Leadership Council -  Mid-Atlantic Region

Karen is a long time Waldorf educator who has taught at several Waldorf schools in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions since 1995.  Prior to moving into grades’ teaching, she was a Waldorf early childhood educator for many years.  In addition to teaching, she has served as a mentor and consultant for over two decades.  In addition to her work with AWSNA, Karen formally served as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Representative for the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN).  She received her undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts, with a focus in Education, from Vermont College and attended Antioch University, New England, for Waldorf Teacher Education in both Elementary and Early Childhood.  She is currently engaged in an active research project that aims to cultivate and support both teachers and students as the Waldorf movement grows beyond 100 years.  When not in the classroom, Karen can be found out in nature.  She supports local, organic farmers and enjoys preparing health-giving meals with her family and friends. 

Leadership Council - Northern California Region

Lisa has taught math at the Waldorf School of the Peninsula (WSP) since 2003, where she is also a founding teacher of the high school. Lisa earned a BA in Mathematics, a MS in Mathematics Education and a PhD in Science Education from the University of Pennsylvania, where she also taught graduate school. She also has a master’s degree in Applied Psychology. Before WSP, she taught mathematics in middle and high school for over two decades in independent schools on both coasts, as well as having been an administrator. Lisa has also taught in teacher trainings at Rudolf Steiner College, in China and Malaysia, has mentored and evaluated Waldorf teachers, and currently serves as the Northern California AWSNA Leadership Council Member. She is the parent of two Waldorf "lifer-alums" and enjoys reading, hiking and crafting.

Leadership Council - Northeast/Quebec Region

Leadership Council, Northwest/Pacific Region

Vicky is currently the Executive Director of the Whistler Summit Centre, a start-up non-profit seeking to build a community campus and hub to provide a home for non-profit community groups in Whistler. Vicky has a broad range of experience in organizational entrepreneurship and stewardship including founding the Whistler Waldorf School and serving as its Director of Administration from 2002 to 2017. She also served on the Board of Trustees of the Vancouver Waldorf School from 2010 to 2014. Vicky lives in Whistler, BC with her husband Ian, where they enjoy spending time outdoors in Whistler’s beautiful mountain environment. They are the parents of two Waldorf alumni, Bobby (2011) and Thomas (2015).

Leadership Council - Southeast/Atlantic Region

Jason began teaching school music in 1992.  He holds a Masters in music education and began as the music director at the Emerson Waldorf School in Chapel Hill, NC in 2005, where he still teaches.  In addition to Waldorf teaching, his career includes working in suburban and inner-city public schools as well as various independent schools. In addition to his work at Emerson and with AWSNA, Jason does mentoring, evaluation and teacher training throughout North America and has presented at numerous workshops and seminars as a keynote speaker and workshop presenter.  Jason loves traveling with his family and is the father of four Waldorf students.

Leadership Council - Texas-Mexico-Canadian-Southwest-Rockies Region

Cathie served as the School Administrator at the Calgary Waldorf School (CWS) for twelve years and now serves as a mentor to the school's Administrative Leadership Team.  Cathie also served for twenty years on the CWS Board of Directors, as President, Past-President, Secretary, and member at large.  Her daughter Kate attended Preschool through Ninth Grade at the Calgary Waldorf School, and then graduated from the High School at the Toronto Waldorf School. Before Cathie's Waldorf school administration career, she worked for 25 years as a social worker, counsellor, mediator and researcher, primarily with children and their families in medical settings and with bereaved parents.  She also taught in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary.  Cathie has an Honours BA in Sociology, an MA in Sociology, and an MSW, all from the University of Calgary, and she is an RSW with the Alberta College of Social Workers.

Leadership Council - Teacher Education Delegates Circle (TEDC)

Douglas Gerwin, Ph.D., has taught history, literature, German, music, and life science at college and Waldorf high school levels for nearly 40 years. As Executive Director of the Center for Anthroposophy (CfA), he divides his time between adult education and teaching adolescents, as well as mentoring Waldorf schools across North America. Himself a Waldorf graduate, Douglas is the founder of CfA's Waldorf High School Teacher Education Program, as well as the first Executive Director of the Research Institute for Waldorf Education. He is author and editor of nine books on Waldorf education, as well as numerous articles on education and anthroposophy. His most recent publication is a collection of articles entitled Trailing Clouds of Glory: Essays on Sexuality and the Education of Youth in Waldorf Schools (2014). At present, Douglas resides on the outskirts of Amherst, Massachusetts, with his wife Connie, a Waldorf high school teacher of mathematics.

Leadership Council - Great Lakes/Ontario Region

Administrative Director at the Chicago Waldorf School, Luke has over 20 years of educational leadership experience in Waldorf and public schools.  He holds a BA in Art History from Davidson College, an M. Ed. from Antioch University and an Ed. D (pending dissertation) from the University of Toledo.  Luke has teaching experience at the Pine Hill Waldorf School, Ashwood Waldorf School, Waldorf School at Moraine Farm, Sylvania (OH) public schools and has served as the Administrative Director of the Chicago Waldorf School since 2008.  He is a faculty member at the Arcturus Rudolf Steiner Teacher Training Program.  His wife Kate teaches High School Humanities at the Chicago Waldorf School where his three children, Josephine, Willa and Louisa attend.  Luke is a faithful and die-hard Boston sports fan.

Leadership Council - Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN)

As Membership Coordinator of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN) since 2016, Laura supports about 200 early childhood programs in their membership processes. Laura has been an early childhood teacher at Three Cedars Waldorf School - now Eastside Community School – in Bellevue, WA since 2002 and has held a variety of leadership positions within the school. She received her Waldorf Early Childhood Certificate from Rudolf Steiner College in 2007. Laura is the parent of two Waldorf alumni: Anne ’13 and Rachel ’15.

Leadership Council - Southern California/Hawai'i Region

A class teacher at Haleakala Waldorf School, Maui, Hawaii, Sarah has been teaching in Waldorf schools since 1997. She began her career at Haleakala Waldorf School in the Early Childhood as a preschool teacher, and then started the journey with a first grade in 2001. She is currently teaching her third round of elementary students, one group in Maui from 2001-2007, another at the Vancouver Waldorf School from 2007-2012 and the current group in Maui from 2012-present. Sarah graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 1991 with a BA in Psychology, and then completed her Masters Degree in Education and Waldorf Teacher Training at Antioch University in 2001.  She is the mother of two Waldorf alumni: Pippin ’10 and Sage ’13. When not busy with her class, or serving the AWSNA region, she enjoys a variety of ocean and snow sports, yoga, playing guitar and motorcycle adventuring.

Leadership Council - Pedagogical Section Council (PSC)

Frances is currently an art teacher and class advisor at the Chicago Waldorf High School, and a Core group member and faculty member of the Waldorf Institute of Chicago.  She has experience as a class teacher and special subject teacher at CWS, has been a member of the Board of Trustees and worked with governance issues as well as mentoring. Research into the intersection of science and art has been a lifelong passion. Frances completed her studies at Christ Church College Canterbury, Kent in the UK where she focused on secondary education. She then studied arts with a focus on sculpture at Emerson College, Forest Row, England. She and her husband are the parents of Noah, Cymen and Halin Vig , all three of whom attended the Chicago Waldorf School. They are currently highly entertained by the delightful antics of two lively grandchildren, Kai and Roar.