Camellia Waldorf School

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Administrator DOUG HEISINGER

Mr. Heisinger earned his B.A. in Liberal Studies from San Jose State University and his M.A. in Educational Leadership and Administration from Chapman University. He completed coursework at Rudolf Steiner College in Anthroposophical Foundation Studies and Teacher Training. Doug also holds California credentials for Mathematics, English, and Administrative Services. He discovered Waldorf education while searching for an alternative for his children. When he witnessed the children engaged in rich, meaningful, fun activities, and the supportive, dedicated community surrounding them, he felt inspired to participate and learn more. Doug taught for seven years in the public school system, owned and operated businesses in financial planning and real estate, and was very active in his children’s Waldorf school as a parent leader before coming to Camellia as Administrator in 2011.

Director of Admissions DEIRDRE JOHNSON

Mrs. Johnson graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Scripps College with a B.A. in Classics and from Indiana University with an M.A. in Classical Languages and Literatures. She has a California Teaching Credential, an Indiana Teaching Credential, and a Certificate in Waldorf School Administration from Rudolf Steiner College. Before coming to Waldorf Education, Deirdre taught at the elementary, high school, and university levels and was a systems engineer in Silicon Valley. She served as Admissions Director, special subjects teacher, class teacher, and faculty chair at the Waldorf School of the Peninsula and as Enrollment Coordinator at Sacramento Waldorf School. Her two sons are Waldorf alumni.

Parent & Toddler Teacher JESSICA EFSTRATIS

Ms. Efstratis has a B.A. in Art from CSU, Chico. Before coming to Camellia in 2010, she volunteered as a naturalist in the Bay Area, implemented an educational community garden program for San Francisco State University, worked as an art instructor with preschool and primary grades children, and led workshops and developed curriculum for Art and Environmental Education East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse. She is also the mother of two children who are Camellia students.

Preschool Teacher JENNIFER MASON

Ms. Mason has a B.A. in psychology from CSU, San Francisco. She earned her Diploma in Waldorf Early Childhood Education from Rudolf Steiner College. Before coming to Camellia this school year, Jennifer assisted in the Sacramento Waldorf School kindergarten, taught at the Pleasant Valley Preschool, and for ten years was the owner and teacher of Hidden Treasure, a Waldorf-inspired nursery. She is the mother of three children, one of whom is a student at Camellia.

Kindergarten Teacher SIOBHAN HUDSON

Mrs. Hudson was born of Irish parents in London, England where she grew up and attended the North London School of Arts. She has lived in Turkey and Spain, where she taught English. In the U.S., Siobhan attended Southern Illinois University and earned her Certificate in Waldorf Early Childhood Education from Rudolf Steiner College. She taught kindergarten for 12 years at the Davis Waldorf School before joining the Camellia faculty in 2006. Her son is a Waldorf graduate, currently attending college.

Kindergarten Teacher JENNIFER STEWART

Mrs. Stewart has a B.F.A. from Eastern Washington University and an M.F.A. from California State University, Sacramento. She completed her Certificate in Waldorf Early Childhood Education at Rudolf Steiner College. Jennifer has worked in Camellia’s Kindergarten since 2007. Before teaching children at Camellia, she worked with severely handicapped young people. Her two children attend CWS.

First Grade Teacher DANIEL NORDAAS

Mr. Nordaas did his teacher training at Rudolf Steiner College where he also worked in the Biodynamic Garden. He earned a B.S. in Graphic Design and a B.A. in Art Studio from California State University. Daniel attended Waldorf schools in England and the United States from Kindergarten through 12th Grade, and graduated from Sacramento Waldorf High School. He had a successful career as a graphic designer and art director before becoming a Waldorf teacher.

Second Grade Teacher AMBER FITTS

Mrs. Fitts is a Northern California native. She earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies from University of California, Santa Cruz and a Eurythmy Certificate as well as a Diploma in Waldorf Education following five years of full-time study at Rudolf Steiner College. She is also a certified Pilates instructor and a gymnastics coach who has taught children ages 2½ - 14 years prior to joining the Camellia faculty.

Third Grade Teacher SARAH CASEBEER

Mrs. Casebeer was born and grew up on the East Coast in New Hampshire. She has a B.A. in Women’s Studies from the University of New Hampshire and a Diploma in Waldorf Education from the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training in Sausalito. Before coming to Camellia, Sarah worked in the Lifeways Children’s Center at Rudolf Steiner College. She has also worked as a nanny and provided childcare for young children as a volunteer. Sarah discovered Waldorf Education while attending childbirth classes held in a Waldorf Kindergarten room. Her son is now a student at Camellia. She enjoys drawing, painting, knitting, cooking, and taking walks with her family. Sarah has a strong commitment to open and honest dialogue, community, and personal growth.

Fourth Grade Teacher JUDITH MATTSON

Ms. Mattson earned a degree in Psychology from Hartnell Junior College and completed her college studies at Chico State University and Union Institute. She earned her Waldorf Teacher Education Diploma at Rudolf Steiner College. Judi has been teaching at Camellia since Fall 2003, when she became our Fourth Grade teacher. Prior to coming to Camellia she taught for 16 years at Davis Waldorf School and Sacramento Waldorf School.

