Originally from Honduras, Anais moved to Florida in 2017 and recently relocated to the D.C. area to begin her master’s program in School Counseling at George Washington University. She earned her degree in Family, Youth, and Community Sciences from the University of Florida and has worked closely with families through programs like Circle of Security Parenting, where she guided parents in strengthening attachment and connection with their children. While in Gainesville, she also facilitated play therapy for children with ADHD, helping them build self-regulation skills in a supportive environment. Anais feels deeply aligned with the Waldorf philosophy of nurturing the whole child and creating spaces where children feel valued and supported. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling, practicing yoga, hiking and being outdoors, learning about different cultures, trying out new foods, and spending quality time with loved ones.

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. 

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.

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. 

Virgilio received a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Violin Performance from The Juilliard School in New York City. He has been teaching for 28 years in area schools. He believes that his main goal as a music teacher is "to guide students to create their own interpretations of music". He enjoys skiing, hiking, traveling, and spending time with his wife and pets. 

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. 

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

Annaick Parker, known as Anna to family and friends, is originally from Germany. She holds a Master in 

in textile conservation from the University of Technology Arts and Sciences in Cologne, Germany. Anna worked in museums in Germany and Poland

before she was awarded the Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in 2015. After she completed her fellowship at NMAI, Anna worked as a contractor for the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum (ACM) until the birth of her son in 2020 when she became a stay-at-home mother. Embracing her long standing passion in fiber and paper arts, she began sharing the joy of crafting with her son initially, and then with friends and neighbors. She enjoys working with her hands and creating a warm and comfortable home for her family.​

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.

Jaya spent most of her childhood in the DMV area and lived around the U.S. after earning her B.S. in Biology. She credits her mother, an elementary school teacher, with inspiring her to pursue a career in education. Jaya has supported all grade levels in public education, as well as taught adult education classes and served as an assistant at a community college. Collectively, she has been working in education for six years. Jaya recently returned to the DMV to pursue her M.Ed. in Counseling.

Mia was born and raised in a small town in China, where she developed a love for language, art, and nature. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design in China before coming to the United States, where she later studied at the Culinary Institute of America. She deeply values the diversity of American culture and finds joy in visiting museums, being outdoors, and learning something new every day. Upon working with children, she discovered her new found passion by teaching Mandarin. She loves sharing the language of Mandarin in ways that are playful and meaningful. She is inspired each day by the curiosity and openness oof the students around her. 

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

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. 

Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Rebecca grew up flipping and diving her way through childhood as a dedicated gymnast and then later a diver. Her brother went to the Waldorf School of the Peninsula and she enjoyed participating in festivals there. Rebecca’s family also spent many summers at a family home in Hardanger, Norway, and at the family’s cabin in the mountains of Norway. This time in pristine nature developed her interest in the environment and led her to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and a Master’s in Water Resources, blending science with policy and a deep care for the natural world. After spending several years in Bergen, Norway, she returned to the States. When her daughter was born she found Potomac Crescent Waldorf School and discovered her love for Waldorf education, her true calling. She taught for several years in Early Childhood classes at PCWS before completing her Waldorf Elementary teacher training in 2023, and taking her first elementary class that fall.

Today, Rebecca brings a love for joyful and rigorous learning into her classroom. Outside of school, she enjoys  solving puzzles, drawing, and taking trips to New York City with her family.

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

Alyse grew up in Arlington, Virginia, and has been passionately working with children for over a decade. She has her A.S. in Social Sciences from Northern Virginia Community College and her B.A. in Sociology from George Mason University. Alyse has always found great joy in working with little ones! Her favorite part about being a teacher was growing and learning with her students. As a child, Alyse attended an immersion elementary school and was taught each subject in either English or Spanish. It was there that she came to understand the importance of a learning environment that not only promoted curiosity, creativity, and confidence, but diversity as well. She is committed to providing all children in her care with a safe space to grow, explore, and learn. Alyse is so excited to be a part of the children's learning experience at PCWS!

Kensei has extensive experience directing and advising nonprofits, foundations and national associations committed to social change, including: the Council on Foundations; the Greater Washington Community Foundation (GWCF); and, Figure Skating in Harlem, Inc., which combines the power of education with access to figure skating for girls of color. She is currently on the board of directors of the Williams-Franklin Foundation and is co-chair of the Community Service Committee of the Alexandria-Mt. Vernon chapter of Jack and Jill of America. Kensei is deeply committed to advancing educational and leadership opportunities for young African Americans.  

Melissa received her B.A. from Brigham Young University and her M.A. from University of Leicester, UK. She has worked in operations, marketing, and communications for over eleven years and has held roles in the U.S. government, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, DC, an international school in the Middle East, and Panera Bread. She currently volunteers for American Association of University Women and has also volunteered with Minds Matter DC, Rally4Vets, and various NGOs in Cambodia, Uganda, Jordan, and Sri Lanka. She enjoys running, reading, and ice cream (not necessarily in that order). 

Claire Tran has a B.A. in German from Colby College and an MBA from American University with a concentration on International Finance and Non-Profit Management. Prior to PCWS, she worked for various environmental and international development nonprofits in the DC area. She is drawn to Waldorf Education because it is play-based with structure and it looks at the whole child — not just academic development.