Lea Nelson Gemmell

Joined SWS 2024

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

Joined SWS 2025

Bio coming soon…

Julie Mulrooney

Joined SWS 2021

Julie (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

Joined 2021

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.