Lower & Middle School Faculty
Starting in First Grade, Waldorf students have a Class Teacher who will stay with them for multiple years. The core curriculum taught by the class teacher is supported by Subject Teachers. The core curriculum and the subject classes are aligned with the students’ development as they grow.
First Grade, Class of 2035
Amanda Castillo McCamant
Joined SWS in 2023
Amanda was drawn to becoming a Waldorf teacher in order to serve children in a community where the mind, heart, and will are equally nurtured to create a genuine love of learning. “I was inspired to become a teacher by the joy and beauty that working with children has brought to my life,” she says.
Amanda holds a Bachelors in Environmental Science with a specialty in Marine Science by Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. She completed her Waldorf teacher training at Antioch University New England. In creating a genuine love of learning, Amanda strives to meet each child where they are through developmentally-aligned experiences that recognize and celebrate who each child is becoming. Having grown up in a bicultural family, Amanda enthusiastically joins SWS’s DEIJ work to evolve Waldorf educational practices. “I have an extensive background in activism, and I do my best to create equity and justice learning opportunities and for these to be authentic and present in everyday of my life,” she says. “I was born in Nicaragua during the last years of the Sandinista Revolution and part a generation called the ‘internationalists’. I grew up in a culturally rich and ethnically diverse community. When I was three years old, I asked my grandfather why all the people who clean restaurant tables look so much like me.” Amanda approaches teaching with these diverse and inclusive principles at the heart of her work.
As Waldorf education moves forward into the future, Amanda sees its increasing relevance in helping children develop into socially responsible individuals who can engage with the world and with their communities in new ways. “What today is, tomorrow may not be. Waldorf education aims for children to develop a creative and flexible way of thinking and being in the world,” she says. “I do not know what the world will hold for future generations, but ingenuity will surely be helpful for this century and for centuries to come.”
Second Grade, Class of 2034
Ms. Moon
Joined SWS 2021
Inspired by her Fifth grade teacher, who taught through art, Ms. Moon (she, her) believes in holistic education and is passionate about bringing diverse perspectives to the classroom, where social healing and justice can be commonplace. She strives to meet the children of today where they are, remove obstacles that prevent learning, and provide rich opportunities for growth, allowing children to blossom and share their gifts with the world.
Ms. Moon has taught at both charter and private schools within the Marin Waldorf community where she was deeply engaged over several years. She loves Waldorf education because it allows inspiration to move freely between student to teacher. She finds that, through the ebb and flow of days together in the classroom and their growing relationship, the children often teach her what it truly means to be a human being in our times.
Having lived in diverse and more homogenous communities, Ms. Moon has a passion for socio-economic justice. Through her teaching, she strives to break down stereotypes in the classroom, celebrating the individuality of each student. She aims to collaborate with parents and colleagues to bring diverse perspectives to her work and guide the children to stand up for what is right.
Ms. Moon holds a Waldorf Teaching Certificate from the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training and a simultaneous degree from UC Berkeley: a BS in Conservation Resource Studies, focusing on Forestry, Ecosystem Management, and Natural History, and a BA in English Literature. She is currently training to be a yoga instructor.
A resident of Citrus Heights, Ms. Moon lives with her partner, her two children, and her Chocolate Lab/Great Dane mix, Hazelnut. She consciously tries to do one act of service every day, was the first student to partner with teachers at a community college to form an Honors Society, has tutored adult ESL learners, and once worked at a wildlife hospital.
Third Grade, Class of 2033
Julie Mulrooney
Joined SWS 2021
Julie (she/her) has more than 15 years of experience teaching in Waldorf and other private schools and strives to bring warmth to her classroom, holding space for each child and their unique abilities.
Julie loves working with children artistically and values the freedom to use nature, imagination, and storytelling as teaching tools within Waldorf pedagogy. She says, “I feel deeply connected to storytelling, the magic of being in the present moment; I appreciate how it can teach many life lessons. Storytelling helps to build a strong and beautiful relationship with the natural world, promoting the care of our planet.”
