Who Are We?

The founders of the Portland Village School were parents and educators with a shared commitment to the principles and pedagogy of Waldorf education, who wanted to see its methods adapted and incorporated into the public model, with equal access for all.

We are long-time Portland residents and new transplants from across the country. Some of our families have many years experience with Waldorf education, while others have only recently discovered this educational philosophy. We share a common desire to see this innovative model of learning adapted to a wider and more diverse group of children.

A number of us met through Lily Pad Preschool, a home-based Waldorf-methods based program. In late 2004, we began a conversation about starting a charter school, and we quickly developed into a determined core group. As the word of our initiative began to spread, we attracted new members, and we began to establish firm ties with the founders and administrators of the Eugene Village School.

The Portland Village School family is growing steadily, and we look forward to the ideas, skills and energy you might bring to the community we have envisioned. Please see Join our Team for more information on how you can help.

Our Staff

We are excited to announce our administrators and teachers!

Administration :

Jackie J Jaffe started with the school as Vice-Principal in 2007 and became our Principal in 2008. She is a licensed public school administrator and has experience as a SUN program coordinator at the Harold Oliver Primary School in the Centennial school district. She has taught in private, public, and charter elementary schools (grades 1, 2, 4 and 5). She holds a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and a BA in Fine Arts (Photography) from the University of Colorado in Boulder.

Rebeckah Castillo is our Office Manager. 

Tracy Rimel is our Business Manager. 

Kindergarten Teachers:

Ana Lúcia Medes de Mello (Lúcia) grew up in Brazil where she received a degree in History and studied at the Instituto Jean Piaget and the Teacher's Seminar at the Rudolf Steiner School in Sao Paulo. She received her master's degree in Special Education from Bank Street College and her Waldorf Teacher Training certificate at Sunbridge College. Lúcia worked for 3 years as a preschool teacher in Brazil and 13 years as a kindergarten teacher at the Rudolf Steiner School in New York City. Since moving to Portland in 2001, she has taught at Cedarwood School, at Portland Waldorf School, her own preschool, and she has been one of our Kindergarten teachers since we opened our doors. 

Ruthanne Kendrick grew up in Alabama where she received a degree in English literature. Ruthanne has studied at Waldorf educational institutes in Eugene, Sacramento, and here in Portland. She taught nursery school, ran theater camps for the Eugene Waldorf School and the Portland Waldorf School, and for the last six years she has had her own Waldorf-style preschool in Portland. Ruthanne inspired and worked with a group of parents who sent their children to her Lily Pad Pre-school and founded the Portland Village School.

Grades Teachers:

Alison Collins, one of our first grade teachers, is a native Portlander. She graduated with a B.S. in Dance Management from Oklahoma City University, from there she went on to have a career as a professional dancer focusing primarily on contemporary jazz. As a dancer, she worked in various companies and collaborations that took her around the globe. After several years away, she returned home and began teaching dance to students of all ages. At this time, she was introduced to Waldorf education through a friend and began pursuing a teaching career with her eye on the Portland Village School. Alison has since worked as a kindergarten assistant at Shining Star School, attended Micha-el Institute, and received Master of Arts in Teaching from Concordia University in Portland. She is thrilled to bring her enthusiasm, curiosity and love of movement into the classroom.

Christa Valdez, one of our first grade teachers, was born and raised in northern New Mexico. She has been active in schools for several years playing varied roles such as substitute teacher, educational assistant, bookkeeper, and board member in both charter and Waldorf schools. She completed her student teaching in a mixed age class of 3^rd - 5^th graders at Trillium Charter School in Portland and received her BA in Elementary Education through Prescott College’s adult degree program. She holds current teaching licenses in New Mexico and Oregon and completed her Master's degree in Education and Waldorf certification from Antioch University in New England. She had the opportunity to intern at the Monadnock Waldorf School in 6^th grade and kindergarten. Christa loves photography, painting, gardening, handwork and spending time with her son, Jaiya. They are both excited to return to Portland.

Olivia Farrell is one of our secondgrade teachers. Bio to be updated...

Jessica Mohn-Jonsen is our other second grade teacher. Bio to be updated.... 

Betty Baldwin is one of our third grade teachers. She has been a Waldorf teacher for 26 years, with experience in K - 12. She completed a four-year therapeutic education traning in 2001 and brought what she learned in this training to her Waldorf grades classroom. She later worked at Somerset, a farm-based Waldorf school for special needs children in California. She is bringing the model of education that she learned there, which focused on movement in relation to the healthy growth of children, to her work with children in Portland. Being both a mother and grandmother are part of her training to work with children. Betty has a broad interest in the arts and in nature. Introducing children to the healing power of nature has been a life-long commitment on Betty's part.

Christina Lowman is one of the current Grade 3 teachers at PVS, continuing with
her class of the last two years.  She has a Bachelor’s in English, an Oregon Teaching License for K-12 with six years full-time teaching experience and two years substitute experience.  She has taught at Swallowtail Waldorf-inspired School and subbed at the Portland Waldorf School.  She has also worked as an editor/proofreader and massage/shiatsu practitioner/teacher.  Both of her children, ages 24 and 17, attended the Portland Waldorf School.  

