Meet Our Faculty

Little Acorns Preschool Teacher

Forest Campus

cstanger@waldorfsaratoga.org

Courtney has been working as a Registered Nurse at Saratoga Hospital since 2010. After discovering Waldorf education through her own two children, she began at Sophia's Hearth Teacher Education Center where she is currently working toward her early childhood certificate. Courtney has been leading Parent Child Groups and assisting in our Early Childhood programs since 2018, taking on her own preschool class in 2021.

Little Acorns Preschool Assistant

Forest Campus

astevens@waldorfsaratoga.org

Alexandra is a mother of three children, including a Forest graduate and two current students. She has a Masters degree in education and has spent many years working alongside young children as a nanny, coach and educator. Alexandra was a substitute teacher at the Forest Kindergarten last year and is thrilled to now work full time with Courtney and the Little Acorns at the Forest campus. 

Evergreen Kindergarten Teacher

Forest Campus

bfranco@waldorfsaratoga.org

Becca Franco (she/her) completed her Masters Degree in Child Development with a concentration in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health from the University of Minnesota and is working towards her Waldorf early childhood certification from Sophia’s Hearth. Becca has a long and loving history with the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs; firstly as a student from preschool through 12th grade, then as an assistant teacher and parent. She has been a lead teacher at the Forest campus since 2022 and lives in Queensbury with her husband and two children.

Evergeen Kindergarten Assistant

Forest Campus

kgillespie@waldorfsaratoga.org

Kim has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Human Resources Education. Prior to working at Waldorf Saratoga, she worked in a corporate environment in many different adult training positions. She transitioned to a role at the Waldorf school after her kids began attending the Lower School in 2022. Kim is also a member of the Board of Directors. When she is not shuffling her kids from here to there, you can usually find her in the garden or in the kitchen baking with sourdough and trying to create healthy foods her kids will eat!

Maple Kindergarten Teacher

Forest Campus

hlaffer-zobel@waldorfsaratoga.org

Helaini lives in Schuylerville with her husband and three children. When she's not out playing in nature she can be found helping at her husband's art gallery. Helaini's roots run deep in our Waldorf community. She attended from preschool through twelfth grade and is now a parent at the early childhood program. Helaini is excited to be coming full circle as a teacher as she works towards her Waldorf early childhood certification. Her years of experience as a long-term care nurse as well as in-depth work with young children and their families have well prepared her for this next role in our community.

Maple Kindergarten Assistant

Forest Campus

wlandis@waldorfsaratoga.org

Whitney is holds a Master of Arts from George Washington University. She is from Saratoga Springs, but has lived, studied, and worked around the country. Whitney has worked with children for many years in summer camps, childcare centers, and schools.

Rainbow Bridge Preschool Teacher

Early Childhood Center Campus

jlutz@waldorfsaratoga.org

Jen holds a Bachelor’s of Social Work from Marist College and a Certificate in Waldorf Early Childhood Education from Sophia’s Hearth. Prior to her career in teaching, Jen worked for a non-profit in Albany assisting and advocating for people with traumatic brain injuries. Jen first assisted in our nursery program and then joined our faculty as Lead Teacher in 2018. Jen has taught kindergarten, preschool and caregiver-child classes at our school. She is also a member of the Board of Directors. She lives in Saratoga with her husband and three children.

Rainbow Bridge Preschool Assistant

Early Childhood Center Campus

kcrosby@waldorfsaratoga.org

Kendall joins us after spending the past few years as a stay-at-home mother, previously working in interior design. She joined the faculty as a Nursery Assistant at the Early Childhood Center in 2023.

Rose Kindergarten Teacher

Early Childhood Center Campus

sadler@waldorfsaratoga.org

Sara attended Green Meadow Waldorf School in Spring Valley, NY from Kindergarten through twelfth grade and attributes much of her development and success to her Waldorf education. She studied acting at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Neighborhood Playhouse in NYC, then received a Montessori Certification while working at Hoboken Montessori School. She then taught music at various preschools while staying home with her two children and moved to Saratoga Springs summer of 2023. Sara is beyond excited to have gotten back to her Waldorf roots and enjoys songwriting, singing and walks in nature.