Julie has a BA in Fine and Applied Arts from the University of Oregon and a Grades Teaching Certificate from Rudolf Steiner College. Additionally, she has Continuing Early Childhood credits from Los Rios Community College. Julie is a lifelong learner and is continuously developing her teaching methodology.
Julie lives with her husband, two children, and two cats, Clarabelle and Jingles. Julie’s two children attend Sacramento Waldorf School. Julie and her family enjoy mountain biking, camping, and swimming in the ocean in their free time.
Third Grade, Class of 2033
Ashley Martinez
Joined SWS 2021
Ashley Martinez has been part of The Sacramento Waldorf School community as a parent for many years and last year, she served as Student Support Coordinator for the school. Ashley’s lifelong goal has been to work in education: she has taught and supported children in public and Waldorf schools, from kindergarten through middle school. Ashley appreciates how the Waldorf methodology meets the needs of the whole child. “It offers a well-rounded experience that roots [students] to their connections to humanity, nature, and the world around them in a way I haven’t seen at any other type of school,” she says. She appreciates watching children begin to express themselves, recognize and take pride in their learning, and develop empathy with their peers.
Ashley has a BA and teaching credential in Special Education, an Elementary Education credential, and a Waldorf teaching certificate from Antioch University.
Ashley is married to her high school sweetheart, Dan. They live in Folsom with their two children, both of whom attend Sacramento Waldorf School. They have two giant fluffy pets: a dog, Laveau, and a cat, Crowley.
Fourth Grade, Class of 2032
Andrea Marrapodi
Joined SWS 2021
Immersed in Waldorf education for nearly two decades, Andrea Marrapodi (she/her) has dedicated her life to teaching and studying Waldorf pedagogy. After the birth of her second child, she attended the Novalis Institute in Minneapolis to complete Foundation Studies in Waldorf Education. She continued her studies by taking the Applied Arts training at Sunbridge Institute in Spring Valley, New York. Andrea holds a BA in Education and recently completed a three-year training through The Mulberry Center for Curative Education.
Andrea believes that the Waldorf model is revolutionary and aims to “genuinely see each child while ensuring they are welcomed into the classroom experience.” She asks, “What is equitable for everyone in the room?” as part of her teaching practice.
Andrea and her husband, Danny, have been married for 18 years; they have two children who have attended and one who has graduated from Waldorf schools. With a love for travel, Andrea and her family recently moved to California from Pennsylvania.
Fifth Grade, Class of 2031
Marianne Gray
Marianne has been a grades teacher and middle school support teacher for many years, while also teaching in the Summer Teacher Training Program at Rudolf Steiner College. With a BA in Studio Art from University of California, Santa Barbara and a Waldorf Teacher Education Diploma from Rudolf Steiner College, Marianne enjoys drawing, painting, clay modeling, gardening, reading, and astronomy. Her two children are Sacramento Waldorf School alumni.
Fifth Grade Practice Lesson Teacher
Laura Boram
Joined SWS in 2021
Mrs. Boram served as a Class Teacher at the Whidbey Island Waldorf School and a block teacher at Seattle Waldorf School. In her teaching, she strives to create a welcoming container for young minds to learn, move together, and grow, and a place where children know that they are honored and included. Mrs. Boram believes that the relevance of Waldorf education in our time is rooted in the fact that it protects children in the early stages of their development.
Working in a Forest Kindergarten with an exceptional teacher inspired Mrs. Boram to pursue teaching. She says, “In Waldorf education, I found a special place for my children and that inspired me to learn more. I wanted to be a part of a movement that focuses on inviting children into the wonders of this beautiful world. I found a home for raising my children in a way that inspired them to love the world and think for themselves. In this unique education, the potential exists for the child to develop, through love, beauty, and truth, into an adult that can fully engage in the world.”
Mrs. Boram has trained in Theater of the Oppressed work with the Mandala Center for the Arts, participated in the Transforming Racism group on Whidbey Island for over a year, and took the Restorative Practices training sponsored by Real Actions Create Equity (R.A.C.E.), led by the International Institute for Restorative Practice. She served as the Chair of the Social Inclusion Group brought to Whidbey Island Waldorf School by Kim John Payne with co-chair Diana Sandoval. Mrs. Boram is currently part of a cohort of about 30 people studying Compassionate Communication and Integral Theory. She has participated in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) silent retreats with the Northwest Vipassana Center, lasting 10 days each.
