Ojibwe artist and Waldorf alum, Maggie Thompson, is expanding her knitwear business, Makwa Studio. She started with “two balls of yarn and a hat” and now uses vintage Brother knitting machines to make collaborative products for companies like Target. The business’ expansion is made possible by an industrial knitting machine that works with finer yarn. Thompson […]
Waldorf Alum Textile Artist Expands Knitwear Business Read More »
Tessa Prast, a sixth grade student at the Berkshire Waldorf School in Great Barrington, performed as Flavio during Hudson Hall‘s production of “Rodelinda” by George Frideric Handel. The Berkshire Eagle reported on Tessa’s experience in the New York opera’s first in a multi-year series of Handel operas. Tessa auditioned for the part of Flavio, the son of Rodelinda and King
Sixth Grade Waldorf Student Makes Opera Debut Read More »
Eighth grade student Bella Splendori from The Waldorf School of Garden City was recently featured in The Garden City Newsfor her in depth research project on the architecture and history of Garden City, New York on Long Island. Her research, which was her eighth grade school project, focused on the founder A.T. Stewart and the 12 Apostle Houses.
Eighth Grader In News for School Project Read More »
Pasadena Waldorf School seventh-grade student Verona H. has had her artwork, a watercolor titled égalitariste, published in Stone Soup Magazine. Her watercolor is featured with other contributions from writers and artists, all aged 14 and under. Stone Soup is the literary magazine entirely written and illustrated by children aged 14 and under. The magazine is published by the Children’s Art
Waldorf Seventh Grader has Artwork Published Read More »
Student leaders at the Haleakalā Waldorf School are participating in the Pledge to Our Keiki — a commitment to volunteer service to support Maui in crisis and build resilient systems to safeguard the future across Hawaiʻi Nei. The Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) is providing learning opportunities for students in grades K-12 to help them become ambassadors for
Haleakalā Waldorf School Students Pledge Service Read More »
Laura Posusta Sharp, special projects manager, found her way to Waldorf education and AWSNA years ago when her three daughters were young. With a BA in kinesiology from the University of Northern Colorado and a rich professional background ranging from law offices and government agencies to wellness spaces and early childhood settings, she meets the world with both practical skill and quiet reverence. Her talents are grounded in an intuitive sense for what is needed, and she likes to create spaces of calm, clarity, and quiet competence where others can thrive.
Outside of work, Laura finds nourishment in nature—tending flower and vegetable gardens, puzzling out crosswords, and spending meaningful time with her husband and daughters. She believes in beauty as a form of service, presence as a form of wisdom, and a well-timed pause as a form of magic.
Emily Cohen is AWSNA's business manager, and brings more than two decades of dedicated expertise in accounting and financial management to the non-profit and education sectors. Her key specializations include grant fund accounting, financial reporting, payroll management, audits, and system implementation. In all her work, she is committed to ensuring compliance and executing effective process improvements.
Having held both leadership and supporting roles, Emily has consistently contributed to streamlining financial operations and enhancing reporting. She earned her BS in accounting from Northern Arizona University.
When not focused on work, she loves being outdoors with her children—paddleboarding, hiking, and cycling. She also pursues interests in amateur photography, exploring local history, and creating collaborative art with her family.
Stephanie Rynas brings a deep commitment to human development, organizational health, and educational access in her role as executive director, operations & member resources. Before joining AWSNA’s executive team, Stephanie served for ten years as administrator at the Waldorf School of the Peninsula, where she also taught woodworking and supported Northern California schools as a leadership council member.
Prior to entering the education field, Stephanie spent two decades in marketing and management in Silicon Valley, experiences that continue to inform her thoughtful and pragmatic leadership style. She is known for her collaborative approach, her ability to balance vision and execution, and her steady commitment to organizational integrity and care for people.
Stephanie holds a BS in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Santa Clara University. She earned her Waldorf teacher training certificate from Rudolf Steiner College and maintains professional certification through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-CP).
Pam Leland brings a diverse and unique background to her role as AWSNA's Information & Systems Manager, where she has managed the organization's technology platforms since 2011. As a graduate of Macalester College with a B.A. in German, her career path started in education as a German language teacher and Fulbright scholar in Germany, teaching in public and private schools across the Midwest.
Her journey then led her to the field of leadership development, where she served as a certified Master Integrative Life Coach, a corporate leadership coach, and an adjunct faculty member in the University of Minnesota's Leadership Minor program. She discovered Waldorf education while homeschooling her own two children, which ultimately brought her to AWSNA, where her varied skills support the broader Waldorf community.
Pam is an avid organic gardener, balancing her work screen time with hands in the dirt, appreciating birdsong, buzzing bees, butterflies, and the occasional garden snake.
Andrea Cooper manages the Teacher Education Loans and Grants program, is the accreditation administrative assistant, and notetaker for various meetings including the leadership council, teacher education delegate and institute circle, and all-association.
During Andrea’s first 33 years, she maintained a 200-km radius in Ontario where she was born, raised, and then attended university to receive a BASc (University of Guelph), followed by a BEd (University of Toronto). After a decade of living in Toronto working with newcomers and refugees to Canada, Andrea headed west across the continent. It was in Seattle after her son was born where she discovered Waldorf education and then began working for AWSNA.
Andrea loves playing flute in Irish traditional music sessions and banjo in old-time Appalachian string bands.
Siân Owen-Cruise brings 35 years of deep and varied experience in Waldorf education to her current role as director of accreditation for AWSNA. Her career has spanned numerous key roles, including class and high school teacher, as well as administrator for both the Minnesota Waldorf School and the Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor.
Her leadership experience also includes serving as the director of the Waldorf Institute of Southeast Michigan, a board member at two Waldorf schools, and a colleague in the "Leading with Spirit" leadership training program. This extensive background is further enriched by her experience in public and higher education.
Siân holds a BS in technical communication, along with an MA and a PhD in rhetoric and argumentation. A Waldorf alum parent, her personal interests include long-distance hiking and running, traveling with her husband, and various forms of handwork.
Beverly Amico, executive director, advancement for the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA), is a seasoned leader with 25 years of dedicated service to Waldorf education. Her extensive experience encompasses roles as a teacher, administrator, and specialist in communications and strategy.
Beverly holds an MA in strategic innovation and change from the University of Denver and a marketing certificate for organizational leaders from Cornell University, complementing her formal university education and teaching certification.
An active contributor to the broader educational landscape, she serves on the board of the American Council of Private Education and on the National Council for Private School Accreditation. She had previously served as a commissioner on the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Council on Accreditation.
Outside of her professional life, Beverly is an avid long-distance trail runner and thru-hiker.
Melanie Reiser is the executive director, membership for the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA). In this role, she guides schools and institutes through membership processes, ensuring that the foundational philosophy of Waldorf education, anthroposophy, permeates every aspect of each institution.
Before joining AWSNA, Melanie spent eight years as a class teacher at Detroit Waldorf School where she led a group of students from first through eighth grade. Her extensive experience in Waldorf schools also includes leadership roles such as faculty chair and service on various committees, from finance to personnel, as well as directing outreach and enrollment.
Melanie holds a PhD in curriculum and instruction from the University of Denver, an MEd in Waldorf education from Antioch New England Graduate School, an MEd in value creating education for global citizenship, and a BA from the University of Virginia.