CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — The Board of Trustees of Charlottesville Waldorf School is pleased to announce the appointment of Anne Coyner as the school’s next School Director, following a one-year search conducted in collaboration with faculty and administration representatives.
A Grateful Farewell to Amanda Tipton
This announcement also marks an opportunity to celebrate outgoing School Director Amanda Tipton, who has led Charlottesville Waldorf School with dedication and steadiness through one of the most challenging periods in recent memory. Ms. Tipton guided the school community through the COVID-19 pandemic and has led with care and conviction, placing the well-being of the whole CWS community first throughout her tenure. As she moves on to an exciting new chapter in her life she leaves CWS in a strong and vibrant position, poised for continued growth and a bright future. The Board, faculty, and entire school community are deeply grateful for her service and wish her every happiness in what comes next.
Welcoming Anne Coyner
Ms. Coyner brings over a decade of Waldorf teaching and administrative experience to the role. She joined Charlottesville Waldorf School in 2018 to create an outdoor Parent & Child class, which has since grown into a well-respected program and a welcoming entryway for many families entering the school community. She has served in many roles at CWS, including Office Manager, Enrollment Coordinator, and Early Childhood Department Chair, and has been an active member of the CWS Leadership Committee. Her contributions to school life have been wide-ranging: from helping redesign the school’s governance structure to playing an active role in shaping the current CWS Mission and Diversity statements.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Coyner into this leadership role. Her proven commitment to Waldorf education and her relationships within our community position her exceptionally well to guide our school forward.”
— CWS Board Chair, Vishal Tiwari
Prior to joining Charlottesville Waldorf School, Ms. Coyner taught Parent and Child classes at Maple Village Waldorf School in Long Beach, CA where she created her first outdoor program. She completed the Waldorf Foundation Studies program in 2016 and has continued to attend Waldorf trainings, including two recent programs through Sunbridge College. Ms. Coyner’s genuine enthusiasm for Waldorf pedagogy, drive for excellence, and researcher’s curiosity have prepared her well for this next step in school leadership. She is particularly passionate about parent education and supporting families with a deeper understanding of child development and Waldorf pedagogical foundations.
Ms. Coyner’s background extends beyond education. A trained anthropologist, she has a BA in Anthropology and Geography from Mary Washington University and a Master’s Degree in Cultural and Applied Anthropology from California State University, Long Beach, and spent over 20 years working with indigenous communities on cultural and language revitalization, grant writing, policy and advocacy, and federal recognition efforts. She worked for and with leaders in the Navajo Nation in Arizona, the Samoan and Pacific Islander community of greater Los Angeles and American Samoa, Native American Rights Fund (NARF) in Colorado, and the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe of Montana.
A CWS alum parent whose daughter graduated in 2023, Ms. Coyner lives on a family farm in the Shenandoah Valley. She is delighted to step into this new role serving the school and its community.
Ms. Coyner will formally assume the School Director role on July 1, 2026. In the months prior, she will work closely with current school leadership to ensure a thorough and intentional transition. The school looks forward to hosting meet-and-greet opportunities this spring for families and community members to connect with Ms. Coyner ahead of her official start.
About Charlottesville Waldorf School
Charlottesville Waldorf School is an independent, nonprofit (501(c)(3)) school in Charlottesville, Virginia, offering a holistic Waldorf education for children from early childhood through Grade 8. Established in 1982, the school provides a comprehensive curriculum rooted in a deep understanding of child development and the belief that education should engage the head, heart, and hands.
The school’s holistic approach integrates arts, movement, music, and experiential learning throughout all programs, creating an educational environment that fosters creativity, curiosity, and confidence. In the early childhood programs, learning is play-based and relationship-centered, with a central rhythm supporting and fostering the development of social emotional learning, movement/physical strength and balance, and the imagination. Children learn through purposeful play, storytelling, song, and time outdoors, honoring childhood as a vital and meaningful stage of life in its own right while also laying a strong foundation for future learning.
In the elementary and middle school grades, students engage in rich and rigorous academics that unfold through an integrated curriculum taught with beauty and intention. Core subjects in the humanities, mathematics, and sciences are enlivened through visual arts, music, handwork, drama, and movement, supporting deep understanding and meaningful connection to the material. Intensive “main lesson” block periods and sustained teacher-student relationships allow students to explore subjects in depth and develop critical thinking, creativity, and determination.
Charlottesville Waldorf School emphasizes small class sizes and a strong sense of community, offering students the space to grow at their own pace while being challenged academically and supported socially and emotionally. The school’s mission is to educate thoughtful, capable, and compassionate young people who are prepared to meet the future with imagination, integrity, and a sense of responsibility to the world around them.
