1st Grade | 2nd Grade | 3rd Grade | 4th Grade | 5th Grade | 6th Grade | 7th Grade | 8th Grade
Greta Jee | 1st Grade Teacher
Originally from the suburbs of Philadelphia, Greta grew up with a strong and perpetual interest in the arts. Looking back now, she realizes she was a Waldorf student in spirit who had yet to encounter the movement! She attended Washington College, a Liberal Arts school on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where she received a B.A. in Humanities. After college, Greta served for a year in the Americorps as a Coworker in Camphill Village Copake (NY)–an Anthroposophic intentional community–living and working alongside adults with developmental disabilities. In 2008, she earned her Waldorf Certification (K-Grade 8) and M.Ed from Antioch University New England. She taught in Waldorf Schools in NH, NY, and CA for over 13 years and has served in the capacities of Early Childhood Assistant, Lead Teacher, Lower School Class Teacher, and on leadership committees of many kinds. Currently, Greta is pursuing a CA Teaching Credential at SCOE. When not at school Greta is often hiking with her pup, Rosa, growing medicinal plants, reading poetry and practicing yoga.
Lisa Rifflart | 2nd Grade Teacher
Lisa Rifflart is passionate about serving the community through public education. She joined the Waldorf movement as a parent over twenty years ago. Since then, she has journeyed through the grades at Sebastopol Charter School, taught kindergarten at Monterey Bay Charter School, and worked in Waldorf Charter School administration. The magic and joy of working with children and parents has been a highlight in her life, and she is excited to be joining the Woodland Star faculty and community. In her free time, Lisa loves to spend time with her family. She and her husband enjoy hiking with their dog, Fergus, bicycling through the redwoods, spending time with their grandchildren, and relaxing under the stars. Lisa earned her Waldorf teaching certificate at the Center for Educational Renewal. She holds a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential and a Multiple Subjects CLAD Credential. She is trained in Kim John Payne’s Three Streams of Student Support and is a huge advocate of Simplicity Parenting. Lisa earned her undergraduate degree in French from Santa Clara University.
Brenna Cleary | 3rd Grade Teacher
Ms. Cleary recently moved to Sonoma County from Los Angeles. Before teaching at Woodland Star, she was a founding teacher at El Rio Community School, a Waldorf-inspired charter school in Los Angeles. Her experience is in using Waldorf methods in the public school setting, with experience and training in structured literacy. She loves the arts and likes to integrate music, singing, painting, drawing, and sculpting into her teaching. Outside the classroom, Ms. Cleary spends her time painting and birdwatching.
Megan Malkassian | 4th Grade Teacher
Ms. Malkassian has held many roles at Woodland Star. She has primarily served as a teaching assistant while she was completing her course work to qualify her to teach in California public schools. Through Alliant University, she recently completed her Master’s in Education while simultaneously completing the course work to obtain her Multi-Subject Credential. She completed her Bachelor’s of Arts in Sociology while working full time and parenting two young children. Prior to coming to Woodland Star, Ms. M spent many years working with preschool aged children and utilized her sociology experience working with severely traumatized youth at an intensive residential treatment and specialty mental health services center for mentally ill youth. Ms. Malkassian is English-Spanish bilingual. Outside of school, Ms. Malkassian enjoys reading, gardening, drawing, and handwork.
Katy Porter | 5th Grade Teacher
Ms. Porter is a proud San Francisco native who now resides in Sonoma with her kids and animals. She received her BA from the University of California, Berkeley, and is currently enrolled in a teacher credentialing program at Alliant University. Ms. Porter has 20 years of educational experience as a performing arts educator and program director at St. Cecilia School in San Francisco. For the last two years, she has been part of the Woodland Star Community as an assistant, tutor, and substitute teacher. To prepare for this coming year, Ms. Porter enrolled in a Waldorf course called, The Art of Teaching Third Grade. In her free time, she likes to read, hike, garden, and volunteer on a rescue farm.
Geordie Carr | 6th Grade Teacher
Geordie Carr grew up in a coastal New England town, influenced by his family’s dedication to education and community. Currently a substitute teacher, class aide and math tutor, Geordie is looking forward to filling a lead teacher position. He is currently the vice president of the Woodland Star Charter Council and serves on the Woodland Star Finance Committee. As a proud parent of one current Woodland Star student and one alumni, who now attends Credo High school, Geordie appreciates the Waldorf pedagogy. He graduated from University of Western Colorado with a degree in Business Administration. Geordie is the founder and co-owner of Bump Wine Cellars in Sonoma and has worked for several wineries in Sonoma. He has other work experience in finance, banking and the ski industry, which include training and mentorship roles. His personal interests include; trail running, gardening, cooking, skiing, and just about anything else that gets him out into nature. His decision to move into teaching stems from the desire to have a positive influence in students’ lives and share his lifelong love of learning.
Antje Bojarsky | 7th Grade Teacher
Antje holds CA teaching credentials in Multiple Subjects, Cross-Cultural Language and Academic Development, and single subject: Science. She completed her MSEd in Science Education at Lesley University with a STEM cognate in five subjects: biology, physics, geoscience, ecology, and engineering. Trained and devoted to the mission of Waldorf education for decades, Antje completed two class cycles and taught middle school loops, graduating from eighth grade four times. She was a member of the Master Teacher Mentor Group with Else Gottgens and has served as a class teacher, middle school specialist, and high school teacher. Her special interest and educational research is in multicultural curriculum design, Restorative Justice program impact on student resilience, and gender equity in science education. When she’s not lesson-planning, she loves kayaking, playing with her four dogs, and chatting about education with her husband and daughter who are Waldorf high school science teachers.
Joelynn Lee | 8th Grade Teacher
After years of moving around the United States and Guam, Mrs. Lee has settled with her husband and children in Glen Ellen. She credits her previous travels with providing a wealth of life experience and opportunity to understand people with varying backgrounds. During that time, she owned and operated two family in-home childcare, working with infant through preschool-aged children, and volunteered for several nonprofit organizations. In 2012, Mrs. Lee returned to college with the intent to teach middle school while once again operating an in-home childcare/preschool. During that time, she also volunteered with Girl Scouts of Sonoma Valley, worked at Teen Services Sonoma, and volunteered at her children’s previous school’s PTO and Site Council. She graduated with her BA and MA in History from Sonoma State University and is currently in her third year as a Ph.D. student at UCSF’s History of Health Sciences. Her research centers on intellectual disability, specifically in children. Last year, Mrs. Lee’s son Ethan joined Woodland Star, and Mrs. Lee quickly became part of the community as a math tutor, substitute teacher, and parent volunteer. Mrs. Lee credits Woodland Star students, staff, and faculty for reminding her of how much she loves teaching and working with young people. To prepare for this coming year, Mrs. Lee has enrolled in a Waldorf course called The Art of Teaching with an emphasis on teaching the middle school curriculum. In the fall, she will enroll in SCOE’s teaching credential program. In her free time, she likes to read, swim, camp, cook, garden, and travel with her family.
