Newsletter

Kindergarten - Morning Glory
Mary Dunn

Mary Dunn, Lead Teacher, was born in San Francisco, California. Mary inherited her family's love of gardening and teaching. She received her Bachelors Degree in Art History with an emphasis on many of the liberal arts including French language and literature. After graduating from college, Mary and her family moved to Northern New Mexico. She enrolled her daughters in Santa Fe Waldorf School and there began her interest in Waldorf education. Mary taught at Santa Fe Waldorf School as the kinder/aftercare teacher and became an assistant teacher in 2002. In July 2005, she graduated from Rudolf Steiner College in Sacramento. Mary now lives in Corvallis, Oregon with her two daughters. She enjoys cycling, reading, painting, gardening and anything outdoors near a body of water. The natural world has always been her classroom, as well as inspiration for spiritual self-study. She looks at life with a beginner's mind, open to what will come and all that will be revealed. Mary has been teaching at CWS for 6 years, 3 of which she was the faculty chair.

Kindergarten - Willow Wind
Anne Marie Cole

Anne Marie Cole has had a life long love of children, especially her own fourteen year old daughter and twelve year old son.  She grew up just outside of Boston, Massachusetts; the elder child of professional classical musicians.  Both of her parents taught music lessons at home as well as at various music schools around the Boston area.  Anne Marie played musical instruments throughout her childhood, as well as attended many ballets, operas, and concerts.  She also has had a love of art and a pull to be creative artistially.  After graduating from high school, Anne Marie attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston for four years, graduating in 1997.  Anne Marie found Waldorf education when her daughter was a baby, and the more she found out, the more she wanted to be involved.  In 2001, Anne Marie decided to apply for the Waldorf Teacher training program in Eugene, Oregon.  She was accepted and graduated in the spring of 2004.  Anne Marie was exited to accept a Kindergarten teaching position at the Corvallis Waldorf School in the fall of 2004.
Anne Marie now lives on a twenty acre farm in Monroe, Oregon with her husband, two children, their very special border collie and an assortment of birds.  She feels she has had and continues to have a culturally rich life which she can attribute much of to her parents.  This life has given Anne Marie a deep love of all music as well as a love of singing and playing the piano.  Anne Marie also loves to garden, spin wool on her spinning wheel, work with clay, walk, cook and continue her spiritual studies.  Anne Marie is very excited to be working this year with Diane Scottaline as her assistant.

First Grade
Sarah Monroe

                    Sarah moved to the area in 1988 and has always considered Corvallis her home. Though she has often moved to other places for a time, she always seemed to be pulled back to this place. Daughter of an Artist/Poet and an English Professor, her childhood was rich with nature, art, poetry, and a large family with lots of time spent at play with siblings and cousins. After attending Corvallis High School, she studied History and Foreign Language at Portland State University and worked in an Early Childhood Program affiliated with the University. She has always been delighted with the world of childhood and the developing human being and was eager to work with young children. At 20, she studied in Stuttgart, Germany, home of the first Waldorf School. However, at that time, she had never heard of Waldorf Education. Years later, after attending several years of graduate studies in Education, she found her way to the Corvallis Waldorf School and began teaching German, part-time, in grades 1-8. Later, she assisted in the Willow Wind Kindergarten, Directed the Extended Day Program, and taught the Early Childhood Summer Program. She completed her Waldorf Teacher Training in Eugene in June 2011, focusing on the grades 1-8 curriculum. She lives in Corvallis with her husband and step-son and besides loving to learn new things, she enjoys hiking, being out in the glory of nature, listening to music, and spending time with her family.

Second Grade
John Nelson
John Nelson grew up in the Pacific Northwest near Seattle, Washington. He attended Western Washington University in Bellingham, where he obtained a Bachelor's of Science degree in Community Health. He then spent many years working with children along the shores and beaches of the Puget Sound teaching fifth grade environmental curriculum. John did his teacher training in Eugene and feels a strong connection with Anthroposophy and the Waldorf curriculum. He conducted internships at the Denver Waldorf School as well as the Corvallis Waldorf School.  It is here where faculty, staff and the community had the opportunity to see John work with students and bring his talents to bear.  In his spare time he likes go "birding", play basketball and ride his bike. He and his family are extremely excited to join the community in Corvallis.

Third Grade
Marianne Tasker

Marianne Tasker grew up in Portland, Oregon and considers herself a North Westerner through and through. She loves to travel but always returns to Oregon where "the growing season is long, the beaches are glorious and we manage to pass the occasional ground breaking bill or two." For the past 6 years her own two beautiful children have attended CWS and through them she became a committed advocate of Waldorf education.  She feels that Waldorf  pedagogy has as its basis a true understanding of human development and reverence for the growing child.  After many wonderful years in the field of Horticulture, Marianne's longtime interest in education grew into an insistent call to teach.  She completed her Waldorf Teacher training at WTEE in Eugene in what were two of the richest and most intensive years of learning in all her education.   Marianne brings her love of gardening, poetry, art and people to her work.   In her free time Marianne likes to dig in the garden, read, walk in nature,  and spend time with her children and friends.   She also manages the 'family farm' which consists of chickens, guinea pigs, 2 cats and a dog.

