EARLY  CHILDHOOD  FACULTY & STAFF

Lea Nelson Gemmell

ROSEBUD PRESCHOOL TEACHER

Lea Nelson Gemmell has been teaching in Waldorf early childhood classrooms since 1999, including parent-child, preschool, and kindergarten programs. She has taught and mentored at multiple Waldorf schools throughout California and currently leads our preschool program at Sacramento Waldorf School. Lea studied at Grossmont College and completed her Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Education at the Waldorf Institute of Southern California.

Lea was drawn to Waldorf education over three decades ago by its reverence for the developing child and its integration of arts, movement, and spirituality. She continues to find inspiration in the beauty and rhythm of the curriculum and in supporting families on their parenting journeys. Whether in the classroom, on walks to the farm, or through gentle conversations with parents, Lea brings presence, experience, and deep care to the children she teaches.

Lea lives in Fair Oaks with her husband, three dogs, and two cats. A devoted mother and grandmother, she delights in spending time with her three grown children, three grandchildren, a stepdaughter, and three step-grandchildren—all living in California.

Beth Bertschy

ROSEBUD PRESCHOOL ASSISTANT

Bio coming soon…

Julie Mulrooney

RED ROSE KINDERGARTEN LEAD TEACHER

JWS 2021ulie (she/her) has more than seventeen years of experience teaching in Waldorf and other private schools. Seven of those years were taught in an early childhood setting. Julie 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 Waldorf 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 three cats, Jingles, Freya, and Maizee. Julie’s two children have attended Sacramento Waldorf School. Her oldest is an alum 2025, and her son is heading into our high school. Julie and her family enjoy mountain biking, camping, and swimming in the ocean in their free time.

Shwetha Nagaraju

RED ROSE KINDERGARTEN ASSISTANT

Shwetha (she, her) discovered Waldorf education after her son was born and she fell in love with the way it engages children’s learning through head, heart, and hand. After being inspired by the Waldorf philosophy of imagination and creativity, and her love for working with children, she decided to become a teacher.

 Shwetha is in the process of completing her Associate teacher certificate for early childhood education.  She also holds an Engineering degree in Information Science, a Master of Technology in Computer Networking, and a Master of Science in Project Management. 

 Shwetha believes that each child is a spiritual being, who is here to share their beautiful qualities with others and also learn and grow in all aspects to become who they want to be when provided with a loving and caring environment.

Catalina Edwards

WHITE ROSE KINDERGARTEN LEAD TEACHER

Originally from Colombia, Catalina Edwards brings a rich blend of cultural heritage, artistic passion, and deep pedagogical care to her work in early childhood education. Catalina’s journey in Waldorf education began at the Davis Waldorf School, where she gained foundational experience as an Assistant Teacher in both Preschool and Kindergarten before stepping into the role of Lead Preschool Teacher. Her passion for Waldorf's holistic and nurturing approach led her to establish the early childhood program at Pleasant Valley Roots School, a Waldorf-inspired school in Vacaville, and to guide her inaugural class from preschool into kindergarten. Most recently, Catalina served as the Lead Kindergarten Teacher at Wildcat Canyon Community School, where she continued to cultivate warm, rhythmic, and nature-inspired environments for young children.

Holding a Waldorf Early Childhood Certificate from the Sound Circle Center for Arts and Anthroposophy, as well as a certificate in Voice and Songwriting from The Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, Catalina naturally integrates music and the Spanish language into her daily rhythm with the children. Her artistic work—including her music group Vuela Colibrí—is deeply rooted in the cultural healing songs and wisdom of South American indigenous traditions. Catalina recognizes how innately young children connect to these ancestral melodies, natural rhythms, and land-centered wisdom. By bringing South American indigenous music, native language, and earth-honoring traditions into the early childhood curriculum, she fosters a deep sense of reverence, harmony, and belonging in the classroom, helping children feel truly rooted in the natural world and their surrounding community.

Natalia Kosareva

WHITE ROSE KINDERGARTEN ASSISTANT

After the birth of​ her son,​ Natalia’s (she/her) family lived in different countries.​ She describes that period as an exciting experience of immersion in different cultural traditions​, during which she was able to communicate with ​many ​new people from other ​backgrounds. When her son was four years old, Natalia started looking for a school for him. She says, “When I first stepped into a Waldorf Kindergarten class, I realized that I wanted to stay there forever, and I started working there as an assistant.”

Natalia loves being with children and developing both professionally and personally. She teaches at Sacramento Waldorf School because the Waldorf philosophy aligns with her worldview, and she believes that Waldorf education helps parents raise healthy children who can think for themselves, empathize with others, and build a better world.

Natalia’s teaching philosophy is to take care of the essential people in life, our children, with love and reverence. In her work, she supports the healthy development of the physical body in the first seven years of life and aims to help families develop a sustainable rhythm at home. Natalia’s professional goals include gaining a deeper understanding of the nature of the child, studying curative education to enhance her work with children and families, and pursuing a master’s degree in teaching and education.

Natalia studied dance at Moscow State University of Culture and Arts from which she received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She has additional training in Child Development and Early Childhood Education from American River College, is enrolled in a Waldorf education training program, and has completed level one of “Making Sense of Children: Developmental Science in Practice,” a course from the Neufeld Institute.

Natalia lives in Carmichael with her husband and son, who is a student at Sacramento Waldorf School.

