Faculty & Staff

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Stacey Alston has more than 35 years of professional experience in managerial and administrative roles in the non-profit and education sectors. Her past non-profit work includes the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, the Family Connection (a community initiative based in the Decatur public school system), and the American Red Cross. For the last twenty-one years, Stacey has served in the capacity of Enrollment Director at The Waldorf School of Atlanta. She is deeply committed to the Waldorf philosophy and enjoys sharing the benefits of Waldorf education with others. Stacey, and her husband, Ron, have 3 sons, all of whom graduated from the Waldorf School and went on to attend Academe of the Oaks, the local Waldorf High School. Stacey was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Harvard University, and her MBA in Marketing from Georgia State University.

Sharon Annan has served as a math educator for over 25 years. She has taught at the middle school, high school and post-secondary levels, and has tutored professionally in subjects ranging from elementary school to college level mathematics.

She received her Bachelors of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Florida, and her Masters of Science in Mathematics from Georgia State University. She earned her Waldorf High School teacher certification from the Center for Anthroposophy in Wilton, NH.

Sharon has worked with adolescents for many years, as a teacher, mentor, and student academic advisor. She was a founding teacher at Academe of the Oaks, and taught there for nine years. Currently she has co-founded Parzival Academy to address the growing demand for hybrid high-school education.

Sharon has a long held interest in mathematical problem solving and working with students to develop problem solving skills that generalize across disciplines. She has done research in developing mathematical thinking and problem solving, as well as how students learn and retain mathematics. She works actively with students who have math phobias to help them overcome their anxiety and see the beauty and fun in mathematics.

Sharon is married and has three children who have all been students at WSA and home schooled at some point in their education. She enjoys reading, gardening and doing math!

Deedi Barker has served as an educator for over 40 years. She grew up in Atlanta and attended Georgia State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and later, a Master of Education in Exercise Science. She served in the Education Department at Northside Hospital, taught Adult Fitness classes, and after moving to San Diego, taught classes for families and patients recovering from heart attacks and open heart surgery through Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Deedi started working with middle school students in a volunteer and substitute teaching role when her son entered middle school. She realized that she enjoyed working with this age group, and returned to school at Azusa Pacific University where she earned her California K-8 Multi-subject Teaching Credential. She taught 7th grade math, 6th grade PE, and high school health for 2 years at a private school before moving back to Atlanta.

Deedi was fortunate enough to find the Waldorf School in 2015. She started as a substitute teacher, and was soon hired to teach 6th grade math. With the exception of a 6 month break, she has had the privilege of working with Sharon Annan in teaching math and math support to students in Grade 5 – 8. She enjoys the challenge and the shenanigans, and in addition, serves as a private math tutor for local students in the afternoons.

When not teaching or tutoring, Deedi enjoys walking and hiking with friends (especially in North Georgia), traveling, serving at her church on the Access Prayer Team, and playing flute in the Callanwolde Concert Band. She lives with her son, Corey, and likes spending time with family in the Atlanta area.

Carol Bulmer taught handwork at WSA from 2009 to 2021 before taking on her role as Receptionist. Morning Garden brought her and her two toddler boys to the Waldorf School. As her children moved through the beauty of the kindergartens at Waldorf and transitioned to the grades, Carol also transitioned from volunteering to working at WSA. Carol has been an avid handworker from the age of five, when her beloved grandmother taught her to knit, crochet and sew. Since that time, she has never stopped learning new skills and making as many projects as possible! In 2023 Carol moved from the Grades building to the Administration building to take on the role of WSA Office Manager.

Before coming to WSA, Carol taught art and regular education to children in metro area public schools for 11 years. Carol attended the University of Georgia earning degrees in fine art, art education, regular education and she also holds a Master of Science degree in Educational Psychology. Carol is a Georgia native and lives in Decatur. She loves spending time with her boys, being outdoors and rescuing dogs!

Jessica Brown’s earliest memories of childhood are of her time spent at Highland Hall Waldorf School in Los Angeles, California. She knew from an early age what a gift it was to receive a Waldorf education, and felt called in her adult years to provide children with the same loving care. 

