Class of 2016: Amy Elder

Faculty Chair

Amy enjoyed a rich childhood, full of wonderfully imaginative experiences and positive interactions with family and friends. After working in a fast-paced, high-stress career that required a lot of traveling, she decided to follow her dream to become a teacher. Waldorf Education has given her the avenue to share her many interests and talents with her students, inspiring them to pursue their own. After graduating from Rudolf Steiner College, she joined the faculty at Cedar Springs in 2006.

Class of 2015: Paula ThompSon

Pedagogical Chair/Interim 6th Grade Teacher 2012-2013

Although Paula has always felt a bond with children, she did not come to teaching until later in her life.  She graduated with a major in journalism, specializing in advertising copy writing, and a minor in marketing.  Although she had a very successful career in advertising in both Boston and New York City, she consciously made the choice to pursue a teaching career after nearly 20 years in advertising.  After graduating from Rudolf Steiner College, she joined the faculty at Cedar Springs and has been teaching here since 1996.

Class of 2014: Matt Taylor

Matt wasn’t particularly motivated to learn in school, unless there was a connection and a passion that came from the teacher. After leaving high school, he was happy to work into a career at a podiatry lab and as a training officer in a volunteer fire department, where he found that studying and constantly learning new skills added breadth to his work. When he was ready to seek a formal education, he became a math and English teacher, hoping to share his passion for learning practical and meaningful skills with Junior High students. Eventually, Waldorf Education became the avenue for him to find value in his life’s work, while giving his own family the benefits of this educational experience. Since 1999, he taught Upper Grades math at Cedar Springs, completed his training at Rudolf Steiner College, and eventually joined the faculty full time.

Class of 2013: Lisa Morgan

Lisa grew up in the Willamette Valley in Oregon with her parents, two brothers and a sister. Her early childhood was filled with riding horses and daily explorations of the McKenzie River trails and tributaries.  After High school, she attended college for several years, then left it to pursue a career in Performance Horse training and sales.  In working with children and their families Lisa discovered her desire to develop her work more fully with children. She decided to enter into the field of teaching full time congruently as her son was entering into the grades at CSWS. Lisa has a B.A. in Social Science,  received her California State Credential and has spent the last several years finishing her training at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks.  She spent two years teaching at Golden Valley Charter school in Orangevale (a Waldorf inspired public charter) and then joined the faculty full time at CSWS in 2007.