Ann Elizabeth Landgraf

PARENT-CHILD PROGRAM TEACHER (WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY)

Ann (she/her) spent 30 years as a Kindergarten teacher and now serves as Parent-Child Program leader. She has completed coursework in art and psychology at Sacramento State College, in early childhood education at American River College, and general coursework at Rudolf Steiner College. A 50-year resident of Fair Oaks, Ann enjoys pottery, painting, drawing, and gardening.

She appreciates teaching with others, sharing the developmental picture of the growing child, and embracing a spiritual approach to education. Married for 49 years, she has two children and one grandchild. Ann believes every child is born with gifts that need nurturing. She says, “Rhythm, reverence, and repetition are healthy for each of us and important for the young child to experience.”

Susan Bagley

PARENT-CHILD PROGRAM TEACHER (WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY)

Bio coming soon…

Alice Stamm

KINDERGARTEN EURYTHMY TEACHER

Alice Stamm has been teaching eurythmy since 1975. She began her eurythmy training in Eckwalden, Germany and finished with Else Klink in Stuttgart. Alice also trained in therapeutic eurythmy, receiving a diploma from the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland.

Having moved back to the States in 1978, she has taught in trainings, Waldorf schools, and did performing work in Spring Valley, Kimberton, Chicago, on the west coast in Los Angeles, and now in Fair Oaks. For the past 12 years until she retired, she built up both pedagogical eurythmy and remedial work at a Highland Hall Waldorf school in L.A. and since 2004 has been teaching at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks as well kindergarten eurythmy at Davis Waldorf School and several public schools in the Sacramento area. She does mentoring of colleagues as well.

She is president of the Eurythmy Association of North America which she began with six other colleagues in 1979. She also helped to form the Section Collegium for the Performing Arts in North America in 1988.

Dena Malon

LOWER SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR

Dena Malon (she/her) came to Sacramento Waldorf School (SWS) in August of 2024 with a diverse background that began in New York City, where she earned her BA in Theater and Communications. Her path to SWS took her through various experiences that have shaped her deep dedication to Waldorf education.

Early in her career in Atlanta, Dena was an actress and the artistic director of CREATE, an educational theater company. Here, she leveraged the power of performance, writing, directing, and acting in plays and one-person shows that targeted the social, emotional, and academic needs of students from first grade through high school. She also imparted her knowledge to fellow educators, training teachers on creative strategies for classroom management and curriculum development.

The turning point in Dena's educational philosophy came with the birth of her sons, Max and Jack (now 32 and 36). Convinced that only Waldorf education could fulfill her deepest aspirations for them, she became a Waldorf parent. This personal connection quickly led her to embrace the profession; she completed her Waldorf teacher training at Sunbridge Institute in 1997 and subsequently became the class teacher for the Class of 2007 at the Waldorf School of Atlanta, completing the eight-year cycle with them.

Dena returned to New York City to teach the Class of 2015 at the Rudolf Steiner School, guiding them from first to eighth grade. More recently, after relocating to California to be with her husband, Thom Schaefer, she served as the Grades Director at the Marin Waldorf School for four years. Last year (2023-24), Dena and Thom were instrumental as mentors and teacher trainers for a new Waldorf initiative in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. This year, at SWS, Dena has served as a mentor, middle school support teacher, and language arts teacher to the 8th grade. Since February, she has been class teacher to the 5th grade.

At both the Rudolf Steiner School and Marin Waldorf School, Dena actively served on DEIJB committees. These were deeply important experiences to her as a teacher, administrator, and human being.

As the new Lower School Administrator, Dena is eager to support the faculty with ongoing guidance and collaboration. She is especially excited to build meaningful partnerships with the parents of Sacramento Waldorf School, enriching their understanding and deepening their experience of Waldorf education. With a strong commitment to fostering connections within the school community, Dena believes that cultivating these relationships is essential to best serve and nurture the students. 

Rose Witmer

EC, LOWER & MIDDLE SCHOOL COORDINATOR & REGISTRAR

Bio coming soon…

Misty DeGennaro

OFFICE ASSISTANT & AP/PAYROLL SPECIALIST

Misty (she/her) joined the Sacramento Waldorf School administrative team in 2018. She assists children, parents, and faculty in the office and has been an integral part of the school’s marketing efforts.

Misty brings a positive attitude to her position and strives for kindness and compassion with every interaction. She feels fortunate to be a part of the amazing education and beautiful campus offered at Sacramento Waldorf School.

Misty holds a BS in Business Administration Finance from California State University, Chico, and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Chapman University.

She and her husband, Paul, have three sons, all of whom recently graduated from Sacramento Waldorf School.

Valerie Leksich

EC, LOWER & MIDDLE SCHOOL RECEPTIONIST

Miss Valerie (she/her), as she is known on campus, moved with her family to Fair Oaks from Atlanta in 1988, so that her children could attend Sacramento Waldorf School. For many years, she enjoyed volunteering for the school, and in 2001, she decided to join our staff officially. The mother of two Sacramento Waldorf School graduates (Classes of 2000 and 2004), Valerie holds a BA in Psychology from Georgia State University. In her early career, before her family’s move to California, she worked as an adult protective services caseworker.

Ireland Stirling

EXTENDED DAY & SUMMER PROGRAM COORDINATOR

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 held a special place in my heart since I was able to experience it fully myself,” she says. Her experience and love for this education inform 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.”

Annabelle Doud

RED ROSE KINDERGARTEN EXTENDED DAY ASSISTANT

Bio coming soon…

Chloe Geideman

RED ROSE KINDERGARTEN EXTENDED DAY ASSISTANT

Bio coming soon…

TBD - Open Position

ROSEBUD PRESCHOOL EXTENDED DAY ASSISTANT

No Bio Available