VILLAGE FOREST SCHOOL - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• USA / Kindergarten Assistant Teacher

I consider it a most humble privilege to participate in a child's life & development; to be a witness to that spark of interest in their eyes deep in imagination, to encourage their wild and free spirit in nature or to celebrate with them in their newfound confidence at a new skill, creative outlet or ability. It is an honor to help fan the flame of wonder and curiosity that is naturally present in the hearts, minds, bodies and spirits of our children. I am delighted to join the Village Forest School team and the beautiful adventure of cultivating this idyllic place where the whole-hearted child is nurtured and educated. My teaching background began in 2005 teaching K/1 in Public school, followed by 10 +years in homeschooling/hybrid teaching positions for K- high school ages, in multiple community cooperatives in the US. With four children, aged toddler to teenager, our home has been a cultivated nest of anthroposophic principles and culture, with respect to the individual needs and child developmental stages. I continue to maintain a posture of both reflection and growth in my own personal development to more fully embrace the rhythms of this lifestyle. I am currently studying to learn the Italian Language and in my spare time enjoy gardening, reading, art, music and spending time with my family in nature.

Job Titles:

• Italy / Elementary Assistant Teacher - Robinia

Having lived in different countries, I grew up bilingual, speaking Italian at home, and English at school. I grew an interest in learning about different places and cultures which led me to study social anthropology at university. In the meantime I also worked with children and young people in different ways- I was an au pair for six months in Spain where I taught English to the children, I volunteered as an assistant teacher in both a kindergarten and a pre-school, and was an English teacher and nanny in Milan and in Piedmont. In the past year I led the Slow Food's ‘Orto in Condotta' gardening classes for the local primary school and kindergarten in Pollenzo. The world of education has always interested me, and I took up mentoring and facilitator roles while at university to better understand and help different approaches to learning. More recently I have become more passionate about food and the role it plays in education and experiential learning, which has drawn me to the Waldorf approach. I am excited to join Village Forest School to put into practice what I have learnt so far, learn more about it and experience an educational approach that strongly connects the community to its environment. Some of my favourite activities are hiking in the mountains, knitting and crocheting, or curling up to a good book. On the weekend, I like to bake cakes for my friends. I also love music and practice the violin when I have the chance!

Job Titles:

• UK / Elementary Lead Teacher - Robinia

I have worked with children in a variety of roles for over 10 years, including as a Kindergarten Assistant in an inner city Steiner Academy, in a private nursery, as a nanny and as a mainstream Class Teacher in inner London for the past 4 years. My first taste of teaching came long before I trained as teacher, as I used to teach children natural horsemanship when I was a teenager. Throughout my time working with and educating children, I have taken an active interest in Waldorf education and incorporated Rudolf Steiner's educational philosophy into my studies and professional practice as far as possible. I have a great reverence for nature, and it has been an honour to share this with the children I have taught, many of whom arrive in my classroom worried about getting their hands dirty and by the end of the school year are proudly presenting a new insect they have discovered, a useful stick they have found or an especially beautiful leaf for the nature table. My principles as a teacher are predominantly based on building mutually respectful relationships, valuing and celebrating the unique qualities of each child, developing the skills for learning how to learn and ensuring learning is consistently engaging, inspiring and relevant. In a world where we are educating children for jobs we cannot yet imagine, it is more important than ever to support them in finding their inner strength, fostering their creativity and nurturing healthy lifestyles. This is what has drawn me to Village Forest School, Montaldo. When I am not teaching, I can generally be found outside riding horses through Epping Forest come rain or shine. As someone who was born into a Camphill Community, brought up in Stroud and attended a Steiner school myself, being outdoors is a big part of my life. I also believe that nature offers a vast amount of learning opportunities, and I am excited to explore and learn about Montaldo in all its richness. I also enjoy reading, playing my flute, working on various crafts and baking cakes. I am excited to wave goodbye to city life (which has never really suited me) and join the Village Forest School community.

Job Titles:

• UK / Lead Education Consultant

Graduated as a Geographer, my first step into a class room as a teacher was at the beginning of the university and it was thrilled. I was born in Brazil and grew up in a city called Joinville, my curiosity brought me to learn more about the world and my Italian roots. Through friends I first heard about Anthroposophy and together we introduced our city to the Steiner Waldorf Education by organizing occasional events, workshops, and summer camps. From this experience, Relicario de Luz kindergarten was born, which is now a Steiner Waldorf School with many students and still growing strong. Since I was child I always dreaming about live abroad. After the university I decided to do a year of voluntary job and I moved to Duffcaring Camphill Community in Ireland. Camphill is a worldwide movement that follows the principles of Rudolf Steiner's philosophy for persons with additional needs. Living in the Camphill farm was the most incredible experience I ever had and connected me with volunteers from all over the world, on a life-sharing basis. The farm life in Ireland always reminded me of the time I was in high school when I enjoyed the days with my friends studying in a farm school. Running to pick up a pig, cleaning the mess of the chickens, watering the plants, fishing for fun, and learning from our experiences. I have been attending the Steiner Waldorf training in Milan and the course brings so much joy on my days. After few years working as an IT consultant I start searching for a way to deepen my knowledge and my practice on Steiner Waldorf Education. I'm really happy to be part of that great community that allows me to express my natural talents every day. I always believed that education is the unique way in which we can strive all for a better world.

