First Day of School: Sept. 9th (EC: 14th) | There’s still time to enroll for the ’26/’27 school year!

WHO WE ARE
School Directors
Liza Gennari
Director of Education
Joshua Fisher
Administrative Director
Administration
Robyn Coe
Director of Admissions
Janet Lee
Business Manager
Darcy Turner
Front Desk Receptionist
Dayle Welch
Human Resources & Enrollment Manager
Reagan Smith
Advancement Manager
Christian Limberger
Facilities Manager
Student Support
Gussie Greer
Student Support Teacher
Liza Gennari
Director of Education
Katie Bovard
Student Support Assistant
Early Childhood Faculty
Charlotte Hoppe
Rainbow Room Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Naima Hills
Rainbow Room Kindergarten Assistant
Kirsten Hascup
Sun Room Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Rachel Dworkin
Sun Room Kindergarten Assistant
Beth Oakley
Rose Room Nursery Lead Teacher
Penni Greene
Rose Room Nursery Assistant
Eleana Peterson
Student Support Assistant
Emmett Nelson
Early Childhood Assistant
Soheireh Meier
Robin’s Nest Nursery Lead Teacher
Alissa Beight
Robin’s Nest Nursery Assistant
Rebecca Ruof
Star Room Nursery Lead Teacher
Stephanie Bochner
Early Childhood After School Teacher
Grades 1–8 Class Teachers
Sophie Camardo
First Grade Class Teacher
Sara Meister
Second Grade Class teacher
Anna Taiga
Third Grade Class Teacher
Victoria Palazzo
Fourth Grade Class Teacher
Dr. Even Christine Gardiner
Fifth Grade Class Teacher
WindRose Morris-Keating
Sixth Grade Class Teacher
Safina Alessandra
Seventh Grade Class Teacher
Christine Good
Eighth Grade Class Teacher
Subject Teachers
David Ree
Music, Woodwork
Kevin Crowley
Games/Movement, Athletic Director
Patti Regan
Eurythmy, Chorus, Recorder
Bonnie Nordoff
Piano Accompanist
Hadley Milliken
Biodynamic Farming/Gardening
Andrea Patel
Librarian
John Helmke
Math, Science
Zach Schweitzer
Middle School Specialist
Joanne Bockemuehl
German
Krista Palmer
Handwork
Eloise Avery
Handwork Assistant
Kristin Grippo
ELA Specialist

Discover our Committees & Community Leadership

Curious about working with us? Find out more

Liza Gennari

Director of education, student support coordinator

Liza Gennari is an LICSW with over a decade of experience supporting the mental, emotional, and developmental needs of children and families. Holding a Master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University, Liza has worked extensively in outpatient mental health settings, providing compassionate, individualized care to children from diverse backgrounds.

Liza brings a warm, grounded presence and a deep belief in the importance of nurturing the whole child—values that align beautifully with the Waldorf philosophy. Her professional work has focused on helping children build emotional regulation, social connection, and self-awareness through both one-on-one and family-based support. She is trained in trauma-informed care, collaborative treatment planning, and therapeutic techniques that prioritize the child’s inner life and relationships.

As a parent herself to a child at BWS, Liza understands the unique interplay between home and school in a child’s life. This personal perspective deepens her commitment to creating strong, supportive relationships with both students and their families.

Eager to transition from a clinical setting into a school-based environment, Liza is honored to bring her experience and passion to Berkshire Waldorf School—contributing to a nurturing, inclusive, and creative space where every child can thrive.

Josh Fisher

Administrative Director

Joshua Fisher has been a BWS parent and an engaged community member since 2011. In the summer of 2020, Josh paused his work as a documentary film producer to take a leading role in BWS’s efforts to reopen the school for in-person learning that fall. During that challenging but ultimately triumphant school year, Josh managed the school’s outdoor classroom spaces and crafted communication strategies to help families stay connected to the vibrant life of the school while opportunities to gather on campus were limited.

In 2021, “Mr. Josh” took on the role of BWS Facilities Manager, overseeing the maintenance and operation of the two school buildings and our 30-acre campus. At the same time, he filled a variety of important roles for the school, many of which drew upon his project management and economics background, and contributed to school life in ways both large and small, from official photographer/videographer to stage lighting director to baseball coach and much more. 

