Our teachers are the heart of Spring River, and have been chosen because they are proven educators devoted to an arts-infused, whole-child curriculum that honors the natural world and the developmental phases of childhood.  
 
Some of our teachers are also homeschooling their own children, or have done so in the past, and can prove to be a helpful resource for families new to homeschooling. Many of our teachers have backgrounds as public school educators who have chosen a new path with a focus on Waldorf and Outdoor Education.  If you are interesting in becoming a teacher or joining the staff of Spring River, please apply through our Employment Opportunities page.

Sierra is a Jacksonville Florida native and was one of the first students at The Playgarden, a local Waldorf Kindergarten, twenty years ago. She was brought up homeschooled with Waldorf pedagogy by her mother, who was one of the founding members of the first anthroposophical study groups in our area. Sierra speaks fondly of her childhood and is overjoyed to have the opportunity to share her love of Waldorf education with our community. Sierra has been teaching at Spring River since 2018.

In past years, Sierra taught Music Enrichment and was a co-teacher for Spring River's combined K/1 class. She has previously been a teaching assistant in 1st and 2nd grade, STEM, and Gym/Mindfulness. She has been studying music for nearly 20 years, and playing professionally for over 10 years. 

 

Sierra has a heart for culture, backcountry trekking, music, international relations, animals, insects, plants, fossils, holistic medicine, tree climbing, and healing through nature, music, and art. Sierra spent a semester traveling in India, where she studied wilderness first aid, botany, language, yoga, and white-water rafting. One highlight of her adventure was helping build a greenhouse for the town of Ranikhet. 

 

Sierra recently completed the Explorations course offered by Antioch University and the Center for Anthroposophy and Waldorf Education Grade One offered by Antioch University and the Center for Anthroposophy.  She has been trained in CPR/First aid with an emphasis on urban wilderness first aid and completed an American Red Cross Lifeguarding course in the fall of 2018.

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Sierra is furthering her studies through the esteemed Sophia's Hearth Early Childhood Education and Certification program, a three-year, 500-hour intensive recognized by WECAN (Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America.)

Tara is a Florida native. She studied Nutrition and Agriculture at Florida International University, followed by Education at Valencia College.

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As her study of Education began, she found her roots in Waldorf Philosophy which branched out into a variety of fields. Starting with outdoor education, followed by a public school, a Reggio Emilia project-based school, and most recently, in a homeschool group. She offered a Waldorf- Inspired Cottage School from her home where the fruits of this form of education really bloomed.

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Tara values a holistic learning environment that lets the spark of a child shine. Tales, myths, fables, history, and imagination seem to find their way into each subject. Her view of a teacher is that of a guide, guiding through new grounds of knowledge suitable for one’s age, with room to explore, wonder, and develop.

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Interest outside of educating is that of learning herself. Local fauna, ethnic cooking, reading, creating, and simply walking. She looks forward to walking alongside the 1st-grade class this year and being a guide worthy of the children under her care.

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Tara took "Approaching Grade One" with the Center for Anthroposophy in Summer 2023 and joined the Building Bridges to Waldorf Teacher Training cohort in 2023-24.

Katie grew up knowing she wanted to be a teacher (like her mom) and taking every opportunity to spend time with young children. As a teenager, she taught summer camps in Pensacola and volunteered overseas at understaffed orphanages. Through college at Florida State University, she worked with middle and high school students, leading youth trips and mentoring young adults. She graduated in 2005 with a B.S. in both Communication and Literature and moved to Jacksonville with her husband, Luke, where they were delighted to find an almost immediately close community of other new-married friends who were also outwardly minded and adventurous. 

     In Jacksonville, Katie worked as a community development director for three years before realizing that she wanted to give her full attention to children. She transitioned to teaching through Florida State College of Jacksonville’s Teacher Certification Program, earning a professional teaching certificate in Early Childhood Education (Pre-Kindergarten- 3rd Grade), Exceptional Student Education (K-12),  and English Education (6-12). In 2007, she began teaching a self-contained class of 5-year-olds with Autism at Abess Park Elementary in Duval County. Through the patient guidance of experienced teachers and a site coach dedicated to helping students thrive, Katie learned the value of loving and appreciating each student, adapting to their ever-changing needs, and honoring them as individuals. By the end of three years, many of her students had successfully joined regular education classrooms, and with a new baby at home, Katie decided to step away from teaching. 

     When that first baby turned five, Katie and Luke were delighted to find Seaside Charter School and learn about Waldorf Education. Katie fell in love with the “head, heart, hands” model, and decided that if she were to go back to teaching, she would want it to allow for such a holistic approach; preserving childhood, encouraging the imagination, and spending a majority of the time out of doors. In 2020, amidst Covid complications, Katie embarked on homeschooling, which brought about too many learning experiences to list here. The following year, Stevie, now the oldest of five daughters, would join Ms. Julia’s middle school class at Spring River, discovering the beautiful community that we now affectionately call “our people.” 