Mrs. Boram received her Waldorf certification from Sound Circle Teacher Training and an Art of Teaching certificate from Rudolf Steiner College. She holds a BA in Theatre/Communication from California State University, Fullerton.
A resident for most of her adult life in a multi-generational house in a cohousing community with a consensus-based decision-making process, Mrs. Boram says she has “learned to stay in my own lane and on the advisory board of my adult children’s lives. I endeavor to stay curious and open to others.”
Sixth Grade, Class of 2030
Anastasia Sinclair
Joined SWS 2021
During her career as an educator, Anastasia has worked with Grades 1-12 at the Waldorf School of the Peninsula in Mountain View, CA, where she taught middle and high school earth science and coordinated the gardening program. Anastasia also taught upper grades Morning Lesson blocks in science, humanities, and practical arts at several Bay Area Waldorf schools. She worked as a naturalist with K-12 student groups with the YMCA Point Bonita in Sausalito, CA, teaching natural sciences, sustainability principles, community building, and local history. Most recently, she was a class teacher at Camellia Waldorf School in Sacramento.
Anastasia is interested in environmental education, curriculum development, sustainable agriculture, practical arts, and community outreach. Her teaching philosophy centers on developing capacities for independent thinking. Her goals are to inspire a sense of responsibility toward the community and make earth stewardship and science engaging, inspiring, authentic, and fun. In her teaching, she works to supplement the rich Waldorf curriculum with diverse biographies and perspectives.
Anastasia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Integrative Studies and Environmental Design from Warren Wilson College and a Master’s degree in Education from Rudolf Steiner College.
A Waldorf alum who attended Summerfield Waldorf School and Farm through Twelfth Grade, Anastasia grew up in Sonoma County. In her free time, Anastasia hikes and camps with her husband and her Labrador retriever around their home in El Dorado Hills and the High Sierra Mountains.
Seventh Grade, Class of 2029
Nicole Fields
Joined SWS 1999
Nicole Fields (she, her) teaches Handwork and Practical Arts to Sixth through Twelfth Grades and has stepped in to shepherd the Class of 2029. She also serves as Pedagogical Chair and is the Chair of the College of Teachers.
Nicole teaches at a Waldorf school because she believes deeply that the curriculum meets the developmental and educational needs of the growing child and adolescent. Her teaching philosophy leads her to address the child who stands before her and see what is asking to be called forth. This information inspires Nicole to offer appropriate challenges and accommodations to make the learning path as interesting and accessible as possible.
She holds a BA in Liberal Studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and both a Waldorf High School Teacher Education Diploma and a Waldorf Handwork Teaching Certificate from Rudolf Steiner College. She also received Birth and Postpartum Doula training from DONA International.
The Citrus Heights-based mother of two Sacramento Waldorf School graduates, Nicole says her only prenuptial agreement with her husband was that their children attend a Waldorf school! She enjoys fiber arts and camping with her family. She was inspired by her own Waldorf education as well as some of her teachers and her mother, who was also a Waldorf teacher.
Eighth Grade, Class of 2028
Hema Srikant
Joined SWS 2016
Hema (she, her) believes that learning best happens when there is a love of learning and knowing more. She enjoys exploring ways to bring a subject to life in the classroom and appreciates being in the joyful presence of children. Her own children inspired her to become a teacher.
With a BS in Zoology and an MBA in Information Systems and Management, both from Chennai University in India, Hema completed Foundation Studies at the Toronto Steiner Center and Consciousness Studies at Rudolf Steiner College, and holds a Waldorf Teacher Education Certificate from Rudolf Steiner College.
A Fair Oaks resident, Hema grew up in coastal India in two of the most culturally diverse melting pots of the subcontinent. After earning her degrees, she embarked on a career with global corporations in marketing and business development before moving to North America. Here, her teaching work commenced with a group of children with special needs.