She attended college at Humboldt State University, where she majored in Art History & Museum Gallery practices, before moving to San Francisco to work in the DeYoung Museum’s art program for young children. It was in San Francisco that her familiarities with Anthroposophy became reawakened, and she eventually returned to her roots to join the Waldorf Institute of Southern California’s teacher training program which she graduated from in 2022. 

She has worked as a parent-child teacher, a forest school co-op teacher, a nursery teacher at The Garden School of Marietta, and the lead teacher of a private kindergarten program in Chattahoochee Hills. She currently assists in Miss Annie’s nursery class, and couldn’t be more thrilled to be at WSA with her two young daughters. 

A native German and a Waldorf school graduate, Laira Covert studied literature and linguistics/foreign languages at the University of Konstanz. Inspired by her own experiences as a student and her deep gratitude for her teachers, Laira studied Eurythmy in Dornach, Switzerland for four years and received her diploma from the "Akademie Für Eurythmische Kunst" (Academy for the Art of Eurythmy). She became certified as a K-12 Eurythmy teacher following a one-year pedagogical study program in Hamburg, Germany. Laira's work experience has included teaching Russian at the high school and college levels, and assisting in a kindergarten program in Madrid, Spain. She taught Eurythmy in Hamburg and at a Waldorf School in Milwaukee before becoming the Eurythmy teacher at WSA in 1996. Laira has studied folk music and dance from different countries and enjoys singing and performing with others. She is interested in the diversity and richness inherent in different cultures and their spiritual traditions. All of these experiences inspire her teaching. Laira is married to a former WSA teacher.

Gustavo Morales was born in Caracas, Venezuela, the youngest of 4 siblings (two boys and two girls) in September of 1976.

 Being the son of a famous singer, Gustavo was always very involved, not just in music, but in various arts like drawing, painting, dancing, acting and singing. Gustavo grew up to become a Geophysical Engineer, obtaining his degree in 2002 from Simon Bolivar University, one of the most prestigious universities in the country. Señor Morales also had passion for spirituality and begin studying Theosophy at the age of 14. After being introduced to Anthroposophy in 2012, he felt an immediate connection with the works of Rudolf Steiner. After 15 years of a  successful career in the Energy, Mining, Oil, and Gas business, Gustavo decided to follow his dream of a self-sustainable and ecological life connected to Mother Nature, himself, and others.  With this vision in mind, he has plans to create a sustainable community (which will include a Waldorf school) in Venezuela. He has been studying the settings of multiples communities around the world while obtaining expertise and certifications in diverse fields such as Bio-construction, Permaculture, Architecture, 3D modeling & design, Waldorf Education, Non-Violent Communication, and Holistic Health. Gustavo invented a revolutionary, affordable, and easy to build system of shippable houses (VaultX) as a solution to the world housing problem. Señor Morales is not only a Spanish Teacher here at The Waldorf School of Atlanta, he is also a CTO and specialist in the techniques and technologies for the creation and sustainability of eco communities.

Emily Ellis was born and raised in Rockville, Maryland. In 1991 she moved to Atlanta to attend Emory University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music/Vocal Performance and then later a Masters in Counseling from Georgia State University. Emily also completed the two-year Foundation Studies course through the Center for Anthroposophy and joined the staff at WSA in 2013. Emily’s previous professional experience includes a private therapy practice counseling children, adults and families, as well as teaching music to children through her own Kindermusik studio and employed at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in downtown Atlanta. Emily deeply values the roles that parents and families play in creating and sustaining a thriving and supportive school community. Emily is a parent of four children that are currently enrolled at WSA. She enjoys traveling, listening to music and spending time with friends and family in the beautiful mountains of Georgia and North Carolina.

Sondi Eugene was raised in rural New Jersey, and she moved to Atlanta in 1994. She received her Waldorf Certificate in early childhood education from Sunbridge College in 2004 and she became certified in the Lifeways Early Childhood and Human Development Program in 2009. Sondi has been teaching at WSA since 2000 and she received a certificate as a Simplicity Parenting Group Leader in 2012. Sondi enjoys traveling, camping, cooking, crafts, and singing. She has two children, both of whom attended WSA since kindergarten and then the Waldorf high school Academe of the Oaks, before enrolling in college.

