Spanish | English Language Development | Handwork | Games/Movement | Music/Rhythm
Teresita Landin | Spanish, Grades TK-8 & English Language Development TK-8
Maestra Teresita studied Liberal and Chicano Latino Studies for 2 years at Sonoma State, and graduated in 2008 from Pacific Union College with a Bachelor’s of Science in Early Childhood Education and Development. She also holds an Associate’s Degree in Psychology with an emphasis on Childhood and Human Development, a LifeWays Early Childhood Certificate, and a Spanish Single Subject Teaching Credential. Over the past 11 years, Teresita has attended more than a dozen Waldorf Teacher Trainings focused on World Language Teaching and Early Childhood Education. She recently attended a 3 week Waldorf Teacher Training intensive in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and finished an 8 month long Waldorf Spanish Teacher Training through Gradalis.
Teresita has been part of Woodland Star’s staff and faculty since 2012, and before becoming the school’s full-time Spanish and English Language Development teacher she fulfilled many roles such as being a Class Assistant, the ELD Assistant, a Resource Assistant, and a Substitute for all grades. In her love of teaching, she has worked with multiple ECE centers, tutoring agencies, and schools where she helped develop and taught age appropriate learning programs. Her emphasis has always been on helping children find their place in the world through socio-emotional development, love of nature, art, reading, and expressive writing.
As a Mexican, Native-Spanish Speaker, she takes great pride in sharing her culture, heritage knowledge, and multicultural wisdom with the children and our community through the Spanish Curriculum. As an advocate, she’s able to provide support to our ELAC Committee members, helping them navigate the ins and outs of a new school system.
Jessica Lawson | Handwork, Grades 1-8
Mrs. Lawson has a BA of Fine Arts from The California Institute of the Arts, holds a CA Single Subject Art Teaching Credential from California State University of Long Beach, and a Waldorf Practical Arts Certificate from the Waldorf Institute of Southern California. Before joining Woodland Star, Mrs. Lawson taught handwork at private and public Waldorf schools in the Southern California area, including founding the Handwork Program at El Rio Community School in Los Angeles. Mrs. Lawson is passionate about bringing handwork to all children. Using the diverse world of fiber arts to reach students’ creativity, build dexterity, teach process, and show students hands-on skills like knitting, crochet, sewing, and more that will serve them their whole lives.
Mrs. Lawson grew up in Florida and is a lifelong fiber artist. She moved to California in 2009 to start her career making custom costumes for the film industry. Shortly after her daughter was born, she found Waldorf education and has been teaching Handwork ever since. When she’s not teaching, Mrs. Lawson loves to bake, garden, and work on her personal Handwork projects.
Joan Baugh | Games/Movement
Joan Baugh received her BA from Bridgewater State University. Her Elementary teaching credential is from The University of Massachusetts and her PE credential is from Bridgewater State University. In addition she has a Waldorf certification in Spatial Dynamics, which focuses on movement in Waldorf Schools.
She has dedicated over 30 years to helping students on their learning journeys as both a class teacher and a physical education teacher. She has taught at Waldorf School of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, the Wasatch Waldorf School in Utah, and was a class teacher at Woodland Star Charter School.
Outside the classroom, she enjoys biking, swimming, hiking, yoga, reading, and staying active in the outdoors. Most of all, she values time spent with family and friends. She has two adult chidlren Taylor and Hayden and is grateful to be called “grandmummy” to three wonderful grandchildren.
Michael Cannon | Music
Mr. Cannon received his BA in Music from San Diego State University. At SDSU he made lasting friendships and gained skills that would stick with him for life. He performed in Jazz Ensembles, Orchestras, Percussion Ensemble, and studied music theory, conducting, and composing. Included in his course work were piano lessons, West African, and South Indian drumming courses.
In 2019, he returned to SSU to receive his teaching credentials. He taught American Music courses at Credo High School for 4 years. Recently Mr. Cannon held the position of band director at Vintage High School in Napa. He taught Marching Band, Full Orchestra with Strings/Winds as well as a 20-piece Jazz Ensemble. Michael runs and owns the Cannon School of Music in the town of Sonoma. He enjoys sharing his musical life experiences with students. He lives in Kenwood with his wife Roxanne, his two kids Diego and Nyema and their dog Paddington. He plays drums with local artists such as Sean Carscadden, Royal Jelly Jive, and Dan Martin. He loves astronomy, chess, gardening, riding bikes, dancing, singing, and playing in the park.
