Denis grew up in the Bay Area and has taught in Waldorf schools for the past 39 years. He received his Waldorf Teacher Certificate and BA in Waldorf Education from Rudolf Steiner College in 1981. Denis was the founding teacher of Portland Waldorf School, where he brought his first class through the grades beginning in 1982. He began teaching at Sacramento Waldorf School in 1990, leading three lower school classes through the grades. Denis also taught mathematics for six years in the Sacramento Waldorf High School. Additionally, he was an adjunct faculty member for many years in the summer Teacher Education Program at Rudolf Steiner College.

Denis has three grown children of his own, all of whom are Waldorf graduates. His wife, Amber, is also a class teacher in Sacramento. His special joys are paragliding, rock climbing, music, camping, and traveling.

Debra Jacobs, MS, is a trained eurythmist and Waldorf teacher. She trained at the Rudolf Steiner College in California. Debra has been a teacher for twenty years; teaching children and adults in a variety of settings and disciplines. She has taught at Live Oak Waldorf School since 2011, first as an eurythmy teacher and currently as a class teacher. Her class graduated in 2021. She has raised three beautiful, adventurous daughters in the Sierra Foothills. Debra has a master's degree in microbiology with a concentration in molecular biology and genetics.

Lynne Poirier was born in Queens, New York and at age five, moved to Fullerton, California where the air smelled like orange blossoms throughout the spring. She grew up loving animals , bike riding, hiking, fishing, exploring anything that could be done out-of-doors. 

Ms. Poirier began her college education on track to becoming a teacher yet took a detour to study biomedical illustration, and finished with fine art at the University of California, Long Beach.

She discovered the work of Rudolf Steiner in 1988 and knew she wanted to be a part of his innovative, creative educational philosophy. She offered childcare in her home based Waldorf

ideals, then was asked by her local community to begin a Waldorf kindergarten in the town of Poway, San Diego where she and her young family were living at the time. When her oldest

son, Derek, began first grade, Ms. Poirier was hired as the Kindergarten Assistant at San Diego Waldorf School. 

In 1996, she and her family moved to the Sierra foothills, so she could attend

Rudolf Steiner College and work as the Aftercare Director at Live Oak Waldorf School. She then became a class teacher and graduated three classes at Live Oak (2006, 2011, and 2019). Both of her sons, Derek and Kyle, graduated from Live Oak and are now young men out in the world.

Ms. Poirier, went back to the Early Childhood and worked as the 

Dandelion Kindergarten teacher for the last 3 years and is excited to come back into the grades.

Koronado discovered Waldorf Education through his interest in Rudolf Steiner’s works on meditation, nature, agriculture, and social transformation. The desire to know the various fields of Anthroposophy

led him to a harmonious focus on the evolving human being. He was inspired by the teachers from the Rudolf Steiner College, Waldorf Teacher Education Eugene, and the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training where he received his teaching certificate in 2015. He earned a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. He was involved in different

Waldorf schools as a gardener, caterer, facilities worker, music accompanist, substitute teacher, teacher’s aide, and games teacher. Before joining Live Oak, he and his wife spent a school year travelling

to their own wonders of the world including the mountains of Bolivia, the very first Waldorf school in Stuttgart, Germany, and Tuburan Institute, a young and thriving Waldorf school in his hometown of Davao City, Philippines. Koronado looks forward to bringing the world into his classroom.

Karra grew up in Southern California and moved northward in the 90s for college at San Jose State University where she received a degree in Anthropology and Comparative Religious Studies.   Having moved from the Bay Area to the Sierra Foothills, she was drawn to Waldorf Education as a parent in 2014 when her oldest child was starting 1st grade. She felt an immediate affinity for Rudolf Steiner’s philosophy of education and a deep resonance with the work of Waldorf education to heal the hearts of children. 

After nearly 2-decade long career as a legal and security specialist at top internet companies, she left the corporate world and began to deepen her experience with Anthroposophy and education.  She founded Digital Anthropos, an Anthroposophically based program to support families, students, and educators navigating the challenges of a digitally saturated world and began teaching the Cyber Civics (digital literacy classes for middle school students) at Live Oak.

In 2019 She began formal Waldorf teacher training though Antioch University and served as a long-term substitute in positions ranging from 3 weeks to 6 months through the past several years. She will receive a “Certificate in Waldorf Education” in 2022 and continues to work on her master’s thesis focusing on an anthroposophical approach to digital literacy in Waldorf Education.

 Karra and her husband have 3 children including a recent Live Oak graduate, a 6th grader and 3rd grader. When she isn’t teaching or studying, you can find her enjoying time with her family, practicing yoga, reading, and spending time outdoors.

Meg Connell is a Northern California native. Her teaching career began in 2007, when she taught English and Theater for Albuquerque Public Schools in New Mexico. She discovered Waldorf education when her sons were young. She is now in her 6th year as a Waldorf lead teacher and is full of gratitude to be part of this nourishing, holistic education. Everyday she sees how Waldorf curriculum deeply meets each child; she also sees what a refuge and what a light this educational community can be for the whole family in these challenging times. She brings with her a passion for storytelling, writing, theater, cooking and a deep love for nature. She has two boys and is thankful to be both a proud parent and teacher in this beautiful, resilient community.  