Over the last decade, Hema has immersed herself in Waldorf education through teaching at Waldorf Schools in Toronto and Calgary, along with studies in anthroposophy and education in Toronto and Fair Oaks. Among the few simple things closest to Hema’s heart are her family, music, and meditation.
Class and Speciality Teacher
Luisa Burgess
Joined SWS in 2013
Ms. Burgess completed her M.Ed. at Antioch University, Foundation Studies at Sydney Rudolf Steiner College, and her Waldorf teacher training in the U.K. Prior to that, she worked in television and theater. Ms. Burgess started class-teaching in 2006, and recently taught music in the lower school at Sacramento Waldorf School. The 2022–23 year has been the third time she has taught Eighth Grade. Her interests lie in theater, music, and deepening her relationship to Rudolf Steiner's work. She lives with her family in Carmichael.
Speciality Teachers
Extended Day Assistant Teacher
Antonio Abbott
Joined SWS 2022
Antonio is a local Waldorf Alum and comes to SWS with a deep love and curiosity for Waldorf education and is eager to provide an excellent experience for all students in Extended Day.
Fourth Grade Assistant Teacher
Leena Beddawi
Joined SWS 2021
Leena Beddawi (she/her) was first introduced to Waldorf education when her eldest sister came home from school and regaled her family with beautiful stories from the festivals: May Day, Medieval Festival, and Winter Faire. Leena saw her sister become confident in her individuality, connect socially with her peers, and hone her artistic skills. When Leena joined Sacramento Waldorf School, she recognized how the learning environment cultivated and prioritized imagination, growth, and community.
Growing up with a younger sister with special needs, Leena learned about the importance of respecting differences and became passionate about social justice. Leena is happiest learning from the people in her community; she aims to continuously grow as a person and an educator.
Leena studied Literature, Culture, and Language at the University of California, Merced, and is continuing her education at Cosumnes River College, with plans to earn her teaching credential at Sacramento State.
Movement Teacher
Megan Cheatham
Joined SWS 2019
Megan (she, her) teaches movement to students in grades 1-8. She teaches at a Waldorf school because she finds that it most thoroughly meets the needs of the young people in our community. Teaching has been a lifelong calling, inspired by her grandmother and developing early in life, when she played school with her sister.
With a BS in Kinesiology from San Jose State University and a Master’s in Physical Therapy from University of California, San Francisco, Megan has also completed her 200-hour Yoga Alliance Certified yoga teacher training. She also holds certifications in various fitness modalities, including cross training, TRX suspension training, and barre.
A Fair Oaks resident, Megan is married and the mother of three children currently attending Sacramento Waldorf School. Megan believes movement education has the potential enrich lives. She creates developmentally appropriate movement experiences that help children grow and blossom physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially. She says, “My goal is to guide the children to find joy in movement and to empower them with the resilience and courage to share their own gifts with the world.”
Winds & Jazz Band Teacher
Ann F. DiPasquale
Joined SWS in 2017
Ann is committed to helping students reach their fullest potential. She aspires to deliver the integrated, holistic pedagogy designed by Rudolf Steiner and intends to model an inquisitive nature, extol the exploring of learning, and share the journey of striving.
She holds a BS in Music Ed from Indiana University of PA and a MEd from Kent State University, where she was a Sinfonia Scholar. She has Credentials in Music, Reading Specialist K-12, ESL and has been a member of the American Federation of Musicians since 1975.
A Fair Oaks resident, Ann was inspired to become a teacher by the joy of learning and the fun that learning can take. Her parents and her siblings inspired her to teach, but her students keep her in the classroom.
Choir Teacher
Destiny Elazier
Joined SWS 2021
From Destiny’s (she, her) first practicum, teaching felt like a natural fit. She says, “I love being around students and watching them learn and grow, and I also love the fact that music can be so therapeutic; it’s naturally a warm, welcoming space.”
At age 16, Destiny (she/her) led the adult choir at her church and remained in the position until graduation. She went on to attend Westminster Choir College, earning a Bachelor’s in Music Education and a New Jersey teaching credential. She has transferred her teaching certification to California and begun the Sacramento Waldorf School Teacher Development Program.
