Specialty Teachers
Bree Switzer Music Teacher
Bree is an alumnus of the Nelson Waldorf School, having graduated from the first eighth grade class in 1991. Bree's music training is based in six years of private flute lessons, ten years of singing in a range of different choirs, and a two-year vocal and composition training at Selkirk College from 2000-2002. Bree completed the Waldorf Teacher Training program at Emerson College in Forest Row, England from 2002-2004, where she also studied conducting with Danish composer, Gregers Brinch, and sang in his compositions choir. From 2004-2006 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 one, three and five handwork here at the Nelson Waldorf School, and assistant teaching in the Rose Garden Preschool, also at the Nelson Waldorf School, in 1999/2000. She has also led several choirs, including the presently active Waldorf Community Choir, a choir made up of teachers and parents at the Nelson Waldorf School.
Diana Finley Social Inclusion Coordinator
Diana (Danny) was born in Montreal and grew up in Quebec and Ontario. Her degrees are from Queen's in Kingston (B.A., Psychology), from Ottawa (B.Ed), and Spokane, Washington (M.A., 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 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 outdoors, singing, yoga, traveling, time with family and friends, and her home in the Middle Road Community.
Karin Weidemann Eurythmy Teacher
Karin was raised on a farm near Hannover, Germany. She graduated from the University of Augsburg with a Masters Degree in Sports, Movement Education (M.E.), 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 M.E. at the Michael Hall, Forest Row and Brighton Steiner schools and a 5-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 M.E. 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. "My family and I are grateful to be here and to have found a place to belong."
Lisa Bramson Special Needs Coordinator
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, and 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 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 Classes 1 through 8. 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 and her partner,
Frank, live in Nelson with their daughters, Mia and Emma.
Rayya Liebich French Teacher
After completing a Bilingual International Baccalaureate in Geneva, Switzerland, Rayya returned to Canada and pursued her Bachelor in Arts at McGill University (English Lit. 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 in 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, B.C. Bringing her passion for languages, and countless tales from her travels. Rayya teaches French to classes 1-8. Apart from teaching, Rayya finds inspiration and joy in creative writing, photography, and the great outdoors.