Ms. Melinda Evanovich grew up as an "army brat," traveling extensively in Europe and the United States as a child. She received her B.A. in Education, Recreation and Leisure Studies: Administration from the University of Georgia and has her Waldorf teaching certificate from the Waldorf Institute of SE Michigan. Prior to coming to the Waldorf School of Atlanta, she had worked with and taught children of all ages through summer camps and Girl Scout programs. Her last position, prior to coming to WSA, was as Center Director for DeKalb County Parks and Recreation. When Ms. Evanovich came to WSA in 2007, she initially worked as an assistant in the early childhood program. Then she served on the WSA staff teams as the Office Manager and then Business Manager for eight years before accepting the first grade teaching position in 2017. Ms. Evanovich has a passion for outdoor education and activities, including camping, hiking, backpacking and horseback riding.

Joshua Gartland was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and was raised in the suburbs of New York City. He began dancing at the age of six, acting in high school and received a BFA in Theater Performance from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Joshua then moved to New York City where he worked on a number of productions with the Present Company Theatorium as well as a national children's tour with the Chamber Theater. He became a mime for a brief while and studied under Paul J. Curtis in the American Mime Theater. It was September 11th, 2001, however, that gave Joshua perspective. Soon after, he shifted focus and began working at OM Yoga where he eventually became the senior manager of one of the largest yoga facilities in the country. Joshua received a degree in Waldorf Education from Sunbridge College and has recently completed his 13th year as a Class teacher. Joshua now lives in Decatur with his wife, Sara, his daughters, Aurora and Eva, and his son, Oscar. Joshua enjoys talking, books, playing games, singing, dancing, drawing and of course, learning.

Alana Handman attended school on our very campus from 1st-8th grade. She received a BFA at Columbia College in Chicago, where she spent 5 years making art and volunteering at animal shelters. Shortly after that, Alana felt something pulling her back to her roots, so she came back home and after working a little bit at a book store and dabbling in the arts at Academe, she completed her full circle of ending up back at her favorite stomping grounds, WSA.

Lisa Knight was born and raised in Marietta, GA, where her parents still live. After commuting to Waldorf for 6 years, she now lives in Decatur within walking distance to the school. She graduated from Georgia State University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, followed by a Masters in Middle Childhood Education in 2008. She worked as a Middle School Math & Science teacher at the Atlanta School for two years, until realizing her passion for Early Childhood. Lisa was a substitute teacher at The Waldorf School of Atlanta for a year, and then taught as a Kindergarten Teacher Assistant for 5 years, 2 years with Ms. Luba and 3 years with Ms. Tremoureux. As well as attending the Foundation Studies group in Atlanta, Lisa graduated from the Sunbridge Institute to receive a Waldorf Early Childhood Certificate in 2016. She has one son who is currently enrolled at The University of Georgia. In her leisure time, she enjoys spending time with her son, hiking, swimming, and gardening.

Jolie Luba grew up in São Paulo, Brazil. When one of her two brothers joined a Waldorf kindergarten, the whole family was drawn to Anthroposophy in different ways. Jolie received her degree from the University of São Paulo in Psychology, and she earned her Waldorf Early Childhood teaching certification from Casa de Cultura Três Fontes - Campinas, SP. Jolie taught in WSA's kindergarten program from 2006 to 2012. Then, for two years, Jolie returned to Brazil to work in the public school system, offering continuing education lectures about Waldorf Education. She also directed Escola Jardim Primavera, a Waldorf initiative in Ubatuba, SP. Jolie and her husband have a son who graduated from WSA and is now in Athens, at the University of Georgia (UGA). Jolie worked on the WSA Inman Park campus for 5 years, teaching both a class for 2 to 4 years old and our Morning Garden program. In 2020, she took the program outdoors and began holding space for even younger toddlers and this year, will start a program for infants. Jolie enjoys working with children and adults alike, and she is also passionate about creating opportunities for adults to talk about death and dying, while reflecting on life and living. Her hobbies include dancing and skygazing.