Josh holds a BA in Economics from Carleton College and a Master’s in Journalism from UC Berkeley, with a focus on documentary film. He has worked as an economist in New York City, taught English and Film in Central Asia, and produced documentary films for The New York Times, The New Yorker and PBS American Experience, among other outlets. His work experience as a documentary producer, which combines artistic talents (writing, visual representation) with a host of practical skills (team management, budgeting) is particularly well-suited for an administrative role at a Waldorf school. 

Robyn Perry Coe

Director of Admissions

Hello and welcome to BWS! As chief welcome officer, my role is to help families find, fall in love with and often times relocate to this lovely, established Waldorf school for toddlers through teens in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. I received my MA in writing from New York University, where I was a fellow under poet Galway Kinnell, and my BA in writing from Agnes Scott College in Atlanta. I look forward to sharing this brave and beautiful school with you through communications, articles, events and community festivals that hopefully anticipate and answer your questions. And I especially invite you to come visit the school with me, to experience learning designed for children and all the ways they learn best as they grow. Learning can be an adventure, both for the children and their families!

Janet Lee holds a Master’s in Business Management from Northeastern University and an undergraduate degree from Tufts University. Prior to joining Berkshire Waldorf School in 2021, Janet served as the Executive Director at Hevreh of Southern Berkshires and as Spa Operations Manager at Canyon Ranch.

She brings over two decades of experience across strategic financial oversight, budgeting, banking, and operational management. Janet’s focus is to ensure the smooth, sustainable administration of the school while providing warm, thoughtful service to our staff, faculty, and Waldorf families.

Deeply dedicated to community engagement, Janet has served on the Great Barrington Finance Committee and is currently the Chair of the Great Barrington Public Theater Board of Directors. Janet and her husband, Tim—the part-time Superintendent of Farmington River—have lived in Great Barrington for over 20 years, where they raised their two daughters, Alison and Ruthanne.

In her free time, Janet teaches Pilates and Yoga and works part-time at the Center for Motivation and Change in New Marlboro. When she isn’t on campus, you can usually find her playing tennis or taking long walks around Lake Mansfield.

Dayle Welch

Human Resources & Enrollment Manager

Dayle (she/her) holds a Masters in Human Development from the University of Maine with a focus on Non-Profit Business Management. She is a passionate human service leader with over ten years experience managing effective teams in the Non-Profit sector. Dayle previously served as the Program Director at a local YMCA Outdoor Center, as well as a Waldorf Inspired Outdoor Center in Ketchum, Idaho. 

Dayle grew up in Westford, Massachusetts but visited the Berkshires every summer growing up to attend our many folk festivals and arts events. When Dayle is not leading our hiring and enrollment functions at Berkshire Waldorf School she can often be found hiking a mountain, swimming in the river or curling up with a good book (and her cats: Puppy and Shark).

Reagan Smith

Advancement Manager

Reagan (she/her) is completing a MBA in Nonprofit Leadership and Development from Antioch University, and holds a BFA in Marketing and Communications, with a focus on Cross-Cultural and Social Justice Studies. She is a creative writer, brand strategist, interdisciplinary artist, published poet, website development consultant, and mother. She has previously served as an Early Childhood Educator at two different Waldorf Forest Kindergartens, as well as a Marketing and Communications Coordinator for multiple educational non-profit organizations. At her undergraduate alma mater, she founded and executed an after-school creative writing program for grade school students, which is still running successfully today.

Reagan grew up residing in several areas across New England, as her family relocated every few years. Some of these areas included rural New Hampshire, The Adirondack Mountains, and Western Massachusetts. This shaped her to be passionate about cultivating a strong, symbiotic community and honoring the value of intersectionality while fostering an inherent sense of belonging. Reagan now lives in The Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, raising her daughter and continuing to pursue her many passions. Outside of her position as the Advancement Manager here at Berkshire Waldorf School, she participates in her small town’s government and enjoys playing her banjo, being creative, and spending time with her family – ideally outdoors.

Christian Limberger

Facilities Manager

Christian Limberger is a Waldorf graduate and enjoys traveling to beautiful historical and adventurous places with his wife Damaris and two children Klara and Felix. He holds a Waldorf teacher training degree from Alkion, a Theater degree from Berkshire Community College, a Music degree from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, a postgraduate degree from Westfield State University in Public Art Education. He recently completed a Biodynamic Farm and Garden degree from the Pfeiffer Institute.