Fourth Grade
Karine Calhoun

Karine Calhoun has been involved in Waldorf Education since she began her education at Highland Hall School in 1973. Karine was blessed with 12 years of Waldorf Education. She was raised in a Waldorf family: her stepmother, Elizabeth Barricklow, is a second generation Waldorf Teacher. She taught at Highland Hall, Shining Mountain, and now teaches at Tara Performing Arts High School as well as is one of the administrators. Karine's sisters, Catherine Barricklow and Anne Starke, have both taught at Tara; Anne is currently teaching there. Karine's nephew, Jackson attends kindergarten at the Portland Waldorf School. His mother Jennifer Pitcairn attended Highland Hall with Karine. Jennifer's mother, Betty Baldwin, is also a Waldorf Teacher; teaching at the Village School, a Waldorf charter school in Portland. Karine's immediate family consists of her husband Jeff, daughter Ariyanna (third grade), and son Ian (Morning Glory Kindergarten). The family now lives in Albany, after moving recently from Eugene in order to be closer to Corvallis. Karine's husband is still working in Springfield, so Albany has been a good location for them. Karine's hobbies are: drawing, painting, music, dance (Middle Eastern), and fiber craft, gardening, walks, reading, studying geology. She really began to consider becoming a teacher after spending time in Ariyanna's kindergarten class: Karine realized that she needed Waldorf as much as her daughter did! Karine began her Foundation Year studies the next year, and spent the whole year trying to decide between Early Childhood and the Grades. They are both so wonderful, in such different ways! Karine finally made the decision to become a Grades teacher based on her love of the curriculum and the desire to share it with children all the way through 8th grade. Karine is excited to be a part of the CorvallisWaldorf School. It has been a wonderful first term of teaching for her, and she feels as though she has found her home. Karine says, "Thank you to the wonderful parents and children of this special school for making me feel so welcome!

Fifth Grade
Dari Lawrie

Dari Lawrie was born and raised in tropical North Queensland, Australia. After traveling and living in Asia and Europe, she chose Oregon as her home. Dari and her three children have been Corvallis residents for the last fourteen years. Dari has been associated with the Corvallis Waldorf School in various teaching capacities for ten years, including kindergarten and grades teaching. She is a graduate of the Grades and Early Childhood Waldorf Teacher Training at the Micha-el Institute in Portland, Oregon. Dari is an avid gardener, puppeteer and artist. She enjoys being active outdoors in all seasons: hiking, running, biking and snowshoeing through the Oregon forests. Dari brings her love of children and enthusiasm for Waldorf education to the fourth grade.

Sixth Grade
Jeff Parker

Jeff Parker grew up a country boy in northeastern Pennsylvania where he spent most of his youth exploring the acres of forest out his back door. In his teens, he moved to Tucson, AZ where he gained a respect for the desert and for city life. He received a degree in literature with a minor in French from the University of Arizona in Tucson. After deciding to become a teacher in a Waldorf School, he moved to Eugene to do his training. Jeff now lives in Corvallis with his wife, Katherine and his two step-children. Katherine is a dance instructor at Willamette University and LBCC. Aurora is in the 9th grade and Phineas is in the 7th grade at Corvallis Waldorf School. Jeff loves to hike, golf, play basketball, and tennis. He also loves to sing and play his guitar as often as he can. He began teaching at Corvallis Waldorf School in January of 2005 and has taught first through eighth grade.

Seventh Grade
Chris Highfield

Chris Highfield grew up in a small town in western Pennsylvania. Chris is not the only teacher in his family. Both of his parents were school teachers and his two brothers and sister all teach, as well. In addition to teaching 6th grade, Chris is also the woodworking teacher for CWS and is a student himself, finishing up a Master's degree in Geography from the University of Oregon. To help promote geographic literacy, Chris also works a lot with the Oregon Geographic Alliance. In Chris' spare time, he enjoys gardening, running, outdoor recreation, old-time banjo and is learning taiko drumming. He is also helping to teach the Eugene Taiko children's group. Chris chose to become involved with Waldorf education because he enjoys the holistic approach that it offers and the curriculum that is clearly centered around the development of the child.

Eighth Grade
Andy Luck

Andy Luck became involved with Waldorf education because he enjoys the creative and imaginative approaches to teaching and learning, as well as the development of the intellect through the arts. Before joining CWS, Andy was involved in education as a public school teacher for 8 years. He holds a Master's degree in education and a state teaching license as well. Andy brings with him a background in social work and special education as well as 2 years experience in tile work. Andy lives with his wife, Jennifer, an assistant manager of the Health and Household Department at First Alternative Co-op and their daughter, Emma, an 11 year old and fifth grader at Corvallis Waldorf School. In his spare time, Andy enjoys reading, running, biking, gardening, and loves to spend time with his family.

