CWS Faculty and Staff

Sonia earned her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Costa Rica. She later completed an advanced degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of San Isidro Labrador in Costa Rica. Throughout her career, she has pursued ongoing professional development, completing specialized courses such as Gifted Children and Outstanding Talents, Development of Socio-Emotional Competencies, and Developing Phonological Awareness in the Process of Learning to Read and Write in Spanish.

In 2018, she relocated to Charlottesville, Virginia, in the United States. Committed to continuing her professional growth, she enrolled in the Early Childhood Development: Preschool Career Certificate program at Piedmont Virginia Community College, further strengthening her expertise in early childhood education.

Sonia began her teaching career in 2006 as a early childhood lead teacher in both public and private schools in Costa Rica, where she worked for 12 years. From 2011 to 2015, she also served as a university professor at the University of San Isidro Labrador, teaching and mentoring prospective preschool teachers while continuing her work in the classroom. From 2022 to 2025, she operated her own in-home childcare and Spanish program in Charlottesville. In 2025–2026, she began working as an Early Childhood Teacher Assistant at the Charlottesville Waldorf School.

Sonia enjoys hiking, exploring the outdoors, and connecting with nature with her family. She loves donkeys and has a great collection of antique donkey postcards. She also enjoys sharing her love of the Spanish language. Through her Spanish program, Sonia developed strong relationships with local and Latino families while actively promoting bilingual education within the community.

Anne joined Charlottesville Waldorf School in 2018 and brings 14 years of experience in Waldorf school settings. She has taught and developed Parent and Child programs in both California and Virginia, and at CWS has served as Parent and Child teacher, Office Manager, Enrollment Coordinator, and Early Childhood Department Chair. She also served on the Leadership Committee for several years and is passionate about parent education, facilitating parent groups on campus at the beginning of each school year. Anne will serve as CWS School Director beginning in the 2026–2027 school year.

Anne holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Geography from the University of Mary Washington and a Master’s degree in Cultural and Applied Anthropology from California State University, Long Beach. She completed her Waldorf Foundation Studies training in 2016 and continues to engage in ongoing professional development, most recently completing two multi-weekend Sunbridge Institute workshops: Creating, Implementing and Sustaining a Feedback Culture: Bringing Your Leadership Team to the Next Level of Collaboration and Performance, and HAWI: Building a Reciprocal Relationship with our Indigenous Communities.

Her broader professional focus has been in partnership with Indigenous communities. As a trained anthropologist and researcher, she has spent over 20 years working with Indigenous groups in cultural and language revitalization, grant writing, program development, and as co-lead of a federal recognition case. Her work has been in service to Indigenous needs and leadership, including collaborations with the Navajo Nation of Arizona, the Samoan and Pacific Islander community in the greater Los Angeles area, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), and the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe of Montana.

Anne lives on a family farm in the Shenandoah Valley with her family. She has a son in college and a daughter in high school. Outside of school, she has completed yoga teacher training through Ivy Yoga School, volunteers with UVA’s “Hoo Needs a Hug” program, and enjoys attending her daughter’s theater and music performances. In her free time, she can often be found walking in the countryside or taking photographs on the farm.

Jen joined Charlottesville Waldorf School in 2011, where she worked in the main office for four years before transitioning into kindergarten teaching. She later moved to St. Anne’s-Belfield School, where she taught 2 and 3-year-olds in the preschool program from 2017 to 2023.

She returned to CWS in 2023 as the lead Bluebell teacher and taught in the Playgarden until 2025, when she became the lead Sunflower teacher, a position she currently holds.

Jen holds a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and a master’s degree in Literature from the University of Oxford. She completed the two-year Waldorf Foundations in Anthroposophy and the Arts course in 2014.

Outside of school, Jen enjoys baking bread, knitting, spin classes, reading, and taking long walks with her dog, Ollie. She also values time with her grown sons, who all attended CWS, along with family gatherings and time spent with friends.

Vanessa graduated from Elon University with a degree in Environmental Science and has spent many years working in outdoor education.

Her Waldorf teaching journey began in New York, where she assisted in a Waldorf home program. She later served as a lead Kindergarten teacher at Charlottesville Waldorf School from 2008 to 2013. After stepping away from teaching to raise her family, Vanessa homeschooled her two daughters for many years while living on a homestead in the countryside. She returned to CWS in the fall of 2025.

Vanessa is deeply passionate about plants and gardening, with a special interest in creating biodiverse habitats for wildlife through native plant cultivation. She loves spending time outdoors—whether reading beneath a tree, walking her dog along the Rivanna trails, or enjoying the river with her family.

She also cares deeply for animals and volunteers weekly at the local animal shelter, walking dogs awaiting adoption.

