Alaina Berlin is a Jacksonville native and lover of all things ocean related. Growing up, she was the oldest child, so automatically took on a caregiving role. Gaining a bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Sociology from Flagler College allowed her to stay by the sand while diving deep into an overflowing cup of historical knowledge.

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Stemming from her love for the ocean, came a love for teaching. Lanie taught surfing and English lessons while living in Mexico, which ignited the fire to become a teacher full time. She taught History and Spanish at a private neurodivergent school in Orange Park before arriving at Spring River. 

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With an abundance of love for history and the appreciation of its significant role in current events, Lanie is excited to embark on the Waldorf journey.

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“History doesn’t repeat itself, it rhymes.” - Mark Twain. 

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Benji Dieffenbacher to Spring River High School, where he brings real-world experience and a lifelong fascination with the human body to our Anatomy & Physiology classroom.

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A Florida native, Dr. Benji’s love of exercise, football, surfing, and an active lifestyle sparked an early interest in health, movement, and human performance. Raised with an appreciation for holistic approaches to health and wellness, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology from the University of Florida and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from National University of Health Sciences.

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Dr. Benji is the owner and chiropractor at Community Chiropractic in Jacksonville and has pursued extensive professional training in sports injuries, functional rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, and human movement. His work centers on helping people better understand how the body moves, adapts, and functions—and how thoughtful movement and healthy habits can support well-being throughout life.

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At Spring River, Dr. Benji brings a living and natural approach to the study of the human body. Rather than viewing anatomy as simply a collection of bones, muscles, organs, and systems to memorize, he invites students to explore the body as an extraordinary, interconnected whole.

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Through observation, movement, hands-on learning, and thoughtful inquiry, students will explore how the body communicates, adapts, heals, and interacts with the world around it. Dr. Benji hopes to cultivate both scientific curiosity and a sense of wonder for the remarkable complexity of the human body.

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As an educator, he values a classroom where students are encouraged to ask questions, think critically, and connect what they learn with their own lived experience.

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Outside of his professional work, Dr. Benji enjoys staying active, spending time outdoors, surfing, exploring Florida’s natural spaces, and spending time with his Dogo Argentino, GoJoy.

We are grateful to have Dr. Benji as part of the Spring River High School faculty and look forward to the curiosity, practical knowledge, and enthusiasm he will bring to our students.

Carrie, the visionary founder of Shakti Life Kitchen, has been at the helm of this thriving organic plant-based food company for 15 years. Her entrepreneurial journey began as a part owner of European Street Café , a role she held for over three decades. This experience instilled in her the value of community service and the power of collaboration in achieving ambitious goals.  Carrie's academic achievements include a B.A. in Sociology, certification as a Plant-based nutritionist from Cornell, and a certificate from the Master's program in Waldorf Education at Antioch University.    

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Being raised in Northeast Florida and being immersed in the service industry for over 30 years has allowed Carrie to make supportive connections city-wide that support the mission to further Outdoor Waldorf Education and set the platform for our becoming a Biodynamic garden. She is deeply connected to the life of the land and gets her inspiration from that which grows locally. She is a mother to Zophia, a graduate of the K-8 Spring River program. Carrie was hired as Spring River School’s program director in 2021.  Her teaching experience is from 4th to 6th grade.  Carrie also served as a volunteer for the Waldorf movement for eight years where she served as Board President of The Playgarden, Inc. in 2012-2013 and board member for the following seven years.

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Carrie is a co-founder of the NE Florida Chapter of the Anthroposophical Society named the Sophia Circle. Her dedication to this study has helped her create a bond with the Center for Anthroposophy, our nation's premier organization supporting Waldorf teacher training and the growth of Biodynamics.

Rosie Eddy grew up in an Army family so answering the typical “where are you from” question is always difficult! However, her parents are from the Tampa Bay Area (Seminole and Dunedin) and she grew up traveling to Florida for most school breaks and holidays, so Florida has always felt like home.

Her husband (born and raised in Alabama) recently retired from the Navy out of Mayport, NS, and they are thankful to be able to put down roots here in Jacksonville for themselves and their two sons.

Rosie graduated Cum Laude from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in December of 2016 with a degree in Secondary Math Education. She was offered a position as a math and electives teacher and started teaching a month before graduation at Liberty Middle School in Madison, AL. She achieved tenure status and then ultimately resigned in the summer of 2020 when hey husband went on active duty. The time out of the classroom was a gift to her family.

Rosie was a freelance tutor during this time and able to focus more fully on her oldest son and his learning differences, a healthy pregnancy with their youngest, their move to Mayport, a healthy delivery, and settling into the rhythm of life.

