Kirsten Carr
Parent-Child Teacher
Ms. Carr graduated summa cum laude from Endicott College, where she received a B.S. in psychology and an M.Ed. in elementary education. She later pursued a master’s degree in Waldorf early childhood education from Sunbridge College. After a number of years working as an infant and early childhood teacher, Ms. Carr joined the Cape Ann Waldorf School as a Head Nursery Teacher and later became the Head Teacher for the parent-child program. Ms. Carr joined the WSL faculty in 2004.
Jennifer Cumbie
Little Meadow Nursery Support Teacher
Lead Aftercare Teacher
Ms. Cumbie’s teaching experience began in Uzbekistan as a Teacher in the Peace Corps, where she taught English to 200 elementary students and collaborated with The Uzbek Ministry of Education and English educators to develop and implement an effective English language curriculum for elementary schools. After returning to the U.S., Ms. Cumbie taught a variety of elementary and middle school classes in Salem, MA public schools as a substitute teacher and coordinated exchanges and events for Project Harmony's School Connectivity Program in Waitsfield, VT. She has also provided ESL instruction for Boston Center for Adult Education and New England School of English in Cambridge. Most recently, Ms. Cumbie has been a substitute assistant teacher and class parent for Cherry Blossoms Waldorf Preschool and a substitute teacher at WSL. She holds a B.A. in English with Minor in Fine Arts and received a Humanitarian Award from St. Anselm College Alumni Association in 2004.
Sara Halawa
Little Meadow Nursery Lead Teacher
Sara Halawa joins us as a lead teacher for our Little Meadow classroom after serving in a variety of roles in both our Early Childhood and Parent/Caregiver-Child programs, most recently as a teacher in our Forest Program. A graduate of Green Meadow Waldorf School, Mrs. Halawa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Psychology from the State University of New York at Geneseo and a Waldorf Early Childhood Certificate from Sunbridge Institute. Those who have had the pleasure of working with Mrs. Halawa praise her warm and calm demeanor and her insights about young children.
Julia Galginaitis
Blue Sky Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Julia Galginaitis has over 20 years of experience working with children. She is a trained Waldorf Teacher who received her education at both Sunbridge College for Early Childhood Education and The Early Childhood Teacher Education Center at Sophia's Hearth. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at the State University of New York at Oneonta.
Julia worked at the Waldorf School of Lexington for many years as an early childhood teacher and then helped to establish an outdoor forest program called Forest Kids Have Fun, which is now in its seventh year. Her deep love of being in nature with children led to her wish to bring the classroom into the Forest. All three of her children graduated from the 8th grade at WSL.
Meg Lynch
Fairy Bell Nursery Lead Teacher
Ms. Lynch is a WSL alumni, class of 2003. She graduated from High Mowing, a Waldorf high school, where she discovered her love of photography. Ms. Lynch received a B.A. in art with a concentration in photography from New England College and completed her Waldorf early childhood teacher training at Sunbridge Institute. She joined WSL as an assistant in the nursery program and currently leads our Fairy Bell nursery class.
Mary Mansur
Evergreen Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Ms. Mansur earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in optical engineering technology before setting her sights on a career in education. She went on to earn a B.S. in early childhood education, and received her Waldorf Teacher Certification from Antioch University. Over a 23-year career in education, Ms. Mansur has worked as a parent-child teacher, nursery teacher, and kindergarten teacher here at WSL and previously at the Waldorf School at Moraine Farm. Ms. Mansur is also an experienced puppeteer, gardener, and beekeeper.
Marilyn Pelrine
Parent-Child Teacher
Ms. Pelrine began at WSL as a parent in the school’s early years, and her four children all graduated from WSL. Ms. Pelrine was inspired to join the faculty at WSL and taught in the afternoon kindergarten program for seventeen years. The next phase of Ms. Pelrine's teaching career sprang from a growing interest in developing parent-child classes. Since 1999 she has served families with infants up to preschool-age children. The education, support, and guidance of new parents continues to be her passion.
Maureen Ryan
Forest School Teacher
Parent-Child Assistant
Ms. Ryan graduated cum laude from Lesley University with a B.A. in human development. She has also completed the level one course in early childhood education at Sophia’s Hearth Family Center. Ms. Ryan has worked at WSL for a number of years as an Assistant Teacher in kindergarten, nursery, and the parent-child program. Before joining the faculty at WSL she worked at Russell Cooperative Preschool and ran a Waldorf-inspired daycare center.
Jessica Thermitus
Aftercare Assistant Teacher
Jess is a graduate of Boston University with a BS in Health Science. She is also trained as a postpartum doula. She has experience working with youth and their families from various socioeconomic backgrounds, some with significant trauma narratives as well as adults with chronic pain. Jess has a passion for empowering and supporting others on their life journey. She enjoys vegetarian food, blown glass, and outdoor activities. Jess is drawn to the Waldorf commitment to body, mind, and spirit education. She is excited to join the community!
Tara Whyte
Fairy Bell Nursery Assistant Teacher
Tara holds a B.S. in Psychology from Smith College. She earned an M.S., OTR/L in Occupational Therapy from New York University, with a concentration in Pediatric Occupational Therapy. Tara’s professional experience includes fifteen years of working with individuals of all ages, from newborns to centenarians, who have special needs and require extra care and attention. While Tara continues to provide Occupational Therapy services in the greater community, she is delighted to be a part of the Early Childhood program at WSL. Tara is a graduate of the Rudolf Steiner School, a Waldorf school in New York City.