Jessica has been the Rosebud lead teacher since 2021. She is a former school psychologist and a former Waldorf-based forest school founding director.

Jessica holds graduate degrees in school psychology (M.Ed. and Ed.S.) from the College of William & Mary, undergraduate degrees in child development, psychology and art, Waldorf early childhood training (birth to age 7) through the West Coast Institute (Vancouver), nature-based teaching certification through the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools (ERAFANS), completed a 9-month-long Living Earth Adult Foundations (LEAF) naturalist and survivalist skills program, completed and then helped facilitate Charlottesville Community Investment Collaborative’s (CIC) 16-week entrepreneur workshop, and was previously certified in wilderness first aid through MEDIC SOLO WFA.

Jessica enjoys spending time with her family, which include two school-age daughters that attend CWS, hiking, singing around a campfire, making art, conscious dance, and cuddling on the couch with tea, her family, and their goofy dog, Fig.

Natalie joined Charlottesville Waldorf School in 2020 as a Parent-Child assistant, later serving as an assistant in the Bluebell Playgarden class, and is now an assistant in the Sunflower Kindergarten class.

Natalie holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado. She has worked extensively with elementary-aged children, including as a before- and after-school teacher in a Denver public school program and as a nanny for many years.

Outside of CWS, Natalie is a clinical herbalist and works with clients as well as at The Elderberry, a local apothecary. She enjoys skiing, hiking, cooking, creating herbal preparations, and being a mom.

Shilpi began her teaching career in India, where she taught middle school social sciences and environmental science. After moving to the United States, she worked as a substitute teacher in county schools and then served as a first grade assistant. She spent five years as a kindergarten teaching assistant and two years as a lead teacher. She has been working in various roles at Charlottesville Waldorf School since 2016, and is currently teaching Grade 3.

Shilpi holds an M.A. in Economics, a teaching program certification from Scottsdale Community College (AZ), and a Virginia state teaching license (K–6). She has also completed Explorations in Anthroposophy (CFA) and Renewal for Grade 3.

Outside the classroom, Shilpi enjoys reading, especially mythological fiction and thrillers. She also loves cooking and dancing, and finds joy in trying new recipes and cooking for others as a way to offer comfort and care.

Becca holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. She taught band, choir, and general music for four years at an Albemarle County middle school. After taking two years away from teaching, she joined Charlottesville Waldorf School in 2022, where she has been teaching for four years.

Becca is an active musician both in and outside of school. She performs with several local bands, including We Are Star Children, and frequently plays in musical theatre pit orchestras throughout the region.

Outside of music, Becca is an avid hiker and completed the Appalachian Trail in 2021. She now enjoys hiking with her partner and their dogs. Recently, she has developed an interest in watercolor painting and hopes to one day finish her crocheted temperature blanket from 2022.

Matt Curreri serves as the faculty liaison to the Board of Trustees. He has been teaching middle school math at Charlottesville Waldorf School since 2016, where he has also taught music, movement, middle school computer technology, and coached soccer. He also serves on the Pedagogical Leadership Committee and the Buildings and Grounds Committee.

Matt earned his bachelor’s degree in Literature from the University of Notre Dame and has been teaching math at the middle and high school levels since 2001. He began his teaching career in New York City, later taught in San Diego, and returned to Virginia in 2015.

Outside of CWS, Matt is an active musician, soccer player, and father.

Emma holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences with a specialization in Environmental Education from Oregon State University (Go Beavs!). She also holds a Master of Arts in Environmental Arts and Humanities from OSU. For her master’s thesis, she created a comprehensive guide on social justice in environmental education. While completing her degrees, Emma was also a member of her university’s women’s soccer team, which competed in the NCAA Division 1 Pac-12 Conference. Emma is also a U.S. Soccer Grassroots Coach and a USA Archery Level 1 Instructor.

Before joining CWS in the 2025-2026 school year, Emma worked as a seasonal outdoor educator at several organizations across different states. In her time as an outdoor educator, Emma led youth through environmental and conservation education classes, as well as outdoor adventure activities, such as high ropes courses, hiking, team building, archery, and wilderness survival.

Outside of school, Emma enjoys soccer, yoga, pottery, and searching for the world’s best ice cream.

Shirley brings a deep love of working with children and a broad range of classroom and after-school experience that informs her thoughtful, caring approach.

Outside of school, Shirley enjoys attending local festivals and drawing, and she hopes to one day sell her illustrations. She is also an animal lover — especially of small dogs — and is planning to adopt a Chihuahua soon.

