Irina Baranova
Irina has taught Russian language at RWS for the past 12 years. She taught Russian at the University of Richmond between 2011 and 2016, where she also organized a summer program for language study in St. Petersburg, Russia. In addition, she has run her own business since 2009, specializing in fiber arts and upcycled clothing. She holds a Master of Arts in Russian History from St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia.
“My students and my colleagues inspire me to learn something new every day.”
Deborah Boes
Deborah graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science from Bluefield College (VA) and holds a Waldorf Early Childhood Certification from the Sunbridge Institute. She had the good fortune of discovering RWS in 1997. After several years volunteering on the Board of Trustees as the Treasurer, then working as the Administrator, Deborah followed her true calling to teach. Now, many years later, she is grateful to partner with families and journey with them during their children’s early childhood years. When not at school, Deborah enjoys walking around the James River and local parks, continuing her studies, and taking time to behold gorgeous sunsets.
“All children want to shine, and my work as a teacher is to help children find ways to show their brilliance and to have a growing, confident inner sense that they are able beings.”
Caitlin Britton
Caitlin comes from a background in dance and theatre where she studied and performed locally for many years as a student, and was an assistant in dance classes for young children. In addition to being a lifelong dancer, Caitlin has always enjoyed working with young children and has worked in early childhood education in private and public settings since 2009. She has worked previously in a Regio Emilia inspired early childhood program but fell in love with Waldorf Education when her son started the Sprouts program at RWS. Caitlin began working with RWS in 2018 as a substitute teacher and is now an assistant teacher in the Sprouts class and part-time assistant teacher in the Magnolia class. She has two children who attend RWS.
Katie Bullington
What inspires me each day: the students’ love for meaningful work and the way that they earnestly take up the tasks given to them.
What it is about Waldorf Education that calls to me: the connections that are woven between the various academic and artistic disciplines. There is a gradual and meaningful building that occurs, concept upon concept, and experience upon experience.
Katie holds a Master of Arts in Education from Antioch New England Graduate School, a Waldorf Teaching Certificate from the Center for Anthroposophy, and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Anthropology from James Madison University. Katie has served many roles at RWS since 2001: class teacher, faculty chair, board member, visual arts teacher, and College member.
Katie and her husband have 2 boys who have attended RWS since preschool. She loves gardening, camping, walking in the woods, art, and music.
“I hope the classroom feels like a home with a predictable flow and order that is comforting, reassuring, and inspiring—a space that frees the mind to think and work, rather than cluttering it with unnecessary stimuli.”
Cathryn Bump
Cathryn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a minor in English Literature from Kean College (NJ), and also holds a Waldorf Teacher’s 2-Year Certificate from the Sunbridge Institute. She has more than 25 years of Waldorf teaching experience from Parent/Tot, Nursery/Kindergarten to 8th grade including teaching handwork classes. She trained with Greta Frolich for Handwork. In New York, she had a Waldorf-inspired, home Nursery/Kindergarten program, called Golden Circle Preschool. In addition to teaching, Cathryn has been a Waldorf administrator, board member, and parent volunteer. She also spent 5 years teaching public middle school in Newark, NJ and has 15 years of work experience in business, administration, and rehabilitation in New York City.
Cathryn has studied handwork extensively, and in her spare time runs “Cathryn’s Creations,” through which she offers handwork and Waldorf workshop training for children and adults, and sells handmade dolls. She enjoys reading, animal rescue work, handwork, gardening, spinning wool, weaving, dollmaking, crocheting, knitting, and sewing. Her son attended Waldorf Schools in New York in the early grades.
“I love how my class works to help each other learn, grow and flourish. They meet the world with great enthusiasm and interest.”
Megan Chase
Megan is the lead teacher of the 3-day Early Childhood program. She has been teaching at RWS since 2006 in this role. Megan has a degree in Music Education from VCU and has also taught at the Charlottesville Waldorf School in the Aftercare program. She has had 3 children attend RWS and appreciates the school’s philosophy of teaching the whole child. Megan has also taught singing to children in the Grades and enjoys bringing as much music to the program as possible. Her favorite part about working at RWS is the deep relationship she has developed with her students and families over the years.
On her days away from RWS, you will often find Megan at Manakintowne Specialty Growers, a local farm, with her hands in the dirt and educating children on the importance and know-how of caring for our earth in a sustainable and loving way.
Nancy Cross
Nancy comes to our school with a relationship started in 2011 when her grandson enrolled. She began volunteering and joined the Board of Trustees in 2017. Nancy\’s granddaughter is now currently enrolled. Nancy\’s education and experience include a Master of Education from VCU, certification in Orton-Gillingham dyslexia training, and 25 years at Dominion Energy in positions directing Executive Training, Process Re-engineering, Strategic Planning, IT, Power Systems Administration, and Human Resources. She also worked as VP Human Resources, and Health Care at Westminster Canterbury responsible, too, for their Child Development Center and Volunteer Program. Nancy enjoys reading and knitting.
Sue Edwards
Sue has been an assistant teacher in Early Childhood since 2017. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Earth Science from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science in Geology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Her previous work centered on educating residents in environmentally friendly methods of horticulture, protecting water quality, and conserving natural resources.
After becoming a mother, her heart turned toward child development and her educational focus switched to a younger audience, feeling called to support young children on their paths of self-discovery. As a lifelong learner, she continues to develop her understanding of Waldorf philosophies through small groups and self-studies.
She loves exploring the outdoors with her family, hiking, and fossil hunting. She is an avid gardener and loves to share with others the importance of pollinators. She enjoys creating through woodworking, painting, and other art forms.
“It is a privilege to bear witness to a child’s discovery, whether it be finding a caterpillar in the garden or accomplishing a new skill.”
LaToya Good
LaToya has been on the administrative team for RWS since 2011 as Administrative Specialist. She enjoys her work with the RWS community, providing support to parents, children, teachers, and members of administration. In her spare time, LaToya enjoys spending time with family and attending music events.
Lorraine Graff
Lorraine Graff was born in Brooklyn, NY and grew up on Long Island. She found bookkeeping was her passion when she studied shorthand in high school. Over the years, she has taken a variety of college courses ranging from accounting at J.S. Reynolds to The History of the Motion Picture, History of Architecture, Latin, Human Spirituality, and Introduction to the Old Testament at VCU.
Lorraine and her husband of 50 years came to Richmond when everyone else, it seemed, was going to Woodstock. Since coming to Virginia, she spends weekends with her husband and 2 children exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, camping in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, and an occasional visit to New York to visit family, former classmates, and the city life.
Throughout her years of working in accounting, payroll, and bookkeeping, she has always held an interest in other activities such as archery, drag racing, knitting and crocheting, theatre, and music.
Lorraine recently attempted to retire, but found that it wasn’t really for her. Instead, she has turned her focus to her latest 10-year plan: attending her granddaughter\’s high school graduation.