Meet Our Faculty

Grade 6 Class Teacher

ahahn@waldorfsaratoga.org

Andy studied philosophy and mathematics at the University of Illinois. After working with adults with special needs, he began Waldorf training at Sunbridge College and completed Consciousness Studies and the biodynamic apprenticeship at Rudolf Steiner College. Exploring the foundations of Waldorf’s science curriculum led Andy to earn a PhD from Oregon State University focusing on the history of science, philosophy, and literature. Before joining the faculty, he taught high school science, along with college courses for the history and biology departments in Idaho. Andy joined our faculty in 2021.

Evergreen Kindergarten Teacher

bfranco@waldorfsaratoga.org

My name is Becca Franco, I am currently the Evergreen Kindergarten class lead teacher. I have a Masters Degree in Child Development with a concentration in Infant and Early Childhood mental health, and am working towards training in Waldorf early childhood education. I have a long and loving history with the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs; firstly as a student and graduate, then as an assistant and aftercare teacher at the Forest campus, and finally as a parent to my own Forest kindergartener.

Maple Kindergarten Teacher

Parent Child Playgroup Teacher

cstanger@waldorfsaratoga.org

Courtney has been working as a Registered Nurse at Saratoga Hospital since 2010. After discovering Waldorf education through her own two children, she began at Sophia's Hearth Teacher Education Center where she is currently working toward her early childhood certificate. Courtney has been leading Parent Child Groups and assisting in our Early Childhood programs since 2018, taking on her own preschool class in 2021.

Handwork and Aftercare Teacher - Lower School Grades 1-5

eodonnell@waldorfsaratoga.org

Emily (they/them, she/her) began their Waldorf journey at the Eugene Waldorf School, continued as a student at WSSS in Grade 5, and graduated in 2015. Emily received a BA from Bennington College, with a focus on visual arts (painting) and gender studies. They work seasonally at Goode Farm, volunteer with the Flurry, and work on artistic commissions, including spun cotton miniatures of people’s pets. They enjoy time in their garden and studio with 7 ducks and one very sweet cat.

Grade 3 Class Teacher

eross@waldorfsaratoga.org

Emily graduated from St. Lawrence University with a degree in English. During her time at St. Lawrence, she was a violinist in the orchestra and on the Women’s Rowing Team. She is currently enrolled in the Waldorf Training at the Alkion Center in Hawthorne Valley.

Grade 2 Class Teacher

fdoriwala@waldorfsaratoga.org

Farida joined the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs in 2022 after 8 years as a Waldorf lead class teacher in Mumbai, India. She holds a B.A. and an M.A. in Education as well as a certificate in Waldorf methodology, honing her 13 years in the field of education with her love of the arts. Farida is mother to a rising 7th grade daughter and loves to experience new foods, new cultures, and the joy of life!

Grade 5 Class Teacher

hkidd@waldorfsaratoga.org

Heather graduated from Austin College in Sherman, TX with a BA in Communication Arts and Tulane University in New Orleans, LA with an MFA in Theatrical Design. She completed her Waldorf Teacher Training in both Early Childhood and Grades Education at Waldorf Teacher Education Eugene in Oregon over a decade ago. She recently moved to Saratoga Springs where she assisted in the preschool before taking her own class. She has taught in multiple outdoor Waldorf Early Childhood programs, has tutored Waldorf middle school students, and has taken first through fifth grade at the Eugene Waldorf School.

Specialty Teacher

hlabonty@waldorfsaratoga.org

Hope received her Bachelor's degrees in Environmental Science and Sustainable Horticulture from The University of Maine. Most recently, she has worked as an environmental educator at a nonprofit in Albany, teaching nature based studies to children at Albany Public Schools. She loves witnessing the awe nature brings to children, and is the mother of two children who attend the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs.

Rainbow Bridge Preschool/ Kindergarten Teacher

jlutz@waldorfsaratoga.org

Jen holds a Bachelor’s of Social Work from Marist College and a Certificate in Waldorf Early Childhood Education from Sophia’s Hearth. She lives with her husband and three children who all attend the Waldorf School. She joined our faculty in 2018.

Strings Teacher - Lower School

jhindson@waldorfsaratoga.org

Jessica graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2000 with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music. She then went on to earn her Master's degree in Violin Performance from the Boston Conservatory and, in addition, is a registered Suzuki Violin teacher.

