Our teachers inspire us. We wanted to share some of that with you.
A Community of Families, Friends and Teachers
Part of what we are trained to do as Waldorf teachers is to look more deeply into everything, whether it’s the stroke of a child’s handwriting or an expression in their face. We’re looking for the deeper subtext of what is happening, because each child is an individual with their own path and their own special gift; none of them come from the same mold. My job is to see their gift and to lead them to their highest possible potential. –Adam Beshears, 4th grade teacher
Faculty Spotlight
Just as each Marin Waldorf student is unique unto him or herself, so too are our teachers.
Click here to read a conversation with Claudio Salusso, the eighth grade teacher who hails originally from Argentina and loves to ride his motorcycle.
Individual Teacher Profiles
Click here to meet our
teachers
A human being is so much more than the knowledge contained within. A human being is composed of thoughts, feelings, deeds, spirit and soul, and what we do at Marin Waldorf speaks to all of those things.Adam Bashears, 4th grade teacher
The depth and breadth of Waldorf education is unique. Of course, it's concerned with developing the intellect, but more importantly, it considers all aspects of human development. The goal is to educate and help create a well-rounded individual.Rebecca Cotter, Faculty Chair
The kindergarten is based on three fundamentals; goodness, truth and beauty. My job is to recognize and honor these qualities in each child so that they can come into the world and express themselves in a healthy way. Johanna Rader, Kindergarten
The young child naturally observes and learns through imitation, so we strive to model worthy actions and deeds of goodness in all that we do. This is reflected in our movement and gestures, singing and tone of voice and in our artistic and practical activities throughout each day. Johanna Rader, Kindergarten
The freedom we have as Waldorf teachers to use our own creativity and inspiration to best teach our classes challenges us to be versatile and observant. In my experience, when the teacher is inspired, so are the students. Rebecca Cotter, Faculty Chair
Cultivating Connectedness and Service
Children have a connection to the natural world and working with natural fibers and materials allows them to maintain that connection. When we visit a farm we care for the sheep, we write stories and draw pictures of them. We shear the sheep, we wash and spin the wool and dye it. Participating in the whole process from beginning to end builds a relationship so even if a child just makes a little pouch from the wool in the end, they've seen the sheep it came from and they can appreciate the connectedness of things.-Manette Teitalbaum, handwork teacher
In the Kindergarten we make bread every week. We first grind the grain so the child sees it become flour. Another day we will make the dough together and watch it rise by the afternoon. The following day we knead and bake the bread and proceed to eat it for our snack. But we take it one step further, we not only make enough for us to eat, but we make enough to take a basket full of buns with honey-butter to a grade's class. This is our offering, a deed of giving and serving our community.Johanna Rader, Kindergarten
Marin Waldorf students are taught early on to have respect for their school, their work and materials, their teachers, and their classmates. The teachers give opportunities throughout the day (and all through the grades) to not only be kind to one another but to really be of service.-Rebecca Cotter, Faculty Chair
One part of the kindergarten curriculum is the celebration of life, and this takes the form of preparing for and celebrating festivals from many cultures. Learning about the world through celebration gives the children a chance to appreciate the gifts around us and to nourish and show gratitude for each other.Johanna Rader, Kindergarten
If a child doesn't love what they are learning they'll only learn as much as is required of them. But if they love it, it's because they're being fed by it and they'll want more. This is why when I teach anything, whether arithmetic, reading or language, I preface everything with a story, which sparks their imaginations, and engages their curiosity.-Adam Beshears, 4th grade teacher
Our teaching is based on understanding child development and meeting the child on their emotional, physical and spiritual level. In the Kindergarten that means we meet the child in the world of the imagination because children at this age aren? thinking in concepts, but seeing the world in pictures. This is why we teach through stories. Stories are more real to them and have meaning and purpose, and when something has meaning for a child it becomes worthy of their learning and participation. Johanna Rader
The goal of being a Waldorf teacher is to make yourself mindful of the children; what is happening inside of them and around them. So every morning before we begin, I stand in the doorway of the classroom and the children stand in a line and one by one they come to me; we look each other in the eye and we shake hands. It's a moment of physical contact, and a chance for me to look into them; I'm noticing the ones who have tired eyes, and the ones who are bright, shiny and ready. I'm feeling it in their hands; the strength of their handshake; whether it's firm or limp; whether their hand is cold; whether they're full of vitality and life. It gives me just a moment before they come in the door to feel into how they are so that we can begin the day. Adam Beshears, 4th grade teacher
A Community of Families, Friends and Teachers
We are as interested in the parents as we are in their children, and because of that parents feel respected and they have a greater trust in us. School becomes not only a place where they drop their children off in the morning, but a community where they find support and friendship. You'll be amazed at how helpful that is to a child when their parents are getting the support they need. -Adam Beshears, 4th grade teacher