Our faculty and staff are inspiring, dedicated, and committed to personal and professional growth.
These hardworking and thoughtful individuals lead by example when it comes to lifelong learning and are the heart and soul of our school.
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Emily Bayer-Pacht
Head of School
(she/her)
ebayerpacht@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgEmily first joined the LCWS Community in 1989 as a kindergarten student in one of our first classes. Her parents were one of the founding families of LCWS and her mother served as the Administrative Director of the School for 8 years. Emily returned to LCWS as a parent in 2015 and soon after joined the Board of Trustees where she eventually served as Vice-President of the Board and Chair of the Health and Safety Committee throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Emily was asked by the Board to step into the role of Interim Head of School in the fall of 2022 and then accepted a full time position as Head of School in the spring of 2023. Emily has a Bachelor’s of Music degree from New York University and a J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City. Emily also received her High School education from High Mowing School, a Waldorf boarding school in Wilton, New Hampshire. Before joining LCWS as Head of School, Emily was a partner at Hoff Curtis, P.C. where she practiced family and criminal law. Emily brings a deep understanding and appreciation of Waldorf Education to her work as Head of School. Emily has four children enrolled at LCWS, who are enrolled in pre-kindergarten, third, fifth and sixth grade. Emily lives with her husband and children in Hinesburg, Vermont, next door to her parents.
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Jada Berg
Robin's Nest Teacher
Jada first encountered Waldorf education as a child when she attended a Waldorf preschool and elementary school in the Hudson Valley of New York. She fondly remembers these experiences as some of the happiest parts of her childhood, and it was this experience that inspired her to become a teacher. She is passionate about nature-based Waldorf education built on the foundation of rhythmical, loving, and respectful care. Jada completed her Waldorf Early Childhood Certificate at Sophia's Hearth Teacher Education Center in Keene NH, and earned her BA in Progressive Education from Goddard College in 2001. She co-founded the Sweet Clover Nursery program at Orchard Valley Waldorf School, a nature-based birth to three-year-old program. She taught at OVWS for 10 years, including eight years as a lead teacher and the Director of Sweet Clover Nursery. Before that, Jada taught throughout central Vermont including at the Green Valley Waldorf School. When not in the classroom you can find Jada knitting, singing, cooking and spending time in nature.
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Amy Brennan
Director of Enrollment
(she/her)
abrennan@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.org
(802) 234-8859Amy feels so lucky to be able to spend her days telling families all about LCWS and the beauty and depth of Waldorf education. She is passionate about the power of connection and community to nourish and restore us as human beings, and to bring healing to the world. Amy’s three children have been at LCWS since they were wee ones, each being met by the education in their own unique way. -
Camille Burns
Second Grade Class Teacher
(she/her)
cburns@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgThe natural world has always been a driving force for Ms. Burns and her life experiences. She holds a B.S. in Forestry with a concentration in Outdoor Recreation at Southern Illinois University. After a year spent volunteering with AmeriCorps, leading trail crews in Maine, Ms. Burns began her work as an Environmental Educator, following her passion for the natural world and her love of children. She led school and environmental interpretation programs at the Visitor Interpretive Center in Paul Smith’s, NY and then went on to teach for Audubon New York. After receiving a Master’s of Education in Integrated Learning at Antioch University she worked for Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center in Laconia, NH where she was recognized as New Hampshire Environmental Educator of the year. It is through her children that she found Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm, a Waldorf School in Essex, NY, where she worked as a Forest Kindergarten Teacher and Primary Grades Teacher prior to joining the faculty at LCWS. Ms. Burns spends her free time recreating outdoors with her husband and two children; skiing in the woods and canoeing remote pockets of the Adirondack Park are her favorites.
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Shari Carlson
Parent Child & Early Childhood Teacher
(she/her)
scarlson@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgShari grew up in Central Vermont as the youngest of four children. She spent a lot of time in the woods, running, climbing trees, and riding her bike. She was drawn to Waldorf Early Childhood education because she believes strongly in the importance of the early years. Shari holds a B.A. in Sociology from Franklin Pierce College in Rindge NH, a Foundation Studies Certificate from The Center for Anthroposophy in Wilton, NH, and a Waldorf Educational Support Certificate from The Association for a Healing Education, in Ann Arbor Michigan. The Waldorf emphasis on spending time working and playing in the natural world, as well as the holistic approach to the development of the young child, resonates deeply with Shari. She is passionate about working therapeutically with young children, and is so pleased to spend her days with little ones and their caregivers! Shari lives in Hinesburg with her husband, James and their three dogs. She is the mother of three wonderful young adults who all flourished in their time at Lake Champlain Waldorf School.
