our faculty
early childhood teachers
Linda Heywood ~ Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Linda holds Bachelor's degrees in English and Early Childhood Education from the University of Wisconsin. She has studied Art at Millersville University and the University of Massachusetts. In 1987 she helped reorganize the Susquehanna Waldorf School, then known as the Lancaster Waldorf School, and became its first teacher in September of 1987. She has been teaching Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and Parent-Toddler classes ever since.
Lisa Hildreth ~ Kindergarten Teacher
Lisa received Bachelor and Master degrees in English from Montclair State College and Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. In 2002, she completed her Waldorf Teacher Training program (Early Childhood) at Sunbridge College in New York, and in 2004 received a Masters of Science degree in Education, also from Sunbridge. Lisa has been a parent and Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten teacher at Green Meadow Waldorf School in New York and the Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School in Massachusetts. She joined SWS for the 2003/2004 school year as the Pre-Kindergarten teacher.
Ruth Kasl ~ Kindergarten Teacher
Ruth received an Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education from Sunbridge College New York. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Principia College, Illinois as a Clothing & Textile major. She was with the Oakland Steiner School for 5 years assisting and leading their afternoon early childhood programs. Ruth then joined SWS in the fall of 2000 as a Kindergarten teacher and in 2004 took a two year leave to work with dogs. She has rejoined the SWS faculty once again as the Kindergarten teacher.
Melissa Thomas-Brumme ~ Afternoon Garden Lead
Melissa came to our school first as a parent and began work in the Afternoon Garden program in the 2002/03 school year. She has assisted in both early childhood morning programs and summer camp, and also led summer camp. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Philosophy from Gordon College in Massachusetts. Melissa enjoys studying Waldorf education, early childhood conferences at Sunbridge College, handwork, gardening and healthy cooking.
The Susquehanna Waldorf School recognizes the work and employment of the assistants in the Early Childhood classrooms. By having assistants in the classrooms, we continue to ensure the quality of our programs. Their biographies will appear in The Post.
grades teachers
Salvatore Martino ~ First Grade Teacher
Salvatore holds a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Rochester and a Master's Degree in Religion/Buddhist studies from the Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colorado. He has a teacher certificate from the City College of New York, Staten Island. He frequently attends Waldorf teacher training seminars. Salvatore started teaching first grade at the Susquehanna Waldorf School in the fall of 1992; he graduated this class from sixth grade in the spring of 1998; he graduated his second class in June 2006 and is returning to take this class for an eight year journey.
Suzanne Weaver-Goss ~ Second Grade Teacher
Suzanne returns to her family roots in Lancaster county after living in California, Vermont and New Hampshire. She has been involved with Waldorf Education on some level for the past 25 years. Suzanne has served as a long-term substitute and has taught a public school third grade. She received her undergraduate degree from Johnson State College, Johnson, VT and received her teaching certificate from Upper Valley Teacher Institute, Lebanon, NH. Over the next several years, Suzanne is looking forward to receive her Waldorf training as she and the class begin their journey together. She is the mother of two grown children, both of whom were home schooled through Waldorf methodologies.
Jim Fitzpatrick ~ Third Grade Teacher
Jim Fitzpatrick attended Penn State and Kutztown University, B.S., majoring in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy. He has also received a certification in Art Education and has taught middle school art in Elizabethtown School District. This summer he completed a weeklong intensive training for third grade at Sunbridge College. In addition to his other teaching experiences, Jim has tutored students at Children's Home at Masonic Homes in Elizabethtown and has worked for various agencies and gained experience working with students with special needs. Jim has also completed numerous professional development seminars through Landmark Education- titles such as "Integrity" and "Self-Expression and Leadership".
Melissa McIntyre ~ Fourth Grade Teacher
Melissa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Art History from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, as well as a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. Her previous work experiences include teaching in Florida, Germany and Idaho. After starting a family, Melissa tutored part-time at Sylvan Learning Center for 4 years. Recently she has finished the Introduction to Waldorf Kindergarten training at Sunbridge College. She began teaching Kindergarten at SWS during the 2002/2003 school year and has now joined the grades faculty.
Elizabeth Curtis ~ Fifth Grade Teacher
Elizabeth holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Millersville University and a Pennsylvania Private School Certification K-8. She has completed Master’s level classes in textiles, weaving and papermaking. Beginning at SWS in 2000, she was first an Early Childhood substitute and then a full time Kindergarten assistant. She then taught the first grade class of the 2002/2003 school year. Previously, she spent 15 years in the business world as owner of a frame shop, a handwork shop and an at-home sewing business. She completed Waldorf Teacher training at Sunbridge College in March 2006.
Rochelle Elser ~ Sixth Grade Teacher
Rochelle holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary/Early Childhood Education from Penn State University in Middletown, Pennsylvania, and a Certification in Early Childhood Education from Hagerstown Community College in Hagerstown, Maryland. Rochelle has completed coursework on the fundamentals of Waldorf education, and has finished Waldorf second grade training at the Sunbridge College, as well as third grade training at the Kimberton Waldorf School. She came to our school to teach first grade for the 2001/2002 school year.
Cynthia Marquart ~ Seventh Grade Teacher
Cynthia discovered Waldorf education while earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Upon graduation in 1992 she worked at the Spring Garden Waldorf School in Akron, Ohio for two years, tutoring children in grades 1 through 3 and teaching a mixed-age kindergarten class. Cynthia came to the SWS as our First Grade teacher in the fall of 1996. Cynthia is currently working on her Master's degree in Waldorf Education from Sunbridge College in Spring Valley, New York, where she completed a two-year study. In the spring of 2004, she graduated her first class from eighth grade.