Destiny wants to provide a safe space in her classroom where students can be themselves and don’t feel they have to hold themselves back in any way. Destiny was raised in a racially mixed, blended family, with half-siblings. Her grandmother, “a proud Black woman,” helped define these differences as a mosaic: patterns making up a whole.
Destiny lives with her family and a dog who adopted them when it showed up on their doorstep.
Social–Emotional Learning & Health Teacher
Amy Elder
Joined SWS 2017
Amy (she/her) came to Waldorf education after marveling at the one-sided intellectual development she noticed around her and seeking to find a new home where all aspects of being human were valued. “Much of my schooling honored intellectual prowess alone, but the humanity and artistry that we bring into the world is equally important,” she says. “After researching many pedagogies, Waldorf’s foundations rang most true to me.”
Amy has a BA in Education from Union Institute and University. She earned her Waldorf Class Teacher Certificate from Rudolf Steiner College. Before her turn to education, she completed graduate and post-doctoral programs in Polymer Chemistry and Pharmacokinetics. Her goal in her current role is to serve our Middle School community, contributing to building a school that is worthy of all children.
Her overarching educational philosophy is never to assume anything and to stay curious and open. “The part of my job that I loved the most in my previous profession was the training and education I did in the field,” she says. “Seeing the light switch on for someone else is a powerful thing to witness.” Having grown up in racially and socioeconomically diverse communities in Vallejo, CA, she meets Waldorf education with rich and close experiences bridging divides and finding common humanity without erasing important parts of who we are.
“I had a lot to learn about DEIJ when I moved out into the world from Vallejo—our childhood friendships were not based on racial affinity but on proximity and common experiences in school. I appreciate the opportunity to merge ongoing training and learning with my lived experience to expand the lens through which I view and serve the world.” Connecting this to the Waldorf education of today and the future, Amy weaves thinking, feeling, and willing into how we meet each other and the growing virtual world to ensure that children have a strong moral ballast as they become who they are meant to be.
Clay Arts Teacher
Johnny Finn-Romero
Joined SWS 1999
Johnny Finn-Romero (he/him) finds that the Waldorf curriculum and methods support the growth of the whole human being; the work with hands and body balancing with academics to develop the mind, spirit, and soul. Johnny’s pursuit of art and a connection to The Sacramento Waldorf School are intertwined. Johnny was influenced by his parents’ creativity in painting and other pursuits and earned a bachelor’s degree in Art through Sacramento State College.
Johnny took classes at Rudolf Steiner College and was one of the first to earn a Waldorf teaching certificate (with a high school specialty) focusing on woodwork and clay. He taught art in many different mediums for 19 years before teaching at Meristem, a program dedicated to supporting young adults on the autism spectrum. When Johnny’s daughter began kindergarten at Sacramento Waldorf School, he recalled leaving campus with tears in his eyes. “It was nothing like any schooling I’d been to – everything about it was beautiful.”
Johnny appreciates the emphasis on social and cultural development at Sacramento Waldorf School, which mirror the values he learned from travel and activism. Johnny lives in Sacramento in a multi-generational household which includes his granddaughter, a Kindergartener in Red Rose.
Woodworking Teacher
Michelle Gallardo
Joined SWS in 2022
Michelle (she, her) was born into a family of renowned artists in Guatemala, surrounded by beautiful art and given the freedom to play with art materials and ideas. Her creativity and imagination were always encouraged.
Her work as an art teacher for High School students began with creating a space for students to enjoy art and feel seen. Michelle’s goal is to create opportunities for students to give voice to their struggles and invite them to shine their light. She says, “As artists, we not only develop our technique but also learn to observe. Through that process, we open ourselves to colors, shapes, gestures, and qualities and thus realize we are connected to the whole world. We suddenly see beauty and harmony around us. I believe each person has the whole universe inside them, and art is one way to discover that as an inner process. Art is also a perfect way to express our voices and connect to others and the world.”