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Hannah Carlson
World Languages Teacher
(she/her)
hcarlson@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgHannah grew up in Hanover, NH and graduated from Middlebury College with a BA in Chinese Language and Literature. A specialist in World Language Curriculum Development, Hannah has lived and taught in China, Spain, and Peru. She also holds a certificate in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). In her Waldorf training, she has completed anthroposophy workshops as well as The Art of Teaching Spanish course from Sound Circle Center. She also serves on the board of VOCALE (Vermont Organization of Classics and Language Education). Outside the classroom, Hannah is an avid outdoorswoman and enjoys spending time in the woods foraging and camping with her husband, son, and two dogs.
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Lilly Cartularo
Morning Glory Mixed-Age Kindergarten Teacher
(she/her)
lcartularo@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgLilly Cartularo is an LCWS alumna having graduated from the high school in 2013. After graduation Lilly attended two years of college in Providence, RI and then traveled across the globe with her bother, stopping in New Zealand, Thailand, and Italy. She worked as a farmer and a nanny before applying for an assistant role in the Kindergarten. She immediately knew that working with young children was her calling in life and worked toward her degree while simultaneously continuing as our teaching assistant in the Apple Blossom Kindergarten. She received her Waldorf Early Childhood Teaching Certificate from Sophia’s Hearth in 2021. She also received her Bachelor’s degree and Teaching license in Early Childhood Education from Northern Vermont University in 2022. Lilly brings her knowledge of mainstream and Waldorf pedagogies to create a healthy environment of learning and growth to her students. -
Dan Cavanagh
Handwork Assistant Teacher
(he/they)
dcavanagh@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgMr. Cavanagh started teaching handwork as a volunteer in their eldest child’s first grade handwork class and couldn’t stay away. Originally from the East End of Long Island, he attended Rochester Institute of Technology studying Mechanical Engineering, received an M.E.M. from Old Dominion University, and is currently enrolled in the four-year Applied Arts Waldorf Teacher training at The Threefold Education Center in Chestnut Ridge, NY. He is a former US Navy Submarine Officer and currently working as a Software Engineer in renewable energy. When not coding or teaching, Mr. Cavanagh can usually be found with family sailing on Lake Champlain or skiing in the mountains.
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Sage Chase-Dempsey
High School Teacher
(they/them)
schasedempsey@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgSage joined LCWS in 2022 after two years of teaching high school in Massachusetts. In addition to their experience teaching in a Waldorf school, Sage also graduated from the Waldorf High School of Massachusetts Bay and has attended Waldorf teacher workshops held by the Center for Anthroposophy. Before teaching, they worked as a community organizer in movements for harm reduction, Indigenous land rights, and alternatives to incarceration. Sage holds an M.A. in Social Justice and Community Organizing and a B.A. in Cultural and Regional Studies from Prescott College in Arizona. When they are not teaching, Sage enjoys shape note singing and CrossFit.
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Melendy Comey
Textile and Practical Arts Teacher
(she/her)
mcomey@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgAfter sixteen years in the restaurant business, Ms. Comey turned her lifelong interest in textile arts into a new career in teaching. Holding an Applied Arts Waldorf Teacher Certification, she has been at LCWS since 2002, after teaching handwork at the Green Mountain Waldorf School for four years. She is also a potter and as a once-professional chef, still loves cooking for pleasure. Though her family roots are in the Boston area, Ms. Comey’s father was a Naval officer and the family moved from coast to coast every two years. She has been through 42 states and has many wonderful memories from traveling across the country. She studied fine arts and art history at the University of Southern Connecticut and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Ms. Comey and her husband have a son, Adrian ’08. They also have two daughters, Nicole and Leandra, living in Texas, and four grandchildren.
