Early Childhood Village Faculty

Parent Child Program

Sarah Dunbar, our parent-child teacher, has lived in the varied landscapes of California since birth.  From a love of the mountains, rivers, and unique community of the Nevada City-Grass Valley area, she and her husband, Dr. Daniel Allen, decided to move there in 2001, and she began her work at Live Oak as a class teacher in the upper grades.  For the past five years, she has been at home with their children, Lucas (1), Miriam (5), Elias (15), and Kaelle (18), while running the phones for their osteopathic clinic.  Now Sarah, in teaching the parent-child program, is honored to cultivate a vibrant and nurturing space for families with young children to enjoy each other, explore Waldorf education, and meet our school community.  Outside of school, she loves gardening, handwork, making slow food, tending her bees, and playing outdoors with family and friends.  They live in their eco-remodeling construction zone, or as Daniel refers to it, the quarter-acre, ultra-urban biodynamic ranch, in downtown Grass Valley.   Her degrees include a B. S. in biology, with a concentration in ecology from Sonoma State University, a C. M. T.  from the School of Shiatsu and Massage, and a Waldorf Teacher Credential from Dorit Winter’s program in the Bay Area and Rudolf Steiner College.

Preschool

Sallie Cowan, is our Sunflower Preschool teaching assistant.  Sallie has served at the school in many capacities since 1987.
Sallie found Waldorf education long before she had children of her own. Her older brother became involved in the Waldorf program in the 1970’s, and Sallie immediately recognized it as a way to educate children with a balanced approach. She appreciated the emphasis on both arts and sciences in the curriculum, as well as the attention to understanding the needs of a developing human being.
After completing school for business management, Sallie entered the Waldorf Institute of Southern California Teacher Training program where she trained in early childhood education. She worked with the kindergarten program at Highland Hall Waldorf School in Northridge, CA. Having recognized the importance of the artistic needs of children, she decided to pursue them herself and went on to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in visual Arts at California State University, Fullerton, with an emphasis in ceramics.
Sallie and her husband, Bob, of 35 years, then had some dramatic life changes; they began a family with the birth of their daughter, Renee, and shortly thereafter decided to move to Northern California. A brother, Howard, later joined Renee. As her children grew, Sallie knew she wanted them to be educated in a Waldorf school and enrolled her children at Live Oak Waldorf School. Sallie participated in the school community first as a parent. As her time became more available, she began taking on working positions at the school including school receptionist, aftercare program, and assisting in the kindergarten and preschool/nursery.

 

Kindergarten

Katherine Friedland, A Rosemary Kindergarten Teacher, was born and raised in northern California. Her spiritual striving took her to India in 1971 where she studied yoga and meditation. Her first child was born there. Upon returning, she was a chaplain’s assistant in a juvenile detention home for girls, and taught yoga and meditation classes. Over the next years, she held yoga retreats, and she and her husband established a meditation center in the hills of Oregon. In 1978 upon once again returning from India, she started looking for a community in which to raise her two children. It was then that she became aware of Waldorf education. Within months, her children started attending the Sacramento Waldorf School, and Katherine became a student at Rudolf Steiner College. Upon graduation, Katherine joined the faculty of the Sacramento Waldorf School where she taught kindergarten for 12 years. After both children graduated from the Sacramento Waldorf School, Katherine once again returned to India where she lived for seven years. While there, she helped a friend establish a school for “Tribals” in the foothills of the Himalayas. Katherine has been at Live Oak since 2001.

Carolyn Geoffroy, our Lavender Kindergarten teacher, was born in a small town in Texas. Her family then moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, where she spent her early childhood. She has lived in California since age six. Carolyn received her B.A. in child development in 1975 from CSUS, as well as her California teaching
credential. She attended Rudolf Steiner College from 1980-82 and worked at Sacramento Waldorf School for seven years while her two children, Aaron and Jessica, attended school.