Thora Graham is one of our fourth grade teachers. She grew up on a small farm in New Hampshire. Thora is a Waldorf graduate and received her BS in Community and Human Services from Empire State College in NY. She spent several years in Oakland,CA first as an intern at The Sophia Project, then at a daycare for families at risk for homelessness and finally, as a member of the children’s program staff at Raphael House, a family homeless shelter. Her work included leading the 4-7 year olds and then the 8-12 year olds evening programs, tutoring in the after school program and working with parents to provide coordinated services for their children. She received her Master's degree in Education, Waldorf Certification and State Certification from Antioch University in New England. Thora also spent many years as an amature and professional circus performer.

Paul Haygood is also one of our fourth grade teachers. He hails to us from Hawaii where he has been substitute teaching. He comes to us with a Bachelor of Arts and Waldorf Teacher Training from the Waldorf Institute of Mercy College. As well, he has a Master’s in Business Administration for non-profits from the University of Hawaii. Mr. Haygood has taught in Hawaii, New Zealand, New York, and California. He has taught all eight grades including substituting for high school. We are so excited to have him join the Portland Village School team and to share his wealth of experience.

Shannon McClure is our fifth grade teacher. She grew up in Ohio and earned her BS in Art Education from Bowling Green State University, with a focus on drawing and weaving. She did her student teaching in Toledo, Ohio before moving to Portland and earning her Oregon teaching certificate. She has developed an expertise in African textiles and is particularly interested in multicultural education. Shannon came to us from the private Catlin Gabel School where she worked as the 5th grade teaching assistant and after care provider. While there, she redesigned the 5th grade curriculum to focus on local agricultural sustainability, and helped the students create a successful kitchen garden. She has taught at Portland Village School since its
inception three years ago.

Theresa Molter is our sixth grade teacher.  She graduated from Hampshire College in Massachusetts with a concentration in creative writing focusing on children's and young adult literature and child development.  She then recieved her Master of Arts in Teaching from Lewis and Clark College. Theresa grew up in Tucson, where she developed her love of music, art and the printed word; she studied violin, voice, and created her own magazines and videos for public access TV before graduating high school. Here in Portland, Theresa has taught children from pre-school to high school age in settings from public school to conferences to libraries.  Her interests include language,  singing and playing music, bicycling, knitting, cooking and baking, and being outdoors. She has taught at Portland Village School since its inception three years ago.

Tammy Wagner is our seventh grade teacher. She earned a BS from Florida State University in Elementary Education, an MS from The College of New Jersey in Elementary Education, and a Waldorf Remedial Teacher Certificate. Tammy holds an Oregon State Teaching License. She came to us with over 11 years experience in the public school system, as well as 8 years experience teaching in private Waldorf schools. She is thrilled to be bringing Waldorf education to the public school community. Tammy is the mother of two teenagers, and includes yoga, cooking and hiking as some of her favorite things. She has taught at Portland Village School since its inception three years ago.

Subject Teachers and Other Part-time Staff:

Joseph Wyatt teaches Spanish to K-3; Alejandra Schimpfoessl teaches Spanish to 4-6th grades; Heidi Vorst teaches Folk Dance; Patricia Thom teaches Handwork; David Edwards is teaches Music to our 3rd-7th graders. Mindy Lee Hill and Lisa Kimball are our kindergarten assistants.

Orchid Jones provides after-care and has been working with kids for fifteen years. She graduated with a Bachelors in Community Studies with a focus on Alternative Education from the University of Santa Cruz, CA in 2006. She is currently enrolled in the Mich-ael Institute in Portland, OR where she will graduate as a Certified Early Childhood, Grades and High School Waldorf Educator by 2013.  Her strong love of nature and children has lead her to intern with the Mother Earth School - an experiential outdoors Waldorf inspired Kindegarden and preschool at Tryon Life Community Farm.  This year she is very excited to be returning to the Portland Village School as lead After Care Teacher.provides after-care.

Elzabeth O'Mailey is our lunch fairie.

Faculty Committees: The Principal sits on SAC, PAC, BSC, Safety and as needed.

Student Achievement (SAC)-Paul Haygood, Tammy Wagner (Chair), Theresa Molter, and Thora Graham.

Pedagogy-Betty Baldwin (Chair), Chirsta Valdez, Olivia Farrell and Shannon McClure.

Building Screening Committee (BSC)-Betty Baldwin, Lucia Mello (Chair), and Patricia Thom.

Principal's Advisory Council (PAC)-Jessica Mohn-Johnsen (Chair), Joespeh Wyatt, and Shannon McClure.

Safety Committee-Rebeckah Castillo and Sean Shea.

Social Committee-Alison Collins, Heidi Vorst, Jessi Herbert, Olivia
Farrell, and Ruthanne Noll (Chair). 

Portland Village Parent Association (PVPA)-Lucia Mello.

*Board-Christina Lowman.

*Finance-Tammy Wagner.

*Site-Theresa Molter.

*Policy-Alejandra Schimpfoessl.

*Board run committees.

Our Board of Directors:

Allison Bernat (Parent)-2nd Vice President, Governance Committee Chair

Ben Brizuela (Parent)-Site Committee Chair

Christina Lowman (Teacher Rep)

Ethan Medley (Parent)-Governance Committee

Gene Hoilman (Parent)-Fundraising Committee

Helen Heibert (Parent)-Secretary

Ira Reiland (Parent)-1st Vice President, Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair

Kirsten Rayhawk (Parent)-President

Margie Tannenbaum (Grandparent-Policy Committee Chair, Governance

Ross Borden (Parent)-Governance Committee

Samantha Mohn-Johnsen (Community)-Policy Committee

Seth Truby (Parent)-Fundraising Committee Chair

Susan Harris (Parent)-Site Committee

Please feel free to contact the Board at board@portlandvillageschool.org