Meg received her B.A. in English from the University of New Mexico and completed her Waldorf teacher training with the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training.

Sarah started class teaching at Live Oak Waldorf School in 2001 after completing teacher training through Rudolf Steiner College’s San Francisco and Fair Oaks programs. Her first years here were in the upper grades with the Classes of 2004 and 2005. After her youngest child was born, Sarah taught our parent-child program for three years and enjoyed that foundational, intensive work with parents. Homeschooling a group of children through the lower and middle grades was the next adventure, after which she returned to Live Oak to take the eight-year journey through the grades with the Class of 2022. She continues to love this dynamic and meaningful work and has looped back to first grade this year with the sweet Class of 2030.

Before Waldorf teaching, Sarah earned a B. S. in biology and worked in the fields of education, art, food, science, and health care. She encountered the work of Rudolf Steiner at the young age of fourteen and has been an active student and meditant throughout her adult life. Sarah finds that her individual and community work in Anthroposophy at the local, regional, and international levels is a wellspring of enthusiasm for teaching and living life with intention and meaning. She loves outdoor adventures and has many interests, including backpacking, skiing, and pottery. Sarah's children are both graduates of Live Oak, with Miriam currently in college and Lucas in high school.

Noelle has been teaching young children since 1996 and holds a B.A. in Spanish and a B.A. in Psychology from Humboldt State University and a Bilingual Teaching Credential from UC Davis. After graduating, Noelle began her teaching career in the private school sector; working with “alternative” schools where honoring the whole child and nurturing lifelong learners aligned closely with her personal values on education. In 2008, Noelle began teaching at Live Oak Waldorf School as an assistant in the Rosemary Kindergarten. By 2011, she had moved into the Lead Teacher position and completed the Waldorf Early Childhood Certificate Program from Rudolf Steiner College. Along with her interest in early childhood development, Noelle loves nature and traveling. She and her family live in Penryn.  Her sons both graduated from Live Oak, Colby in 2019 and Boden in 2017. 

Mae is a Live Oak Waldorf alumni from the class of 2007. Caring and working with children

has been a constant in her life, from personal nanny to teen wilderness guide to preschool

teacher’s assistant. Mae rekindled her love for Waldorf early child education when she

began a position at a Waldorf inspired preschool. Within the first week she felt everything

fall into place, knowing this was the path she was supposed to take. Mae has a bachelor's

degree in Sociology with a focus on environmental and rural issues from Humboldt State

University. Her goal as a teacher is to cultivate a warm, inviting and curiosity piquing

learning environment for each child. Her passion is to watch and encourage a child’s eyes

to open up to the small wonders of life and to teach through exploration. When not teaching

Mae enjoys gardening, cooking, travel and relaxing days spent in nature.

Kelsey grew up swimming the rivers and hiking the trails of Northern California with her family and found her love for nature and outdoor education there. Through the years, she has worked at several play-based and outdoor programs, as well as working in the roles of a summer camp counselor, a music teacher, and working in school gardens, eventually finding Waldorf to be the perfect educational complement to her passions. She attends Sierra College, studying Early Childhood Education and Plant Science. Kelsey was drawn to Live Oak by its sprawling forested campus and enjoys hiking the trails as often as she can. Outside of school, you can find her cooking, foraging, and camping.

Kristen and Michael Rice's experience spans 30+ years in various Waldorf schools.  

The Santa Fe Waldorf School, NM, 

The Rudolf Steiner School in Ann Arbor, MI, Waldorf Initiative in St. Cloud, MIN, Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School, WI, Saratoga Springs Waldorf School, NY, Seattle

Waldorf School, WA, Olympia Waldorf School, WA.

(more to come....)

Julia Biddle is currently finishing up her 3rd year at The Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training. She taught handwork at Golden Bridges school in SF and has a BFA in textile design and a Masters in Visual criticism. She is mother to two little boys who brought her on a journey in RIE and Waldorf education, mother singing circles as well as nutrition and outdoor education. They both attend the early childhood program at Live Oak.  

Shannon spent her earlier educational years in yoga and personal development and is currently

pursuing her passion for a degree in Early Childhood Education. This evolving journey brought

Shannon to the Buttercup class as she desired a developmentally appropriate educational

environment to work in and for her son, now in the Gingko class, to grow in. Shannon brings

warm, supportive, and compassionate assistance to each child’s unique inquiry of their world

and how they move through it. If not working on personal or educational studies Shannon is

most often found enjoying time in nature with her husband and son, exploring the nearby

waters and trails. Gardening and art are areas Shannon would like to expand while yoga,

movement, and cooking continue to help support the expansion. Let peace be in our children

that they may grow as sound and solid humans with a mind and will to be as they be. Om Shanti

Om

Woodworking

Spanish 1st to 4th Grage

Spanish 5th to 8th Grade

Garden Coordinator

Music and Chorus

Band, Orchestra, and Strings

Read more about Mr. Bianco here...

Cyber Civics

Administrator

Assistant Administrator - Admissions and Enrollment 

 Business & Records Manager

Front Office 

Billing/Office Support

Fundraising and  Events Coordinator