EDUCATING THE WHOLE CHILD IN A NURTURING, CREATIVE COMMUNITY

Giovanna Dailey, known as Gio to family and friends, is dedicated to helping students gain the vocabulary and skills needed to express themselves confidently in Spanish. Gio brings a diverse background to her new role. Originally from Calí, Colombia, she has been a proud US citizen for fifteen years and holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Keiser University. Before moving to Woodbridge, VA, she spent years in south Florida working in hospital administration and as an accountant for an internet startup.
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Outside the classroom, she is known for her sense of humor, love of driving, and ease in making new friends. Gio is also an avid practitioner of meditation and yoga, a passionate nature lover who loves gardening, exploring flora and fauna and hiking new trails. Her family has been a part of the PCWS community since 2023 and her daughter is in the early childhood program.

Shelley was raised in the Washington DC metropolitan area and graduated from the University of Maryland.  After spending a few years working in technology and publishing, she moved abroad with her husband.  With three children and seeking to provide positive growth opportunities during a rather nomadic life, Shelley developed a love for early childhood education.  As a teacher and assistant teacher at preschools in Singapore, Japan, and Northern Virginia, she experienced a variety of educational programs and styles. Common among her broad experience is Shelley’s focus on providing the highest quality, most supportive, and appropriately tailored environment for the children and families she serves.  Shelley enjoys hiking, gardening, sewing and creating jewelry .  

Kerry grew up in Bermuda and Ireland. She traveled abroad in the Peace Corps to Niger, West Africa as a community health educator. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Johns Hopkins University. Kerry worked as a Pediatric Registered Nurse at Children’s National Hospital for 8 years and is currently pursuing her Waldorf teaching certificate from Antioch University. Kerry discovered Waldorf education while leading a Spanish-immersion forest school. She has been a forest school leader for several years in Northern Virginia. When not teaching, Kerry can be found exploring local forests, dancing bachata, and practicing yoga. 

Linnea comes to us from Madison, Wisconsin, where she was a lead teacher at Madison Waldorf School for five years. Prior to that, Linnea lived in Germany, where she was active in homeschooling, scouting, and Waldorf-inspired parent child groups. Originally from Bainbridge Island, Washington, Linnea trained at Sound Circle Center for Arts and Anthroposophy on Whidbey Island, and also studied K-8 education at Western Governors University. Additionally, Linnea is a Navy veteran and former translator, and enjoys incorporating language into her teaching. Outside of school, Linnea enjoys spending time with her daughter and exploring everything that the area has to offer. 

​Adriana is originally from Bogota, Colombia. She holds a Master in Textiles from Universidad de los Andes. She first discovered Waldorf Education while looking for a school for her first child. She knew she wanted to find a school that was a departure from her own childhood education and became committed to finding an environment that created space for creative and artistic work and fostered innate curiosity and love for learning. She visited PCWS and immediately knew that Waldorf education was the right learning environment for her family.  Both of her children began their education at PCWS and continued on to Washington Waldorf School. She began working at our school as a long-term substitute teacher in the Grades Program and then became the Spanish Teacher. She has completed her Waldorf teacher training at the Sophia Institute. In addition to her passion for Waldorf education, she has a passion for handwork such as knitting, embroidery, woodworking and painting. She and her family live in Lorton along with their horses, angora rabbits and Bernese Mountain Dog.

Hareem is a passionate early childhood educator with over six years of professional experience as a lead teacher for second and third grades at a Fairfax County public school.  Hareem homeschooled her children using a Waldorf curriculum and has previously volunteered as a preschool teacher at a Waldorf-inspired summer camp. Hareem graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Master’s degree in Education. All three of her children are enrolled at PCWS.  Hareem enjoys cooking, knitting, crocheting, and reading historical fiction.

Michael has a long history in Waldorf education. He received his Waldorf Teacher Training Certificate in 2008 and his Spacial Dynamics Certificate in 2009. Spacial Dynamics is the foundational study of movement therapy and movement education. It focuses on the developmental progression of age-appropriate games, group activities and exercises that introduce the pupil, student and adult to the changing dynamics between the body, the surrounding space and the world in which he/she moves. In addition to his extensive background in Waldorf education, Michael actively supports biodynamics  and founded the Chesapeake Biodynamic Network. Michael holds a B.A. in History from the University of MD and has completed the State of MD Teacher Education Certification Coursework.  