Deborah Thompson, is one of our Rosemary Kindergarten Teachers and has been at Live Oak since 2000 except for a years leave of absence in 2006-2007. .Deborah learned about Waldorf education from a friend while searching for the right education for her three children. She walked into a Waldorf Kindergarten
and never wanted to leave. She began by immersing herself in a nurturing Arts program. Following that, she left her job of twenty five years to enroll in the Early Childhood program at Rudolf Steiner College. She lives in Colfax with her three children, Amanda, Matthew and Daniel. When she is not teaching, Deborah is busy with carpools and enjoys gardening. Deborah brings to the classroom her love and respect for each child as well as an unhurried peacefulness. During her interactions with the children, Deborah looks beyond what is presented physically to develop a deep emotional connection with each child. Deborah works hard
to create a playful and nurturing environment for the children and is a constant model of calmness.

 

The Grades

Rev Bowen, our 1st Grade Teacher, was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee. After earning his B.A. in English, he found work as a substitute teacher in and around Richmond, working in every grade in every type of class. He then realized that he should become a teacher, but abhorred the idea of teaching within the same kind of compulsory schooling system. During his search for another way to educate, he picked up a hitchhiker who told him about Rudolf Steiner. Soon after, a grocery cashier told him about Waldorf education. He has taken a class from first through eighth and is now the teacher for class one, begining another 8 year cycle with Live Oak. His son, Seren, is in 3nd grade and his daughter, Rosa, is in the Rosemary Kindergarten.

Stuart Demmy is our second grade Teacher. Until moving to Auburn the summer of 2007, Stuart lived all 60 of his years in Oregon. Stuart graduated with a BA. in Philosophy from Reed College and spent several years as a research assistant for the Kaiser Health Science Research Center. For 25 years he was owner or part-owner of three different businesses. A conference Stuart and his wife, Tesa, attended with Dennis Klocek in 1996 had sparked a strong interest in Rudolf Steiner and his ideas - ideas which began to influence their thoughts and outlook. He decided to become a Waldorf teacher and began his training in Portland in 1999. Stuart taught at the Waldorf School of Bend between 2000 and 2007, completing his summer teacher training course at the Steiner College in 2003. He carried a class from first grade through seventh grade while Tesa taught art and Extra Lesson to students in many different grades. Though teaching takes up most of his life, Stuart also loves to hike, camp and backpack when he gets the chance. He’s looking forward to exploring the beautiful Sierras. His dog and hiking companion, Mickey, also looks forward to hiking with him. Squirrels and chipmunks of the Sierras – get ready for some good chases!

Pamela Harris, our 3nd grade teacher, was born in Syracuse, New York. Her childhood was spent in both upstate New York and Illinois. She studied Costume Design at the State University of New York at Geneseo, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in 1982. Her interests led her to work in costume shops for theatre, opera, and ballet on both the east and west coasts. In San Francisco, while working for the San Francisco Opera and the American Conservatory Theatre, she trained with a wig master. Her career then specialized in wigs and make-up for opera, ballet, theatre, and film. After the birth of her daughter, Sophie, her focus shifted to child development. She began her Teacher Training at the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training in 2003, while working as the Aftercare Assistant for the East Bay Waldorf School. She then was the 1st grade assistant and the head of aftercare at the East Bay School as she finished up her training, graduating in July 2006. Her daughter, Sophie, is in the 5th grade.

Teresa Thorman, our 4th grade teacher, was born in Saudi Arabia and went to school there through the ninth grade. For the next seven years she went to school in California and traveled back to Saudi Arabia for winter and summer breaks. Overseas living allowed her to travel to different cultures and be among different peoples, offering her many rewarding and enriching experiences. After college, Teresa received her California teaching credential while working at Lennox Middle School in southern California for five years. She then moved to the Tahoe area where she met her husband, Chris Gilwee, and continued teaching in the fourth and fifth grades for three more years. Life in the public schools and starting a family of her own led to a desire to find a more satisfying and unique approach to education: she discovered Waldorf Education. It was within the study of Waldorf principles and the work required starting a Waldorf initiative in Reno, Nevada, that she found the real heart center of an education she could truly stand by. Teresa and Chris wanted this not only for their own children, and Teresa knew that through her experience she could offer this to other children as well. While living in Reno, Teresa gave birth to her two sons, taught classes out of her home, worked as a home-school consultant, helped with the initiative for a Waldorf school, and edited the community newsletter. These were all steps on a path that brought Mrs. Thorman and her family over the mountain to Live Oak Waldorf School. Her son, Christopher, is in the Rosemary Kindergarten, and son, Nathaniel, is in Sunflower Preschool.