Shirley holds a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Elementary Education (K–5) from Radford University. She joined Charlottesville Waldorf School in December 2025 as the Grades Aftercare teacher, bringing with her a rich and varied background in elementary education.

Prior to joining CWS, Shirley taught 4th, 5th, and 1st grades in Grayson County, Virginia, and later taught first grade in Louisa County. After moving to Charlottesville, she continued her work in education as a substitute teacher in Charlottesville City Schools and later as an after-school teacher in Albemarle County Schools.

Lorie began working at Charlottesville Waldorf School in 1989 as the Handwork teacher. She took her first class in 1990 and taught grades 1–8, with that class graduating in 1999. She then served as Enrollment Director for two years, followed by two years supporting the Early Childhood program.

She later took another class and taught grades 1–6, and when a class teacher became ill, she stepped in to teach 2nd grade for one year. After that, she guided a class from grades 5–8, who graduated in 2015. While completing her educational support training, she also volunteered as the school librarian. Since 2018, she has worked as the Educational Support Teacher at CWS.

Lorie received her Master of Education and Waldorf Certification from Antioch University New England in 1992. In 2008, she attended her first Bal-A-Vis-X course. She became a Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner in 2012 after completing a three-year certification in the Wilson method of literacy remediation. In 2018, she graduated from the Association for a Healing Education as an Educational Support Teacher.

Lorie is also a registered nurse and began training in anthroposophical nursing in 2019, though the program was paused due to the pandemic. She enjoys creating reading journals and loves camping with her children and grandchildren.

Ariana was a Waldorf student in middle and high school and was fortunate to never lose her love of learning. From studying art to science in college and beyond, she discovered deep joy in the processes of exploration, discovery, and creating beautiful forms and colors. One challenge she encountered, however, was how to choose a single path after developing enthusiasm for so many fields. Clarity came when she realized that she could become a Waldorf teacher and continue learning throughout her life.

Many years later, Ariana continues to strive to learn more and to share her enthusiasm for the world with her students. Her training has included Waldorf Teacher Training in Eugene, OR where she earned a certificate in teaching grades one through eight, as well as Sunbridge Institute, where she earned a certificate in Waldorf Educational Support.

She has explored hobbies such as beekeeping and gardening, and she finds great joy in creating art, especially stained glass, as well as reading. These personal interests flow into her classroom and enrich the work she does with her students.

The process of children learning to read, write, and work with numbers continues to be deeply engaging for her, as does the joy of watching them learn, play, and grow. Over the years, her focus has increasingly centered on grades one through three, where she especially loves supporting children in the earliest steps of their educational journey. She is also currently in the process of becoming an EBLI-certified tutor.

Tommy taught 5th grade math for one year in Waco, Texas, and spent seven years at Walton Middle School in Albemarle County, where he taught AVID and Drama. He joined Charlottesville Waldorf School for the 2024–2025 school year.

Tommy holds a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice, along with Virginia and Texas teaching licenses. He brings ten years of classroom experience to his work in education.

Outside the classroom, Tommy enjoys being in the woods – with his family or on his own. His favorite place in the world is the beach on the east side of Lake Michigan. He also enjoys gardening, camping, and attending live music with his family.

Most of his time is spent with his two children, playing outside and exploring together.

As an alum of CWS (Class of 2013), Tess has a deep connection to and intuitive understanding of Waldorf educational philosophy, and she continues to learn more every year through reading and connecting with a variety of mentors in Waldorf education. Tess holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences with a concentration in Education from George Mason University, which allowed her to explore many areas of interest, including lifespan development and best practices for educating twice exceptional learners.

Tess has always had a passion for teaching and has been teaching in some capacity or another since she was a teenager, working as a camp councelor-in-training at the Living Earth School for several years and offering guitar and knitting lessons throughout high school and college. After college, she worked as an all-grades floating teaching assistant and a Special Education paraprofessional at a local elementary school for two years before joining the CWS faculty as the Handwork Teacher in 2021.

Outside of work, Tess can usually be found relaxing with an audiobook and a handwork project of her own, or spending quality time outdoors with her family.

Lisa graduated from The College of William and Mary with a Master’s degree in Secondary Education. She holds a teaching license in the state of Virginia, and completed a summer intensive training in Waldorf Education focusing on the Middle School years. She began her teaching career in Virginia Beach Public Schools and later taught in Louisa and Albemarle County Public Schools. She spent eleven years teaching Language Arts before joining CWS in 2024.

Outside of school, Lisa loves spending evenings dancing with her daughters and reading on her back deck. She also loves spending her summers in Northern NY, paddleboarding on the St. Lawrence River.