Christian has been a caretaker for the Christian Community Church and has spent 10 summers in the maintenance department at Tanglewood Lenox Massachusetts.

When not fixing something he can be found in his garden or planting a tree. 

Gussie Greer

Student Support Teacher

Ms. Greer has always been passionate about education and literacy. She moved to Great Barrington from New York City with her husband and three children in 2000. She holds a Masters of Education in Early Childhood Education from Lesley University as well as a B.A. in Anthropology from Connecticut College. In addition, Ms. Greer has completed her Associate Level Training in the Orton-Gillingham Method and AMI Elementary Certification through Montessori Training Center Northeast (Hartford, Connecticut). Ms. Greer is currently in the process of completing her Certified Level Training in Orton-Gillingham.

Ms. Greer has extensive classroom teaching and individual tutoring experience. She’s worked in the Southern Berkshire Regional School District, including as the Assistant Teacher at the South Egremont School. She was part of the Montessori School of the Berkshires Elementary Team (2014-2021), and joined Green River Literacy as a tutor in the summer of 2021. From 2021-2025, Ms. Greer worked at Farmington River Elementary School in Otis, providing reading support/intervention to small groups. She also provides one-on-one support to private students after school, including at Berkshire Waldorf School. In her spare time, Ms. Greer enjoys yoga, handwork and reading, plus spending time at home with her two dogs, Tillie and Bubba.

Katie Bovard

Student Support Assistant

Born and raised in the Berkshires, Katie returned home with her husband, Nate, to raise their family. She holds a Master of Education from MCLA and an undergraduate degree in Physical Education with a minor in Health. She has experience working with students of all ages in different settings. Katie has taught P.E., Health, and 1st grade in public schools.

With a love for the outdoors, she is also a former alpine ski coach and outdoor recreation guide. Katie joined BWS in 2023 and continues to support students in a variety of ways. In 2026, she completed her Orton-Gillingham Classroom Educator coursework and is currently working toward her formal certification. She is grateful to be part of the Berkshire Waldorf School community as both an educator and a BWS parent.

Charlotte Hoppe

Rainbow Room Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Rainbow Room Kindergarten teacher, Charlotte Hoppe, grew up in the Hudson Valley as a student at Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School. She completed her Waldorf Teacher Training in Early Childhood Education at The Alkion Center in Ghent, NY after earning a Bachelors of Science in Community Health and Nutrition from SUNY Potsdam. Prior to joining the BWS faculty in 2020, Charlotte worked as a founding member of a Waldorf Early Childhood Program in Cambodia. She has spent over 15 years working with children in a variety of caregiving and teaching capacities and continues to be inspired by her own two children and the community here in the Berkshires. Her love of handcrafts, gardening, and singing goes beyond the classroom and are a joyful part of her day to day life.

Kirsten Hascup

Sun Room Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Kirsten Hascup has been a Waldorf early childhood educator for 28 years. She has taught at the Ithaca Waldorf School, the Baltimore Waldorf School, and now has been teaching at the Berkshire Waldorf School since 2016. Ms. Kirsten holds a B.A. in Fine Arts from Cornell University and a Masters of Education from Antioch New England in Keene, New Hampshire. She completed an additional Waldorf Certificate at Antioch in Transdisciplinary Studies in Healing Education, and has recently graduated from the Kairos Institute at the Center for Anthroposophy, with certification in painting and artistic therapies. In addition to teaching kindergarten, she enjoys teaching painting to older students and adults and working with individuals and groups to heal through color. All three of her children attended Waldorf School, and her youngest daughter Isa attends Berkshire Waldorf High School. Kirsten enjoys painting, gardening, and handwork in her free time, and going for walks and spending time with her friends and family.

Beth Oakley

Rose Room Nursery Lead Teacher

Beth Oakley earned her degree from Bennington College in Literature and Early Childhood Education. She discovered Waldorf education while student teaching public school in southern Vermont—and soon after began her teacher training at Alkion Center at Hawthorne Valley, where she earned her certification in Early Childhood Ed. She assisted for two years at the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs in both the nursery program and the forest kindergarten before beginning her career as a lead teacher a GBRSS in 2012. During that time she started a successful summer program at the school for nursery-aged children and helped to bring the first chickens to the kindergarten playground! Beth moved away to Los Angeles with her husband in 2015 and now has happily set roots in Great Barrington with her husband and two sons, Gabriel and Quinn. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, crosswords, running, reading, and rock climbing. She is also a former ballerina and loves dance of all kinds.

