to learn, grow, and serve in this community. Her intent in all that she does is to contribute to justice and joy in this world.

Brittany grew up in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, where she spent most of her childhood creating, crafting, and exploring the wonders of the woods. She studied Sociology & Geography at Ohio University before starting off on her own adventure.

Brittany moved to Stuttgart, Germany where she worked as an au pair and began to learn more about Waldorf education. Following her au pair year, the Frie Hochschule was offering its first international masters course in Waldorf pedagogy, and … the rest is history.

As part of her training, she completed teaching internships in Edinburgh and Cape Town. She then worked at a small Waldorf school in California for one year before visiting and falling in love with the Pacific Northwest.

Brittany joined PWS in 2018 and has worked as an early childhood assistant and a grades class teacher. She is passionate about sharing and spreading the beauty of Waldorf education, and dreams of a world in which every person is seen and encouraged to become who they are. Outside of school, Brittany enjoys hiking, crafting, and discovering new swimming holes, usually with her dog, Phoebe.

Contact Brittany to learn more about PWS, schedule a tour, or to volunteer at outreach events.

Sara comes to PWS with a background in school community building, communications, graphic design, and medical science. She welcomes prospective families with warmth as she guides them through the admissions journey with personalized attention and support.

Beyond her professional role, she is an avid explorer of the Pacific Northwest, enjoying adventures with her husband and two daughters. When not discovering hidden gems in our region, she can be found curled up with a good book and her cat.

Contact Sara to learn more about PWS and to start your application.

Mia grew up in central Vermont. After studying Studio Art and Art History at the University of Vermont she decided to trade the green mountains for the Pacific Northwest and has called Portland home since 2006.

Mia was immediately drawn to Waldorf education for the holistic, creative and nurturing approach it provides. Her two children are students at PWS and Mia has loved being involved in various aspects of Waldorf education such as events & festivals, fundraising, volunteering and parent council.

In addition to her work at PWS, Mia is a fine art painter whose work has been exhibited in Seattle, Portland and New York. In her free time she enjoys reading, live music, digging in the dirt, meditating, hiking with her family & friends and creating art in any way she can.

Teresa has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of California, Irvine and has many years of previous work experience as an Administrative Assistant with the County of Los Angeles. She is excited to share her exceptional organizational skills with PWS!

Contact Teresa for student records and PWSConnect issues

Sarah joined the administration team toward the end of her son’s second year in the PWS Early Childhood program. She has a background in emergency animal care, holistic herbal medicine, as well as some doula training and customer support management. Over the last few years, Sarah completed both basic and specialized holistic herbalism training programs, and was co-founder and owner of an integrative wellness center in Portland.

Sarah spends most of her free time tending to her food/medicine garden, and loves the magic and science of herbal medicine-making. Please stop by and say hello to Sarah at the front desk!

Melinda hails from West Michigan and came to Portland in 2003 after falling wholly in love with the Pacific Northwest on a vacation. Her career has primarily been in the travel & hospitality industry, including living and working onboard a Mississippi River Paddlewheel Steamboat.

She graduated from the inaugural class of the Milwaukie Leadership Academy, spends her spare time finding ways to incorporate sustainability in professional and personal life, and can often be found browsing the aisles of the Ledding Library and attending cultural and community celebrations with her daughter. Melinda plays handbells, loves operas and musicals, and is thrilled to work among and with this talented Waldorf community.

Contact Melinda for: donation receipts, reimbursement requests, and vendor payments

Brendan grew up in Center City, Philadelphia where he attended a Quaker High School. He transplanted to Portland to attend Lewis & Clark College and graduated in 1995 with a BA in History. After spending a few summers leading trail crews and doing work as a wilderness ranger, Brendan settled down in Milwaukie in 1998 where he purchased a house and started the Milwaukie Sunday Farmers Market. Brendan continues to manage the Farmers Market May-Oct. From 1999-2004 he started and ran a landscaping business, Earl & Long’s Edible Landscapes, that focused on edible plants and organic practices. In 2005 Brendan began with a half time position at PWS helping to maintain the 7 acre grounds and transitioned into his current position as Facilities Manager a year and a half later. Brendan and his wife Tracy live a few blocks from PWS with their son Owen and daughter Rue.

Rich grew up in a military family; his dad was a Blackhawk helicopter pilot. He has lived in Colorado, Oklahoma, South Korea, Alabama, Kentucky, and Germany. Rich attended all four years and graduated from an American high school in Wiesbaden, Germany. After graduating, he moved to Corvallis, Oregon, in 1988 to attend Oregon State University, where he studied Environmental Science. While at OSU, Rich discovered and developed a love for audio, and this passion brought him to Portland. As a Portland-based sound engineer and production manager, he managed concert and tour productions, engineered concert audio, and recorded music worldwide for the next 25+ years.

Rich continues his audio work locally for concerts and corporate events but now finds his days filled with the joyful sounds of children learning and playing at PWS. As the Facilities Assistant, he helps care for the PWS facilities and occasionally substitutes for Woodwork and Blacksmithing.

Rich joined the PWS community in 2018 as a parent of Gabriel (’28).

Yvonne grew up in Southern California and studied Theatre, Voice and Design at Pierce College. She worked for a Fashion Designer for several years. After her Uncle brought Waldorf education to the family she worked for the Pasadena Waldorf School for several years as the Administrative Secretary. While starting a family she worked for Nickelodeon for many years as an ink and paint artist and color stylist. As her children began school at Highland Hall Waldorf School she offered her services as the Communications Coordinator and then the store manager. Relocating to Portland in 2006 with her husband Robert and two boys, Cameron and Lucas, she again offered her services as school Store Manager. She is a skilled craftsperson with an eye for color and a passion for gardening and cooking. Her two sons are PWHS alumni.

Caitlin grew up in a one-square-mile town just outside of New York City, and has lived in (and loved) Portland since 2015. She has taught a mix of everything from preschool to twelfth grade, at a variety of public, private, and charter schools. 

After studying history at Yale University, Caitlin received her Masters in Teaching from Lewis & Clark College. She loves spending time outside with her daughters and husband, reading, cooking, knitting, and creative writing. Contact Caitlin for questions about photos and videos, social media, website, bulletin, newsletter, and marketing.

Connie is a longtime Waldorf parent, teacher, and administrator, who has served as a trustee, administrator, and pedagogical chair at Chicago Waldorf School, Honolulu Waldorf School, and Highland Hall Waldorf School in Northridge, California. She has worked for the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) in a variety of roles over the past few decades, including work on their Board of Trustees, Organizational Development Committee, and Executive Committee.

She continues her work with AWSNA on activities related to accreditation. Connie enjoys her leisure time with her husband, Daniel, their families here, in Toronto and in Honolulu. She loves baking, cooking, crafting, walking and spending time with grandsons Charles and Oscar, students at PWS and Bella, their doodle. Connie joined the board in 2018, took a leave of absence during the pandemic to administer to the needs of the day to day operation of the school and has now returned to the board in 2023.