     Katie lives with her husband, Luke, and their five daughters here in Atlantic Beach, where she enjoys singing, playing the piano, surfing, reading, playing volleyball, creating things, and climbing trees with her daughters. 

Ashley Craft was raised in Inverness, Florida, and came to Jacksonville in 2000, where she completed high school and went on to graduate with her Bachelors in Marine Science from Jacksonville University. Ashley has always had a passion for nature and animals, so after graduating, she went on to be an environmental educator for 4H at Mayport Middle and was an adjunct lecturer for microbiology at Jersey College. She also has worked with the Sea Turtle washback program in St. Johns County and has years of experience in the veterinary field. 
Her hobbies are yoga, painting, and being outdoors. She acquired her yoga teacher certification from Big Fish Yoga, and she has taken many classes and taught acrylic and watercolor painting to all ages. 

She is married to her husband Chris, and they have 3 kids. They enjoy exploring trails and fishing at Dutton Island, near their home,  going to the beach and surfing at Hanna Park, board games, and creating art. When her oldest child, Emma, started school is when Ashley fell in love with the Waldorf philosophy. Her family values are perfectly aligned with the Waldorf approach, and she  experienced the amazing impact it had on her daughter as a person and as a student.  

After being a stay at home mom and homeschooling for several years, she is excited for the opportunity to teach at Spring River.  She looks forward to getting to know each of her students while making learning fun.  Her goal as a teacher is to discover and appreciate each student's individual learning style and personality while encouraging meaningful relationships throughout our community.  

Katie holds a degree in Education from UNF and taught in public school for 5 years. (Kindergarten, 4th grade, and 6th grade) Following her time in public education,  she decided to enjoy the gift of staying home with her 2 young children.

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While living in New Hampshire, she discovered and fell in love with Waldorf Education. She served as the main lesson teacher for a homeschool group in New England for grades K/1 and Grade 4 before moving back home to Florida to be closer to family and ultimately finding this wonderful beachside community of Waldorf homeschoolers!

 

Katie completed the Waldorf Grade 2 Renewal course at the Center for Anthroposophy in the summer of 2022, and will be continuing her approach to grades 3 and up and she loops.   She is a currently member of the Building Bridges to Waldorf Education cohort offered through the Center for Anthroposophy.  She has also completed Waldorf Explorations.  Katie is so incredibly honored to be a part of Spring River School!  

 

 "I have a deep love and respect for Waldorf Education and the quality of life and healing it can bring to children and their families."

 

Katie enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, going for walks with her dog, shelling, and crafting.

Leah was first introduced to Waldorf Education when her daughter started at The Playgarden in 2017. She was soon enthralled and eventually became their Lead Forest Teacher. 

 

Through her professional development and experience at The Playgarden, Leah fell in love with the whole child approach to learning, understanding that the head, hands, and heart are all essential. This was a sentiment she had long ago discovered on her own journey through academia and as a professional in the field of education, and she was excited to see this sentiment echoed in the Waldorf community. As her daughter moved on from The Playgarden and into Spring River, Leah also wanted to follow the journey through the grades. 

 

Leah holds a Master’s degree in Teaching Secondary Science Education from the Univ. of Southern California and has a Florida Educator Certification in teaching Biology. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with minors in Chemistry, Computer Science, and Studio Art from the University of NC at Wilmington. She’s instructed Science and Engineering camps and programs for various organizations and schools. She is also a certified Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor and Water Safety Instructor.

 

Leah is currently completing Waldorf Teacher Training through the Center for Anthroposphy.  She is also holds a certification through the LifeWays of North America early childhood teacher training program. In 2022 Leah led a session on the “Benefits of Risky Play and Risk Assessment” for an ERAFRANS Teacher retreat. She led the same format in April 2023 at a workshop called "Nurturing the Roots.” She’s attended numerous workshops focused on outdoor schooling, learning in nature, and caring for the young child. She also is the recipient of the WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) 2008 Woman of the Year Award.

 

Leah spends her free time listening to music, dancing, exploring the outdoors, reading, enjoying food, relaxing, and sharing space with her daughter, Cali.

Jackie was introduced and fell in love with Waldorf education while studying psychology and volunteering for a school garden program over 15 years ago.  She is inspired by the Waldorf pedagogy because it focuses on developmentally appropriate learning, while teaching the whole child- head, hands, and heart.  She has been a class teacher at Spring River since 2019.

 

Jackie holds a degree from the University of Florida with a BS in Psychology and a Minor in Education and was an elementary school teacher for Duval County Public Schools from 2007-2018, working in grades K-6. Some of the highlights of those years was as team leader for Third Grade and considerable work as a "Various Exceptionalities Teacher," meeting the individual needs of students including their IEP goals.  Jackie has a long history of working closely with administrative leadership, and of developing trusting relationships with parents and students.