Rose Kindergarten Assistant

Early Childhood Center Campus

mmacdonald@waldorfsaratoga.org

Molly attended the Upper Valley Waldorf School in Vermont from third to seventh grade and recently graduated from Mascoma High School and Hartford Area Career and Technology Center. She has plenty of experience with children, having been a babysitter, camp counselor, horseback riding teacher, and assistant in a special education classroom. Molly loves working with children and watching them learn about how the world works. She is originally form Western New Hampshire and now lives in Saratoga Springs.

Grade 1 Class Teacher

abieniek@waldorfsaratoga.org

Amanda received a B.A. in Graphic Design from Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island and is currently enrolled in the Teacher Certification Program at Sunbridge Institute. Amanda also enjoys hiking, photography, and cultivating houseplants.

Grade 2 Class Teacher

kgibbs@waldorfsaratoga.org

Kristyn earned her Master's of Education from Antioch University New England with a focus on arts and humanities in early childhood and completed her undergraduate studies in psychology. She taught in public schools before discovering Waldorf education for her own children who both attend our school. Kristyn grew up in Saratoga County and is grateful to have the opportunity to raise her family in this beautiful, abundant area.

Grade 3 Class Teacher

fdoriwala@waldorfsaratoga.org

Farida joined the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs in 2022 and is an experienced educator with a decade of experience as lead class teacher. She holds a B.A. and an M.A. in Education as well as a certificate in Waldorf methodology, honing her 15 years in the field of education with her love of the arts. Farida loves to experience new foods, new cultures, and the joy of life!

Grade 4 Class Teacher

eross@waldorfsaratoga.org

Emily graduated from St. Lawrence University with a degree in English. During her time at St. Lawrence, she was a violinist in the orchestra and on the Women’s Rowing Team. She is currently enrolled in the Waldorf Training at the Alkion Center in Hawthorne Valley.

Grade 5 Class Teacher

sward@waldorfsaratoga.org

Sophie attended the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs from preschool until twelfth grade. After graduating high school, she attended Bennington College where she was given the opportunity to be a student teacher in Brooklyn, New York and Tokyo. After graduating from Bennington, Sophie moved to Japan to teach English, then decided to enroll in the Waldorf teacher training program at Alkion and move back to Saratoga Springs to join our school, creating a full circle!

Grade 6 Class Teacher

hkidd@waldorfsaratoga.org

Heather (she/her) graduated from Austin College in Sherman, TX with a BA in Communication Arts and Tulane University in New Orleans, LA with an MFA in Theatrical Design. She completed her training at Waldorf Teacher Education Eugene in Oregon. Heather has guided three groups of children though Waldorf education in the lower grades and is excited to finally delve into middle school! Heather most enjoys singing, dancing, hiking, and creating community. This year will mark her sixth year at the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs.

Grade 7 Class Teacher

ahahn@waldorfsaratoga.org

Andy studied philosophy and mathematics at the University of Illinois. After working with adults with special needs, he began Waldorf training at Sunbridge College and completed Consciousness Studies and the biodynamic apprenticeship at Rudolf Steiner College. Andy then earned a PhD from Oregon State University focusing on the history of science, philosophy, and literature. Before joining the faculty, he taught high school science, along with college courses for the history and biology departments in Idaho. Andy joined our faculty in 2021.

Grade 8 Class Teacher

kcrandall@waldorfsaratoga.org

Karen received a BFA from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science in Education from Sunbridge College. She began her teaching career at WSSS in 1993 and is currently teaching her fourth class cycle. She is the chair of the Governance Council and Teacher Development Committee and teaches Waldorf teacher training at Sunbridge Institute. Karen shares her insight and deep love for Waldorf education in "Windows on Waldorf," a monthly presentation on the unique qualities and strengths of Waldorf Education.