Eleana Peterson

Student Support Assistant

In 1997, Eleana Peterson received her Master’s in Waldorf Education at Sunbridge College in New York. She spent 6 years lead teaching in the grades before arriving at BWS in September of 2005. Ms. Peterson assisted in both Nursery and Kindergarten, as well as teaching aftercare and summer program. Currently in her 21st year at BWS, she is a support teacher helping out in various classrooms. An avid dancer, Eleana has performed both Morris and Garland dance for 19 years now, most famously at our BWS May Day Celebrations!

Soheireh Meier

Robin’s Nest Nursery Lead Teacher

Grew up between the Hudson Valley and Missouri. She has a BA from Bennington College and a certificate in Waldorf Education from Alkion at Hawthorne Valley School. She is currently participating in the Curative Education course led by Robyn Brown.  Soheireh has been teaching Waldorf Early Childhood education in various capacities for 14 years. The first five years of her teaching journey began with assisting and training with Mary Louis Bedard, a beloved and respected Waldorf early childhood master teacher.  In 2017 she began lead teaching, and since then she’s run her own home program and taught at BWS. She lives with her two teenaged children, three cats and a few chickens on her property in Philmont NY. She loves drawing, painting, dancing, sewing, reading as well as appreciating the beauty of the world around her and deepening her way of relating to herself and other human beings. 

Rebecca Ruof

Star Room Nursery Lead Teacher

Star Room Nursery lead teacher Rebecca Ruof grew up in Germany, where she attended a Waldorf school from kindergarten through high school. She completed her Waldorf early childhood teacher training at Sophia’s Hearth and Sunbridge Institute. Before becoming an early childhood teacher, Ms. Rebecca taught various subjects at Waldorf schools in Chestnut Ridge, Budapest, and Baltimore. She taught in the Nursery at Green Meadow Waldorf School since 2006, and as an adjunct faculty member at Sunbridge Institute for Waldorf early childhood teacher education. Her elder son is an alum of Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, and her younger son is an alum of Berkshire Waldorf High School. 

Stephanie Bochner

Early Childhood After School Teacher

Stephanie grew up in New York and California, and recently moved to the Berkshires. She has a lifelong passion for working with children and animals, and being in nature. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her dog, knitting, and baking. She is looking forward to beginning Waldorf Teacher Training at Hawthorne Valley’s Alikon Center this fall for Early Childhood. After spending the summer assisting the EC Summer Camp, she is thrilled to continue working at BWS in EC Aftercare this upcoming school year. 

Sophie Camardo

first grade class teacher

Ms. Camardo is an experienced Waldorf educator coming to Great Barrington from Nashville, Tennessee. She grew up in northern New Jersey is thrilled to be able to return to the northeast to further her career at Berkshire Waldorf School. Sophie received her B.S. in Child Studies with a minor in Special Education from Vanderbilt University, where she deepened her passion for understanding how schools can meet the needs of the whole child. Outside of teaching, Sophie nurtures her own creativity through handwork, painting, and singing. She brings these passions into the classroom and feels so grateful to participate in an education that encourages this way of being.

Sara Meister

Second Grade Class teacher

Sara Meister, a Waldorf Teacher for 8 years, moved to Chatham, New York from Rhode Island, where she was a class teacher at Meadowbrook Waldorf School. Ms. Meister holds a B.A. in English and Philosophy from the Evergreen State College and a M.Ed. in Waldorf Teaching and Elementary Education from Antioch University New England. Ms. Meister has completed a Classroom Educator training in Orton-Gillingham, and has furthered her studies at The Nature Institute, Sophia’s Hearth, The Center for Anthroposophy, Sunbridge Institute, and The Jamie York Academy. She is currently leading the Class of 2033. Ms. Meister’s three sons David, Jonah, and Caleb also attend BWS. She enjoys trying new recipes, choral singing, kayaking, camping, and cheering for her boys at their sporting events.

