Born and raised in Anchorage, she was first drawn to the Waldorf Community as a parent seeking a more holistic education for her three children.  And it was because of our nurturing environment that she decided to further her role at Anchorage Waldorf School as an early childhood teacher.  Michele can be found at an early morning hot yoga class, on a family trip to the forest, or trying to keep up with her energetic dog.

I was born and raised in Alaska and I spent most of my time at our family cabin that my Father built. My days were spend with my two younger sisters and our beloved family dogs hauling wood, building tree forts and visiting our cabin neighbors. The first time I walked into a Waldorf kindergarten a decade ago I knew I had found home and I never looked back. Since then, I have been building my knowledge of Waldorf education.  Through formal trainings and years of experience,  I have deepened my understanding of Steiner’s teachings, realized the importance of  the Domestic Arts and begun practicing meeting parents and children where they are at with open arms and an open heart.

Cynthia’s journey working with children began while traveling abroad where she found herself briefly volunteering in orphanages and schools.  This brief introduction paved the way for a newfound joy and calling for working with children.  In 2018 she moved to Alaska and worked as a nanny for a family with two girls for 3 years, then as a behavior technician working 1:1 with children on the autistic spectrum.  In 2022 Cynthia joined AWS working as a kinder assistant in the Sunflower Kindergarten class.  Outside of school, you can find her playing with her son outside, drinking tea, volunteering with Big Brothers, Big Sisters and finding endless moments of authentic connection with herself and those around her.

Regin has been an Early Childhood educator for over 28 years.  An early introduction to the work of Rudolf Steiner led her to Waldorf Education.  She has attended various workshops and lectures throughout the US and Canada, and has completed her Waldorf Teacher Education in Early Childhood at the West Coast Institute for Anthroposophy.  She holds a LifeWays Early Childhood Certification and has completed Steiner Foundational Studies through Antioch University.

Before accepting a position at AWS, she owned and operated Nettlewood Playgarden, a LifeWays Preschool in the Matanuska Valley.

She is committed to creating a classroom environment that provides warmth, security and a sense of belonging for all.  Outside of school, you can find her digging in her garden or meandering along the trails.

Since 2021, Holly has been the handwork and woodwork teacher here at AWS.  As this year’s first grade teacher at the Anchorage Waldorf School, she hopes to bring her passion for music and educating through movement.  She is currently pursuing her Masters in the Art of Teaching K-8 with the ultimate goal of opening a Waldorf-Inspired outdoor indigenous school on her father’s homestead in Clam Gulch after her children have graduated.  Amongst her many visual arts interests she has a sandblasting business that creates art from glass and rock.  A former host of a radio show that featured only Alaskan Musicians, she has a keen appreciation of music and is a rock/folk song writer herself.  She has three children: Eli in first grade, Shirley in 5th grade and 18 year old Isaac who has recently joined the National Guard and is studying to become an engineer.

Brandin brings a vast array of experiences to the classroom, and  has either been an aide or the head teacher of every grade K-12 in his teaching career. Brandin has a teaching license and a Masters in Education Leadership. You can find Mr Hamilton enjoying the outdoors in as many ways as possible and he is always up for a new adventure. 

If you were to look for our 3/4 grades teacher during the summer you might find her trekking to an Alaskan cabin.  Sophie is a born and raised Alaskan, and an AWS graduate, who gained her teaching degree in 2018.  Currently pursuing Waldorf Certification, Sophie is looking forward to journeying with the children through the fairies, fables, and time.

Kat has a degree in outdoor education and an enthusiasm for “nerding out” on anything that sparks her interest. Some of her interests include science, creating art, playing musical instruments, mountain biking, and any adventures on rivers or in the mountains that end up with great stories. When she is not adventuring, she fulfills her curiosity of the world through the art of teaching. Her motivation for teaching children is driven by her passion to be a positive and influential role model in their lives. Kat is passionate about stimulating wonder in her students and finding what sparks their interests. She looks forward to using the gift of teaching to empower her students in the classroom, as well as experientially out in the world.

Shannon is a born and raised Australian, who enjoys biking and hiking during the summer months. She relocated to Alaska to pursue a masters in teaching.  Shannon has graduated two classes from AWS and is looking forward to guiding our sixth grade class through physics, Rome, Latin America and more.

Amanda Kerr grew up within the nurturing musical community of Anchorage, AK. Her fiddling career started with a Cracker Jack box with a ruler taped to it. Somewhere around 10,000 “Huckleberry Stop Stops” later she began traveling to fiddle contests around the country. Her titles have included the Alaska State Fair Grand Champion, Western Open Junior & Grand Champion, and the National Junior Fiddle Champion. 

In 2003, Amanda started teaching music lessons. What started out as teaching a couple of students per week in her parents’ living room quickly turned into a full-time teaching studio. After studying music education at the University of Alaska, Amanda went on to complete teacher certification for Suzuki Method (Every Child Can, The Joys of Pre-Twinkle, Suzuki Principles in Action, Teaching with an Open Heart, Teaching from the Balance Point, Suzuki in the Schools Unit 1, and Violin Units 1 through 4), and Music Mind Games (Unit 1). The methods and traditions that gave her the technique she uses today is now being passed on to the next generation of fiddlers.

In addition to teaching private lessons, Amanda also teaches group lessons, workshops, and camps. She currently is the Orchestra teacher at the Anchorage Waldorf School where she teaches violin, viola, cello, and bass to grades 3-8. While living in the Washington DC area from 2014-2016, Amanda taught Suzuki Violin, fiddling, and Music Mind Games group classes with Stephanie Flack and Russell Fallstad as a part of the “Heartstrings Academy” in Alexandria, VA. Every summer, Amanda continues to teach fiddle at many music camps in (and out) of the country.

Amanda loves performing just as much as teaching. She often plays with High Lonesome Sound and the Anna Lynch Band. You can hear her fiddling on Anna Lynch’s self-titled album that was released in 2014. When Amanda is not teaching (or “Momming” her two young children), you can occasionally find her performing around town with her husband, Dan Booth.

Education – Ph.D. in Linguistics (2003); Master’s Foreign Language Ed (English and German) (1996)

Svetlana’s teaching experience is diverse. In Russia, she was a Professor of English to Russian students. Since moving to Alaska in 2003, she has worked for the University of Alaska Anchorage teaching Russian in the Language Department, as well as English as a second language. In addition, she has taught Russian to young children and adults through the Community Schools program and with the Anchorage Parks and Recreations program. She has also coordinated and taught Russian immersion programs for military personnel here in Alaska.

Svetlana´s first love has always been teaching. She is excited to be part of Anchorage Waldorf School community as she enjoys working with children and loves to teach her native Russian. Svetlana brings not only her language, but an understanding of the Russian culture to her teaching at AWS.

She enjoys spending her time outside of work with her extended family, her two sons, and her Pekingese. She likes to go hiking, mushroom-hunting, growing indoor plants, mosaics and card-making.

Mr. Coller taught middle school woodworking in Washington state for 30 years.  His experience in woodworking and working with children go beyond just the school day.  He was a 4-H leader and taught youth many different skills related to woodworking.  One of his students won the state woodworking award at the State Fair in Puyallup at the age of 10.

This is Renee’s 13th year at the Anchorage Waldorf School.  Having taught for 12 years, Renee moved into the Administration realm last year and is now the full time Executive Director.  She loves working with families and watching children grow and change on a daily basis.  Outside of school, Renee enjoys downhill skiing at Arctic Valley and can be found coaching on the weekends, playing with her kids and walking her dog Barnaby.