Michelle studied Political Science in university but ultimately chose dance as her path. She opened a dance academy where she developed a program to coach students through an alchemical creative dance process that included inner work, choreography, costume design, and dance technique, culminating in a final presentation. She later worked at the Waldorf School of Guatemala, where she taught movement class for several years before being invited to develop and teach an Arts program for the entire high school, from eighth to twelfth grades. Michelle deeply identifies with Waldorf education and loves studying Anthroposophy.
Strings Teacher
Giorgi Khokhobashvili
Joined SWS 2017
From the age of 7, Giorgi (he, him) studied violin, piano performance, and music theory in his home country of Georgia. Ready to apply to Tbilisi State Conservatoire, he decided to travel to the United States as an exchange student. In 2005, he moved to California and played as a member of local orchestras and theater companies. At the same time, he started giving private music lessons.
Giorgi’s students have won competitions in classical and fiddle music. He also teaches strings at Cedar Springs Waldorf School, while also giving private lessons and performing with various local bands and musicians. Married to Krissi for a decade, he works from a teaching philosophy that concentrates on development of imagination and ear training. Giorgi is passionate about sharing his experiences of being a working musician and a teacher. He believes music should be a therapeutic and positive force in school and in society.
Math and Science Teacher
Ari Magruder
Joined SWS 2005
Ari (she, her) teaches in a Waldorf school because she believes the Waldorf curriculum is dynamic, engaging and developmentally-based. She keeps Aristotle’s quote close to her heart while teaching: “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” She hopes to engender enthusiasm for learning by engaging the minds and hearts of her students.
A Sacramento resident, Ari holds a BA in French Literature and Art History and Education from California State University, Northridge. She earned a Waldorf Teaching Certificate from the Waldorf Institute of Southern California.
Prior to joining Sacramento Waldorf School, Ari was a class teacher at Cedar Springs Waldorf School for ten years prior. She began her journey here in 2005 as the Lower School Support Teacher. Ari teaches middle school math and science, and she contributes in the teacher education department at Rudolf Steiner College.
Ari loves working with middle school students. Her two children attend Sacramento Waldorf School. The family enjoys spending time on the water, biking, camping, and working in their garden.
Math Teacher
Christina Maynard
Joined SWS 2022
Christina Maynard (she, her) has many years of classroom teaching experience. Most recently, she was the classroom teacher at a local Waldorf-inspired charter school, taking a class through fourth and fifth grade. Mrs. Maynard teaches at a Waldorf school because she appreciates the care that goes into creating an educational environment that is respectful of the whole child. She believes that Waldorf education’s relevance for the 21st century lies in part in its appeal to students. Because the Waldorf approach inspires free and independent thinking, as well as fostering moral judgment, students are naturally inspired towards self-discovery and the process of learning is deeply meaningful.
Mrs. Maynard’s teaching philosophy is rooted in the idea that every child learns best in a joyful, stimulating, and caring environment where each child is seen, heard, respected, and understood. Her inspiration for becoming a teacher was the joy and satisfaction she found while teaching art to middle-school students as an undergraduate in college. While in college for teacher training as well as school psychology, Mrs. Maynard furthered her education with classes specifically addressing the topics of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, and she brings this foundation with her into planning and teaching lessons.
Mrs. Maynard has pursued Waldorf Foundations training through the Sacramento Waldorf School and Waldorf teacher training through Antioch University New England. At California State University, Sacramento, she obtained a teaching credential and also completed coursework in School Psychology. As an undergraduate student, she completed a BFA in Studio Art from the San Francisco Art Institute.
Mrs. Maynard lives in Fair Oaks with her two children and various pets including Rocky, Rosie, Sunny, Goldie, and Lavender (the chickens), Chloe the cat, and Griffin and Apollo, the cockatiels. Her goals and aspirations are to become less busy and find the joy in everyday moments as well as spend more time in nature, with her family, and traveling to new places.