Jane Mulder, our 5rd Grade Teacher, grew up on the shores of Lake Michigan, in northern Illinois. Her family moved to the suburbs of New York City for her high school years, and then she crossed the continent to California for college. After graduating from Stanford University in 1971, Jane moved to the lovely Sierra Foothills. In addition to learning all the skills necessary to manage a small homestead, she also worked in home design and building. She wrote and edited in the field of organic agriculture. Jane taught at Hidden Valley Home School for ten years and enjoys being a part of Live Oak School community where she has taught since 1992. Jane and her husband, Otis Wollan, have three daughters, all graduates of Live Oak Waldorf School. Malia and Holly, now world travelers, are both honors graduates of UC Santa Cruz; Bryanna is attending Mills College.

Lynne Poirier, took the Class of 2011 as class teacher in the fall of 2007. Lynne was born in Queens, New York. Her father’s career in the aerospace industry brought her family to Southern California and she spent most of her school years there. Lynne began her college education with the ambition of becoming a teacher. Yielding to her father’s pressure to take up a more lucrative career, she began searching for the right path. This took her on a course that went from business, to biology, to biomedical illustration, and finally to fine art. In 1988, the year Derek was born, she discovered Waldorf education. At that time, while living in San Diego, she began to attend workshops and lectures at the San Diego Waldorf School. She also went back to college to take some courses in early childhood development. She began a playgroup in her home during which time Kyle was born. When Derek began first grade, she was hired as the kindergarten assistant at SDWS. In 1996, she and her family moved to the Sierra foothills so Lynne could attend Rudolf Steiner College and work as the aftercare director at Live Oak Waldorf School. Finally realizing her goal of teaching, she began her relationship with the class of 2006 in the fall of 1998.

Gail Lescher, our 7th grade teacher, has been with this class since 2002.  She was born and raised in Chicago and surrounded by a family of musicians and took up music and the arts in middle school. She finished her education at Northern Illinois University with a B.F.A. in printmaking and art history. In 1985, Gail moved to California and began a family. While raising three little girls and building/remodeling several homes, she became involved in the more practical and artistic aspects of Anthroposophy, studying biodynamic agriculture, Waldorf education, and early childhood themes, as well as singing, painting, and acting. In 1994 – 1995, she led a Waldorf playgroup in her home. After being called in for several extensive substitute teaching opportunities, Gail was inspired to take her first class at Live Oak in 1998.  After completing 5 years with her first class, she returned to pick up the 1st grade again in 2002. Her children Carmen, Diana, and Nicole are all graduates of Live Oak.

Matt Alsop, our 8th Grade Teacher, was born in England and raised in northern California. Matt is returning to his roots by finding Waldorf education once again, this time as a teacher. He attended the Sacramento Waldorf School from kindergarten through twelfth grade, where he learned to knit, play the flute, and do this funny thing called eurythmy. Now Matt is filled with joy to be coming back to Waldorf, where he can teach knitting, flute playing, and do this wonderful thing called eurythmy. He received a degree in political science with a minor in history from the University of California, Davis, and completed the teacher training program at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, all the while coaching youth sports, tutoring, and teaching. Among other things, Matt enjoys acting, athletics of all kinds, and following world events. Matt, his wife, and a family of pets live in Meadow Vista.