Anna Taiga

Third Grade Class Teacher

Anna Taiga grew up near Moscow, Russia, and went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Human Resources from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. For over a decade, she worked for a large global company, traveling internationally to facilitate leadership seminars and organizing managerial mentoring and coaching programs. She also spearheaded innovative workplace diversity initiatives. In searching for a spiritually rooted education for her children many years ago Ms. Taiga encountered anthroposophy and Waldorf education. She earned her Waldorf grades teacher certification from the Alkion Center at Hawthorne Valley. She taught high school English there before joining the Berkshire Waldorf School in 2017. Prior to her role as a class teacher Ms. Taiga served as a kindergarten assistant teacher, as a first grade assistant teacher and as a lead teacher for the Summer@BWS program. She enjoys bringing her love of cross-cultural music and singing into the classroom.

Victoria Palazzo

Fourth Grade Class Teacher

Victoria Palazzo grew up in the Berkshires and attended the Steiner School from kindergarten through eighth grade. An experienced Waldorf teacher, she had already successfully completed an eight-year cycle at the Emerson Waldorf School in Chapel Hill, North Carolina when she joined the Steiner School faculty to lead the Class of 2018 from third through sixth grade. While teaching at Emerson Waldorf School, Mrs. Palazzo was not only a class teacher, but served as an art teacher in the 12th grade, taught recorder class to 6th, 7th and 8th grades and coached cross country running and tennis. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Arts in Waldorf Education from Antioch New England.

Dr. Even Christine Gardiner

Fifth Grade Class Teacher

Dr. Even Christine Gardiner is an educator and storyteller with a deep commitment to craft, imagination, and experiential learning.

Even holds a BA and MFA from Brown University, as well as a PhD in English from the University of Denver, and she taught writing and literature at the college level for over a decade. 

After leaving academia, Even shifted her focus to working primarily with children and adolescents. She brings a strong background in educational administration, self-directed learning, and curricular design to her role as a Class Teacher.  

In addition to her teaching practice, Even is the author of the poetry collection My Sister’s Father, the blog Pet Murmur, and the podcast Investigative Poetics. 

WindRose Morris-Keating

sixth Grade Class Teacher

Windrose is a class teacher, parent, and alumna of Berkshire Waldorf School. Her connection to the school goes back to 1984, when BWS was called the Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School. She holds a Master’s degree in Waldorf Education from Antioch University New England, and a Bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the Union Institute’s Vermont College. She completed a seven-year apprenticeship with an indigenous Mexihka Healer. During the COVID years, she ran a successful Waldorf-inspired, nature-based education program in North Berkshire County, focusing on healing and balance with the natural world.

WindRose lived in the UK for 20 years, where her work included bringing history to life as an educator and teaching artist in Museums, Schools, Universities, and Gardens in both the USA & Europe, inspiring creativity and curiosity in students, teachers, and members of the public. With a strong background in theater and the arts, she has crafted performance pieces and workshops to engage audiences on a wide range of topics, from botany and mythology to film history. A jill-of-all-trades, she has skills in scriptwriting, storytelling, and creating historically accurate visual aids, costumes, masks, puppets, and creatures.  She has had the pleasure of working for such institutions as The British Museum, The BBC, Shakespeare & Company, The Cambridge Botanic Gardens, The Oxford Botanic Gardens, The Norman Rockwell Museum & Herman Melville’s Arrowhead.

When not at school, you will find her on the farm or in the woods with her husband and son. She enjoys making herbal medicines, art pieces and baskets, going on wildlife walks with her family, or swimming in icy streams. It is a great honor for her to return to BWS as a class teacher, in service of a healing education, sharing her love for the world; it is a rounding of the circle.

Safina Alessandra

Seventh Grade Class Teacher

Safina Alessandra grew up in Switzerland, where she was part of the vibrant Waldorf Community in Zurich. Her deep wish to understand how to support the health and wellbeing of the developing child led her to work and study in a wide range of educational settings. She completed her Training in Curative Education at Camphill Schools, a residential Waldorf School for children with disabilities in Chester County, PA, where she managed a residential household. She went on to broaden her understanding of child development by working as a Kindergarten assistant and serving in various roles at the Hawthorne Valley Farm Visiting Students Program, gaining a deep appreciation for the harmonizing effects of children’s connection with nature. Ms Alessandra completed her Waldorf Grades Teacher Training at the Alkion Center at Hawthorne Valley and her BS in Early Childhood and Childhood Education at SUNY New Paltz. Before becoming a class teacher at BWS, Ms. Alessandra privately tutored elementary and middle school students in math, English Language, and German.  