Student Support Manager
Erinn Neal
Erinn’s teaching philosophy is that every child learns differently and deserves to have full access to their education. She says, “I believe in inclusion within the classroom and helping students feel safe in their learning environment, so they can fully bloom.” Erinn chose Sacramento Waldorf School because of the vibrant school community and SWS’s dedication to teaching the whole child. She believes that Waldorf education is relevant and valuable in the 21st century because it teaches students the value of giving back to the earth and prioritizing community, which she says “are crucial as we navigate climate change and other current events as a state and a nation.”
Erinn was inspired to work with children by her mother, who taught children with disabilities. She attended a Waldorf school as a child and was inspired to come back to a Waldorf community because of the rich curriculum that honors all aspects of learning, including social-emotional learning.
Erinn values the cultural perspectives of all and feels that the work of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) helps her as an educator to honor students’ cultural backgrounds and offer them a rich education. She is dedicated to listening to the voices of people of color and the neurodiverse community, and allowing their perspectives to inform her work with students.
Erinn holds a BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Sacramento State University. She graduated from Potter Valley High School in 2018 and from River Oak Charter School in Ukiah, CA in 2014. As an undergraduate, Erinn did research with multiple professors in the field of Speech-Language Pathology. Her most recent work with children and adults who have Down Syndrome enabled her to lead programs scaffolded to different age groups and help coordinate volunteers. Erinn plans to go back to school to obtain a Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology in order to work as a school-based Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP).
A Sacramento resident, Erinn lives with her fiancé and their two-year-old Golden Doodle, Simba.
Gardening Teacher
Stephen Payne
Joined SWS 2001
Farmer Steve, as he is known, came to Sacramento Waldorf School in 2001 and runs the campus’ 3.5-acre working farm, including its gardening curriculum. With 10 years of experience in organic farming and five years of experience as a market garden business owner, Stephen holds a BS in Business Marketing from Central Connecticut State University.
Woodworking & Practical Arts Teacher
Shane Pugh
Joined SWS 2018
Shane’s teaching philosophy is experiential through and through, based on the essential tenant of Waldorf education that learning happens through doing. By engaging the whole body in working and learning, the whole child is met and needs are provided for. Shane comes to SWS from Wales and brings an artisanal sensibility and a surprisingly playful sense of humor to the practical arts that is much cherished by students and colleagues alike.
German Teacher
Miryam Rosello
Joined SWS 2022
Ms. Rosello (she, her) teaches in a Waldorf school because she believes in educating the whole child, in each of the developmental stages of childhood. She believes that Waldorf pedagogy is more important than perhaps ever before, since being creative, integrating the arts with academics, and thinking outside of the box are not only what colleges and employers are looking for, but also because they are a recipe for living a balanced, less stressful life that can make the world a better place. Her aims are to help students acquire the German language in a playful, interactive way, anchoring lessons with music, art, and cultural components, and to ensure that the students are looking forward to their next lesson and learning to love the language as well as the culture. Ms. Rosello’s experience has shown her that having the freedom to be an independent thinker and being treated with respect at school enables students to engage confidently with society.
Being part of a mixed-race family and having Hispanic children has sharpened Ms. Rosello’s outlook on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, and she endeavors to teach and model these concepts in every lesson and with every action. Homeschooling her daughter with special needs gave her insights into different ways of learning, as did the college classes she took that helped her learn to teach to different learning styles. Differentiating her methods in the classroom has been key for her in reaching students with different backgrounds and interests and motivating all students to be successful. For years, Ms. Rosello has offered participation in language competitions and tutoring as a volunteer to ensure that interested children have access to German-language education.
Nominated for an “Outstanding German Educator Award” in 2022, Ms. Rosello’s middle-schoolers were top-10 finalists three consecutive times at the international Goethe language competition “Bundeliga Total” (competing with mostly high schools from across the Americas). Ms. Rosello is a native German speaker, born and raised in West Berlin. She graduated with a BA from the International Business School in Groningen, Netherlands, taught Business German at the college level in the Netherlands, and worked for several years at Golden Valley Charter Schools.
A resident of Orangevale, Ms. Rosello lives with her husband, two sons and daughter, three dogs, three bunnies, a cat, and a hamster, who are all considered family.
