LAKE CHAMPLAIN WALDORF SCHOOL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Faculty Representative
- High School Teacher
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.
Job Titles:
- Sixth Grade Class Teacher
Ms. 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.
Job Titles:
- Director of Enrollment
- Enrollment Director
Amy brings her experience as a content strategist and creative director, and a love of Waldorf education and the LCWS community. She has three children who are currently enrolled in first, seventh, and tenth grades.
Job Titles:
- Seventh Grade Class Teacher
Ms. 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 be outside!
Job Titles:
- Lower School Teaching Assistant
Bonnie 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.
Job Titles:
- First Grade Class Teacher
The 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 an Assistant Forest Kindergarten Teacher and Grade 2 Class Teacher. 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.
Job Titles:
- Education Support Teacher
Cat (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.
Job Titles:
- Second Grade Class Teacher
Mr. 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.
Job Titles:
- Handwork Assistant Teacher
Mr. 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.
Emily 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.
Job Titles:
- Artist and Founder of Dreaming Star Studio
- Fine Arts Teacher
Ms. 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.
Raised 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.
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Eighth Grade Class 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.
Job Titles:
- Facilities Manager and Custodian
Gary 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.
Gloria 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.
Hannah grew up in Hanover, NH and graduated from Middlebury College with a B.A. 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 multiple anthroposophy workshops as well as The Art of Teaching Spanish course from Sound Circle Center. Outside of the classroom, Hannah is an avid outdoorswoman and enjoys spending time in the woods foraging and camping with her husband, son, and two dogs.
Job Titles:
- Fourth Grade Class Teacher
Mrs. 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.
Job Titles:
- Controller
- Finance
- Financial Controller
Holly 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.
Job Titles:
- Upper School Science Teacher
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.
Job Titles:
- Upper School Unbound Teacher
Ms. Justice (known as MJ with students ) is a Professional Consultant of Spreading Justice, LLC. Born and raised in Bainbridge, GA, a small-town girl, Justice moved to the "big city" of Columbus, GA, to obtain her BA in History from Columbus State University. Her servant's heart led her to the state of Vermont in 2021 as an AmeriCorps VISTA member for two organizations in Middlebury. After serving two terms in AmeriCorps, Justice shifted her focus to her business and learning professionally before attending UVM Business School in Fall 2024. Justice dreams of opening a boarding school for "at-risk youth" in the South and providing them with a quality education and welcoming environment. Justice enjoys laughing, cooking, singing, coloring, and spending time with friends and family.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of the Board
Job Titles:
- Robin 's Nest Nursery Assistant
After a decade spent as a collegiate teaching assistant at Bethel University in McKenzie, TN, then experiencing the pandemic and BLM protests in NYC, Katie decided to change course and focus her attention on her true passion: early childhood education. Katie has a diverse background, including fine arts, organizational management, bodywork, Vipassana meditation, plant and mushroom identification, ayurvedic medicine and cooking, and a lifelong love of language and travel. She has joyfully discovered that all of these skills and interests come into play on a daily basis in her classroom. She is pursuing her education in the Waldorf early childhood tradition. Katie lives in Vergennes with her partner, Ray, and enjoys laughing, long walks, and making dinner while dancing to the Beatles.
Before joining LCWS, Kristin worked for twelve years within various public and public charter school communities in Massachusetts and Oregon as a school counselor and school psychologist. She holds a BA in French Studies and History from Colby College, an EdM in Prevention Science and Practice from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a CAGS in School Psychology from Northeastern. Kristin loves her work, opportunities to find inspiration, connection, joy, and ways to contribute meaningfully. Kristin also loves being in the woods with her daughter, an LCWS student, hiking with her dog Franny, practicing yoga, listening to stories and podcasts about consciousness, and discovering secret spots to swim in nature!
Laura 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.
Job Titles:
- Director of Community Relations
Lindsay'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 son, and is grateful to witness the benefits of this education for her kids.
Lindsay 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.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Enrollment and Registrar
Maeve 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.
Margot 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.
Job Titles:
- Textile and Practical Arts Teacher
After 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.
Ms. 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.
Job Titles:
- Third Grade Class Teacher
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.
Job Titles:
- Fifth Grade Class Teacher
Ms. 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 Shelburne with her husband and son.
Job Titles:
- Woodworking & Outdoor Education Teacher
Mr. 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.
Sage joined LCWS in 2022 after two years of Waldorf teaching in Massachusetts. Having attended a Waldorf high school as a teenager, Sage has firsthand experience of what it's like to be a "Waldorf kid." 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 cooking for friends and family, escaping to the ocean, and organizing for justice.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Faculty Representative
- Parent Child Teacher
Shari 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 five dogs. She is the mother of three wonderful young adults who all flourished in their time at Lake Champlain Waldorf School.
Job Titles:
- Early Childhood Assistant
Sienna's deep love for creative play and nature continually leads her back to early childhood education. She grew up in Vermont and attended Escuela Caracol Waldorf school for third grade, LCWS for grades five to eight, in addition to attending public schools and being homeschooled. After a gap year of travel and work, Sienna attended the University of Vermont and studied cultural anthropology. She graduated with a BA in Anthropology and a BA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies in 2021. She has worked at summer camps (including at LCWS) and has worked with children and families as a full-time nanny and birth doula. Sienna loves inspiring children through the beauty of Mother Earth and the joy and wonder of being outside. She has also been teaching yoga since 2016 and is also training to be a birth educator. Sienna can often be found wandering in the woods with her dog or hiking mountains to admire the sunrise!
Born in Key West and raised in Bradenton, Florida, Mr. Olson moved to Vermont in 2002 to become Director of Music at LCWS. After earning a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and a B.A. in Music Education from Florida State University, he was drawn to Waldorf education as an opportunity to merge both degrees into his work. After a decade of work, he continues to be amazed by the level of artistry that his students can achieve when they are met with meaningful experiences, in music classes and beyond. Mr. Olson's daughter Natalie is a member of the LCWS class of 2029.
Job Titles:
- Robin 's Nest Nursery Teacher
Tara 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.
Growing 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.