Faculty

Name: Board Meeting
Start: 2025-03-19T17:45:00-04:00
End: 2025-03-19T19:45:00-04:00
Location: Richmond Waldorf School

Lucy Kilpatrick

Magnolia Class Assistant

Lucy holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Shenandoah College & Conservatory. She currently works as an assistant teacher in the Magnolia Kindergarten Class. During her 10 years at RWS, she has gained a sense of nurturing the unhurried childhood. Through the daily rhythms of play, classroom chores, and imaginative stories, this underscores an importance of growing the child within. Being a Waldorf Teacher not only has allowed Lucy to grow within as an observer and participant, but also allows for her favorite hobbies (crafting with wool, spinning, sewing, and of course, music) to be put to use.

“Each day is like a present. I like to witness a child opening their new present each day.”

Maddie Kolenich

Oak Class Lead

Maddie earned a bachelor’s degree in Child Life from East Carolina University in 2008, where she studied child development extensively. As part of her studies she completed several practicums and internships with children in healthcare, childcare, and school settings. Members of Maddie’s family have been part of RWS almost since the beginning as class teachers, foreign language teachers, and handwork teachers. Maddie appreciates the caring environment that RWS provides for her two children. She has been working at Richmond Waldorf School since 2018 as an aftercare assistant, substitute, and early childhood assistant. She became a lead teacher and began her Early Childhood Teacher Training Education at Sunbridge Institute in 2022. Maddie’s favorite parts about her job are singing with children, watching them discover new abilities and explore their world, and learning from all of her wonderful colleagues.

Balla Koroma

Accounting Coordinator

Balla was born and raised in Washington, DC, and moved to Richmond, VA to attend Virginia State University. After graduating with a bachelors in accounting he decided to stay in Richmond to build his career. Balla worked in corporate accounting for 10 years before deciding to step back and devote more time to his family. Upon this time he found Richmond Waldorf School where he brings his skills part time to the business department.

Alexandra Porr Mazeres

Director of Enrollment & Development

Alexandra grew up in the suburbs of New York City and attended Bates College in Maine. After graduation, she worked in marketing and communications roles at hospitals and nonprofit organizations. She completed her master’s degree in public health (MPH) at New York Medical College.

While their children were young, Alexandra was a stay-at-home parent and the family moved often with her husband’s military career. When looking for a different type of education for her children, they found a Waldorf-inspired preschool and from then on were hooked! While stationed in DC, their family spent four years at Washington Waldorf School, where Alexandra was an active volunteer. She owes much of her festival and crafting knowledge to this talented community.

When her family was reassigned to Virginia, they chose to live in Richmond to continue their children’s Waldorf education at Richmond Waldorf School. Alexandra enthusiastically got to work volunteering with school committees and festivals. In 2023, she was hired as the Marketing & Advancement Specialist, where she supported the RWS Annual Fund as well as Fundraising festivals & events. In her new role as Director of Enrollment & Development, Alexandra is excited to continue working in the fundraising space, both with the Annual Fund and our community Festivals and events. Now in her 8th year as a Waldorf parent, she is enjoying the Enrollment realm, happily introducing visitors to the beautifully holistic education that RWS provides.

Alexandra and her family live in Richmond in Ginter Park. In her free time, she likes to explore new places and get to know people, visit museums and appreciate art, browse thrift shops for deals, and do Pilates when she can get a workout in. Waldorf has expanded her passion for crafting— particularly needle felting— and she loves making little treasures for her children and the RWS Pocket Fairies!

Noelle Mckown

Educational Support Specialist

Noelle began her teaching career in 2000 as an adjunct instructor at the VCU Department of Fashion Design & Merchandising. In 2011, she was drawn to the creative freedom of Waldorf education and completed her Waldorf Teacher’s Certificate from Antioch University in 2014. She has worked as a Handwork Teacher and Grades Teacher from 2011 to 2022. In 2019, Noelle completed 60 hours of Orton-Gillingham coursework and developed a passion for working with diverse learners. She is currently working towards certification as an Orton-Gillingham Practitioner Associate Level and is expected to receive this in 2023. She is thrilled to take a new role at RWS as the Education Support Specialist and looks forward to supporting faculty, students, parents and administration focused on students who learn differently.