Parent Child Leader
Extended Day Director
Jessica Henry

Jessica Henry has been working with parents and children for over 6 years in many different capacities. Jess received both her Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts and Birth Doula training in Fairbanks, Alaska and her LifeWays North America early childhood training in East Troy, Wisconsin. Jessica has been most enlightened by her own experience of motherhood while raising her two children now ages 8 and 11. Both of her children attended Waldorf Schools since first grade. For the past 3 years, Jess had been directing a Waldorf inspired nursery school program in Madison, Wisconsin where she happily revelled in the wonder of children and was delighted in bringing stories, puppet plays, and artistic elements to her work. She is excited to be a part of the Corvallis Waldorf community.

Spanish Teacher
John Strocchio

John grew up in the Sonoran Desert of Phoenix, Arizona.  He discovered his love of teaching as a high school student while volunteering with at-risk immigrant children in south Phoenix.  In his youth, John made dozens of trips throughout Mexico, eagerly learning everything he could about the people, culture, food, and language.  In college, John served as a cultural liaison for ecological field expeditions in northern Mexico. John earned degrees in Modern Languages from Northern Arizona University and the Universidad de Granada's Centro de Lenguas Modernas in Granada, Spain.  After several years of working with hispanic immigrants in Arizona, John had the opportunity to further develop his cross-cultural skills in Asia.  John worked as a cross-cultural communication consultant and trainer for various boards of education and global corporations in Taiwan and Japan.  For vacations during this period, John volunteered with schools in Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines.  John returned to Arizona in 2010 with hopes of settling down in Corvallis.  With his daughter, Luna, approaching school age, John discovered Waldorf education while researching various preschools and educational methods.  John is very grateful for the opportunity to join the wonderful community of the Corvallis Waldorf School's faculty, parents, and students.  John's hobbies include gardening, creating music, travel, hunting, and fishing.

Handwork Teacher
Shellece Millison

                    Shellece Millison has been Handwork teacher at CWS since Sept. 2008, when she and her family moved to Corvallis from Prescott, Arizona.  Shellece is usually juggling many yarn, felt, or fabric based projects, but manages to find bits of time for teaching and performing Tribal Belly dance. Her husband, Andrew, teaches Permaculture and designs foodscapes. Daughter Aja (13) writes, plays soccer, and cares for her younger brother Rio (2) who is obsessed with construction vehicles.  Myana (12) usually has her nose buried in a graphic novel.  Shellece began her journey in Waldorf education as a parent volunteer.  "All of my life I have done artistic things with my hands, from fiber and fabric, to beadwork and stained glass, so it was natural for me to start helping out in my daughter's handwork class.  I found that I love being in the classroom and witnessing the processes of transformation that come through working with the hands.  I really enjoy creating with these beautiful children, and I am honored to be a part of this community."

Strings Teacher
Rebecca Williams

Rebecca Williams, strings teacher, has had a wealth of experience and opportunity to travel the world, as a result of her passion for music and teaching. While a student at the Banff School of Fine Arts, she worked with many great artists and skied in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. In the South Island of New Zealand she founded the Dunedin Suzuki School and helped restore historic houses. In Tahiti she snorkeled in the beautiful aqua-colored sea and, by night, she performed all types of music, ranging from Bach to the Beatles. She is a licensed PreK-12 music teacher, has Bachelor degrees in music and science, and, most recently, completed a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies at OSU. Rebecca has two grown sons and a teenage daughter. She loves teaching at CWS because of the school's vibrant arts program and strong sense of community. In Waldorf schools, the arts are brilliantly integrated into the entire curriculum, breathing life into whatever the subject at hand, to create lessons that have genuine meaning for students of all walks of life.

Remedial Tutor
Laura Blake

Laura began her career in teaching at Oregon State University in Corvallis where she got her degree in Elementary Education in 1980.  The next 17 years were spent in Palmer, Alaska where she taught in the local elementary schools and discovered Waldorf education in Anchorage.  After several years of an Inspired Waldorf program in her first and second grade classes, she and her family returned to Oregon in 1999, and she completed the Waldorf teacher training in Eugene after a few years.  She currently lives in Eugene on the Royal Blueberry Farm with her husband, Steve, a farm manager, and teenage son, helping out with the blueberries in the summer as well as teaching summer school for the Title 1 program at The Village School.  Laura feels she has found her calling as a remedial teacher and thoroughly enjoys working with students to give them an "extra boost" and additional academic support as the schools' Title 1 tutor.  "It is a joy for me every time I walk through the doors of the school to become a part of this school's community and do my part to support this wonderful, educational endeavor for the children."