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Gary Daluisio
Facilities Manager and Custodian
(he/him)
gdaluisio@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgGary is a native New Yorker, moving to Vermont in 2017 with his wife Sarah (a native Vermonter,) and daughter Gigi, an LCWS student. Through Gigi's education at LCWS, Gary found his love for both LCWS and the Waldorf community. Gary's career focus has primarily been in the hospitality industry as a chef, executive chef, and restaurant manager in fine dining. For many years he also rehabbed older homes for resale, doing the majority of the work himself, as well as a stint as an electrician's helper. In his free time he enjoys live music, weight lifting, and enjoying all of the great outdoor activities the area offers with family and friends.
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Aaron Darland
High School Teacher
adarland@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.org
Aaron joined LCWS in 2019 as a math teacher and since then has expanded to teach a variety of subjects. Aaron loves math: the structure, clarity, and the problem-solving methods. With a BA from Franklin Pierce College and a love of the phenomenological approach to learning, Aaron is excited to bring his passion for learning to the students, showing them that learning doesn't need to be intimidating. Aaron enjoys life and spreadsheets. -
Christopher Diehl-Noble
Third Grade Class Teacher
(he/him)
cdiehlnoble@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgMr. Diehl-Noble grew up in a family of musicians in Castleton, Vermont. He graduated from the Boston University School of Music with a Bachelor of Music, training there as a cellist. After four years as a public school music teacher in Maine, where he held a K-12 music certification, he pursued Waldorf Teacher Training at Emerson College in Sussex, England. He taught there at the Michael Hall Rudolf Steiner School for several years before returning to Vermont in 1996 to join the LCWS faculty as a class teacher. Mr. Diehl-Noble lives in Vergennes with his wife, Abigail, and their three children: Benedict, Flora, and Simon. He loves gardening, singing, playing the cello, listening to NPR, reading the New York Times, and his daily, friendly rivalry with Mr. Olson over Wordle and Connections.
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Abigail Diehl-Noble
Seventh Grade Class Teacher
(she/her)
adiehlnoble@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgMs. Diehl-Noble is a former debater who still loves a good argument, but in recent years has found that it's even more fun to build community. She has B.A.s from both Macalester College and Oxford University, an M.A. in English Literature from Oxford, and Waldorf teacher training from Antioch New England and the Center for Anthroposophy. Ms. Diehl-Noble is a part-time minister in the United Church of Christ. She likes to read, spend time outdoors, and work in her herb garden. She lives in Vergennes, Vermont with her husband and three children.
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Holly Fournier
Financial Controller
(she/her)
hfournier@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgHolly is an alumni parent and former LCWS Board of Trustees member. She previously served the school in the role of LCWS Finance Director from 2015-2018. Holly brings several decades of financial experience as an accountant, registered investment adviser and certified financial planner (CFP) to her position. She finds her job serving the community she loves tremendously rewarding, especially getting to see from the inside how teachers work with all the students.
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Lindsay Francescutti
Director of Community Relations
(she/her)
lindsayf@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.org
(802) 985-2827 ext. 271Lindsay's relationship with the school began in 1986 as a student in Natalie’s kindergarten and developed throughout her eight years in Wendy Coughlan’s class. Lindsay is grateful to LCWS for fostering her enthusiasm for learning and sparking her creativity. With a B.S. in Graphic Design from Northeastern University, she worked as a graphic designer for six years in Boston, then moved back to Vermont and began working as a freelance designer—with LCWS as one of her clients. She lives in Ferrisburgh with her husband, daughter, and two sons. She is grateful to witness first-hand the benefits of this education for her kids.
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Erica Gallipoli
Sunflower Mixed-Age Kindergarten Teacher
(she/her)
egallipoli@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgRaised in the Adirondack mountains, Erica grew up with a deep love for nature, but it was really her time at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA that taught her the importance of passing that love on to younger generations. While in the Pacific Northwest, she had the opportunity to study in many inspiring programs that emphasized the importance of nature-education, nurturing the whole child, and time for free play in school systems. She holds a B.A. with concentrations in Art and Child Development. At Evergreen, Erica was introduced to Rudolf Steiner and the philosophical underpinnings of Waldorf education. After graduating, she spent a little over a year at a small Waldorf-inspired preschool on a farm in Olympia, first as an Assistant Teacher and then as a Lead. At LCWS, she has enjoyed three years in the Extended Care program as an assistant and then as the director. After working so closely with the Early Childhood branch of our school, she was inspired to begin the Early Childhood Teacher Education program at Sophia’s Hearth in Keene, New Hampshire.
