Meet The Teachers
We are proud of our team of teachers! All of our staff are committed to professional development through annual trainings and engage with parents regularly to create an inclusive, caring classroom experience.
Ms. Ashley P.
Ms. Ashley has been part of our team since 2011. She has worked in almost every classroom and now is one of our main leaders in afternoon programming. Outside of school she loves to walk her dog Luna and spend time with her fiancé Justin. She enjoys being with her family and watching the changes in nature, especially the fall leaves. Working with children is a joy and delight for her.
Ms. Ashley W.
Ms. Ashley joined us in October of 2022. She recently moved to Bend to obtain a Master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at OSU-Cascades. She holds a B.S. in social science with a minor in psychology and an associate degree in early childhood care and education. Ashley was born and raised in Cottage Grove Oregon where she spent much of her time caring for her younger siblings; she has worked with children in a preschool setting for over five years and has co-taught at preschools in Eugene and Portland. Ms. Ashley hopes to become a certified play therapist; she values the importance of imagination and play for young minds and hearts. Ashley strives to encourage and model pro-social and emotional skills in the classroom and spark curiosity about the natural world. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Ashley can be found exploring local trails, attending community events/live music, and doing lots of studying.
Ms. Cassie
Ms. Cassie is an energetic mom of three boys. She loves to garden and watch things grow. When her family found A Child’s Garden in 2018, she says it was such a blessing, a place where all little minds are truly loved and nurtured to grow. She started working at the school in 2020 and has found her home here at our schools and loves the joyful energy that it brings to her life every day.
Ms. Chelsea
Ms. Chelsea was born in Portland and lived in Seaside for a short time but has lived in Bend for the last 24 years. She just bought her first house with her husband, so it looks like they will be staying in Bend for a while! She has a dog and two cats. She received her bachelor’s degree in Child Development from OSU in 2016 and started with us in 2017. She loves cooking, crafting, and being a goofball with the kids. She loves all the holidays as well, any excuse to be merry!
Ms. Elle
Elle was born and raised in Bend, Oregon. Growing up, her passions included dance, gymnastics, cheerleading, babysitting, cooking and snowboarding! She loves being inclusive and to be a part of a team and strives to stay productive. She discovered her love of childcare bonding with a school in Oahu, Hawaii and started her journey here in the fall of 2024.
Ms. Eliza
Ms. Eliza has lived in Bend since 1982. She joined our team in Feb. 2023, fulfilling a life-long passion to help make a difference in the life of a child and to be in the presence of youthful exuberance. She has been married and worked as a business partner with her husband since 1987. They have two children: a son who lives in Silverton, OR and a daughter, living in Brooklyn, NY. Ms. Eliza enjoys nature, walking the local river trail and exploring the lakes, mountains, and desert of Oregon. Her favorite hobby is reading and being surrounded by books. She loves cats and dogs and wants to be a friend to all animals and people.
Ms. Jana
Ms. Jana has been with us since 2020, working at both locations. She has been teaching preschool since 2013, ever since graduating from Central Oregon Community College with an Associates in Early Childhood Education and a teaching certificate. In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, gardening, and spending time outside.
Ms. Jeannie
Ms. Jeannie is a retired nurse and began working with us because of her love of children in 2017. She has several hobbies, but mostly loves spending time with her family. Her granddaughter attended our school from the age of two until she went on to kindergarten and loved it here!
Ms. Jenna
Ms. Jenna was born and raised in New York. She later moved to California and then Washington where she raised her three children and many lovable animals on a horse farm. Once her children were older, she taught preschool for several years on Bainbridge Island. When her children went to college she moved to the mountains of Colorado and the deserts of Arizona, exploring the beauties of each. Seven years ago, she moved to Bend to be close to her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, who she helped care for until he went to school last year. Jenna joined our team in August of 2023 and is happy to be back in the classroom where she can experience the magic of childhood every day.
Mr. Justin
Mr. Justin Warren has taught in multiple roles at our schools since 2020. When he is not at the school, he enjoys spending time with his fiancé and their dog Luna. They explore the trails of Central Oregon and the gifts of nature. In his free time, he practices music, cooking, and dancing.
Ms. Katie
Ms. Katie started working with us in October 2023. She graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in English. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, but recently moved to Bend. She is passionate about education and hopes to learn more while working at our schools. Her hobbies include writing, riding horses, and skiing.
Ms. Kenna (Ms. K)
Ms. Kenna returned to our team in spring of 2024 and is the lucky mom of four kids. When her oldest daugther was in preschool, she fell in love with teaching by volunteering in her class. She loves the way children grow and take the world in. It is such an amazing thing to be a part of and see. She loves how the schools prioritize nurturing the children through nature.
