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Faculty & Administration

The Washington Waldorf School is proud of its exceptionally dedicated and experienced faculty and staff. All of our class teachers and lead kindergarten teachers have completed Waldorf teacher trainings and the majority of our teachers take advantage of teacher professional development opportunities at school or at Waldorf courses and conferences. About one third of the teaching faculty have advanced degrees, and 26 faculty members have more than a decade of teaching experience. 

Full Faculty

All teaching and administrative faculty members are members of the Full Faculty, which meets weekly. Although some decisions which affect the entire school are decided in the Full Faculty, the primary work of this group is studying together. This study focuses, variously, on subjects artistic, social, curricular, and anthroposophical, as well as on child development.

Administration

The Administration supports the work of the school by overseeing the physical plant, keeping the families apprised of school events, facilitating communication within the school, preparing student reports, etc.; by implementing the legal and business policies set by the Board of Trustees; by marketing the school and attracting new families into the enrollment process; by assisting in the implementation of pedagogical decisions made by the College of Teachers and the daily work of the departments.

Departments

Early Childhood, Lower School, High School and Administration. All staff in each department are members of that department. Early Childhood, Lower School and High School,meet weekly to develop program, discuss curriculum, focus on individual students’ needs and  manage the larger decisions that affect day-to-day work of that department. Both the Lower School and the High School departments have Administrative Circles that help prepare agendas and to respond to situations that are time sensitive

College of Teachers

The College of Teachers is composed of teachers who have experience in classroom teaching and/or Waldorf education and who are willing to take on the added responsibility of leadership. The College of Teachers (College) ensures that Washington Waldorf School remains a Waldorf School in terms of philosophy, pedagogy and practices.  The College ofTeachers provides oversight of the school’s program and personnel committees and is the decision-making body in these areas. The College of Teachers reviews and makes changes to the budget each year where budgeting affects program. The budget is presented to the Finance Committee and to the Trustees for final approval.

The current members of the College of Teachers are:

  • Natalie Adams, Faculty Chair
  • Nevin Bender (Leave of Absence)
  • Barbara Buchman
  • Corinna Clark (Leave of Absence)
  • Tove Elfstrom
  • Dawn Fox
  • Frank Hall  
  • Jennifer Saloma
  • Taisto Saloma

Chairs Group

The Chair’s Group is made up of the Faculty Chair, the High School, Lower School, and Children’s Garden Chairs. It plays a large role in setting agendas and priorities in support of the Faculty Chair.  The Group takes responsibility for department functions and whole-school tasks

Faculty Chair

Natalie Adams, 1992
B.A. cum laude, Harvard University, 1976. Foundation Studies, Emerson College, Sussex, England, 1977. Certificate, Waldorf Teacher Training, Pedagogical Seminar, Stuttgart, Germany, 1980. Class teacher, Rudolf Steiner School, New York City 1980-1985; class teacher, Washington Waldorf School, 2002-2005. English teacher, Waldorf School of Bucharest,Romania 1994-97. Teacher, in Waldorf Teacher Training,  Bucharest, Romania 1995-1996. Served on Board of the Hartsbrook School, Hadley MA 2005-2009, Trustees Council Washington Waldorf School 2005-present, Board of Research Institute of Waldorf Education 2010-present. WWS  Faculty Chair 2005-present

Children's Garden Co-Chairs

Carol Petrash, Co-Chair, 2006
BA, Early Childhood Education, Hood College; Graduate Studies at University of Maryland; Foundation Year at Emerson College, Forest Row, Sussex, England; Certificate in Waldorf Education, Towson University, Maryland; Continuing Education Courses in Education, Environmental Studies, and Art at Rudolf Steiner Institute and the Audubon Naturalist Society

Jennifer Saloma, CG Teacher, 1988
AB, History, Ohio University; 60 Hour Course, Day Care Training; continuing education coursework, workshops, and conferences

Lower School Chair

Barbara Buchman, Lower School Handwork, 1987
Education: BA  in Humanities from Case Western University, Cleveland, Ohio, MEd  in Special Education University of Pittsburgh, Applied Arts Certificate Sunbridge College, Teacher Training Certificate, NOVA Institute Silver Spring, MD, Foundation Studies  Certificate Center for Anthroposophy, Keene, NH, Trustees Council, College of Teachers, AWSNA Delegate

High School Chair

Taisto Saloma, HS Humanities, Athletic Director, 2003
BA History, Guilford College, Concentration in Sports Studies