Fifth Grade Teacher JENNIFER YATES

Mrs. Yates was born in Philadelphia and grew up near Kimberton Waldorf School. She earned a B.F.A. from Tyler School of Art where she majored in ceramics and was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Scholarship award from Temple University, Philadelphia. She attended Penland School of Crafts and design workshops at Moore College of Art and Design, also in Philadelphia. Jennifer completed the Waldorf Teacher Training program at Rudolf Steiner College in 2003. During the 2003-2004 school year, she traveled around the world with a family as Waldorf teacher for their young children. She had the unique opportunity of teaching at Waldorf schools in the countries she visited. Jennifer joined CWS in 2004 to teach our Sixth Grade until they graduated in June 2007. She then took this class in First Grade.

Sixth Grade Teacher MIKI HIGASHINE

Ms. Higashine was born and raised in Japan. She studied English and Teaching English as a Foreign Language at Kobe City University of Foreign Studies. She studied Anthroposophy at Gradalis College in New Zealand. After living in Canada for four years she came to Sacramento where she completed the Goethean Studies Program and the Waldorf Teacher Training Program at Rudolf Steiner College. Miki has taught English for over fourteen years from kindergarten age children to senior citizens. She also tutored grades and high school children one on one and in small groups. Miki has worked as an English Japanese translator and also organized and led tours in Hawaii and the Red Sea. She took one class at Camellia from first to sixth grade and returns this year to teach the current fourth grade.

Seventh Grade Teacher PATRICIA CAVERLY

Ms. Caverly studied Earth Sciences and Fine Art at Pima College in Tucson. She earned her Diploma in Waldorf Education℠, from Rudolf Steiner College. Before joining the faculty at Camellia this year, Pat accumulated twenty-three years of experience as a Waldorf class teacher at various Waldorf schools in California. She has also taught Waldorf teachers at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks; at the Colegio Waldorf de Cuernavaca in Cuernavaca, Mexico; and for the Latvia Waldorf Initiative Group in Lizdani, Latvia. Her daughter is a Waldorf alumna.

Eighth Grade Teacher MUFFET NATURA

Ms. Natura was born in Fresno, California. She began piano lessons at age 6. Although her family moved frequently to various rural communities around the state, her piano studies and love of singing, drawing, painting, and nature were constant companions. Muffet entered college at CSUS as a Piano Major but graduated with a degree in Biological Sciences. After working for a short time at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, she was hired by the State of California Department of Food and Agriculture as an electron microscopist and laboratory technician. Her interests in understanding the environmental impacts of farming and pesticide use resulted in her transfer to the Department of Pesticide Regulation, where she worked as both practitioner and manager in the areas of environmental monitoring, enforcement, licensing, and information technology. She separated from this fulfilling, twenty year career to pursue her belief in Waldorf education and revitalize her artistic and spiritual interests. Ms. Natura completed the Waldorf Teacher Training program at Rudolf Steiner College.

Eurythmy Teacher RUTH BUCKLIN

Although Ms. Bucklin was born the second of five children in a southern family, she was raised in England through age 16, then attended an American high school for one year and received her diploma. Ruth went on to earn a B.A. in English from the University of California, Santa Barbara and to do graduate work in Comparative Literature (French, Italian, Spanish, and English). An interest in providing a healthy education for her two sons led her to Rudolf Steiner College where she completed the Waldorf Teacher Training program and the Eurythmy program. Ruth taught various subjects at Cedar Springs Waldorf School before joining CWS in 2007. Her interests include gardening, singing, writing, travel, hiking, and rockhounding.

Movement Teacher CARMEN GUNN

Spanish Teacher CECILIA SANCHEZ

Señora Sanchez is a graduate of Sawyer Business College and has completed courses in Spanish teaching at Rudolf Steiner College. She has worked as a childcare provider and has taught Spanish at Camellia since 1997.

Strings Teacher PAMELA BUCK

Ms. Buck holds a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance from Michigan State University and a Master of Music degree in violin performance from the University of Michigan. She served as concertmaster and string coach for the Diablo Symphony Orchestra in Walnut Creek and as Conductor for the Young Performers String Orchestra, an East Bay area organization of elementary and intermediate string groups. Prior to moving to the Sacramento area in 1996, Pamela was awarded a City of Walnut Creek Proclamation for her dedication to the city’s arts, and the 1996 Women of Achievement Award for music in the East Bay. She has been a featured soloist with the Diablo Symphony Orchestra, Camellia Symphony, and Auburn Symphony – where she served six seasons a concertmaster. Ms. Buck has taught strings at the Sacramento Waldorf School, Hagginwood Elementary School, and the Rocklin Academy Charter School. She prepares students for the Sacramento Youth Symphony orchestras, is a leading private violin and viola teacher in Fair Oaks, and performs with well known symphonic groups under the professional musician’s union in the Sacramento area.

Aftercare Coordinator TROY COLLINS

Troy’s varied background has prepared him for the demands of his current position. He is a self-educated artist and musician. He is a Verge Studio artist whose artwork can be seen, under the name Troy Mighty, at various Sacramento galleries. He has been performing music (he sings and plays various instruments) in Europe and the U.S. for several years. Troy’s work as a kitchen manager explains his joy and ease with feeding the hungry in Aftercare. Troy was a Camellia parent and a member of the Aftercare staff before becoming its Coordinator.