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Nicandra Galper
Handwork Teacher
(she/her)
ngalper@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgMs. Galper is fond of sharing the excitement and love she has for handwork and seeing the children’s joy when they master the skills. She came to Waldorf education because it values the arts as a part of all areas of life. Originally from Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, Ms. Galper attended Wilson College, received an M.S.W. from Temple University, and has completed the four-year Applied Arts Waldorf Teacher training at The Threefold Education Center in Chestnut Ridge, NY. She has also studied art history and chemistry for art conservation at UVM and Trinity College. At LCWS since 2000, Ms. Galper is also a textile conservator, works on contract at the Shelburne Museum, has a private studio, and has taught handwork to adults as well. Her daughter, Sarah ’07, is a LCWS graduate.
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Julianne Hayyat
School Counselor
Julianne grew up in New Hampshire and moved to Vermont when she began her career in School Counseling 13 years ago. She holds a B.S. in Family Studies and Child and Adolescent Development from the University of New Hampshire, a MEd in School Counseling from Keene State College, and is certified as a Registered School Based Play Therapist (RPT-SB). In addition to School Counseling, she has worked for non-profit agencies supporting children and families within their homes and communities. Julianne was drawn to Waldorf education because she believes in the power of play, engagement in nature, and the importance of deepening learning through artistic expression. She is passionate about the field of play therapy and believes in children's innate ability to process and heal through play. Outside of work, Julianne enjoys going on trail rides with her horse; Copper, kayaking, hiking, and exploring nature with her puppy and daughter, who is in the Early Childhood program.
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Sophie Heyerdahl
Sunflower Mixed-Age Preschool & Kindergarten Teacher
Sophie Heyerdahl began teaching in 2014, at the Ithaca Waldorf School, before moving to Oregon in 2017 where she co-founded an outdoor Waldorf Farm School. After teaching for five years on the West Coast she and her family came back to Vermont. She received her Early Childhood Waldorf teacher training and certificate in 2018 from Sunbridge Institute in Chestnut Ridge NY. Sophie is passionate about bringing the beauty of Waldorf Education to the young people in her care in an ever-evolving way that meets the children of today. She finds her greatest joy when spending time in nature with little ones: gardening, exploring, playing, and building resilience! When she is not teaching, Sophie spends her time raising her two children who are also in the LCWS Early Childhood program, creating art, and exploring nature in Vermont in every season.
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Rebekah Hopkinson
Sixth Grade Class Teacher
(she/her)
rhopkinson@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgMs. Hopkinson was drawn to Waldorf education while studying alternative forms of education at the Evergreen State College. While pursuing her B.A., Ms. Hopkinson taught an integrated arts and outdoor education curriculum, which explored themes of peace and social justice with elementary aged students. This led her to pursue Anthroposophical Foundations training from the Micha-el Institute in Portland, Oregon. Ms. Hopkinson received her Master's in Education in Integrated Learning with a Waldorf teacher training certificate from Antioch University in 2011. Ms. Hopkinson grew up in Hawaii and lived on both coasts before settling in New England. She lives in North Ferrisburgh with her husband and son.
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Gloria Irons
Business Administrator
(she/her)
girons@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.org
(802) 985-2827 ext. 215Gloria joined the LCWS community in 2016 when her daughter began first grade. She was an active parent volunteer and joined the LCWS Finance Committee in late 2017 and became the Treasurer and a member of the Board and Executive Committee in early 2018. Gloria held these positions with equanimity, diligence, and a strong command of the budget until she was hired as the Business Administrator in August 2019. She has a B.S. in Business-Marketing from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and a J.D. from the University of Iowa. She enjoys being active and spending time with her family and friends. -
Bailey Johns
Eighth Grade Class Teacher
(she/her)
bjohns@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgMs. Johns interned at Lake Champlain Waldorf School in the Spring of 2016. She taught first and second grades in Chicago before returning to Vermont. Ms. Johns has a BA from Kenyon College in math and dance, a Master of Education in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Antioch University and a Waldorf Teaching Certificate from the Center for Anthroposophy. Outside of school, Ms. Johns loves to read, knit, and soak up the sun!