A native of Annandale, VA, Cynthian Knight holds a BA in Vocal Performance from Virginia Tech and an MM in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan. Before joining PCWS in 2018, she previously taught at the Meadowbrook Waldorf School in Rhode Island as the Chorus teacher for the Grades program. In addition to teaching music within a Waldorf school, Cynthian has a vast musical background that ranges from professional performing to teaching a variety of musical topics to all ages of students. She is an accomplished performer in both classical music and as a Scottish Gaelic singer. Cynthian enjoys teaching within the Waldorf education program because it allows her to combine her professional musical background and holistic approach to music with the spiritual awareness and developmental understanding that Waldorf education provides.

Natalie was raised in New York and attended Waldorf school from kindergarten through highschool. She graduated from Bucknell University with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and went on to get her master’s from George Washington University in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Reading and Literacy Education. After graduating from Waldorf school, Natalie dreamed of being a part of an environment that honored students' interests, identities and curiosities, just as hers had been. Natalie enjoys being outdoors, running, crocheting and cooking. 

Kristen spent her childhood moving around the southwest, where she received her BA from the University of Arizona.  In her early adulthood, she traveled and lived across the globe, grateful for the opportunity to learn about new places and diverse cultures.  When she was ready to settle down, she called the Bay Area her home for many years before moving to Northern Virginia.  She has more than ten years experience in various early childhood education programs, but has been drawn most to her time spent with play-based forest schooling where she witnessed children find wonder, joy and value in themselves and the natural world.  Kristen is excited to be a new member of PCWS and is currently receiving Waldorf training with the Early Childhood Teacher Education Center at Sophia's Hearth. Kristen cherishes time spent with her family, reading, soccer and BollyX fitness dancing.

Jennifer Scotti received a B.A. in International Relations and worked at the U.S. Department of State on issues largely related to countries of the former Soviet Union, including conflict analysis, refugee and migration assistance, and establishing embassies. She started at PCWS as a parent and is so grateful for the strong foundation her children received at the school and the community she found to support the parenting journey. She received her Waldorf teaching certificate from the Nova Institute in 2011 and has continued to engage in professional development related to handwork teaching, respectful birth-three caregiving inspired by the Pikler Institute, and Waldorf early childhood teacher training at Sophia’s Hearth. She has been teaching handwork since 2009 and Parent-Child classes since 2011.
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Anna is passionate about Waldorf Education and believes each child deserves many experiences of reverence, wonder, play and practical work. She is honored to nurture the social, emotional, and physical development of the children. Anna has been teaching in Waldorf schools since 2007. Starting in Monterey, California, teaching games/movement and aftercare. After receiving her Waldorf teaching certification from the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training in 2013 she was a lead kindergarten teacher in Monterey and then moved to Virginia to join PCWS. At PCWS she taught in the mixed-age kindergarten and music in the grades. She is excited to return, now with two children of her own. In her spare time, Anna enjoys running, hiking, sewing, camping and reading. She holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences from the University of Washington and has completed the first year of the Nurturing the Roots Therapeutic program in Denver, Colorado. 

Prior to becoming first grade teacher at PCWS, Rebecca served in early childhood programs for several years, most recently as a lead and co-lead in the Redbud Pre-K class. She completed her Waldorf Elementary Training in July 2023 and is currently studying for her Master of Education in Waldorf Education at Antioch University. Rebecca holds a Masters Degree in Water Resources from the University of Bergen in Bergen, Norway and a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon. Rebecca is a parent of two PCWS students. 

Kristina was first introduced to Waldorf education as a 5th grader at Kimberton Waldorf School where she attended through high school. With the birth of her son she reconnected with Waldorf education attending parent-child classes at the Seattle Waldorf school, where she lived at that time. For the past 7 years she has worked in the early childhood classes at the Ithaca Waldorf school in Ithaca, New York. She is dedicated to Waldorf education and is completing her early childhood teacher training through Sunbridge Institute. Kristina enjoys spending time with her family in Greece during the summers, reading, knitting, felting, practicing yoga, bookbinding, candle making, painting, hiking, and much more!