Anne joined Charlottesville Waldorf School in 2018 and brings 14 years of experience in Waldorf school settings. She has taught and developed Parent and Child programs in both California and Virginia, and at CWS has served as Parent and Child teacher, Office Manager, Enrollment Coordinator, and Early Childhood Department Chair. She also served on the Leadership Committee for several years and is passionate about parent education, facilitating parent groups on campus at the beginning of each school year. Anne will serve as CWS School Director beginning in the 2026–2027 school year.

Anne holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Geography from the University of Mary Washington and a Master’s degree in Cultural and Applied Anthropology from California State University, Long Beach. She completed her Waldorf Foundation Studies training in 2016 and continues to engage in ongoing professional development, most recently completing two multi-weekend Sunbridge Institute workshops: Creating, Implementing and Sustaining a Feedback Culture: Bringing Your Leadership Team to the Next Level of Collaboration and Performance, and HAWI: Building a Reciprocal Relationship with our Indigenous Communities.

Her broader professional focus has been in partnership with Indigenous communities. As a trained anthropologist and researcher, she has spent over 20 years working with Indigenous groups in cultural and language revitalization, grant writing, program development, and as co-lead of a federal recognition case. Her work has been in service to Indigenous needs and leadership, including collaborations with the Navajo Nation of Arizona, the Samoan and Pacific Islander community in the greater Los Angeles area, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), and the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe of Montana.

Anne lives on a family farm in the Shenandoah Valley with her family. She has a son in college and a daughter in high school. Outside of school, she has completed yoga teacher training through Ivy Yoga School, volunteers with UVA’s “Hoo Needs a Hug” program, and enjoys attending her daughter’s theater and music performances. In her free time, she can often be found walking in the countryside or taking photographs on the farm.

Karen began working at CWS in 2008. During her long career at the school, she has held positions of Grade 4 through Grade 8 class teacher and more recently the role of Academic Director.

Karen has a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Virginia and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Hollins University. She has completed the Leadership Development course through the Center for Anthroposophy and many years of Grade School teacher workshops at Sunbridge Institute.

Karen enjoys most forms of exercise (running, cycling, yoga, hiking), and occasionally still pops into a local 5k or 10k race. She has published two books, one for young adults and one memoir for adults. She is working on a goal of trying to visit every National Park in the USA. When not at work, she can be found spending time with her family and with her adorable Corgi named Gus.

Karen and her daughter are members of the Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline.

Amanda has been part of the administrative team at Charlottesville Waldorf School since 2019. Prior to that, she served for several years as director of the Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival and worked as a freelance web and graphic designer.

Amanda holds a B.A. from Burlington College in Burlington, Vermont, and completed the non-linear digital video editing program at the Trebas Institute in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She was also a Waldorf student from preschool through high school, attending schools in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ontario, Canada.

Outside of school, Amanda likes to read, make art, and learn new things. She also escapes to the mountains whenever possible.

Katie joined Charlottesville Waldorf School in the fall of 2021, working alongside Ms. Kiley in the Rosebud classroom. In 2022, she transitioned into an administrative assistant role and has since expanded her responsibilities, becoming Operations Manager in 2025.

Katie graduated from Christopher Newport University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ornamental Horticulture. She moved to Charlottesville in 2008, where she worked on a private estate until the birth of her first child.

She began working with children in 2011 at a local Montessori school, where she developed valuable experience supporting children as young as 21 months. After nearly a decade there in both classroom and administrative roles, she took time away to focus on raising her three sons. Her oldest graduated from CWS in 2023, and her twins are currently enrolled in the elementary program.

On her days off, she can often be found gardening, hiking local trails, or spending time near water. She also volunteers with a local baseball league where her sons play.

Amanda Tipton is an educational leader with more than fifteen years of experience in school administration, community engagement, and organizational leadership. She currently serves as School Director at the Charlottesville Waldorf School, where she works closely with faculty, families, and the Board of Trustees to support the school’s mission of educating the whole human being and fostering thoughtful, engaged citizenship.

Throughout her career, Amanda has focused on building educational communities that nurture resilience, curiosity, and moral courage in young people. Her work emphasizes the importance of helping children develop the inner resources needed to navigate an increasingly complex and anxious world, while cultivating empathy, responsibility, and a sense of connection to others and to the natural world.

Amanda’s experience also includes international education leadership. She was the founding director of Casa Stella Waldorf School in Ibarra, Ecuador, where she helped build a growing educational initiative through teacher training, parent education, and community partnerships. This work strengthened her belief that education has the power to bridge cultures and build understanding across differences.

Originally from Greenbrier County, West Virginia, Amanda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art and Philosophy from Ferrum College. In addition to her work in education, she is passionate about community building, environmental stewardship, and supporting the development of courageous, compassionate young people.