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Garrett Kimberly
High School Teacher
Mr. Kimberly is a leader in our math and drama programs. With a B.A. in Drama/Dance, and an M.S. in Community Development and Applied Economics, he brings a diverse skill set to the community through a decade of teaching in the public school system, a decade in nonprofit management, and several years in the trades. He works collaboratively, values authentic connection with students, and is devoted to his ongoing training as a Waldorf teacher. On a lighter note, Mr. Kimberly also apprenticed to be a professional chef, and loves cycling, games of all sorts, and reading. He lives in Burlington with his insightful wife, two wise-beyond-their-years children, and one dim-witted lizard.
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Emily Bissell Laird
Fine Arts Teacher
(she/her)
elaird@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgMs. Laird is a practicing artist and founder of Dreaming Star Studio. She graduated from UVM with a degree in Art Education, has taught art in public schools for many years, and came to LCWS through her first child’s experience of Morning Garden (and then grade school and high school)! Ms. Laird has completed Foundation Studies and art intensives at the Centre for Anthroposphy and The Alkion Center, and taught visual arts at the high school for the last seven years. When not teaching or painting, she can be found hiking, skiing, gardening, and dreaming with her family in the Champlain Valley.
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Isabel Linhares
Upper School Science Teacher
(she/they)Born and raised in sunny Southern California, Ms. Linhares grew up immersed in Waldorf education. As a Waldorf student, they quickly gained a love for the interdisciplinary that has fueled everything they have done since. In college, Ms. Linhares studied biology, chemistry, physics, and disability studies, graduating from Middlebury College with an independently-designed B.A. in Disability, Health, and Power. She has worked in clinical genetics and biomedical optics research labs and brings a unique breadth and depth of science knowledge to her teaching. Ms. Linhares is particularly interested in the role science plays in society and how cultures use science as a tool towards or against justice. They teach with universal design in mind, centering the disability justice principle of “leave no one behind.” She is an avid artist, musician, writer, and Dungeons and Dragons player; you can almost always find her creating something of some kind.
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Phu Ly
Assistant Teacher
(she/her)
ply@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.org
Ms. Ly graduated from Simmons College, a women’s college in Boston, with a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and English Literature. Trained as a public school teacher, Ms. Ly brings over twenty years of teaching experience to LCWS with various teaching philosophies and practices. Her career began in Brookline, MA, where she taught second grade for four years. After relocating to California in 1999, she also taught preschool up to fifth grade in different progressive independent schools focused on Project Based Learning and a constructivist teaching approach. She is also a certified yoga teacher and earned her certificate from Breathe for Change. When Ms. Ly is not teaching, she owns a camp that takes elementary children out into nature. She loves photography, traveling, and eating! Ms. Ly moved to Vermont in 2022, and she lives in Shelburne with her husband and daughter.
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Tyler Macdonald
Movement Teacher
(he/him)
tmacdonald@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgGrowing up as a Waldorf student, and with two parents who were Waldorf teachers, Mr. Macdonald was grounded in anthroposophy from a young age. He has extensive training in Spacial Dynamics, graduating from Level 1, a five-year in-service training designed for Waldorf movement teachers, in 2006. He has also completed several Level 2 trainings and three years of the Level 3 program, and is completing requirements needed for graduation. He holds a B.A. in Transpersonal Psychology from Burlington College and certification in Bothmer teaching. Mr. Macdonald lives with his wife Julie, a veterinarian, and their three children. Outside of education, work, and family, he loves to play basketball any chance he can and practices mindfulness meditation under Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.
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Margot Maloney
Kindergarten Assistant
(she/her)
mnelson@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgMargot has over six years of experience working with children in various capacities, from after–school care to summer camp counseling, and most recently as an early childhood educator in a nature-based program. She is pursuing her master’s degree in elementary education and is a certified Teacher of English as a Foreign Language. When she is not at school, Ms. Nelson enjoys reading, writing, gardening, running, and knitting.