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Jackie completed the Explorations course offered by Antioch University and the Center for Anthroposophy in 2019, and attended Waldorf Teacher training for Literacy, Grades 1-3  in Summer 2019 at the Renewal Courses offered through Antioch University and the Center for Anthroposophy in New Hampshire. Other Waldorf training includes Public Waldorf Teacher training at the AWSNA Annual Conference in 2015 and 2017 at Rudolf Steiner College, and attendance at the Kentahten Institute for Waldorf Education in 2014.  Jackie is studying in the Building Bridges Waldorf Teacher Training Cohort for 2023-24.  She has been trained in CPR/First aid with an emphasis on urban wilderness first aid and completed an American Red Cross Lifeguarding course in the summer of 2020.

 

Jackie is married to Mike and has 3 beautiful children.  Her favorite thing to do is spend time with her family outside.  She loves to camp, go to the beach, hike, and enjoys music festivals.  Jackie also enjoys learning about alternative medicine and nutrition, creating things, and practicing yoga. 

Children, learning and the great outdoors…Let’s go! This is the attitude Megs Lederer has embodied since her first day with Spring River in January of 2022. 

 

Megs fell in love with outdoor education long before having children as she learned more about herself and the world around her while trail running through the Sonoran Desert during her undergraduate studies. It was there she formed an instant connection to wild spaces. She regularly competed in trail races – running for hours through big mountains is still one of her great loves.  Her love deepened when she took eight months to explore the United States, camping and hiking her way through the National Forests and Parks from Arizona to Maine. 

 

When her children attended the PlayGarden, Megs became a regular substitute and connected instantly with the ways of Waldorf – approaching the child as a unique soul from a heart, hands and head perspective, learning through story telling, anchoring rhythms, soul-filling festivals and a deep sense of community. These are the pillars of our Spring River community that hold her and her family so tightly. 

 

Megs has a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Arizona and a Masters Degree from the University of Tennessee. Post college, she dug into her value of service while working for the Superior Court of Arizona, the Tennessee Institute for Public Service, and directing a national non-profit whose mission was to rehabilitate wounded veterans through sport. Megs is a member of the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools and attended various seminars to learn more about connecting, growing, and learning in the outdoors.  

 

Megs completed the Explorations course and is studying in the Building Bridges Waldorf Teacher Training Cohort for 2023-24 offered through Antioch University and the Center for Anthroposophy in New Hampshire. She has been trained in CPR/First aid with an emphasis on urban wilderness first aid. 

 

When Megs is not at school, her favorite activities include adventuring with her family, fishing, digging in the dirt, jumping waves, running and reading a good book.

Cara is a lifelong resident of Jacksonville Beach, Florida and graduate of Jacksonville University. 

 

In her 16 years as an educator, Cara has been privileged to work with students and teachers in a variety of K-8 settings, traditional and nontraditional.

 

Her certifications range from K-8 through high school Social Studies, ELA, and Earth Space Sciences.  She has worked as a classroom teacher, Reading Teacher, Science, Social Studies, and Math. Currently, Cara has been a global educator working with private families traveling internationally while ensuring the educational integrity of her client’s children. 

 

Her goal is to create academically engaging learning experiences through an environment that fosters creativity, curiosity, and compassion.  She is committed to sharing her passion for literacy, learning, and nature.  Cara was the 2010 Teacher of the Year (Mayport Coastal Sciences) recipient, Community Service Teacher of the Year (2010, 2018).  She will be taking two Waldorf middle school preparatory courses this summer through the Center for Anthroposophy and joining the Building Bridges cohort in the fall.

 

Cara is an avid hiker, runner, kayaker, nature enthusiast, and dog lover. Finally, she is a mother of two grown children who she loves dearly. 

Julia is a trailblazer for Waldorf Education in Jacksonville.  She has worked to bring Waldorf to the beaches community beginning in 1994 when she first learned about this amazing form of education. The creative aspect of Waldorf education, coupled with her love for nature, is a perfect fit for educating homeschooled children. Julia has been a class and handwork teacher at Spring River since 2017.

 
Julia both participated in and led Waldorf mixed-age programs from 1997 to present day: from being one of the founders of The Playgarden, leading early childhood and parent/child classes, and teaching at various homeschool co-ops including middle school classes in physics and chemistry using a Waldorf curriculum.  Julia also homeschooled her own child from 1st through 8th grade.  Her daughter transitioned into public school beautifully earning A/B honor roll at Fletcher High. 

Julia holds a Bachelor of Arts with a minor in mathematics.  She attended Sunbridge Institute every summer for nearly eight years receiving Waldorf certification for the programs Preparing for Grade 1 through Preparing for Grade 8 which covered all grade specific main lesson subjects as well as watercolor painting, movement, games, singing, form drawing, handwork, and anthroposophical study.  Julie has attended many Waldorf workshops and is a leader in the Spring River community as she continues the journey of Waldorf education for our children. 

 

Julia completed the Explorations Course offered through Antioch University and the Center for Anthroposophy in 2019 and is currently working toward her Master Degree in Waldorf Education at Antioch University.  She has been trained in CPR/First aid with an emphasis on urban wilderness first aid and completed an American Red Cross Lifeguarding course in the summer of 2020.