Rosie is so thankful that took that time out of the classroom to focus on her family, but she is thrilled to have this opportunity to once again work with larger groups of students and help them foster confidence in themselves as problem solvers and critical thinkers! Math can be intimidating to students for a multitude of reasons, but Rosie will be present to remind them that they CAN do hard things and that almost everything was hard before they learned how to do it.

Rosie takes a student-centric approach to teaching. A typical class might look like students taking notes and going through guided practice with her for 15-20 minutes and then working together and encouraging each other in problem solving activities and games around the room. She is very excited to work with the Spring River High School students!

Amy Jaskiewicz grew up in a small town outside of Jacksonville. Her family shared ten acres of land with her grandparents. Between houses, she learned about farming and homemade food while helping her grandmother make her delicious Mayhaw Jelly.  Among land to play and a large extended family, she was exposed to the beauty of the outdoors, animals, and using her imagination. After four years at Florida State University, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in English Literature. 

After working in the web design marketing field, she decided to move back to Jacksonville and pursue a teaching career. Amy taught fifth grade before moving to Texas with her husband. In Texas, she had three children and soon after moved to Colorado for her husband’s career in pharmaceutical oncology. Compromising between her husband’s need to surf and her desire to be closer to family, they moved to Atlantic Beach in 2015. Soon after, she began homeschooling her three children. Her youngest graduated from Spring River 8th grade this year. Homeschooling her elementary and middle school kids was where she was introduced to Latin and began teaching it in her homeschooling CO-OP. Amy is enthusiastic to bring a love of Latin to the Spring River High School students while teaching the classical language in an easy-to-understand curriculum. 

Along with reading, a love for animals, art, and travel, Amy enjoys spending time with her family.  She is excited to teach Latin to the inaugural class of Spring River High School students. 

Sarah brings a distinctive blend of artistic practice, design experience, and creative leadership to Spring River High School.

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An artist from an early age, Sarah continued her study of art in college as a studio art major before building a two-decade career in corporate marketing. In that work, she helped bring major commercial real estate presentations to life, leading design, collaborating with graphic designers, and developing the visual details that transformed ideas into compelling stories.

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Creativity has remained a constant throughout Sarah’s life. Her artistic eye extends beyond traditional studio work into graphic design, interiors, visual communication, and the thoughtful creation of spaces and experiences. She has designed the interiors of three of her own homes and continues to explore the relationship between beauty, form, function, and everyday life.

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At Spring River, Sarah teaches Art & Design: Form, Meaning & the Human Experience, an interdisciplinary high school course that invites students to explore why human beings create and how art intersects with science, history, culture, and personal expression. Students work across drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and mixed media while maintaining an ongoing sketchbook and process journal.

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Originally from New York, Sarah spent nearly twenty years in California before making her home in Atlantic Beach with her two sons. She is also a certified doula and 200-hour power yoga teacher and is pursuing certification in holistic health. As the founder of Sea Soul Mamas, she brings her interest in intentional living, creativity, and holistic well-being into another dimension of her work.

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Sarah approaches art not simply as a subject to master, but as a way of observing, questioning, making meaning, and engaging with the world. Through hands-on exploration and thoughtful creative practice, she encourages students to develop their own artistic voice while discovering the many ways creativity moves across disciplines and through everyday life.

Coming Soon

Katharina brings a relationship-centered approach to American Sign Language instruction, grounded in the belief that language is a powerful avenue for human connection, cultural understanding, and communication.

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Katharina holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Auburn University, where she graduated cum laude, and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Jacksonville University. Her professional experience includes working with children and adolescents in a variety of educational and community settings.

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Her experience with American Sign Language includes working directly with deaf preschool students, supporting their communication and development through ASL, and facilitating an ASL club for middle and high school students.

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Katharina’s teaching philosophy emphasizes curiosity, embodied learning, and meaningful communication. Through interactive and visual instruction, she encourages students to develop confidence in expressive and receptive signing while cultivating respect for Deaf culture and a greater awareness of accessibility and inclusion.

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Inspired by holistic and relationship-centered approaches to education, Katharina strives to create a classroom where students feel supported in taking risks, communicating authentically, and learning from one another. She sees the study of ASL as an opportunity for students not only to develop practical language skills, but also to broaden their perspectives and deepen their understanding of the many ways people connect and communicate.

Bobby Spahn grew up in the Chicagoland area reading books all day and being deeply emotionally invested in the Jordan-era Chicago Bulls. He spent every single afternoon of his high school years playing 1-on-1 basketball in his driveway vs. his freakishly talented neighbor.

He got destroyed in nearly every game and he couldn’t be more grateful for all that taught him. Bobby has been married for 19 years and has two sons with whom he loves to play (& sometimes coach) the sports of basketball, baseball and football.