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Jun Matsuo
Fourth Grade Teacher
Ms. Matsuo's life has been filled with music; she concertized as a solo and collaborative pianist and taught various music courses at colleges after she earned her doctoral degree in piano pedagogy from the University of South Carolina. A pivotal moment in 2016 made her reflect on ways of teaching human beings, which led her to Waldorf education. Prior to joining LCWS, she journeyed with her class from first to fifth grades at Meadowbrook Waldorf School in Rhode Island. She volunteered to co-teach Main Lesson and taught Handwork as well as Japanese at Lakeside Elementary School while pursuing her Waldorf educator certificate at Sunbridge Institute. She and her husband enjoy the vibrant Shelburne community: the nature and warm, welcoming people. She loves walking, reading, practicing yoga, attending concerts and visiting museums, playing cello and piano, and riding her bicycle on a cool sunny day.
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Lindsay Miles
Apple Blossom Mixed-Age Kindergarten Teacher
(she/her)
lmiles@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgLindsay has been working in Waldorf Early Childhood classrooms since 2008. She was initially drawn to this education for her daughter, but Lindsay soon realized that teaching children and Waldorf education were her calling. Inspired by nature, Lindsay was a part of the Farm and Forest movement for the past several years and is excited to bring her love of nature and connection to the great outdoors to the kindergarten at LCWS. She enjoys the joy, innocence, and adventure that comes with each day in the classroom. When she is not teaching, Lindsay loves to play music, read, and garden. She and her husband are avid farmers and enjoy spending time outside with their children.
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Chicory Miller
First Grade Teacher
Ms. Miller was raised in upstate New York, where she spent her childhood exploring vast woodlands, caring for chickens, and cultivating gardens. Her love for the Green Mountains led her to Champlain College, where she pursued a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education with a minor in Global Studies. Chicory earned her Vermont teaching license and spent two rewarding years teaching first grade in Vermont. Inspired by a calling to Waldorf education, she journeyed to Oregon and spent the last three years immersed in the training program, Waldorf Teacher Training, Eugene. She now holds certifications in both Waldorf Early Childhood and Grades. Chicory feels deeply drawn to this work. She loves to share the wonders of art, movement, and the natural world with children. A passionate fiber enthusiast, she always has a knitting project on the go. In the summers, Chicory is an avid biker, swimmer, and hiker, while winters are dedicated for both downhill and Nordic skiing.
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Tara Monaghan
Robin's Nest Nursery Teacher
(she/her)
tmonaghan@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgTara is a native New Yorker and was a Waldorf student herself, attending grades one through eight at the Rudolf Steiner School. She holds an M.F.A. from Cranbrook Academy of Art in MI. The arts are an intrinsic part of who she is and how she experiences the world. After the birth of her daughter, Tara left her career in the commercial photo industry to pursue her interest in Early Childhood education. She taught for six years in both public and private schools. Tara received an M. Ed. and Early Childhood Certification from Sunbridge Institute. Before joining LCWS she taught at an outdoor Forest Nursery and Parent Child program in Washington Heights. She enjoys cooking, spending time with their dog, Tufa, and Guinea pigs Ms. Nibbles and Twinkie, and regular visits with friends and family in Coastal Maine. Her family also loves hiking, fishing, and kayaking.
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Su Newberry
Front Office Manager - Turtle Lane
(she/her)
snewberry@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgBorn in The Netherlands, Suzanne has traveled throughout the world and the United States. Her family ultimately settled in the United States, where she earned a BS in Biochemistry from Bates College, and a MS in Cellular and Molecular Pathology from UNC@Chapel Hill. She has previously been a research technician and lab manager at UVM, and a professor and department head at Champlain College--and she is now thrilled to help coordinate the daily operations at LCWS. She is no stranger to LCWS, as all three of her children have attended the school. When she is not at school, she can be found in her gardens, weaving, watching football with her husband, or chasing after her dog.
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Steve Olson
Music Director
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Robert Palmer
Woodworking & Outdoor Education Teacher
(he/him)
rpalmer@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgMr. Palmer is a woodworker, furniture maker, artist, and avid outdoorsman. He earned his BFA in Fine Woodworking and Furniture Design at Burlington College and The Vermont Woodworking School. He learned craftsmanship, restoring colonial homes with his father in their hometown of Alexandria, VA. While living in West Virginia, he guided rafts and taught kayaking on the Shenandoah River, sparking a lifelong love for outdoor conservation, leadership, and adventure sports.
