Specialty Teachers

Bree Switzer Music Teacher

Bree Switzer Bree is an alumnus of the Nelson Waldorf School, having graduated from the first Class 8 in 1991. Bree's music training is based on six years of private flute lessons, ten years of singing in a range of different choirs, and two years of vocal and composition training at Selkirk College from 2000 to 2002. Bree completed the Waldorf Teacher Training program at Emerson College in Forest Row, England from 2002 to 2004, where she also studied conducting with Danish composer Gregors Brinch and sang in his compositions choir. From 2004 to 2006, Bree taught Music and English at the Nordstrand Steiner School in Oslo, Norway. Her other teaching experience includes one year teaching English in Japan, teaching Classes 1, 3, and 5 Handwork here at the Nelson Waldorf School, and assistant teaching in the Rose Garden Preschool, also at the Nelson Waldorf School, in 1999/2000. Bree has also led several choirs including the Waldorf Community Choir, a choir made up of teachers and parents at the Nelson Waldorf School.

 

Diana Finley Social Inclusion Coordinator

Diana Finley Diana (Danny) was born in Montreal and grew up in Quebec and Ontario. Her degrees are from Queen's in Kingston (BA Psychology), from Ottawa (BEd), and Spokane, Washington (MA Counseling). She has lived in Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and BC, where she taught in the public school system. Finding the right place and Waldorf School for her 2 daughters brought her to Nelson and began her dedication to Waldorf education and anthroposophy. Danny has been with the school for over 20 years in a variety of roles: as a parent, volunteer, janitor, class parent, academic tutor, pedagogical administrator, and faculty chair. Danny finds that working with the children, teachers, staff, and parents of NWS inspires a joy and gratitude for life's many wonders. She enjoys the tonic of the out-of-doors, singing, yoga, traveling, time with family and friends, and her home in the Middle Road Community.

 

Karin Weidemann Eurythmy Teacher

Karin Karin was raised on a farm near Hannover, Germany. She graduated from the University of Augsburg with a Masters degree in Sports, Movement Education, and Social Science. While teaching these subjects to Grades 5-12, she was exposed to anthroposophy and Waldorf pedagogy during a visit to Canada. A few weeks later she was enrolled in the Waldorf teacher training course at Emerson College, England. There she discovered her love for eurythmy. After completion of her Waldorf teacher training, she hoped to take the eurythmy training, but destiny proved otherwise. The following six years in England were filled with teaching Kindergarten and Movement Education at the Michael Hall, Forest Row, and Brighton Steiner schools and a five-year in-service training in Bothmer gymnastics, as well as the birth of her son. She moved back to Germany, where she taught Grade One and Movement Education at the Freie Waldorf School, Hannover. After the birth of her twin daughters and a two-year stay in the United States, she returned to the family farm in Germany, where she worked as a therapist with children and horses. In 2001, Karin was finally able to do the eurythmy training at the School for the Art of Eurythmy in Hannover. She then taught eurythmy at the Freie Waldorf School in Sorsum and was part of the Eurythmy Stage Group in Hannover until she joined the Nelson Waldorf School in December 2007.

 

Lisa Bramson Special Needs Coordinator

Lisa Bramson Lisa is a Nelson Waldorf School fixture: her two children attended the school; she has been a member of numerous committees and was a class parent throughout. Lisa was a NWS Board member and Board chair; she has been involved with the Learning Enhancement program for almost 12 years. Prior to this, Lisa worked as a speech therapist for the public school system. Recently, Lisa has been studying infant movement development. That leaves a little time for yoga, guitar, skiing and juggling!

 

Natasha Kraus Handwork/Skills Teacher

Natasha Kraus Natasha graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and German. She then completed her Waldorf Teacher Training at the Toronto Waldorf School, where she subsequently taught a class from first through eighth grade. After a number of years of travel, teaching, taking courses in wilderness survival, and a 12-month apprenticeship in biodynamic gardening, Natasha arrived in Nelson in October of 1998 to take a class from fourth through eighth grade. Since then Natasha has taught Math, English, and Physics in the upper grades and Handwork to most of the classes. Natasha was born in Parry Sound Ontario, on the shores of Georgian Bay. One of five children, her rural childhood was complete with all manner of pets, including a beloved Shetland pony. Natasha has a daughter, Mia, in Class 4.

 

Rayya Liebich French Teacher

Rayya Liebich After completing her Bilingual International Baccalaureate in Geneva, Switzerland, Rayya returned to Canada and pursued her Bachelor of Arts at McGill University (English Literature Major). After a year of environmental activism, and a year of traveling and volunteering in Nepal and India, Rayya returned to school to complete her post degree Bachelor of Education through the University of Victoria. Her belief in change and in a better educational model led her to her destiny as a Waldorf teacher in Nelson, BC. Bringing her passion for languages, and countless tales from her travels, Rayya teaches French to Classes 1-7. Apart from teaching, Rayya finds inspiration and joy in creative writing, photography, and the great outdoors.

 

Vanessa Kuran Movement Education Teacher

Vanessa Kuran Vanessa, our Class 7 Teacher and Movement Education Teacher for the upper grades, grew up in beautiful British Columbia near an awe-inspiring granite monolith called "The Chief" in Squamish, BC. She is the daughter of a Dutch mother and a Croatian father, and the youngest of five siblings. Vanessa always wanted to be a teacher and began that journey teaching PE, Outdoor Education, and Environmental Education programs in her 20’s. Her discovery of Waldorf Education occurred while she was on a week-long hiking trip in the Cathedral mountains near Keremeos, BC. Here, she and a friend were camped next to the grade 9 class from the North Vancouver Waldorf School. Whilst brushing their teach at the lake, Vanessa and two boys from Class 9 made each other’s acquaintance. After chatting with the boys for the better part of an hour she said "take me to your leader". She then met her first real Waldorf teacher, David Hesketh, talked Anthroposophy and Waldorf Pedagogy, and the rest is history. Vanessa went on to do her Waldorf High School teacher training in New Hampshire, which she completed in 2004. In her spare time Vanessa takes a strong interest in the out-of-doors, exploring with her partner Cheryl and their 2 dogs, Chester and Willow. When not out-of-doors, Vanessa gives in to her renovation cravings, thus leaving their house in a perpetual state of "project". And this mirrors her personal journey in every way: One Big Perpetual Project.