 

Subject Teachers

Andrea Pronto, our Music Teacher, was born in Germany. Her mother introduced her to the world of music early, which led her to a musical high school from hich she graduated. At age 14, Andrea met Anthroposophy through a Waldorf teacher. Through her special interest in people, communities, and social work, she found her way to Camphill Villages in England, Ireland, and Holland. In 1982 she received her B.A. in special education. After that, she returned to music studies in the Independent Music School, a school of music as it is applied in art, therapy, and education. These studies led her to teachers in Europe and finally to a tour in the United States. In 1986 she moved to California and taught music at Live Oak Waldorf School until her son, Lindon, was born in 1988. She has been a music instructor at Rudolf Steiner College since 1986 and also conducts workshops. In 1993, Andrea returned to working at Live Oak.

Nan Shaw, our Guitar Teacher, is a native of Southern California and grew up in the Ojai Valley. In this “nest,” private schools and spiritually oriented organizations abound amidst orange orchards surrounded by spectacular mountains. The beauty of nature was a major influence in Nan’s childhood, as were a theosophical family and many wonderful teachers in the several idealistic schools she attended where parents often worked to help pay tuition. Family activities included music, art, writing, reading, sewing, Spanish, gardening, and endless talking about theosophy, history, religion, esoteric subjects, and cats. Early music studies included violin, piano, and clarinet, but in the teen years, it was a love of the guitar which took root for life.

At age 18, she began studying with the world renowned guitarist and composer Vicento Gomez, with whom she continued for many years. Driven by multiple interests, however, she attended Chorinard Art Institute (which became California Institute of the Arts) beginning in fine arts and graduating with an M.A. in design. Next came marriage to Norton and a child who led the way north and eventually to Live Oak Waldorf School. There more children were born, grew up in the Live Oak “nest” and took flight. Nan stayed on in the music room to become a Live Oak grandmother.

Steven Casperite, our Games Teacher was born April 2, 1962 on the Arizona/Mexico border at a small military outpost established in what were once Apache country and the home of Cochise, the great Apache Chief. His father was in the military, so by the age of three Steven had lived in Europe and different parts of the United States. By the age of 3 1/2 his family settled in the county of Orange in the southern part of California. His teen years were filled with much exploration and exhaustive efforts to understand who he was.

At 21 his life began to take a new direction and many wonderful and painful events would cross his path clearly. He is a husband, a father of three, and a devout student of the history of western esotericism. He has coached men’s water polo and swimming at a local community college and took on the role of Games Teacher at Live Oak in 2001. All of these roles seem to have a symmetry that is interlocked in a certain way, helping him to see more clearly the path that is unfolding before him.

Doug Thorley, our Orchestra and Band Instructor, grew up in Massachusetts. He began musical studies in the fourth grade, later attending the University of Massachusetts in Lowell as a voice major. After leaving school, he spent five years dairy farming in upstate New York before moving to California and completing
his music studies on the trombone at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He performs throughout northern California in all styles of music ranging from Mantovani to Mozart to Monk and has toured Asia twice. For the past fifteen years he has been teaching classroom and private music in both public and private schools in the Bay Area. Doug is living happily in Colfax with his wife, Beth Miller, and her daughters, Lauren and Erica.

Barbara Wauters, "Doña Bárbara", was born in the small town of San Rafael, Argentina, in the foothills of the Andes to German-Jewish immigrants. She grew up bilingually, and soon added English to her storehouse of language skills. When she was 11, the family moved to Berlin, Germany, where Barbara went to high school and earned her Abitur. During her last year of high school, her family hosted a foreign exchange student from Newcastle, California, who invited Barbara to visit. She did so in the fall of 1973, and soon thereafter met William, the brother of her "sister". They married and moved to Clipper Gap, where they settled in an old pear orchard, and proceeded to raise a menagerie of animals, mostly sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens. Meanwhile Barbara pursued her formal education, first at Sierra College, and at CSU Sacramento, where she earned a B.A. in Spanish and German. After a few years, the family increased by two children, Leon and Vivian, and when it was time to send them to school, Barbara already knew that Live Oak would be her choice. Barbara has always made the school a central part of her life, and has been involved in many different functions within the school structure. The latest invitation from the faculty to join them by becoming the Spanish teacher is a great honor and marks a completely new relationship with the school community she so loves. She looks forward to teaching all the children and sharing with them her love of foreign languages in general and Spanish in particular.

