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Faculty
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Susan (Usha) Dermond
B.A., M.A., M.L.S. www.susandermond.com
School Director
Susan has directed the Living Wisdom School since its founding in 1997.
She taught in both the elementary and middle school programs in the
first Education for Life School in Nevada City, California for twelve
years. She has also taught high school English and reading and worked
as a librarian in public schools. Susan is a minister of the Ananda
Sangha.
Usha's book, Calm and Compassionate Children, A Handbook, is
published by Celestial Arts. To read more about it, you can go to her
web site: www.susandermond.com
Listen to a podcast
of Usha on The Parents Journal.
Click here to hear Susan's book
interview |
Karen Busch
B.S., M.S.
Teacher
Karen has been teaching since 1987. She has taught pre-school through
high school, in both city schools and rural Eskimo villages. Her experience
includes mixed-age and single grade classrooms, in regular, special education,
and talented/gifted programs. Karen loves to read her class the Sarah,
Plain and Tall series and Alphabet Adventure by Audrey Wood.
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Sandra Goodwin
B.A., M.A.
Assistant Director
Sandi had eight years' experience teaching grades 4-8 in public schools
in northern California before joining the Living Wisdom School staff.
She especially loves math, the sciences, and outdoor education. Comparing
our school to others where she has taught, Sandi says, "At the Living
Wisdom Schools the individuality of each child is allowed and encouraged
to express itself creatively. I value the fact that high academic performance
is desired, but not at the expense of the child's heart. Most of all,
I love the joyful centeredness and selfless kindness that I have seen
in the children." Frindle is one of Sandi's favorite read-alouds.
An article by Sandi: "Teaching at Living
Wisdom School" |
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Helen Gorman
Graduate of Merkura, Wil, Switzerland
Teacher
Helen has seven years experience working with early childhood and primary
students. She is tri-lingual and introduces Kindergarteners to French.
Helen loves working with natural materials such as pine cones, leaves,
and rocks, and brings them into the classroom for kindergartners to
use in their creations. Favorite books of Helen's include Grandad's
Prayers of the Earth by Douglas Wood, and My Mama Had a Dancing
Heart, by Libba Moore Gray.
See
a video of Helen working in the classroom. |
Sonali Gupta
Graduate of Gujarat University
Teacher
For eight years, before having her two children, Sonali worked as a systems
analyst and an IT professional supporting GIS software She also developed
and supported many training programs for adults. Sonali began volunteering
at both Living Wisdom School and in the Beaverton public schools in 2003.
She is a "natural" with primary age students.
Sonali agrees with the Sri Aurobindo concept of education as evolving
the potentials of a child in the same way as nature evolves a tree out
of a seed. |
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Lorna Knox
B.S.N.
Teacher
After a career in nursing and health education, Lorna served as education
director at the Ananda Temple for more than 10 years and developed a
curriculum that eventually was published: I Came From Joy! Spiritual
Affirmations and Activities for Children. Her second book is Scary
News: 12 Ways to Raise Joyful Children When the Headlines are Full of
Fear. With her husband, she has homeschooled their 3 children (ages
19, 15 and 11) for more than 12 years while actively supporting the
Living Wisdom School, and Lorna taught in the primary class part-time
during the 06-07 school year. She says, “The children in Living
Wisdom feel secure and supported, so they don’t hesitate to express
themselves and try new things, which is really fun for teachers.”
Lorna especially loves to teach history and find fun ways to encourage
children to write.
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Trina Gardner
B.S.
Teacher
Trina began teaching in 1990 and has taught several ages, from pre-K
through high-school kids. She is the mother of three, all Living Wisdom
students! Trina's philosophy and practice in Early Childhood Education
is based on Education For Life and is influenced by the Reggio Approach
and her experiences as a parent. Trina's joy in and love of teaching
comes from seeing children recognize their inner joy. Two of Trina's
favorite read-alouds are Blueberries for Sal and Cloudy with
a Chance of Meatballs.
See
a video of Trina leading children in Twinkle, Twinkle. |
Melissa Heart
B.F.A.
Pre-school Teacher, After-school Program
After graduating from the University of Oregon with a degree in Fine
Arts, Melissa spent six years working with children in the Head Start
program teaching pre-school and working as a Family Advocate for Washington
County. She taught for their Part-Day Preschool Program until 2005.
She has returned to working with preschool children this year. “I
have found that the Heart-Centered approach to teaching children is
what I’ve been looking for. This program is one of a kind.”
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Celene Nahill
B.S.
Spanish, P.E. Teacher
Celene spent five years working with sea turtle conservation and environmental
education in Colombia and Costa Rica. She has taught swimming, Spanish,
yoga, and physical education, ages two to adult. Celene has been with
the Living Wisdom School since 2006 and has a daughter, Karina, in the
school. She has a dual degree in Biology and Physical Education from
the University of Antioquia in Medellin, Colombia.
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Rose Neal
B.S.N.
Admissions Director
Rose, a registered nurse, has always been involved with children and
their activities. She and her children have been at LWS since 2007.
Rose is certified as a Radiant Child Yoga teacher, and she her husband
Andy lead the Ananda family council. Recently taking the EFL Teacher
Training, Rose says, “ I see students in the EFL system thriving.
I love being part of this new wave of consciousness in the field of
education”.
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