Lower Grades Faculty

laaberg@seattlewaldorf.org

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.

sblanchard@seattlewaldorf.org

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.

lcox@seattlewaldorf.org

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.

ydiethelm@seattlewaldorf.org

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. She also earned her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Painting from the Art Institute of Chicago in 2024. She has taught students from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds worldwide and has a passion for inspiring youth through the arts.

redson@seattlewaldorf.org

cfanselow@seattlewaldorf.org

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cora began Waldorf education at a young age, attending The Cincinnati Waldorf School from parent and tot through grade 8. She majored in Sociology and Anthropology and minored in Education at The University of Puget Sound. She joined SWS in the summer of 2024 to work at the Wildflower Summer Camp, following her Early Childhood Assistant role at The Cincinnati Waldorf School. Working with young children has been her guiding passion. She is inspired by creating a space where they can learn openly and stay connected to the natural world around them. Waldorf Education has had a great impact on her life, and she wants to give back and continue nurturing the lives of joyful children. This school year she is excited to join the Grade School Education Support team. She is currently in grad school, pursuing a master’s in Early Childhood Special Education and Early Childhood Education at Grand Canyon University. Cora loves working with all children and enjoys learning from each student’s strengths and differences.

​

ikulasic@seattlewaldorf.org

A Waldorf high school graduate herself, Iris (she/her) joined Seattle Waldorf School in 2005 as grade 8 co-teacher. She transitioned to teaching middle school math and humanities courses, eventually finding her true calling in educational support. As head of the Educational Support program, Iris provides wraparound support services for students in grades 9-12. Iris came to Seattle from Bosnia and Herzegovina, via a longish young adulthood stint on the East Coast. In 1999, she graduated from Brown University with a B.A. in Fine Arts and Art History and obtained her teaching certificate and completed her MEd at Mercy College. She is a lifelong learner, observer, and student of Anthroposophy and Waldorf pedagogy. She has been an assistant to the Bosnia and Herzegovina Ambassador to the United Nations and spent five priceless years teaching in the public education systems in New York City (Chinatown and the Bronx) and Philadelphia. Iris loves watching the hard work of her students metamorphose into confident and capable human beings, knowing that growth is the work of a village—students, faculty, and staff. In addition to teaching at the high school, Iris is a part of the larger web of SWS as her two small children are students at the grade school. Someday when she has the time, Iris plans to paint with watercolors, guided by Jean Haines’s tutorials.

kmatsubara-rall@seattlewaldorf.org

Kai Matsubara-Rall (they/them, he/him) joins SWS as part of the Education Support Team. Kai received a B.A. in Linguistics with a focus on East Asian languages from Carleton College. Last year they moved to the Pacific Northwest and completed the IslandWood Graduate Program – a 10-month justice-based outdoors education program. They are currently in the process of completing their Master’s in Teaching at the University of Washington. When not in the classroom, Kai can be found reading, writing, knitting, hiking, learning languages, visiting family in Japan, or making music with friends. No matter where he goes, he is almost always guaranteed to have a strong cup of tea in hand. Kai is thrilled to be joining the SWS team this year as an education support assistant teacher.

mnorbut@seattlewaldorf.org

Milana has taught in Waldorf schools for 15 years, primarily in Kindergarten. In 2025 she became the long-term substitute for the then grade 1 class and chose to stay with them moving forward. She holds a degree in Design and Marketing, a Waldorf Early Childhood Certificate from Sound Circle Center (2014), and completed Nurturing the Roots, an advanced therapeutic teaching training, in 2024. When not teaching, Milana enjoys hiking, trips to the ocean, reading, painting, drawing, and dance.

mowens@seattlewaldorf.org

Megan Owens has served as a Waldorf Movement Teacher and Athletics Director at Seattle Waldorf School 2017. She attended Smith College and Prescott College and completed the Spacial Dynamics® training. Megan believes movement education is an essential complement to academic learning. She loves providing opportunities for children to strengthen their physical capacities as well as their sense of drive, determination, resilience, and capacity for teamwork. A lifelong athlete, Megan’s experience includes state and national accomplishments in gymnastics, lacrosse, equestrian eventing, and rowing. She continues to compete as a rower and serves as captain of Green Lake Crew. Megan also enjoys exploring the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, gardening, ceramics, and spending time with family and friends.

kreese@seattlewaldorf.org

asept@seattlewaldorf.org

Amanda Sept (she/her) was born in British Columbia, but moved to the rolling foothills of Sacramento in elementary school, and was there until moving to Seattle to attend Seattle Pacific University in 2015. There she received her BA in Psychology with an emphasis on Reconciliation Studies and Women’s Studies. She came to SWS in 2021 as an Educational Support Teacher, supporting grades 1 and 2 for multiple years, and then transitioning to serving the entirety of the Lower Grades in different capacities for several years. She is a lifelong learner, and is thankful for what Waldorf education has taught her. She is over the moon to start her journey as a Class Teacher. Outside of the classroom, she is an avid reader, painter, creator, themed party connoisseur, enjoys spending time with her loved ones (including her cat!) and enjoying the beauty of the PNW.

asharamina@seattlewaldorf.org

Anastasiia joins Seattle Waldorf School with a rich background in language education and a deep passion for cultural exchange. Originally from Moscow, Russia, she earned her Ph.D. in Spanish Language and Literature and spent 10 years as a professor at Moscow State University. After moving to the U.S., Anastasiia continued her educational journey, teaching Spanish at the Washington Academy of Languages and volunteering as a Russian language teacher at St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco Parochial School. Her global experience includes living and studying in Spain and France through the Erasmus Mundus Program, which has greatly influenced her teaching philosophy. Anastasiia is also a certified examiner for various levels in Spanish, bringing a strong academic rigor to her classes while fostering a love for the language and cultures of Spanish-speaking countries. She is excited to bring her diverse experiences to SWS and is looking forward to contributing to the vibrant school community. Outside the classroom, Anastasiia enjoys reading in different languages, dancing tango, exploring nature, and spending quality time with her own children.

dtsang@seattlewaldorf.org

Daisy was born in Shanghai and grew up in Nanjing, a city that served as the capital for six dynasties. Her early years coincided with the Cultural Revolution, and witnessing the changes in her family as a child taught her resilience, preparing her for many transitions, including a move to the United States. After earning her Master of Fine Arts in Children’s Book Illustration from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, she worked for 15 years in graphic and web design before returning to her first passion: education. Since 2017, Daisy has been teaching Mandarin at SWS, blending language learning with her artistic talents. A graduate of the Waldorf Class Teacher Training at Sound Circle Center for Arts and Anthroposophy, she finds a true sense of home in Waldorf education. Outside the classroom, she enjoys swimming, hiking, running, and spending time with her family and her lively dog, Princess Leia.

jvoelker@seattlewaldorf.org

Ms. Voelker was born in Seattle, where she spent her childhood entering violin competitions, spelling bees and read-a-thons. She graduated from Oberlin College and New England Conservatory, where she studied with eminent violist Kim Kashkashian. After receiving her master’s degree, Ms. Voelker performed and recorded with Boston Modern Orchestra Project and Boston Philharmonic. This year Ms. Voelker will be playing concerts with Seattle Modern Orchestra, NoCCO, Seattle Chamber Orchestra, and Seattle Symphony, among other projects. Ms. Voelker discovered Seattle Waldorf School when her son started at Kinderhaus in 2016. She loves collaborating with her wonderful colleagues, and is always striving to give our children a greater appreciation of music, the satisfaction of practice, and the joy of performing.