Nancy Mellichamp Savo is our upper grades Spanish teacher. Coming to us all the way from Italy, Senora Savo has often made dramatic turns in her life. imagine a passion so compelling that you would sell everything you own and buy a one-way ticket on a boat to the land of your dreams. That’s just one example of Nancy’s adventurous nature. She arrived in Spain, 23 years old, with a clear desire to learn to dance Flamenco...and she did it. She studied dance until the money ran out, then got a job working on an Italian cruise ship. Her future husband was also employed on the boat and she convinced him to come with her to Spain. Once there, he learned Flamenco guitar and traveled with Nancy in a Spanish dance troupe to far places like the Canary Islands and Israel.
Eventually, they returned to her husband’s hometown, Rome, where Nancy taught languages and dance. She first became interested in Waldorf in the context of Eurythmy and later in her search of alternative medicines, she found an Anthroposophic doctor. Nancy was so sold on Waldorf education, she volunteered in a Waldorf preschool during her first pregnancy and has been in the flow ever since. She started teaching at her daughter’s Waldorf School and earned her teaching credentials in Rome.

 

Tesa Briles is our Educational Support teacher. Tesa’s personal journey with Anthroposophy began to take shape in 1999 when she made the difficult decision to take two weeks off work to attend a class in art therapy taught by Jannebeth Roell at the Rudolf Steiner College. This meant traveling from Bend, Oregon, living with strangers for two weeks and entering a completely “unknown” world —– a world of color, movement, form and shape, all wrapped in a philosophy that felt familiar to her. As fate would have it, it took no time at all to go from being a small business owner, satisfied with her level of education, to feeling a passionate desire to change her life completely. She made the decision to travel abroad, spending the next three years to become certified in Anthroposophical Art therapy at Tobias School of Art and Therapy She spent nearly two years in England, painting every day, followed by a year of work with the Tacaks’ clinic in Portland, Oregon with Jannebeth as her mentor and supervisor during her practicum work.
After working a year at the Waldorf School of Bend as an art teacher, giving art classes to adults in the community and managing to work as an art therapist as much as possible, it became clear to her that her desire to help children meant one more training. She embarked upon another three-year training, the Remedial Education Program at Rudolf Steiner College. Tesa felt fortunate to be able to put her training into practice immediately at the Waldorf School of Bend. Stuart and Tess came to Live Oak knowing they were entering a new chapter in their lives. In Tesa’s own words, “We feel blessed to be here.”

Nancy Ewing-Wood, our fourth and fifth grade Strings Teacher, grew up in Ohio and migrated to California as a teenager. While finishing her B.M. at San Francisco Opera she met her husband, Chris, who was head of the sound department. After the Loma Prieta earthquake and the birth of her third child, now a freshman at Nevada City High School, they decided to relocate to Grass Valley where she has taught at Sierra String Studio since 1990.
She plays professionally in Chico, Sacramento, and just completed a tour in New York City where she played in Carnegie Hall.

Nanci Zecchin, our Eurythmist, was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and lived there until she was 22. After she received a psychology degree at the University of Sao Paulo she left for England where she spent two years at Emerson College. There she studied the Foundation Year in Anthroposophy and was introduced to eurythmy. Her eurythmy training was at The Hague, Holland, where she spent six and a half years, first learning this art and then teaching at a Waldorf School in Tilburg, South Holland. In Germany, she worked for two and a half years with kindergarten eurythmy and eurythmy for adults. There she also had the opportunity to work with handicapped children for one year in an anthroposophical institution. When she went back to Brazil in 1994, she worked at the Colegio Waldorf Micael in Sao Paulo, performing eurythmy programs in Brazil and abroad. Since she came to the USA, she has been doing some artistic work in eurythmy at the Rudolf Steiner College and teaching eurythmy to disabled adults in Sacramento. With pleasure she is again teaching children and working in the Waldorf community at
Live Oak Waldorf School.