Francisco Moreno was born in Colombia, South America and moved to the United States as a child. He grew up in New York City where he studied at the High School of Art and Design. He continued his studies at the Columbus College of Art and Design in Ohio and the Atlanta College of Art. Francisco was one of the founding parents at WSA. In 1996, he became the first woodworking teacher at WSA, later joining the faculty full-time in 2000 when he also became the Games Teacher. Francisco teaches Games to all grade school students and Woodworking to students in Grades Five to Eight. Francisco completed the Spatial Dynamics program at Sunbridge College in 2006. Francisco has three adult sons, all of whom reside in Atlanta. They all participated in WSA's beginning playgroups and kindergarten programs. His youngest son was a member of WSA's first graduating class in 2000. Francisco has been involved with the Boy Scouts for more than ten years and has shared his love of nature and survival skills with countless boys.

Lisa Novak was born in Des Moines, Iowa and attended the University of Iowa as an English Major. After college she moved to Houston, Texas where she managed large residential properties and in 1993, was transferred to Atlanta to manage a property in Buckhead. In 1997, Lisa was introduced to The Waldorf School of Atlanta through a close friend, and accepted the position of Extended Day Director, which included coordinating the licensing of the program at its new location. In addition to her responsibilities as Extended Day Director and Middle School Athletic Director, Lisa assists in various classes. Lisa's son attended the Waldorf School of Atlanta. Lisa enjoys all types of exercise, primarily running and has completed many 5K, 10K and Half Marathon races. Lisa also teaches Spin classes at the Decatur/DeKalb YMCA.

Born in upstate New York, Kelly Pins grew up as a snowbird living between her families horse farm in the Catskill Mountains and wintering in Pompano Beach, FL. Her early years spent on the farm and exploring the beach gave her a lifelong appreciation of nature and all it's wonders. Kelly loves to catch frogs, forge wild mushrooms, and snorkel in warm reef waters.

In her early teens, Kelly moved to Central FL with her family, where she lived until after graduating from Rollins College with a B.A. in Communications. She began a photography business right after college called Still Life Photography and enjoyed creating B/W portraiture for her clients for many years.

After several moves around the country, Kelly moved to Atlanta, GA to raise her family. Once her two boys were enrolled at WSA, she began volunteering in many areas of the school and became an active substitute teacher in all the Early Childhood classrooms. Within a years time Kelly became a full-time assistant in the 5-day Kindergarten and continued there from 2008-2017. During that time she began her M.Ed. at Antioch University in Waldorf Education, in Wilton, NH.

Lisa Roggow has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and Literature from New College in Sarasota, Florida. She worked in the book industry for several years, and came to The Waldorf School of Atlanta when she enrolled her daughter in the preschool/ kindergarten program in 1995. Lisa's handwork experience began in childhood, when she would take her mother's sewing and crochet scraps and fashion them into doll clothing. After the birth of her son in 1999, Lisa began leading a parent handwork group at the school. Later she worked in the handwork department, holding the assistant position for seven years. She became the lead handwork teacher at WSA in 2009.

Lila Rubio-Quero was born in Puerto Rico and lived there until she was 6 years old. At that time she moved to the United States and was raised in Florida and Georgia. She has a Bachelor in Textile Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA with a finance concentration from Wake Forest University. She completed the Foundation Studies program through the Center for Anthroposophy at Antioch University and she received her Waldorf teaching certificate from the Rudolf Steiner Centre in Toronto. Lila was math tutor for Decatur High School and a calculus teaching assistant at Georgia Tech. She also spent many years in senior management in the business world before becoming a mother to two daughters, both WSA alumni. She has been with her class since Grade 6. She loves to travel, camp, ride bikes, cook healthy things and spend time with her family.

Erica Schulz-Durren received her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with a Music minor from Agnes Scott College. She has extensive experience in the fields of business and accounting as well as in teaching music, dance, and French. Erica lived and worked in France, teaching English to primary school children as well as playing the clarinet in the local orchestra and teaching modern dance to middle school aged children. Erica worked at Emory University in various administrative capacities; primarily in research grant accounting and assisting researchers with all aspects of grant work from submitting to managing the grant post-funding. She continued to work at Emory University until shortly after the birth of her daughter in the spring of 2012. Erica now serves as WSA's Business Office Assistant.

 Erica expressed that learning, growing, and connecting with others is what brings her deep joy and gratitude. Being a part of the Waldorf community continues to enrich this part of her. Erica and her daughter have been connected with the school since Morning Garden classes in 2013 with Ms. Sondi and Ms. Muresan. Her daughter is now thriving in the grades program.