Spanish Teacher
Cecilia Sanchez
Joined SWS 2015
Señora Sanchez is well-known in the local Waldorf community. She worked as a childcare provider and taught Spanish at Camellia Waldorf School from 1997–2015. Earlier, she was a parent volunteer at Camellia Waldorf School from 1988 through 1996. She taught Spanish initially in the Kindergarten, and later became the Spanish teacher for the grades program.
Her training comes from Sawyer Business College and coursework at Rudolf Steiner College, including several classes on the art of teaching Spanish.
German Teacher
Ina Sarradet
Joined SWS 1996
Teaching at a Waldorf school reminds Ina of her happy childhood in Germany. She appreciates the well-rounded approach to education with a balance of academics, hands-on work, movement, music, and art, all leading to a goal of a happy and healthy childhood, and developing capabilities in the children to be responsible, caring, peaceful and resilient adults.
Ina teaches German to Grades Four through Eight. It is her goal to support students in becoming well-educated citizens of the world with compassion and understanding for other people and other cultures. She has a law degree from Universität Konstanz in Germany and completed coursework at Rudolf Steiner College, including classes on the art of teaching German.
Earlier in her career, Ina practiced law in Germany; after becoming a mother, she and her family moved to the United States and she began working with children in a volunteer capacity. Leading Boy and Girl Scout troops inspired Ina to pursue a teaching career. She lives in Auburn with her husband; they are the proud parents of three grown children.
Handwork Teacher
Khalehla Nicole Simms
Joined SWS 2022
Khalehla grew up being a teacher, always helping classmates with work or being useful in her church Nursery. She considered becoming a pediatrician but quickly realized that her purpose was to teach. She believes that Waldorf teaching brings beauty and health to children and strives to do everything from love to support children’s development. Khalehla is passionate about helping children who do not have families, and young mothers who do not have family support, to thrive in the world.
Khalehla teaches in a Waldorf school out of her understanding that Waldorf education is especially important to the children in this century, since it grounds them in hands-on, experiential learning and the beauty of the world. In the classroom, she aims to connect school life to life in the larger community, offer projects from different cultures, and share stories from around the world about all the ways that people work with their hands.
Khalehla will graduate from Waldorf teacher training at Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training in 2023, holds a BA from Bennett College for Women, and has completed Early Childhood courses at Cosumnes River College.
A resident of Elk Grove, Khalehla lives with four generations of family, from her grandmother to her daughter, on a two-acre property with lots of animals.
Extended Day Coordinator
Ireland Stirling
Joined SWS 2022
Ireland’s (she/her) Waldorf story spans her entire education and beyond. She is a Waldorf Alum having attended Alice Birney from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade and George Washington Carver School of Arts and Science for High School. “Waldorf Education has always heald a special place in my heart since I was able to experience it fully myself,” she says. Her experience and love for this education informs all aspects of her work as our Extended Day Program Coordinator.
“I have always wanted to work with children whether it was in a school setting or not. It is incredibly rewarding to witness their drive to explore, learn, and discover the world,” she says. “Children’s creativity and the joy they bring to everyday moments make working with them extremely inspiring.”
Early Childhood Education holds a special place in Ireland’s heart, and she hopes to complete further Early Childhood Education coursework and to pursue her Waldorf teacher training. Ireland has also completed coursework in Curative Education and sees the immediate need for a more therapeutic education. “I recognize that each child is unique. Each child learns differently and has different strengths and challenges. I do my best to create a space where all children feel comfortable to use their differences to their advantage.”
Librarian
Rachel Yamada
Joined SWS 2020
Before coming to SWS, Rachel (she/her) worked for many years in bookstores, where she specialized in children’s literature. Rachel believes “a library collection should be a living, breathing organism, and it should expand, contract, and evolve.” Rachel is committed to removing outdated texts and adding new and relevant content.
Rachel has a BA in Literature from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master’s in Library and Information Science from San Jose State University.
Rachel’s husband, Andrew May, serves as the Director of Communications at our school, having worked previously as a Humanities Teacher in our High School. Rachel and Andrew’s two daughters are students at Sacramento Waldorf School.