Ms. Laura
Ms. Laura has been part of our team since 2023. She was previously a kindergarten teacher in the Los Angeles area for six years before having her daughter and moving to Bend with her family in 2022. Ms. Laura loves being a mom in Bend and exploring everything our beautiful city has to offer. Finding a community of teachers and families through our schools has been a wonderful experience. In her spare time, Ms. Laura enjoys baking sourdough bread and bagels, biking, and thrifting.
Ms. Maggie
Ms. Maggie was born in Russia and lived there for four years before being adopted. Her mother is awesome! She grew up in Alfalfa on a small ranch that owned chickens and horses and was on a traveling soccer team for years while in school. She now enjoys snowboarding, hiking, camping and fishing with her boyfriend. They also enjoy dabbling in paranormal investigations and watching “Ghost Adventures” in the evening. Her dog, Sara, is very dedicated to Maggie and she is to her dog. Ms. Maggie has been a part of our team since winter of 2023.
Ms. River
Ms. River joined our team in fall of 2024. She has been working in childcare for over 15 years, four of which were at Circle of Friends Waldorf School in Bend. She was born and raised on a small farm in Redmond and is grateful to have lived in Central Oregon her whole life (aside from 6 months in Hawaii)! Ms. River loves camping, trying new crafts, and visiting the ocean every chance she gets. She believes that child rearing is sacred work and loves to teach in the Waldorf tradition.
Ms. Rois
Ms. Rois loves sharing her experience of working in play-based Reggio Emilia inspired and HeadStart preschools. To this mix she adds in her love of art, nature, storytelling, and the outdoors. She believes every child should be given the opportunity to explore the world, ask endless questions and possibly get a little messy doing it. Ms. Rois lives with her husband, two dogs and a cranky cat. When she is not at school you can find her foraging, wild crafting, gardening, exploring backroads, inhaling books, or working on a project that mashes all her passions together. Ms. Rois came to us in 2023 and is looking forward to the coming years.
Ms. Shavon
Ms. Shavon enjoys crafting and making gifts for friends and loved ones. She loves all types of music and getting out with her fiancé and her dog on a fun backpacking trip. She says camping under the stars makes the summer shine brighter. She has been working with us since summer of 2022 and loves it!
Ms. Shawneen
Ms. Shawneen has been working at our school since 2021 and has enjoyed every moment with the littles. When she’s not in the classroom, she can be found at home with her husband, their two children (both older teenagers), and their three dogs. She enjoys reading, camping, hiking, and hunting.
Ms. Sheila
Ms. Sheila began with us in 2005. She has over 20 years of teaching experience, including several Waldorf trainings and classes, and studying Early Childhood Education in college. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and pets, hiking, writing children's stories, and visiting the coast.
Ms. Sophia
Sophia grew up in Ukraine, then moved to Washington state as an eight-year-old. She now lives in Bend, and she loves the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and all the amazing people she has met. She started working with kids through her local rock-climbing gym as a coach and counselor and fell in love with teaching and how much creativity, enthusiasm and fun children bring into everything they do. Sophia joined A Child’s Garden Westside in 2024 after several years of working with children in a Montessori and outdoor school environment. Sophia is passionate about the outdoors and alternative education and believes that rhythm and presence create connection and that is what she works to create in the classroom with her students. When she is not teaching kids and prepping her classroom projects, she enjoys spending the days skiing on the mountain, rock climbing, hiking/biking, going on spontaneous adventures, cooking and playing card games.
Mr. Stu
Mr. Stu has been working with kids since 2008 and can't imagine doing anything else! He has been with our team since 2015. He has two sons named Henry and Edison who both attended our midtown location, and have since moved onto grade school. Outside of school he loves to ride his bike, read, and spend time outdoors with his family.
Ms. Teri
Ms. Teri has been working with us off and on since she was 16 years old and has had her own classroom since 2015. She has her Waldorf Teaching Certification in both Early Childhood and the Grades through the Micha-el Institute. She has taught in almost every classroom, helps out with administration and teacher trainings. She has a son named Theo and a daughter Ellie. She loves animals and reading fantasy book series.
Ms. Tiffany
Ms. Tiffany has been with our team since 2018. She has worked in almost every class, as well as teaching in our old afternoon program. She loves watching the children learn, grow, and move on to their next journey as a Kindergartner. She has two children of her own. She loves to be with her family and getting outdoors whenever possible; camping, hiking, biking, traveling, and enjoying her free time. She graduated in 2016 with her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Science.