Outside of school, besides spending time with family and friends, Ms. Alessandra enjoys hiking, biking, gardening, knitting, and baking fancy cakes.

Christine Good

Eighth Grade Class Teacher

Christine Good spent her childhood immersed in nature and creativity in upstate NY. She earned a BSEd in Health Education K-12 from SUNY Cortland, Summa Cum Laude, and a Master’s in Waldorf Education with a Waldorf teacher training certificate from Sunbridge College. She has a total of 15 years of teaching experience from the Waldorf School of Baltimore, the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs, Primrose Hill School, and the Berkshire Waldorf School. Christine has served as an AWSNA delegate, a pedagogical director, and a board member at her previous schools. As a mother of two teen Waldorf students and a middle school teacher, Christine enjoys supporting the unfolding individuality of this age group. She loves to weave her passions for gardening, sewing, felting, and plant dyeing into her teaching.

David Rée

Grades Music and Woodworking Teacher

David Rée teaches woodwork and strings/orchestra in grades 4-8. Before joining BWS in 2019, David worked in Camphill Village in Copake where, amongst many other roles, he led the wood workshop and was deeply involved in the vibrant musical life of the community. He also taught History through Music blocks at the Berkshire Waldorf High School and the Academe of Aurora in Aurora, NY, and directed a choir for elders in Camphill Ghent. 
 
In his free time, David enjoys spending time with his four daughters – current students and alumni of BWS, – playing music and sports, and singing with Cantilena chamber choir in Lenox, MA.
 
Mr Rée holds a bachelor’s degree in music composition and vocal performance and global environmental studies, from Clark University, and is a proud graduate of the Alkion Waldorf Teacher’s training at Hawthorne Valley.

Kevin Crowley

Athletic Director and Games Teacher

Kevin Crowley is our enthusiastic Games Teacher, Athletic Director, and Cyber Civics Teacher. Mr. Crowley previously taught at the Bambujaya Bilingual School, a Waldorf-inspired school in Cambodia, as a specialty and ESL teacher in the grade school, as well as at the Footprints International School as the 3rd Grade Lead Teacher. He is a graduate of the Academe of the Oaks (Waldorf School of Atlanta) and Oglethorpe University, where he majored in International Studies. Outside of his roles at BWS he enjoys spending time with his family, birding, biking, and playing board games.

Patti Regan

Eurythmy, Chorus and Recorder Teacher

Patti Regan teaches eurythmy in grades Kindergarten through Eight. She also directs the middle school chorus and supports the festival life of the school. Before joining BWS in 2014, Patti taught music at Green Meadow Waldorf School. She is currently the Director of Pedagogy at Eurythmy Spring Valley. In this role she supervises the teacher training of all professional Eurythmy diploma candidates. In addition to her educational background, Patti also brings over a decade of corporate experience from her work as a copy writer and technical writer at J. Walter Thompson Company and Ernst & Young LLP.

In her free time she enjoys singing in the Cantilena Chamber Choir in Lenox MA. She also enjoys playing recorders with friends at Courtly Music Unlimited in Warrensburg NY. And every New Year, she resolves to learn how to purl. Patti holds a Bachelor’s in music performance from Lawrence Conservatory, a M.Ed. in Instructional Design from Loyola University Chicago, a Waldorf Music Educator Certificate from Sunbridge Institute, Performance and Pedagogical Diplomas from The School of Eurythmy Spring Valley and a Therapeutic Eurythmy Diploma from the North American Therapeutic Eurythmy Training.

Bonnie Nordoff

Piano Accompanist

Bonnie Nordoff accompanies eurythmy, chorus, recitals, and assemblies at the school.

She holds a BA in music from Bard College at Simon’s Rock and has completed extensive postgraduate study in piano pedagogy and technique. Outside of school, she maintains an active teaching schedule and serves as pianist for two churches and the Alkion Teacher Training Program at Hawthorne Valley School.

Bonnie’s three children all attended the Berkshire Waldorf School, and she now has the joy of seeing her grandson every day in our school.