Eric Ebert ~ Eighth Grade Teacher
Eric received a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts in 1981 from St. John's College in Sante Fe, New Mexico, home of the Great Books program. In 1997 he completed a Master's degree in Education from Antioch New England Graduate School. Having undertaken a dual training at ANE, he is certified as a Waldorf teacher and also certified for public schools (with an emphasis on the holistic “integrated day” approach). In addition to this training, he continues weeklong courses whenever possible in such subjects as singing, the social curriculum, working with boys in the environment of a Waldorf school and intensive curriculum courses for each of the grades.
subject teachers
Michael Cameron ~ Orchestra Teacher (Grades 4 through 8)
Steve Griggs ~ Latin Teacher (Grades 6 through 8)
Steve holds a B.A. in German and an M.A.T. in Elementary Education from Beloit College in Wisconsin. He began working as a private school Latin teacher in 1988, and came to the Susquehanna Waldorf School to teach Latin in the 2002/2003 school year. Steve’s other interests include ancient history in general, computers, and scuba diving.
Kevin Harper-McCombs ~ Woodworking Teacher
Kevin received a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in 1986 from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. Since 1994, he has held various jobs as a freelance designer. He has been with the school since the 2002/2003 school year.
Ruth Hessong ~ Resource Coordinator
Ruth is a German trained occupational therapist. She is Waldorf certified for remedial teaching out of Sunbridge College. At SWS, she has been coordinating developmental screenings, assessments and given educational support lessons to students with developmental delays since 1997.
Jim Mull ~ Games Teacher
Jim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary/Early Childhood Education from Millersville University. He was as a teacher’s assistant with special needs children for 3 years, and an outdoor education teacher for 5 years. Jim also has 10 years experience working as a camp staff member at various YMCA camps in Pennsylvania and Maryland. He has been our affiliated with our school in various capacities since 2000.
Kate Nation ~ French Teacher
Kate has been teaching at SWS since 1996, first as the German instructor, then as the Choral Music teacher and now as the French instructor. She has her degree from La Salle University in Philadelphia, and has also studied at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Kate spent two years as a Fulbright-Hayes scholar in Yugoslavia, conducting research in ethnomusicology. She first encountered Waldorf education in Bologna, Italy and became involved in the community as a parent, then as a subject teacher.
Dawn Nicholson ~ Handwork Teacher
Dawn Nicholson has been involved in Waldorf education since the birth of her son in 2001. She has completed coursework and attended numerous workshops in Waldorf based handwork and education. Prior to a 15 year career in publishing, Dawn owned a small business where she designed and created hand smocked heirloom clothing and taught classic handwork. Before moving to Marietta in 2006 to enroll her son at SWS, Dawn taught knitting and fiber arts in Annapolis, MD. Dawn hopes to enter the next handwork teacher training program at Sunbridge College in 2007, and her 20 year old daughter thinks it is great that they will both be in college at the same time.
Nina Radaonvic ~ Choral Teacher
Nina Radanovic holds a B.Mus. degree from Ithaca College in upstate N.Y. In 1993, she received a Professional Diploma in Secondary Education specializing in Russian Language from the University of Hawaii. She taught Russian language at the college level for 3 years before getting married and moving to Pennsylvania in 1996. Nina brings many years of choral experience to SWS, having had her first directing assignment as a teenager in Hawaii. Nina's love of choral singing inspired her to start the St. Sava Youth Choir at the St. Nicholas Church (Oberlin, PA), which she has been instructing and directing for the past 8 years. Since 2000, she has also been the director of the adult choral ensemble, Serb Wings.The Susquehanna Waldorf School recognizes the work and volunteerism of the athletic coaches. By having coaches who dedicate their time and expertise, we continue to ensure the quality of our extracurricular programs. Their biographies will appear in The Post.
extended care staff
Jan Howell ~ Sunrise Program Provider
Jan will lead our Sunrise Program for the 2006/2007 school year. She has experience working with children and has provided childcare services in various settings. She was initially a member of our SWS community as a grandparent and is familiar with Waldorf education.
Barbara Freiberg ~ Sunset Program Provider
Barbara’s experience in working with children in a Waldorf environment is so extensive that listing it in a few sentences would not be possible. She has served as an assistant, Parent/Child lead, Afternoon Garden lead, ran her own pre-school program, worked at Michael Hall, England, in the Early Childhood department and has received her certificate in Waldorf administration.
Jackie Randazzo ~ Parent/Child
Jackie has 10 years of Waldorf experience working with Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten children. Five of those years have been spent here at SWS. Prior to her time at SWS, Jackie worked in the Kindergarten program at the Kimberton Waldorf School. Jackie is attending training classes in the Early Childhood program at Sunbridge College.
administrative staff
Lisa Hartley ~ Administrative Assistant
Lydia Sadauskas ~ Admissions Coordinator
Lydia earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For 8 years she ran her own business as a fitness consultant/massage therapist. Prior to opening her own business she worked as a Systems Instructor at UNISYS for 7 years. She has been working for the school since March 1999 and is the parent of an SWS graduate.
Allyn Weiser ~ Business Manager
Allyn holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cedar Crest College and a Master’s degree from Widener University. She has been our Business Manager since 1998. Prior to her work in the office, she assisted in the Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten programs for 6 years. Allyn completed her Foundation Study Course in Spring 2006.
Maria Wherley ~ Development Coordinator
Maria holds an Associates Degree in Business Administration from York College of Pennsylvania, which she received in 1991. She joined the SWS community in the 2002/2003 school year as Receptionist and is now employed as Development Coordinator.
Stephen Scanlon ~ Building Steward
During the wee hours of the night, our beloved Stephen materializes in our building and sees its maintenance. Painting, finishing floors, installing furniture, are just a few aspects of his job. Seldom seen, his efforts are felt by everyone.
