The Waldorf School of Louisville

Meet our Faculty

2011-12

Class Teacher, Grade 1: Casey Bayne

Casey received her M.A.T. in Elementary Education from Bellarmine University and has a B.A. in Art Studio from the University of Louisville. She has completed her first year of Waldorf Teacher Training from the Rudolph Steiner College. Casey’s teaching experience includes teaching advanced middle school art classes for the Louisville Visual Art Association, various teaching positions within the public school system and serving as Aftercare Director for the Waldorf School of Louisville during the second term. Casey’s interests include gardening and gourmet cooking. She is excited about leading her first group of children through the Waldorf 1^st Grade program.

Class Teacher, Grade 2: Michael Eger

Mike earned his Bachelors and Masters of Fine Arts degrees from the University of Utah. Before becoming a lead grades teacher Mike taught Games and Folk Dance WSL. In addition he has taught the performing arts to children for 25 years nationally and locally taught at the Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS) for five years, and at Lincoln Elementary, Pleasure Ridge Park High School and Sacred Heart Academy over the past year. He is currently studying within the Waldorf Teacher Certificate program at Antioch University New England. He and his wife Connie are the proud parents of Michael, who attends the Red Rose Kindergarten class.

Class Teacher, Grade 3: Rob Lanier

Rob earned a Master’s in Education from Antioch New England Graduate School in New Hampshire. He took his first Waldorf class from grade 1 through 5, graduating them in 2010. Prior to becoming a Waldorf class teacher in 2005, Rob served the Waldorf School of Louisville as the Afternoon Care Director and the Music Teacher. His professional background includes leadership, directing, and teaching positions with Louisville Youth Choir and Walden Theatre. He has also serves as a music and anthroposophical studies teacher at the Kentahten Waldorf Teacher Training Institute at Bellarmine University. He is the father of Jesse Lanier, WSL Class of 2009.

Class Teacher, Grade 4: Claire Williams

Claire holds a double major in Psychology and Art with a minor in German from St. Norbert College in Wisconsin, and a Master’s in Art Therapy from the University of Louisville. She was awarded a Waldorf Teaching Certification for Preschool through Grade 8 in 1997 and became a Waldorf class teacher in 1998. Claire has taken two classes of students through to graduation at the Waldorf School of Louisville. Prior to becoming a Class Teacher, Claire served WSL as a German Teacher, first grade afternoon teacher, playgroup facilitator, and kindergarten assistant. She has experience teaching language arts in the parochial system and as an Art therapist. She taught science at the Waldorf Teacher Training Institute at Bellarmine University. Claire and her husband Jim Williams are the parents of Jacob Williams, WSL Class of 2000.

Class Teacher, Grade 5/6 Pioneer Class: Japa Buckner

Japa holds degrees in both Business Administration and Child Development, along with his Waldorf Teacher Certification. He has had ongoing training which includes coursework in Art and Philosophy, Collaborative Mentor Training and various seminars concerning ECE students. Japa has 28 years of experience in a variety of educational settings including both private and public education. He has served as a an owner/operator of Urban Montessori Daycare Services, Program Coordinator for Smoketown Presbyterian Child Center, Class Teachers for both the Detroit Waldorf School and the Waldorf School of Louisville, Instructional Assistant with JCPS in the Exceptional Child Education Program, consultant to JCPS on Waldorf methods in the Public School, and has taught Waldorf Teaching Methods and Philosophy at Bellarmine University. He is pleased to return to Waldorf School of Louisville to teach the current 5^th/6^th Grade class. Furthering his work with children, Japa has served as a volunteer in several institutions. His personal pursuits include contemplative practices, continued research into science and mathematics, computer programming and writing about his experiences as a teacher. His accomplishments include the invention of the Pythabacus, as well as several teaching awards.

Full Time Specialty Teacher: Angela Mobley

A graduate of the Waldorf Applied Arts program at Sunbridge College in New York, Angela has been a member of the WSL Faculty since 2001. Angela has taught Grades Handwork classes for eight years, Grades Music classes for three years and has taught voice for the Flying Hands School of Music. She has taught singing and handwork, supervised recess, and led the Parent-Child ProgramAs a full-time Specialty teacher, Angela will continue teaching Grades Handwork classes and Music classes. She will also provide support to the Grades program in various ways throughout the school day. Angela has four children: Brianna, Madeline, Serena (Third Grade) and Davis (Daisy Garden Nursery).

Butterfly Garden Nursery/Pre-K Teacher: Kristin Langley

Kristin holds a B.A. in Psychology from Miami of Ohio University, as well as a Master’s of Art Therapy from University of Louisville. She recently completed her certification in Waldorf Education for birth to three year olds. Prior to making her way to Waldorf education, she worked as a child family therapist. She has served Waldorf School of Louisville as a Kindergarten Assistant and currently holds the title of Daycare Director. She will be teaching Parent-Child classes and the newly established Butterfly Garden two day nursery. She enjoys spending time with her family, husband Raleigh and daughter Emma Grace (3^rd Grade).

Butterfly Garden Nursery Assistant: Carol Vetter

Carol brings love and knowledge of Waldorf education to her teaching position. She and her husband, Eddie, have four children: Gabriel (6^th Grade), Sebastian (4^th Grade), Jude (Red Rose Kindergarten) and Samuel.

