Faculty

SRWS_faculty_GiselaGisela Baner

German

Gisela began teaching German specialty classes at Shining Rivers in Fall 2008.  After leaving her home in Germany, she began working in Missouri schools in 2006.  Gisela attended Foreign Language Waldorf training at the Center for Anthroposophy in Wilton, NH. 

 

SRWS_faculty_KristinKristin Carroll

Early Childhood Assistant

Kristin has over fifteen years experience in Early Childhood and Special Education programs.  Ms. Kristin enjoys gardening, art, and yoga. 

 

SRWS_faculty_AlisonAlison Droesch

Early Childhood Assistant

Alison joined SRWS in the winter of 2008.  She enjoys gardening, art and her new-found interest in sailing.  She graduated Webster University in 2009 with her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts.

 

SRWS_faculty_MakenaMakena Gray

Enrollment Coordinator

Makena graduated from Principia College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.   She is excited to continue her involvement in Waldorf education at SRWS after spending two years at the Honolulu Waldorf School where she filled a variety of roles, including after-school program supervisor, handwork teacher, and office manager.    Her personal interests include space and fashion design, handwork, baking, and music.

 

SRWS_faculty_CristaCrista Hanrahan

Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Crista graduated from UM-St. Louis with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and a Master's from Fontbonne University.  She has lived in St. Louis for more than 20 years and enjoys all aspects of working in and around the early childhood education field.  Crista enjoys her family and pets, cooking, walking and gardening.  

 

SRWS_faculty_SteveSteve Jent

Lead Teacher - Grade 5

Steve is a 1981 graduate of Chicago State University (B.S.).  He has been involved with Shining Rivers since 1996 and started teaching woodworking in 2000. He's had training in special education and is finishing his Waldorf teacher certification through Bellarmine.  Steve's been a mainframe computer programmer, semi-professional folk artist, and amateur musical instrument builder. 

 

SRWS_faculty_MichiyoMichiyo Kishi

Morning Garden Lead Teacher / Faculty Chair

Michiyo has a BA in Socio Linguistics (a.k.a. English) from Kobe College. She moved from Japan to St. Louis roughly 10 years ago.  She has assisted with each of the Early Childhood programs, including the Parent-Toddler Class, Morning Garden and Kindergarten. 

 

SRWS_faculty_KerryKerry Neal

Main Lesson Teacher - Grade 3

Kerry Neal join the Shining Rivers Waldorf School in 2005.  She attended the Waldorf without Walls training program in the summer of 2009 and a second grade intensive at Rudolph Steiner College in the summer of 2010.  She loves to spend her time making paper crafts and handwork projects and cannot pass up a great children's book. 

 

SRWS_faculty_ClaudiaClaudia Pico

Spanish

Claudia Pico graduated from Concordia University-Chicago in 2002 from the secondary education department with a major in communication emphasizing in speech and theater and a minor in Spanish. 

 

SRWS_faculty_LisaLisa Santa Cruz

Lead Teacher - Grade 2

Lisa graduated from Webster University in 1995 with a BA in Business Administration and a minor in Spanish.  Lisa completed a Waldorf Elementary Education Masters Program at Sunbridge College in New York in July 2009. 

 

SRWS_faculty_AnnAnn Weidemann

School Director

Ann came to Shining Rivers in September of 2007 with experience in business and nonprofit management.  She received a Masters of Public Administration with an emphasis in Nonprofit Management from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. 
 

 

What brought you to Shining Rivers?

  • Hands-on learning,
  • Emphasis on Imagination & Storytelling
  • Outdoor play
  • Holistic approach
  • Meets each child’s developmental needs,
  • Respect for beauty and art
  • Children learn to make things that are useful
  • Integrated curriculum
  • Focus on music and arts
  • The peaceful atmosphere
  • Verbal learning activity
  • Complex curriculum
  • Child-directed learning
  • Rounded edge education
  • Arts-integrated education
  • Eco-identity
  • Childhood taken seriously
  • Organic and green living
  • Healthy snacks
  • Allowing children to take their time