World Language Teacher

randerson@waldorfsaratoga.org

Señorita Rebekah is a dedicated world language teacher with a decade of living experience in the Spanish Virgin Islands off the coast of Puerto Rico. She brings a deep love for the Hispanic culture to her classroom and through the use of music, games and repetition in teaching her students are thriving with their newly introduced world language of Spanish. Señorita Rebekah creates an immersive and enjoyable learning environment, fostering both language acquisition and cultural appreciation among her students.

Strings Teacher

mbarron@waldorfsaratoga.org

Matthew grew up and attended school right here in the Capital Region and started playing violin when he was in fourth grade. In high school, he switched from violin to bass and decided to study it as his primary instrument at the Crane School of Music. Besides teaching, Matthew performs with local orchestras in the Capital Region. He is very excited to help the Waldorf students experience music through playing string instruments.

Eurythmy Teacher

selmore@waldorfsaratoga.org

Susan did a year at the Sunbridge Institute and then completed her training at the London School of Eurythmy. Over decades, she has taught eurythmy in many Waldorf schools, teacher trainings, and adult workshops, most notably the Toronto Waldorf School, Rudolf Steiner College in Ca., the Santa Cruz Waldorf School, and the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs. Along the way she performed in Canada, the US, and the UK, and became certified in Therapeutic Eurythmy at Peredur Centre for the Arts in Sussex.

Special Education Teacher

j_fuson@saratogaschools.org

Joanne was born in Toronto and raised in California, where she earned a B.A. in Psychology from UC San Diego and an M.Ed. in Special Education from the University of San Diego. She taught a variety of students, from special needs to gifted education, in San Diego and Spokane, Washington before moving to Glenville, NY. This is her sixth year at Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs.

Special Education Teacher Aide

k_karadenes@saratogaschools.org

Karen holds a B.A. in Communications from University of Mount Saint Vincent in Riverdale, NY. She has eleven years of experience as a Teacher Aide throughout the school district, and this is her third year at Waldorf. Karen really enjoys learning new things along with the students here, such as knitting and form drawing!

Movement and Games Teacher

slavigne@waldorfsaratoga.org

Stephen grew up in Ballston Lake and attended Cortland to study Sports Management. He has ten years of previous teaching experience, eight of which were at the Meadowbrook Waldorf School in Rhode Island. He and his wife recently moved back to the area to be closer to family, and he loves playing all kinds of games, being outside, listening to music, and playing with his dog, Reggie.

Handwork Teacher

Grades 1-6

eodonnell@waldorfsaratoga.org

Emily (they/them) began their Waldorf journey at the Eugene Waldorf School, continued as a student at WSSS in Grade 5, and graduated in 2015. Emily received a BA from Bennington College with a focus on visual arts (painting) and gender studies. They work seasonally at Goode Farm, volunteer with the Flurry, and work on artistic commissions, including spun cotton miniatures, fiber arts, and painting. They enjoy time in their garden and studio with six ducks and one very sweet cat.

Fine Arts and Handwork Teacher

Middle School

kpatterson@waldorfsaratoga.org

Katherine received her BFA from The Cooper Union and her MFA from New England College, and has shown her artwork at various galleries in New York City and regionally. Before working at Waldorf, she was an adjunct professor of art and design at SUNY Adirondack for over ten years. Katherine lives in Glens Falls with her husband and homeschools her two sons. Her work can be viewed at www.katherinempatterson.com.

Practical Arts Teacher

Grades 4 - 8

mwhitney@waldorfsaratoga.org

Michael graduated from Pratt institute in 1994 with a BA in Industrial design. He worked for many years fabricating cabinets and furniture in Brooklyn. During those years he found time to have three kids and create hundreds of one-of-a-kind functional products using found objects. He completed his Waldorf training at the Alkion Center in Hawthorne Valley. Michael joined our faculty in 2014.

Aftercare Lead Teacher

lsaftercare@waldorfsaratoga.org

Tamara received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health from SUNY Potsdam, where she also studied music at Crane. She has substitute taught and assisted in our Early Childhood Program since 2018. She lives in Saratoga Springs with her husband and two children.