Grade 7 Class Teacher

kcrandall@waldorfsaratoga.org

Karen received a BFA from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science in Education from Sunbridge College. For the past nine years, Karen has been part of the summer faculty at Sunbridge as a lead teacher for the Summer Intensive Program for class teachers. Karen began her class teaching career at the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs in 1993 and is currently in her fourth class cycle.

Fine Arts Teacher - Grades 4 - 8

kpatterson@waldorfsaratoga.org

Katherine received her BFA from The Cooper Union and her MFA from New England College, and has shown her artwork at various galleries in New York City and regionally. She studied drawing, painting, and photography and in so doing discovered her personal themes of landscape and memory. Katherine lives in Glens Falls with her husband and two sons and is also an adjunct professor of art and design at SUNY Adirondack. Her work can be viewed at www.katherinempatterson.com.

Early Childhood Assistant

kcrosby@waldorfsaratoga.org

Kendall joins us after spending the past few years as a stay-at-home mother, previously working in interior design. She joined the faculty as a Nursery Assistant at the Early Childhood Center in 2023.

Early Childhood Assistant

kgillespie@waldorfsaratoga.org

Kim has a Bachelors in Psychology and Sociology from SUNY Oneonta, as well as a Masters in Human Resources Education from Fordham University. She joined the faculty as a Kindergarten Assistant at the Forest campus in the Fall of 2022.

Little Acorns Teacher

kyoung@waldorfsaratoga.org

Kristin holds a Bachelor's degree in Equine Science from Centenary College and a Certificate in Waldorf Early Education from Sophia's Hearth. She owned and managed an equestrian retail store in Saratoga Springs for 18 years and began working in our Early Childhood Program in 2018.

Grade 1 Class Teacher

kgibbs@waldorfsaratoga.org

Kristyn comes to The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs after teaching in public schools for over six years. Before embarking on her professional teaching career she earned her Master’s of Education from Antioch University New England with a focus on early childhood education. Most recently, Kristyn has had the joy and honor to spend the last two years home with her two young children, aged five and two. Kristyn grew up in Saratoga County and just recently moved back to the area with her own family.

Practical Arts Teacher - Grades 4 - 8

mwhitney@waldorfsaratoga.org

Michael graduated from Pratt institute in 1994 with a BA in Industrial design. He worked for many years fabricating cabinets and furniture in Brooklyn. During those years he found time to have three kids and create hundreds of one of a kind functional products using found objects. He is working towards his Waldorf training at the Alkion Center in Hawthorne Valley. Michael joined our faculty in 2014.

Movement Teacher and Athletic Director - Grades 1 - 8

sstewart@waldorfsaratoga.org

Scott holds a B.S. in elementary education and a B.S. in physical education from Cortland College. He completed his Master’s in Waldorf education at Sunbridge College. Scott joined our faculty in the autumn of 2008.

Grade 4 Class Teacher

sward@waldorfsaratoga.org

Sophie attended the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs from pre-school until 12th grade. After graduating high school, she attended Bennington College where she was given the opportunity to be a student teacher in Brooklyn, New York as well as in Tokyo. After graduating from Bennington, Sophie moved to Japan to teach English. She then decided to enroll in the Waldorf teacher training program at Alkion and move back to Saratoga Springs to join our school, creating a full circle!

Eurythmy Teacher

selmore@waldorfsaratoga.org

Susan did an orientation year at the Detroit Waldorf Institute (now Sunbridge) and went on to the 4-year full-time eurythmy training at The London School of Eurythmy under the direction of Marguerite Lundgren. Over decades, she has taught eurythmy in numerous Waldorf schools, teacher trainings, and adult workshops, most notably the Toronto Waldorf School, Rudolf Steiner College in Ca., the Santa Cruz Waldorf School, and, for 13 years, the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs. Along the way she performed in Canada, the US, and the UK, and became certified in Therapeutic Eurythmy at Peredur Centre for the Arts in Sussex. Her favorite creative experiences have been in bringing eurythmy and drama together, especially in large-scale all-school performances. She returns to us part-time, after several years of tending to the needs of her father, who recently passed away at age 101.

Aftercare Lead Teacher, African Drum Teacher - Lower School

lsaftercare@waldorfsaratoga.org

Tamara received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health from SUNY Potsdam, where she also studied music at Crane. She has substitute taught and assisted in our Early Childhood Program since 2018. She lives in Saratoga Springs with her husband and two children.