Grade School Faculty
Laura Cox
Grade 1 Teacher
Originally from Connecticut, Laura moved to Baltimore to attend the Johns Hopkins University where she obtained her BS and later completed a Masters of Arts in Teaching program, earning her K-8 teaching certification. She taught grades 3-5 in public school for three years before staying home with her young children. Parent to two Washington Waldorf School (WWS) ‘lifers’ (EC-12th grade), Laura has worked at WWS since 2006 in several capacities including serving as a grade school substitute and teaching middle school English skills. She began class teaching in 2009 after completing her Waldorf Teacher Training through the NOVA Institute in Maryland. Moving to Seattle fulfills a 30+ year dream for Laura, who felt immediately as if she was returning home when she first visited the city. She looks forward to further exploring the PNW as a resident and becoming an active member of the SWS community.
Lynn Aaberg
Grade 2 Teacher
Lynn Aaberg became involved in Waldorf education when her own children attended a Waldorf school in Oregon, where she gained an appreciation of the importance of teaching to the whole child and honoring each child at their own stage of development. Lynn has degrees in botany and biology from UC Riverside and UCLA, and received her Waldorf certification at Sunbridge College. She is a certified Orton-Gillingham dyslexia tutor, and has completed her coursework for Extra Lesson through the Association of Healing Education. Lynn was a class teacher for grades 1-8 at Honolulu Waldorf School for eighteen years, and enjoys teaching all grade levels, whether it’s singing and dancing the times tables in the early grades or making sparks fly in middle school physics. Living in Hawaiʻi for more than 20 years has given Lynn a feeling of responsibility for helping connect children with their environment and honoring the land they inhabit. She is moving to Seattle with her husband and Australian Shepherd, and is looking forward to muddy hikes and reconnecting with the Pacific Northwest.
Simone Blanchard
Grade 3 Teacher
Simone (she/her) was born and raised in California. Simone received a Bachelor’s in English Teaching from Brigham Young University as well as a Waldorf Teaching Certificate from Antioch University. Simone also has a background in teaching English and Korean as a second language. Simone joined Seattle Waldorf School in 2021 and has developed a love for the misty weather and verdant landscape of the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys traveling, writing, reading, and singing.
Lorie Miller
Grade 4-5 Teacher
Lorie grew up in Tempe, Arizona and raised her 3 daughters there, the youngest of which was a Waldorf student from 2nd-12th grade. Lorie earned her Bachelor’s degree from ASU in anthropology and mathematical statistics. She went on to complete an interfaith counseling seminary program and finished her Waldorf teacher training at Rudolf Steiner College. Lorie began her teaching career in early childhood and spent five years enjoying time with the youngest of students. Lorie has graduated three grade 5-8 classes and joins SWS for her fourth. She has also taught high school social studies and music for 5 years and is excited to be part of the SWS community.
Andria Keegan
Lower Grades Assistant Teacher
She earned a Master in Teaching From the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA with an emphasis on anti-bias education. She has developed this calling throughout her adult life in a variety of educational settings on both east and west coasts, in alternative, tribal, independent and public schools, and across all grade bands. Years later as a parent, she came to Seattle Waldorf School where her continued involvement has deepened her understanding of the Waldorf pedagogy. In her free time she can be found enjoying the company of loved ones and working on projects in-house or in the ground.
Amanda Sept
Lower Grades Assistant Teacher
Amanda holds a BA in Psychology and Women’s Studies, with an emphasis in Reconciliation Studies. She has spent 8 years working with children, and 2 years working in formal education.
Bonnie Stack
Education Support Teacher
Bonnie was born in the Rocky Mountains of Salt Lake City, Utah. She earned her BA in Ecology and Sustainable Agriculture from The Evergreen State College, where she came to know about Rudolf Steiner. She completed her Waldorf Teacher training at Antioch University New England and received a M.Ed from the University of the People. Bonnie believes in Waldorf education because it includes a hands-on and experiential approach towards education. As a lifelong learner, Bonnie continues her studies in Holistic Biography work, an Anthroposophical approach to human development and life. During her free time, she spends time in nature, meditation, studying Ayurveda, Vedic studies, and enjoying life.
Charlotte Rasmussen
Director of Environmental Sustainability and Gardening
Born on Vancouver Island in beautiful British Columbia to Danish immigrant parents, Charlotte grew up in the farmland surrounding Vancouver. She holds a BS in Biochemistry from the University of British Comumbia, an MS in Biochemistry from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia and a Ph.D. in Genetics from Oregon State University. Charlotte worked as a scientist for the U.S. Geological Survey for more than 15 years, researching the conservation genetics of salmon and salmon diseases. She has also served as a Research Evangelist and the Director of Undergraduate Research and Creative activity at the University of Washington Bothell. A life-long learner, Charlotte came to SWS to encourage a hands-on interdisciplinary approach to learning about the natural world as the environmental sustainability and gardening educator. Dr. R., as she is know to SWS students and community, is passionate about creating learning environments that build connections across disciplines and promote local and global environmental stewardship.
Syd Shannon
Director of Extended Day and Extracurriculars
Syd Shannon (they/them) has been working with a team of amazing teaching artists to plan SWS Clubs, Break Camps and After School Care since starting at SWS in 2021. They spent most of their life in and around San Francisco where they attended college and began working as an after school programs coordinator and preschool teacher. Syd earned a BA in Child and Adolescent Development and a MA in Sociology of Education. After many years living in San Francisco’s Mission district they made their way to New York City to study organizational theory and manage a rock climbing and low ropes course at a Summer Camp for Transgender Youth. With Washingtonian parents and a penchant for outdoor adventure, it was only a matter of time before they made their way to explore the greenery of the PNW. Syd has a passion for positive youth development models of education, experiential learning and social emotional learning. They believe it is our job as adults to foster confidence, competence, connection, character and caring in children and youth.
Yemaya Diethelm
Handwork Teacher
Ms. Diethelm is an artist and educator who has been working in Waldorf education for the last 15 years. She started her schooling at the Denver Waldorf School, which she attended through third grade. She received her Waldorf Teacher Training in Honolulu and has worked as a high school art teacher at Panyotai Waldorf School in Thailand and as a handwork teacher at Kona Pacific Charter/Waldorf School on the Big Island of Hawaii. Growing up in Seattle and attending the University of Washington, Ms. Diethelm was drawn to visual culture and art, receiving a Comparative History of Ideas degree emphasizing Native American Studies. Along with teaching, she is currently working on a Master of Fine Arts. She has taught students from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds worldwide and has a passion for inspiring youth through the arts.
Mike Perez
Strings Teacher
Mike grew up in Central Florida and discovered a love for music in his late high school years. He went on to study music at Daytona State College and eventually pursued his Bachelor’s and Master’s in music with an emphasis in jazz studies on the double bass from the University of North Florida. Mike began his performance career over a decade ago, playing with many different artists all over the country. He has been a part of the Monterey Bay Jazz Festival, as well as a guest performer at the Jazz Educators Network “JEN” convention. Mike found his way into education in 2017, teaching band and elementary music at Liberty Pines Academy in St. John’s, Florida. He moved with his wife to Texas in 2019 and began working with the Tobin Center for performing arts “Generation NEXT” education program, where he worked with inner-city schools and developed music programs. Mike enjoys movies, cars, cooking, biking, hiking, and exploring the outdoors.