Ms. Ashley has been part of our team since 2011. She has worked in almost every classroom and now is one of our main leaders in afternoon programming. Outside of school she loves to walk her dog Luna and spend time with her fiancé Justin. She enjoys being with her family and watching the changes in nature, especially the fall leaves. Working with children is a joy and delight for her.
Ms. Ashley W.
Ms. Ashley joined us in October of 2022. She recently moved to Bend to obtain a Master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at OSU-Cascades. She holds a B.S. in social science with a minor in psychology and an associate degree in early childhood care and education. Ashley was born and raised in Cottage Grove Oregon where she spent much of her time caring for her younger siblings; she has worked with children in a preschool setting for over five years and has co-taught at preschools in Eugene and Portland. Ms. Ashley hopes to become a certified play therapist; she values the importance of imagination and play for young minds and hearts. Ashley strives to encourage and model pro-social and emotional skills in the classroom and spark curiosity about the natural world. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Ashley can be found exploring local trails, attending community events/live music, and doing lots of studying.
Ms. Cassie
Ms. Cassie is an energetic mom of three boys. She loves to garden and watch things grow. When her family found A Child’s Garden in 2018, she says it was such a blessing, a place where all little minds are truly loved and nurtured to grow. She started working at the school in 2020 and has found her home here at our schools and loves the joyful energy that it brings to her life every day.
Ms. Chelsea
Ms. Chelsea was born in Portland and lived in Seaside for a short time but has lived in Bend for the last 24 years. She just bought her first house with her husband, so it looks like they will be staying in Bend for a while! She has a dog and two cats. She received her bachelor’s degree in Child Development from OSU in 2016 and started with us in 2017. She loves cooking, crafting, and being a goofball with the kids. She loves all the holidays as well, any excuse to be merry!
Ms. Elle
Elle was born and raised in Bend, Oregon. Growing up, her passions included dance, gymnastics, cheerleading, babysitting, cooking and snowboarding! She loves being inclusive and to be a part of a team and strives to stay productive. She discovered her love of childcare bonding with a school in Oahu, Hawaii and started her journey here in the fall of 2024.
Ms. Eliza
Ms. Eliza has lived in Bend since 1982. She joined our team in Feb. 2023, fulfilling a life-long passion to help make a difference in the life of a child and to be in the presence of youthful exuberance. She has been married and worked as a business partner with her husband since 1987. They have two children: a son who lives in Silverton, OR and a daughter, living in Brooklyn, NY. Ms. Eliza enjoys nature, walking the local river trail and exploring the lakes, mountains, and desert of Oregon. Her favorite hobby is reading and being surrounded by books. She loves cats and dogs and wants to be a friend to all animals and people.
Ms. Jana
Ms. Jana has been with us since 2020, working at both locations. She has been teaching preschool since 2013, ever since graduating from Central Oregon Community College with an Associates in Early Childhood Education and a teaching certificate. In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, gardening, and spending time outside.
Ms. Jeannie
Ms. Jeannie is a retired nurse and began working with us because of her love of children in 2017. She has several hobbies, but mostly loves spending time with her family. Her granddaughter attended our school from the age of two until she went on to kindergarten and loved it here!
Ms. Jenna
Ms. Jenna was born and raised in New York. She later moved to California and then Washington where she raised her three children and many lovable animals on a horse farm. Once her children were older, she taught preschool for several years on Bainbridge Island. When her children went to college she moved to the mountains of Colorado and the deserts of Arizona, exploring the beauties of each. Seven years ago, she moved to Bend to be close to her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, who she helped care for until he went to school last year. Jenna joined our team in August of 2023 and is happy to be back in the classroom where she can experience the magic of childhood every day.
Mr. Justin
Mr. Justin Warren has taught in multiple roles at our schools since 2020. When he is not at the school, he enjoys spending time with his fiancé and their dog Luna. They explore the trails of Central Oregon and the gifts of nature. In his free time, he practices music, cooking, and dancing.
Ms. Katie
Ms. Katie started working with us in October 2023. She graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in English. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, but recently moved to Bend. She is passionate about education and hopes to learn more while working at our schools. Her hobbies include writing, riding horses, and skiing.
Ms. Kenna (Ms. K)
Ms. Kenna returned to our team in spring of 2024 and is the lucky mom of four kids. When her oldest daugther was in preschool, she fell in love with teaching by volunteering in her class. She loves the way children grow and take the world in. It is such an amazing thing to be a part of and see. She loves how the schools prioritize nurturing the children through nature.
