Lyra Matthews | Morning Glory Kindergarten Teacher
Lyra taught at a Waldorf-inspired charter school in southern California for the last several years. She has nearly 18 years of Waldorf classroom teaching experience teaching kindergarten through fifth grade. After earning her bachelor’s degree in music, she completed a master’s degree program in education from Antioch New England Graduate School, and a Waldorf teaching certificate from Antioch University. She also holds a Multiple Subject Teaching credential from Dominican University. Lyra is blessed with the gift of music and singing and has a keen interest in the festivals of a Waldorf School. She has a love of crafts, projects, and creating artistic classroom environments of beauty for the children. She has a warm kind loving nature that makes her students feel special and cared for. People that know her say her greatest gift is her ability to engage a class community so that every parent has an opportunity to contribute to the educational experience of her class
Patricia Lopez-Chavez | Dandelion Kindergarten Teacher
Ms. Lopez taught for two years at traditional public schools before coming to Woodland Star. Before teaching, Ms. Lopez went to Dominican University of CA in sunny San Rafael, CA where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies/Teacher Education with a Multiple Subject teaching credential. Her passion for education led her to stay at Dominican where she earned her master’s of science degree in Education with a concentration in special education along with a Mild/Moderate Resource Specialist teaching credential. During her undergraduate and graduate studies, she focused on Social Emotional Learning and completed a thesis per degree on the subject. Last summer, Ms. Lopez went to the Gradalis training for Waldorf teachers in Denver, CO, and is enrolled in the Understanding Waldorf Education accredited program this year.
Ms. Lopez grew up in a small town on the central coast of California, always around family and friends. She is a first-generation Latina and was an English language learner in primary school who is bilingual in Spanish (dialect combined from the Mexican states of Michoacan and Jalisco). Her passion for education was passed down from her parents who taught her that education and knowledge are one of the few things that no one can ever take away from a person. Aside from learning, Ms. Lopez loves reading cheesy romance and thriller books, re-watching Disney movies, hiking, stargazing, dancing, meditating, praying, cooking, and traveling to nearby and faraway places!