Sophia Silk was born in Chicago, IL. and grew up in Atlanta. She attended the University of Georgia where she studied Psychology and Spanish and enjoyed the vibrant music scene of Athens, Ga. After college, she moved to New York City and found the Center for Anthroposophy which housed a small Waldorf kindergarten and the magic of her childhood experience at the Chicago Waldorf School was re-enlivened. Upon leaving New York, Sophia moved to California where she received her Waldorf Teacher training and M.Ed in Waldorf Education. She then worked as the kindergarten assistant at The East Bay Waldorf School in Berkeley. She loved the redwoods, the coast, and the poppies, but after three years in California, Sophia moved back to her home of Atlanta, to take a first grade class at The Waldorf School of Atlanta. She had the honor to be with a class for five wonderful years (the 8th grade class of 2020-21). After having a baby in 2018, Sophia returned to WSA in August of 2020 as the first grade class teacher. She lives in Decatur with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs. She loves to be with her family, go on bike rides, eat pastries, and practice yoga. Sophia is also an IMSE Certified Orton Gillingham Educator.

MJ Smith fills the complementary position of Student Support Specialist. Ms. Smith is known in our community because she has been a Waldorf parent for approximately fifteen years. She is married to Tim Smith, one of our long-time grade teachers. They have had two daughters graduate from our school, and their son is in grade 8. Ms. Smith is an experienced and trained Waldorf teacher, certified in Educational Support/Extra Lesson, with over 20 years of experience in Waldorf, therapeutic education, and social services. Ms. Smith’s Bachelors and Masters degrees are from Columbia University and her Post-Baccalaureate work was completed at Sam Houston State University.

Annie Sommerville-Hall has been teaching preschool/kindergarten at WSA since 1993 and taught in our Morning Garden program for several years. Born in New York, and raised in Atlanta, GA, Annie attended Georgia State University and the Southeastern Center for the Arts. She received her Waldorf certificate in Early Childhood Education from Sunbridge College in 1998. Annie has been a teacher of many subjects, including swimming, art, barn management, horseback riding, and beekeeping. Annie taught art at The Friends School of Atlanta and had a Waldorf playgroup in her home prior to joining WSA as a preschool/kindergarten teacher. Annie has been married more than 30 years, and has two daughters, both of whom have graduated from WSA. Her oldest, one of the first graduates of WSA, received her Masters in Theological Studies at Vanderbilt University. Her youngest, a graduate of Academe of the Oaks, the local Waldorf high school is currently at Brenau University studying for a Masters in Occupational Therapy.

Emily Tremoureux was born and raised in Nevada City, California, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains . There she attended a Waldorf school founded by her mother. Emily studied in Denmark for a year before attending Vassar College, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in Education and Drama. She received her Waldorf teaching certificate and M.Ed. degree from Antioch New England Graduate School. After two years of teaching kindergarten at the Rudolf Steiner School in New York City, Emily became the teacher of the first grade class in 2000 at The Waldorf School of Atlanta and graduated the class eight years later. During this time, she served as the school's Faculty Chair for three years, providing leadership to the faculty and the school community. Emily has led a preschool/kindergarten class from 2012 through 2015. We welcomed her back to Grade 1 in August 2015. Emily has two children, and enjoys singing and costume design.

Abby Wright was born and raised in Talladega, Alabama. Looking for a change of scene after high school, she attended Grinnell College in Iowa and majored in French and linguistics. While in college, she worked in the theatre department's costume studio and has been designing and sewing her own clothes ever since. After graduating from Grinnell, Abby went on to pursue graduate study in linguistics at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. While there, she was introduced to Waldorf education by volunteering with the handwork teacher at the Emerson Waldorf School. Eventually, her interest in Waldorf education overshadowed her interest in Vowel Nasality, her dissertation topic, so she decided to pursue her Waldorf teaching certification at Antioch University of New England. While in New Hampshire, she also worked in the young adult department at the Nashua Public Library. Abby spent her years in New England pining for the South and moved to the Atlanta area with her husband, Aaron, as soon as her teacher training was finished. She spent a year learning the ropes as the first grade assistant at The Waldorf School of Atlanta before taking her class as teacher. Abby enjoys fiber arts of all kinds, cooking, and gardening.