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Bonnie Ross
Lower School Teaching Assistant
(she/her)
bross@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgBonnie Ross holds a B.A. in History from Castleton University, accompanied by many credits of study in music, dance, and English composition. She worked in public schools from 2020-2022 as a substitute teacher and then as a paraeducator. Bonnie loves facilitating each student's sense of themselves as a capable learner. LCWS's curricular focus on the arts, nature, and movement resonates strongly for her. Bonnie is currently training to be a practitioner in the somatic education method known as Feldenkrais, learning to help people move away from limiting posture and movement patterns towards beneficial ones. In her free time, Bonnie practices Renaissance - Baroque bowed strings; writes creatively; tutors in music and academics; and rides bicycles. She and her partner, Anthony, live in Burlington.
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Laura Stasi
Early Childhood Assistant Teacher
(she/her)
lstasi@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgLaura first discovered Waldorf education as an undergraduate at St. Lawrence University when she interned at the Lakeside School in Essex, NY. She was drawn to the strong connections with the natural world and the intentionality with which things were done in and out of the classroom. With a B.A. in Creative Writing and minor in Outdoor Studies and Fine Art, Laura is excited to combine her passions and interests with the LCWS community. She lives in Burlington where she can often be found exploring our wonderful state by foot, bike, or skis.
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Harmony Sveshnikova
Fifth Grade Class Teacher
(she/her)
hsveshnikova@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgMrs. Sveshnikova grew up on a three hundred acre wheat and cattle farm in Oregon’s Willamette Valley before it was known as wine country. She has taught nearly all subjects and grades at both public and private schools in Oregon, Texas, Puerto Rico, Wisconsin, and New York, including homeschooling her own children through eighth grade. She also tended gardens in each of those vastly different climates, but had not had an opportunity to try forest gardening until moving to the Adirondacks. She and her husband live in the shadow of Giant Mountain with their two dogs and two cats. Mrs. Sveshnikova holds a B.A. in English Literature from Marylhurst University. When she is not learning and exploring with her students, she enjoys making paper, fermenting milk, grains, and vegetables, reading poetry, and spending time with her grown children.
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Maeve Taylor
Assistant Director of Enrollment and Registrar
(she/her)
mtaylor@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgMaeve brings her experience in school administration to LCWS from her former postiion as the School Administrator of Lakeside School, a small farm and forest Waldorf School in Essex, NY. Maeve and her son Finn commute to LCWS from Westport, NY, where their family owns an organic draft horse powered farm. Prior to becoming a mother and discovering Waldorf education, Maeve worked in Alaska for the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, managing recreation and education programs on public lands. She holds a Masters in Environmental and Forest Biology from the State University of NY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. She loves to spend time outdoors, working on her farm, exploring the mountains and lakes of the Adirondacks, and reading good books.
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Camie Thompson
Upper School Science Teacher
Before joining LCWS, Camie taught for three years at the Walden Project, an outdoor alternative pathway, for Vergennes Union High School students. She originally hails from the West Coast, growing up in Oregon, obtaining a BS in Biology from Gonzaga University in Washington, and living in California before coming to Vermont. Cami enjoys understanding how science can be learned outdoors, where science is always rapidly unfolding before our eyes. She enjoys learning about what makes each student “tick”, and searching for their passion so that she can teach from a strengths-based approach. While new to Waldorf, Camie has always strived to teach science from a holistic and interdisciplinary lens, finding different ways for her students to access the magic of scientific inquiry.
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Cat Weiner
Education Support Teacher
(they/them)
cweiner@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.orgCat (she/they) is an artist, educator, animal activist, and avid adventurer. Cat holds a Master’s in Special Education from UVM, and a Bachelor’s in Art Education. She has worked in various roles in the realm of both art education and special education in Vermont schools. Cat lives in South Burlington with her sweet and energetic dog Foxy, and her leopard gecko named Shrimp. Cat spends their summer days seeing live music, trail running, guiding youth caving/climbing expeditions, and perusing the many farmers markets of Vermont in pursuit of the best full sour pickle.