Faculty

Letitia is a Richmond native. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Education from Long Island University (LIU). She participated in the Friends World Program at LIU, which had 8 academic centers around the world. This program focused on developing world citizens, critical thinkers, and self-motivated learners. Her studies led her to Waldorf methodology. While in college, Letitia took on internships at Waldorf schools in London, England and Byron Bay, Australia. Letitia did her Waldorf teacher training at the Sunbridge Institute.

Letitia became a class teacher at RWS in 2002 and led her class from grade 1 through grade 6. When her children were young, she took some time off from class teaching and spent 5 years leading a Waldorf-inspired, in-home, early-childhood program. In 2013, she resumed her role as a class teacher at RWS with her current class.

In addition to teaching, Letitia enjoys camping, biking, paddling on the river, and adventuring with her 4 boys and husband. She also loves traveling, reading, and cooking.

“It is important as a teacher to show my class that I have a love of teaching and learning. This will help to develop this joy in my students. What I bring to them, no matter how academic it is, must come from my heart.”

Sara graduated from VCU with a Master in Teaching, a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies for Elementary Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in French. She student-taught in Henrico County Public Schools and at the International School of Florence in Italy. 

Her heart ultimately led her to Waldorf, where she was inspired by an education that reaches the head, heart, and hands. She completed her Waldorf teacher training at the Sunbridge Institute in New York in 2019, and has happily been a class teacher at RWS since 2016.

Outside of teaching, Sara enjoys hiking, reading in her hammock along the river, and teaching her pet pig new tricks.

“Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings, who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives.” -Rudolf Steiner

Margaret holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from Ithaca College School of Music, where she was introduced to her lifelong interest in the Suzuki Strings method, and she gained a strong foundation in traditional string pedagogy, music theory, music history and composition. While at Ithaca, Margaret founded an indie rock band, and after graduation, she was drawn to the vibrant music scene of Providence, RI.

Margaret continued teaching and performing for the next two and a half decades, first in Providence, then in Philadelphia, and most recently in the Washington, D.C. area where she ran an outreach program for Levine Music from 2009-2015 in SE DC, offering discounted Suzuki Strings lessons to families living in Wards 7 and 8. During this time she also became a parent to an active child who loves being outdoors. After searching for alternative educational philosophies, her family felt at home with Waldorf education, and its principles have been central to her teaching ever since.

Margaret completed the Antioch Center for Anthroposophy’s Explorations Program in 2020, the foundational studies course for Waldorf Educators. After Waldorf homeschooling and teaching primarily at her home studio and online in recent years, she was thrilled to join the RWS community as faculty and parent in the Fall of 2022.

When she is not teaching or playing music, Margaret enjoys knitting and crocheting, running, exploring new places with her family, and experimenting in the kitchen with gluten-free recipes.

“I am continually awed by what the children can accomplish when given a nurturing environment and a patient guiding hand. Their creativity and joy in music-making inspires me daily.”

Irina has taught Russian language at RWS for the past 16 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.”

Reid joined RWS in the 2020-2021 school year as the 8th grade woodworking teacher. He built custom furniture from 1996 to 2017. Before that he was a video store clerk, a stunt driver, and a missionary.

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 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.

Born and raised in Virginia, Suzy moved to Richmond in 2004 to attend Virginia Commonwealth University where she received a Master of Teaching and a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies. Suzy taught for three years in Henrico public schools and left teaching in 2012 to explore other work. Between babysitting, selling vintage clothing, and professional organizing, she started dabbling in soap making. This hobby grew into a small business that Suzy established in 2014, which she continues to own and operate. 

Suzy first stumbled upon Richmond Waldorf School when she saw they were looking for vendors for May Faire in 2014. Although she was there to sell soap, Suzy couldn’t help but hear a calling from the school. This affinity left a lasting impression. Fast forward five years, she found herself at RWS again, but this time as a proud parent. In November 2022, Suzy joined the administrative team as the Administrative Faculty Assistant. She brings a wide range of talents to this role and is honored to be part of such a wonderful community in this new capacity.

When Suzy is not at school or being a shop elf in her soap studio, she enjoys finding vintage treasures, cooking, and spending time with her husband, two daughters, dog, and chickens.

Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater performance and a Master of Education in clinical mental health from Ohio University. She has taught movement arts for fifteen years in both studio and classroom settings, specializing in dance, movement fundamentals, improvisation, yoga asana, mindfulness, mask and puppetry, and interdisciplinary creative arts. Prior to graduate school, Elizabeth was a Fulbright Fellow studying folk dance in the Republic of Georgia. Her clinical work post-graduate studies supported early childhood families. 

After moving to Richmond with her young family, Elizabeth was drawn to the developmental and holistic approach of whole-child education at RWS. She joined RWS in Fall 2022 and is ecstatic to be part of this community which values movement, play, and the creative arts as integral to personal and collective well-being.