Little Violet Preschool
Mrs. Mandy McCloud, Lead Teacher
My name is Mandy McCloud and I am very excited to take on the role of preschool teacher. I am a former OWS student and am very exited to be back. I have spent the 3 years working as a preschool teacher, and the 4 years before that as an elementary school teacher. I am a Washington state certified teacher with a masters in education. My love for Waldorf education has inspired much of my life and I am delighted to be a part of this community.
My name is Mandy McCloud and I am very excited to take on the role of preschool teacher. I am a former OWS student and am very exited to be back. I have spent the 3 years working as a preschool teacher, and the 4 years before that as an elementary school teacher. I am a Washington state certified teacher with a masters in education. My love for Waldorf education has inspired much of my life and I am delighted to be a part of this community.
Sunflower Kindergarten
Ms. Susan Palmer, Lead Teacher
Susan Palmer was born in Olympia, Washington, and returned to the community in 2008 to begin teaching at Olympia Waldorf School. Susan grew up primarily in Alaska, where she enjoyed ice skating and camping as a child. She has fondest memories of her family's cabin by the Kenai River, with many years spent fishing and canning salmon. Susan has enjoyed living in all regions of the United States, with stays in the great cities of New York and Los Angeles along the way. She obtained her BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute, and completed graduate courses in writing. She followed her love of Waldorf Education to the Rudolf Steiner College in California, and completed her teacher training in the summer of 2009 Susan enjoys all aspects of Waldorf Kindergarten, but most delights in the children's enthusiasm for each new day. Susan has the great good fortune to spend time sharing her love of arts and language within the Kindergarten curriculum of stories and songs, nature and festivals. The magic found in Waldorf Kindergarten occurs when each child is fully seen and respected, and Susan considers it an honor to witness each child's developing consciousness. She endeavors to "hold the light," whether participating in moments of happy sharing, or those "teaching moments" fraught with conflict.
Susan Palmer was born in Olympia, Washington, and returned to the community in 2008 to begin teaching at Olympia Waldorf School. Susan grew up primarily in Alaska, where she enjoyed ice skating and camping as a child. She has fondest memories of her family's cabin by the Kenai River, with many years spent fishing and canning salmon. Susan has enjoyed living in all regions of the United States, with stays in the great cities of New York and Los Angeles along the way. She obtained her BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute, and completed graduate courses in writing. She followed her love of Waldorf Education to the Rudolf Steiner College in California, and completed her teacher training in the summer of 2009 Susan enjoys all aspects of Waldorf Kindergarten, but most delights in the children's enthusiasm for each new day. Susan has the great good fortune to spend time sharing her love of arts and language within the Kindergarten curriculum of stories and songs, nature and festivals. The magic found in Waldorf Kindergarten occurs when each child is fully seen and respected, and Susan considers it an honor to witness each child's developing consciousness. She endeavors to "hold the light," whether participating in moments of happy sharing, or those "teaching moments" fraught with conflict.
Ms. Shannon Kerrigan, Assistant and Hearth Care Coordinator
Shannon was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio where she swam in the Great Lakes and spent many days roaming the galleries of the Cleveland Museum of Art. She moved to the northwest in 2012, where she nannied for multiple families before beginning her career within Waldorf Education. In her spare time, Shannon can be found composing music, rollerblading, and deer watching in her backyard. Shannon came to OWS last spring working with children in Hearthcare. She is very excited to come back this year as an assistant with Sunflowers, and is eager to look for worms and slugs in the Kinderhaus yard.
Shannon was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio where she swam in the Great Lakes and spent many days roaming the galleries of the Cleveland Museum of Art. She moved to the northwest in 2012, where she nannied for multiple families before beginning her career within Waldorf Education. In her spare time, Shannon can be found composing music, rollerblading, and deer watching in her backyard. Shannon came to OWS last spring working with children in Hearthcare. She is very excited to come back this year as an assistant with Sunflowers, and is eager to look for worms and slugs in the Kinderhaus yard.
Thimbleberry Kindergarten
Ms. Lucina Strandjord, Lead Teacher
Lucina grew up in Sebastopol, California, a small town on the edge of wine country. She enjoyed spending her childhood making art and playing in nature with her brother. Lucina spent most of her life in Waldorf education, from kindergarten all the way through Grade 12. After high school, she attended University of Puget Sound, where she received a Bachelor’s of Art in Science, Technology, and Society & German Studies in 2019. Lucina spends her free time beekeeping, baking, and hiking in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. This is Lucina’s fourth year at Olympia Waldorf and she is very excited for this upcoming year with the Thimbleberry Kindergarten.
Lucina grew up in Sebastopol, California, a small town on the edge of wine country. She enjoyed spending her childhood making art and playing in nature with her brother. Lucina spent most of her life in Waldorf education, from kindergarten all the way through Grade 12. After high school, she attended University of Puget Sound, where she received a Bachelor’s of Art in Science, Technology, and Society & German Studies in 2019. Lucina spends her free time beekeeping, baking, and hiking in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. This is Lucina’s fourth year at Olympia Waldorf and she is very excited for this upcoming year with the Thimbleberry Kindergarten.
Claire Twitty, Assistant (she/her)
Claire grew up in Gig Harbor, WA, then moved to Olympia in 2015. Even though she spent most of her upbringing in Gig Harbor, she considers Olympia her hometown because of how she fell in love with the community. During her childhood, Claire spent her time exploring the woods that surrounded her home, building fairy houses, and making art in whichever way the creativity struck! Nowadays, Claire still enjoys many creative projects, from handwork to painting. Last year, Claire adopted a rescue husky mix puppy named Clover, whom she loves to train for possible competition. Claire came to OWS in 2017 as apart of the grades aftercare team. She eventually took on the role of the program's coordinator, but she was drawn to early childhood and transitioned to the role of Kindergarten Assistant in 2019. She loves it because of the deep connection to nature, and of course, getting to build fairy houses again! Claire has plans to return to school in the spring part-time and is leaning towards studying education.
Claire grew up in Gig Harbor, WA, then moved to Olympia in 2015. Even though she spent most of her upbringing in Gig Harbor, she considers Olympia her hometown because of how she fell in love with the community. During her childhood, Claire spent her time exploring the woods that surrounded her home, building fairy houses, and making art in whichever way the creativity struck! Nowadays, Claire still enjoys many creative projects, from handwork to painting. Last year, Claire adopted a rescue husky mix puppy named Clover, whom she loves to train for possible competition. Claire came to OWS in 2017 as apart of the grades aftercare team. She eventually took on the role of the program's coordinator, but she was drawn to early childhood and transitioned to the role of Kindergarten Assistant in 2019. She loves it because of the deep connection to nature, and of course, getting to build fairy houses again! Claire has plans to return to school in the spring part-time and is leaning towards studying education.