Ms. Laura
Ms. Laura has been part of our team since 2023. She was previously a kindergarten teacher in the Los Angeles area for six years before having her daughter and moving to Bend with her family in 2022. Ms. Laura loves being a mom in Bend and exploring everything our beautiful city has to offer. Finding a community of teachers and families through our schools has been a wonderful experience. In her spare time, Ms. Laura enjoys baking sourdough bread and bagels, biking, and thrifting.
Ms. Maggie
Ms. Maggie was born in Russia and lived there for four years before being adopted. Her mother is awesome! She grew up in Alfalfa on a small ranch that owned chickens and horses and was on a traveling soccer team for years while in school. She now enjoys snowboarding, hiking, camping and fishing with her boyfriend. They also enjoy dabbling in paranormal investigations and watching “Ghost Adventures” in the evening. Her dog, Sara, is very dedicated to Maggie and she is to her dog. Ms. Maggie has been a part of our team since winter of 2023.
Ms. River
Ms. River joined our team in fall of 2024. She has been working in childcare for over 15 years, four of which were at Circle of Friends Waldorf School in Bend. She was born and raised on a small farm in Redmond and is grateful to have lived in Central Oregon her whole life (aside from 6 months in Hawaii)! Ms. River loves camping, trying new crafts, and visiting the ocean every chance she gets. She believes that child rearing is sacred work and loves to teach in the Waldorf tradition.
Ms. Rois
Ms. Rois loves sharing her experience of working in play-based Reggio Emilia inspired and HeadStart preschools. To this mix she adds in her love of art, nature, storytelling, and the outdoors. She believes every child should be given the opportunity to explore the world, ask endless questions and possibly get a little messy doing it. Ms. Rois lives with her husband, two dogs and a cranky cat. When she is not at school you can find her foraging, wild crafting, gardening, exploring backroads, inhaling books, or working on a project that mashes all her passions together. Ms. Rois came to us in 2023 and is looking forward to the coming years.
Ms. Shavon
Ms. Shavon enjoys crafting and making gifts for friends and loved ones. She loves all types of music and getting out with her fiancé and her dog on a fun backpacking trip. She says camping under the stars makes the summer shine brighter. She has been working with us since summer of 2022 and loves it!
Ms. Shawneen
Ms. Shawneen has been working at our school since 2021 and has enjoyed every moment with the littles. When she’s not in the classroom, she can be found at home with her husband, their two children (both older teenagers), and their three dogs. She enjoys reading, camping, hiking, and hunting.
Ms. Sheila
Ms. Sheila began with us in 2005. She has over 20 years of teaching experience, including several Waldorf trainings and classes, and studying Early Childhood Education in college. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and pets, hiking, writing children's stories, and visiting the coast.
Ms. Sophia
Sophia grew up in Ukraine, then moved to Washington state as an eight-year-old. She now lives in Bend, and she loves the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and all the amazing people she has met. She started working with kids through her local rock-climbing gym as a coach and counselor and fell in love with teaching and how much creativity, enthusiasm and fun children bring into everything they do. Sophia joined A Child’s Garden Westside in 2024 after several years of working with children in a Montessori and outdoor school environment. Sophia is passionate about the outdoors and alternative education and believes that rhythm and presence create connection and that is what she works to create in the classroom with her students. When she is not teaching kids and prepping her classroom projects, she enjoys spending the days skiing on the mountain, rock climbing, hiking/biking, going on spontaneous adventures, cooking and playing card games.
Mr. Stu
Mr. Stu has been working with kids since 2008 and can't imagine doing anything else! He has been with our team since 2015. He has two sons named Henry and Edison who both attended our midtown location, and have since moved onto grade school. Outside of school he loves to ride his bike, read, and spend time outdoors with his family.
Ms. Teri
Ms. Teri has been working with us off and on since she was 16 years old and has had her own classroom since 2015. She has her Waldorf Teaching Certification in both Early Childhood and the Grades through the Micha-el Institute. She has taught in almost every classroom, helps out with administration and teacher trainings. She has a son named Theo and a daughter Ellie. She loves animals and reading fantasy book series.
Ms. Tiffany
Ms. Tiffany has been with our team since 2018. She has worked in almost every class, as well as teaching in our old afternoon program. She loves watching the children learn, grow, and move on to their next journey as a Kindergartner. She has two children of her own. She loves to be with her family and getting outdoors whenever possible; camping, hiking, biking, traveling, and enjoying her free time. She graduated in 2016 with her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Science.