Hadley Milliken

Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Teacher

Hadley Milliken holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Religious Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA). She received her agricultural training from the Hanover County Master Gardening Program (Hanover, VA), and is certified in Biodynamic Farming by the Pfeiffer Center (Chestnut Ridge, NY). Hadley has over eight years of experience working at various small farms and habitat preservation organizations. She is the owner and head landscaper at Small Farms Rising, an edible landscaping company that utilizes biodynamics to design and maintain landscapes of heirloom vegetables, flowers, medicinal herbs, and children’s learning gardens. She has been known as “Farmer Hadley” to BWS students since 2014, and with their help has built a kitchen garden, pollinator garden, herb and tea garden, dye garden and stands of raspberries, garlic and the “three sisters” – corn, beans and squash – in the holistic outdoor classroom that provides what she calls “a complete seed to fork experience.”

Andrea Patel

Librarian

Andrea Patel has been the Librarian at BWS since 2021. An avid reader since childhood, she is delighted to share her love of books with students! In addition to reading, Andrea enjoys crafting, baking, kayaking, crossword puzzles, and singing with the Cantilena Chamber Choir. She is the author and illustrator of on that day, a children’s book written in response to 9/11, featured by Reading Rainbow.

Andrea is a graduate of the Garden City Waldorf School, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Oberlin College, and holds a Masters of Education from Lesley University. Prior to joining the BWS faculty, she taught Kindergarten and Preschool at Berkshire Country Day School for 25 years. Andrea is also the proud parent of a BWS graduate, Class of ‘97.

John Helmke

Middle School Math and Science Teacher

Former Interim Director for BWS, John Helmke returned in 2022 as our Middle School math teacher. Mr. Helmke is a graduate of the Waldorf School of Garden City. He earned his B.A. in History from Gettysburg College, and holds a Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis in History from Westfield State University. Mr. Helmke is also a BWS alumni parent, as his daughter is a member of the Class of 2014.

Zach Schweitzer

Middle School Specialist

Mr. Schweitzer grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and graduated from Tufts University with a BA in International Relations. Zachary comes to Berkshire Waldorf School from Maui, Hawai’i, where he taught two Middle School cycles (6-8) at Haleakalā Waldorf School. Prior to teaching, Zach worked in the environmental sector for six years in the Mekong River Basin of Southeast Asia. In the classroom, he brings a passion for the real world applications of scientific inquiry and a penchant for storytelling. Outside of school, he can be found running, playing squash, and adventuring with his wife, daughter and dog.

Joanne Magdalena Bockemuehl

German

Born and raised in Germany, Joanne Magdalena Bockemuehl brings a lifelong connection to the German language and culture to her work as a Waldorf German teacher. A graduate of a Rudolf Steiner School, she grew up in a family immersed in art, music, literature, language, and seasonal traditions—experiences that continue to inspire her teaching.

Joanne has lived in the United States since 2014 and has taught in Waldorf schools in both Germany and the United States. She currently teaches German in Grades 1–8 at Berkshire Waldorf School. As a native German speaker and experienced Waldorf educator, she creates a living and joyful experience of the language through stories, songs, poetry, conversation, movement, games, and cultural traditions. Her teaching is rooted in Waldorf pedagogy and an understanding of child development, with an emphasis on curiosity, creativity, rhythm, and meaningful experiences. Her goal is for students to experience German not simply as a subject, but as a language they can hear, speak, feel, and enjoy.

Her background in dance, music, crafts, and the arts further enriches her work and allows her to bring movement and imagination into language learning. Joanne is also a nurse, craniosacral therapist, Flamenco dance teacher, seamstress, and mother of three children.

Kristin Grippo

ELA Specialist

Kristin Grippo is an educator, literacy specialist, and teaching artist with more than 25 years of experience. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Literacy. Kristin began her career teaching fifth grade in public schools in Rockland County, New York, and has since worked in a wide range of educational settings, including Berkshire Country Day School, Berkshire Art Center, homeschool communities, and as a literacy tutor and curriculum designer.
Kristin is passionate about empowering students as learners and creating the space for them to develop confidence, curiosity, and a genuine sense of ownership in their learning.

Outside of school, Kristin enjoys being outdoors, storytelling and writing, and swimming and exploring with her son.