Robert, born in Hertfordshire, England in 1949, pursued a lifelong journey in education. After studies in economics and agricultural economics, he ventured into social work before discovering his passion for Waldorf pedagogy. His Waldorf journey began in 1982 after foundation studies at Emerson College, leading him to teach at schools in Germany and the United States. Dedicated to his students and professional growth, Robert currently serves as the Director of Professional Development at High Mowing School. With over four decades of anthroposophic exploration alongside his wife Barbara, Robert's wisdom and experience enrich the VFS College of Teachers and ensure we stay rooted in Waldorf principles.

Job Titles:

• Italy / Gardening Teacher

My name is Roberto Ajmone, for over twenty years I have studied the practice and sharing of different traditions of yoga, understood as a relationship and conscious and loving participation in life. For the last fifteen years I have been a swimming instructor, lifeguard and pool manager in various swimming pools in Piedmont, where I have had the opportunity to interact with children, young people, adults and the elderly. Over the last few years I have been involved in Permaculture and Synergistic Agriculture, both on a personal level and by collaborating with a number of schools in the area in the context of educational gardens.

I deeply love community life and being in a multilingual international environment, it is part of my nature! I was born in Lausanne (Switzerland), my Swiss French mother and my Italian father, and my home has always welcomed people from all over the world. As a child I spent summers abroad, mainly in Switzerland and England, and this allowed me to learn English and French well. The relationship with Nature is a priority for me, especially since I left Turin to live here in Monferrato in the middle of the hills. My encounter with Steiner and Anthroposophy came through devoting myself to caring for the fruits of the earth. I studied organic and biodynamic agriculture and in my farmhouse I produce organic fruits and vegetables while also practicing Permaculture and Electroculture. I believe in the importance of experiential education in nature and began to explore this first as a parent and then as a teacher. I love being with children and passing on knowledge by experiencing it first, also using play and movement. I worked for 10 years as an educator with elementary school children and also with children with special needs. I held workshops in elementary schools on film making, ball games and recycling education. After graduating in Literature and Philosophy from the University of Turin, I worked for 10 years in contact with university students at Politecnico di Torino, managing international mobility projects. This job allowed me to travel all over the world and broaden my views and perspectives. I then chose to leave Turin and my job to spend more time with my three children. I began to make reflections about traditional educational methods and undertook trainings in which I learned about various methods, including Waldorf. I then became a yoga teacher and holistic therapist, beginning in recent years to teach French and English to middle school children. I live life with joy and enthusiasm and I'am happy to be able to facilitate children's learning and growth processes. Working with kids for me means putting their needs at the center, accompanying them to discover their passions and talents, and guiding them in the realization of their dreams. I bring with me passion for all games and sports (especially ball sports like basketball), dance, theater, reading, art and music. I am immensely grateful and beaming to experience this new journey at Village Forest School!

Job Titles:

• VFS Administrator

I am Simona, first and foremost mother of two wonderful children - Leonardo and Matilda.

Job Titles:

• India / Middle School Lead Teacher - Quercia

Having been associated with the Waldorf Education system and the principles of Anthroposophy for the past 9 years as a parent and an educator, I relate strongly with the words of Rudolf Steiner: ‘Receive the children in reverence, educate them in love, and send them forth in freedom.' As an educator with more than 5 years of distinguished teaching experience, working with primary, middle and high school children has been a wonderful opportunity to learn, unlearn and relearn the aspects of facilitating the process of learning in children. A profound feeling of being there for the children, their parents and the teaching community has enriched me as an educator, a parent and an individual. Facilitating the process of learning in children with joy and enthusiasm is a gratifying experience. I have taught children in varied settings focusing on experiential, student-centred learning and differential instruction that enables engaging and wholesome learning experience. I believe that education should nurture the curiosity of children and allow them to go out into the world as free thinkers. I have undeniably enjoyed the process of building the curriculum for middle and high school. When I am not working, I love getting lost in reading or getting creative with colours. Before becoming an active participant in the field of education, I have been working in the e-publishing industry for more than a decade as a language editor and a trainer in the editorial department. I have dealt with a wide range of academic materials including journals, books, encyclopaedias, question banks, theses and newsletters. I have compiled a couple of books for universities on communication skills for undergraduates. I am thrilled about the journey that I will be embarking upon with the Village Forest School community.