Daisy Garden Nursery/Pre-K Teacher: Haeja Kang

Haeja earned an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from the Rudolf Steiner College in Sacramento, California; an Associate of Arts and English Literature from Sonoda Gakuen Women’s Junior College in Hyogo, Japan; and an Associate’s Degree in Elementary Education/General Studies from San Francisco City College. Prior to becoming a lead Pre-K/Nursery teacher in 2007, Haeja worked as an assistant in our Mixed-Age Kindergarten for five years. Before moving from Japan to the U.S., Haeja was a Korean Dance and Drumming Instructor for children of all ages and adults. Haeja and her husband Andrew Kang-Bartlett are the parents of two Waldorf alumni, Elias (Class of 2004) and Julian (Class of 2008).

Daisy Garden Nursery Assistant: Valerie Andres

Valerie is a wonderful addition to the Daisy Garden class. Valerie’s daughter, Della, is a student in the Red Rose Kindergarten.

Red Rose Kindergarten Teacher: Evy Royce

Evy graduated from the University of Louisville with a BA in Elementary Education and went on to earn an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from the Rudolf Steiner College in Sacramento, California. She also completed the three-year “Uncovering the Voice” singing program in Sacramento, California. Prior to becoming a Lead Waldorf Kindergarten teacher in 1996, she served as an assistant in the Waldorf Kindergarten. Evy’s son Royce Jackson is a Waldorf School of Louisville alumni Class of 2002.

Red Rose Kindergarten Assistant: Christi Scoccola-Hootman

Christi has a Master’s of Art in teaching from the University of Louisville, as well as being a fully trained Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher. She served as the Red Rose Kindergarten assistant and Aftercare Teacher for five years prior to leading a kindergarten class at The Friends School and serving as an assistant teacher at The Early Learning Campus at the University of Louisville. Christi and her husband Brian are the parents of Willow (Daisy Garden Nursery) and Sage.

Sunflower Kindergarten Teacher: Marybeth Legler

Marybeth graduated from Indiana University with a BA in Social and Environmental Sustainability in 2003. She then completed her Waldorf Early Childhood teacher training at Rudolf Steiner College in Sacramento, California. She is also a certified Permaculture Designer and Master Gardener. Marybeth began her journey at the Waldorf School of Louisville as a Kindergarten Assistant. The following year, she became the Aftercare Director of the Aftercare program. She led the Aftercare program for two years before accepting a lead Waldorf Kindergarten position at Heart to Hand School in Reno, Nevada. She taught there for two years and returned to Louisville in the summer of 2011 to lead the Sunflower Kindergarten Class.

Sunflower Kindergarten Assistant: Dayna Rouse

Dayna has a daughter, Lydia, who will be entering Kindergarten after two years in the Daisy Garden Nursery. She brings a loving and nurturing presence and is so very happy to be deepening her connection to Waldorf education by serving as a kindergarten assistant.

Associate Faculty

In addition to classroom teachers, the Waldorf School of Louisville also has an Associate Faculty of individuals who are specialists in a given area. Working with the Class Teachers, the specialty teachers bring lessons to the students in an interdisciplinary way that deepens the overall curriculum and brings the students a wide range of experiences, knowledge, and capacities.

Extra Lesson / Remedial Teacher:

Kelli Bailey Kelli has a Waldorf Teacher Training Certificate from Kentahten Teacher Training, a Ph.D. in Post-Colonial Literature from U.K. and an M.A. in English Literature. She is currently beginning her third year of remedial training through the Association for a Healing Education, based in Detroit, Michigan. She has taught English at Seneca High School, Valley Traditional High School, the Universite des Arts et Lettres in Karouan, Tunisia, the University of Kentucky, and Jefferson Community College. She has also been an SAT and ACT tutor at Sylvan Learning Center. Kelli and her husband Dave are the parents of Quinn, a WSL fourth grader, and Juliet, who is in the second grade class.

Resource & Recess Teacher:

Becky Richards Becky earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Georgetown College. She has worked as a Preschool Teacher, Childcare Provider, Design Assistant, Gardener, Special Events Manager, and Development Coordinator. Becky and her husband Will are the parents of Max, a WSL fourth grader, and Ali, in Red Rose Kindergarten.

Spanish Teacher:

Leo Provan holds a BA in English and a BA in Education. She taught ESP (English for Specific Purposes) at Universidad Las Condes, and English and Spanish at Linguatec Language School, both in Santiago, Chile, where she grew up.

Leo became a Craniosacral Practitioner and a Reiki Master Teacher to help her 17 year old son who has Cerebral Palsy and Autism. She practices both healing disciplines at her private practice A Ray of Hope. Leo also teaches Reiki (a form of healing touch) to children and adults.

Leo worked on an intensive home program with her son Lawrence for six years building skills that would allow him to participate in school. Lawrence stood up and took his first steps at the age of six and joined the school system in 2005.

She is a founding member of the Hope Center for Growth, nonprofit organization that provides summer programs for young adults within the autism spectrum. She has worked with other parents in the area to bring a Camphill to the Louisville area.

Leo is passionate about supporting children, teens and adults with disabilities and their families on their unique paths. She believes that any child becomes a successful learner when the potential within is nurtured.

Afternoon Care Teacher: Charisse McKellar

Afternoon Care Assistant: Tessie Smith

Daycare Director: Kristin Langley

Games and Pentathlon Teacher: Chance Mobley

Handwork Teacher: Angela Mobley

Music Teacher: Angela Mobley

Japanese Teacher: Miyuki Maruping

Violin Teacher: Tamara Meinecke

Cello Teacher: Lucas Almeida