When Noelle is not at Waldorf, she is tutoring students with language-based learning differences, gardening with her son, or staying busy drawing and painting.

“Dedicated to promoting nurturing and positive learning environments that respects, encourages, and empowers students.”

Marijana Ognjanovic

Violin/Viola

Marijana is a dedicated and passionate music educator with over a decade of teaching experience. She holds a Master of Arts in Violin from the University of Niš, Serbia, and has performed with renowned orchestras, including the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra and the KW Community Orchestra.

Marijana teaches violin, viola, and piano, offering private and group lessons. She uses both traditional and Suzuki methods, along with a holistic approach inspired by Waldorf education. Her teaching style is tailored to each student’s unique learning needs and musical goals, whether in one-on-one lessons or a collaborative group setting.

Starting in October 2024, Marijana joined Richmond Waldorf School as a violin/viola teacher. She has a proven track record of preparing students for performances, competitions, and exams while fostering a love for music and the arts. Her students describe her as patient, supportive, and encouraging, and she is committed to creating a positive, engaging learning environment for all ages.

In her free time, Marijana enjoys classical music, performing, and spending time with her husband and two sons.

Kelly Pfeifer

Faculty Administrative Assistant

Kelly joined RWS in 2024 to support the school and our teachers in various capacities. She is a former middle grades teacher and is excited to be a part of a school community again after working in higher education student services for several years.

Kelly graduated from James Madison University and later earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from VCU. She has had the opportunity to work in many schools and with many age groups throughout her career in education – in Virginia, Seattle, and Portland – and has been struck by the love of learning that RWS fosters in its students and the warm environment it has created.

In her free time she enjoys finding new and exciting ways to entertain her two kids, voraciously consuming podcasts and audiobooks, and sampling local pizza spots.

Dawn Pollard

5th Grade, Latin

Dawn is a native of Knoxville, TN where she co-founded “Mountain Song School,” a Waldorf initiative. She and her family moved to Richmond in 2007 to become part of RWS. Dawn has been involved in Waldorf education for over 20 years as a parent, teacher, and board member. She has served in many leadership roles, including College Chair, Board Vice President, and Early Childhood (EC) Chair. Dawn taught in the EC program for over ten years before becoming a class teacher in 2017. Along the way, she taught Latin to middle school. She loves working with children of all ages.

Dawn earned a Master of Liberal Arts from St. John’s College, a Master of Waldorf Teaching from Antioch University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Emory University. She has taught philosophy to community college students and assisted in a Montessori classroom. She has traveled to Greece and England, where she was mesmerized by the Elgin Marbles. Dawn has 3 beautiful daughters with whom she enjoys spending time. She likes reading, jewelry-making, and walking in nature.

“Love starts when we push aside our ego and make room for someone else.” -Rudolf Steiner

Thea Pollard

Willow Class Assistant

Thea started working at RWS as an assistant in the Summergarden program in 2017 and has done so every year since. Thea is currently the Willow Class assistant teacher. She has also worked an Aftercare assistant and a substitute teacher in the Early Childhood program. Thea graduated from RWS after attending the school for 9 years and is happy to still be a part of the community. Thea was born in Tennessee and has lived in RVA for 13 years. Thea enjoys playing with the children and being creative.

Zaira Pulido

Aftercare Assistant

Zaira was born in Bogotá, Colombia, South America, and moved to the U.S. in 2022. She is a Somatic Movement Educator, a professional dancer with a Master’s Degree in Dance Research, a corporate lawyer, and a Mindfulness practitioner and facilitator certified by Rainbow Kids Yoga in Yoga for Kids, Mindful Schools, and “Respira en Colombia” in mindfulness in education. She has worked with children, youth, and under-served communities for more than 20 years, designing and executing projects based on movement and dance to create teaching-learning processes and experiences.

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