Azusa Ammar - Nursery Assistant/Japanese Kindergarten Assistant

B.A. Kyoto University of Foreign Language, Japan; Enrolled in Early Childhood Education program, Sunbridge College.

Azusa has been teaching Japanese language and culture (Ikebana Flower Arrangement) for the past 20 years in Japan, Taiwan, Brazil and the U.S. She co-authored several Japanese language textbooks (workbooks and curriculum) for beginners to advanced students, and wrote a series of articles on Japanese kindergartens, primary, and secondary schools for Japion Japanese Newspaper in New Jersey.

Azusa began teaching at Green Meadow in 2008. In addition to assisting in the nursery and in the Saturday Japanese kindergarten, she interns in a morning kindergarten class.

Carolyn Barton - Kindergarten

B.S. Hearing and Speech Sciences, Ohio University; M.S., Waldorf Education, concentration in Early Childhood, Sunbridge College.

After teaching kindergarten at other Waldorf schools for eight years, Carolyn came to Green Meadow in 2005. She teaches the Green Meadow "Child's Garden" kindergarten class located at the Rudolf Steiner Fellowship Community, our satellite location. Carolyn serves on the Community Service committee, the media resource group and the Go Green Initiative, and enjoys gardening. Her daughter is in the class of 2011.

Leslie Burchell-Fox - Kindergarten

B.S. Speech Pathology, Kent State University; M.S.Ed. Waldorf Education, Sunbridge College.

After six years of experience teaching in a Waldorf kindergarten, Leslie arrived at Green Meadow in 2002.  She is the Chair of the Green Meadow Collegium and serves on the school's Aesthetics, Diversity, and Emergency Response Committees.  Leslie also serves on the boards of Green Meadow and Sunbridge College, and mentors several students enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program there. In her spare time, she is a Lazure artist.

Kaori Fuller - Nursery Assistant

A.A. Japanese Literature, Bunkyo University; Foundation Studies at Sunbridge College, NY; Enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at Sunbridge College.

Kaori has worked extensively as a costume designer and technician for dance theater productions in Japan and the U.S. She practiced organic farming and Western astrology in Japan and has also been studying Native American ceremonies for eleven years.

Andrea Gambardella - Kindergarten

BA, Human Development, Antioch College; MS Ed, Remedial Support; Waldorf Training/Towson State University; Montessori Certificate (ages 2 1/2- 7 years).

Andrea has been involved with Waldorf Education for over 30 years.  She is a founding teacher of the Waldorf School of Baltimore where she taught early childhood groups and served as administrator. She trained Waldorf early childhood teachers at the Sunbridge Institute for five years. She has recently been working on half of the continental Waldorf movement with the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America and has served as mentor and evaluator in schools throughout the USA.  She is the mother of three Waldorf graduates.

Carol Grieder-Brandenberger - Nursery

M.S. Nursing, Women's Health, Rutgers University. Registered Nurse and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner. M.S. Education, Early Childhood, Sunbridge College.

For many years, Carol has worked part-time with women, infants and children as a maternal-child health nurse. She has taught Waldorf-inspired art classes, Parent/Child classes and has co-taught in a Waldorf-inspired nursery school initiative in New Jersey. She has been a nursery teacher at Green Meadow since 2006. She is the mother of two children who are Green Meadow students.

Kiyomi Kato - Teaching Assistant and Japanese Kindergarten Teacher

Early Childhood Waldorf Teacher Certificate Course, Sunbridge College, 2008; Foundation course, Sunbridge College, 2007; Elementary Education Major, Woman’s Junior College Department of Nagoya University of Arts, Japan; Elementary Teacher’s license, Kindergarten Teacher's license, Japan. Kiyomo is enrolled in the Applied Arts Program, Fiber Craft Studio and at Yashima Gakuen University, Home Education Major.

One of Kiyomi's favorites hobbies is writing Haiku. She has been a member of the New Jersey Japanese Weekend School Teacher’s Haiku Club since 2002. The club has future plans to publish a book.

Patricia Lynch LoParrino - Kindergarten

B.S. Psychology, B.S. Special Education, Associate's Degree in Human Services, Mercy College.

Mayuko Matsuda - Parent-Child

BA Intercultural Studies, Kobe College, Japan.  M.S.Ed., Waldorf Education, Sunbridge College
 
Mayuko was born and raised in Japan.  For the past two years, she has been teaching Waldorf parent-child classes out of her home.  She has a three-year-old daughter  and a newborn.  Mayuko enjoys handwork, especially plant dyeing and spinning.  She plays the Koto, a Japanese instrument.

Lisa Miccio - Kindergarten

B.A. English, College of Charleston; M.S. Elementary Education, C.W. Post, Long Island University; M.S. Ed. Waldorf Education (Early Childhood), Sunbridge College.

Lisa authored "Eingefallen" and "Rabbit Holes" which appeared in the Sept./Oct. 2004 issue of Sunbridge College Online News.  She serves as the Early Childhood Meeting Facilitator, and is a member of the Athletic Committee, the Development Committee, and the Care Group Committee. Lisa enjoys both research and writing, coaching high school volleyball, as well as playing co-ed doubles beach volleyball.  Both of her sons attend Green Meadow.

Deborah A. Renna - Kindergarten

B.A. Elementary Education, Westminster College; Early Childhood Training, Sunbridge College; M.S. Ed., Special Education, College of New Rochelle; coursework in Remedial/Therapeutic Education. She taught special ed in the Ridgewood public schools for 4 years before coming to Green Meadow.

Deb serves as the Early Childhood Chair and is a member of the Care Group, Listening Council, and the Social Inclusion Committee. She is enrolled in the Waldorf Collaborative Counseling training with Kim John Payne. She has been teaching at Green Meadow since 1996. Her children are Green Meadow alums.

Dorothy Rosano Walden - Kindergarten & Parent/Child

 Liberal Arts Major, Los Angeles Valley College, Van Nuys, CA; Dental Radiography License, Bergen Community College, Paramus, NJ; Introduction to the Waldorf Kindergarten, Sunbridge College, Chestnut Ridge, NY.

Dorothy is presently an Afternoon Kindergarten Teacher, as well as the leader of the Tuesday and Wednesday Parent/Child playgroups.  She began teaching at Green Meadow in 2006 as the assistant teacher in Carol Grieder’s nursery class.  Her daughter attends GMWS.

Dorothy is currently enrolled in the early childhood training course, The Child and Family in the First Three Years, at Sophia’s Hearth Family Center in Keene, NH. She is due to graduate in the summer of 2010.

Rebecca Ruof - Three Day Nursery

B.M., Mannes College of Music; Foundation Studies, Sunbridge College, NY. Graduate of the early childhood training course, The Child and Family in the First Three Years, at Sophia’s Hearth Family Center in Keene, NH.

Rebecca grew up in Germany where she attended a Waldorf school. She has two sons who attend Green Meadow. In her spare time Rebecca enjoys playing her violin.