Our Faculty

Miss Gina is grateful for the opportunity to serve the children and families of the Rogue Valley through the ever wise and wonderful Waldorf curriculum. Teaching, art, gardening, and community have all been woven into her life, and her career, which has its roots in Southern Oregon. Her career spans many arenas including teaching in a private bilingual Montessori preschool, in a one room schoolhouse on 60 acres in upstate New York, offering Waldorf-inspired homeschool classes and art classes for all ages, as well as leading a Waldorf-inspired preschool and Kindergarten on a 3-acre homestead. Gina joins Madrone Trail after helping to found a public Waldorf charter school in Colorado Springs where she served as a Lead Kindergarten teacher for 11 years.

In the early years of her marriage, she and her husband Michael traveled the United States working on organic farms and living in intentional communities. Through this work Gina learned to appreciate the life cycles of the plant and animal worlds as well as the importance of inner work and human relationships.

Gina is a trained K-12 art teacher earning her teaching certificate and Bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Colorado. She is a trained Waldorf Teacher earning her certificate of completion from the Denver Center for Anthroposophic Therapies, with an emphasis on therapeutic work with young children, based on indications from Rudolf Steiner.

Gina is inspired on a daily basis in her work with the children and their families, as together they celebrate life and learning through rhythm, outdoor play, storytelling, song and craft. She is honored to be a guide and steward for the youngest members of the Madrone Trail community. Gina spends summers and free time swimming, soaking up the sun, gardening, hiking and tending her home. She treasures family time with her two daughters, her husband and extended family.

Miss Josclyn is a 5th generation Oregonian and has been involved in Waldorf Education for the last fifteen years. She received her degree in Fine Art from the University of Oregon and spent many years on Maui before finding her way back to Eugene to complete her Early Childhood Waldorf Teacher Training. Miss Josclyn has taught mixed-age Kindergarten at Swallowtail Waldorf School & Farm, Haleakala Waldorf School, and FolkSoul Farm. Teaching as a path of self development is important to Miss Josclyn, and she feels extremely humbled to be a teacher. She is passionate about protecting childhood, honoring and nurturing each child in their individual development and gifting. Celebrating the seasonal festivals is also one of her favorite parts about teaching Waldorf Kindergarten. She was very excited to begin a new chapter at Madrone Trail in 2022, and has always dreamed of teaching at a Public Waldorf Charter School. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her daughter, LilyAnn, swimming and playing especially in Maui, doing arts and crafts, cooking, gardening, reading and immersing herself in nature.

Emily Belcastro is a native Ashlandian who recently completed her BA in Elementary Education at Southern Oregon University, and her MA in Teaching at George Fox University. She has been extremely passionate about Waldorf education and teaching to the heart, head, and hands for many years. She specialized in Holistic education and social emotional teaching during her undergraduate studies and learned how important it is to craft a learning environment where students feel seen, valued, and loved. When Emily is not teaching, she loves to spend time in nature, teach yoga classes in Ashland and spend time with her cats. She can't wait to get to know Madrone Trail’s community better and understand how she can best support and receive her students and their families.

Daniel Nicholas is a native of upstate New York and graduated from Eastern University near Philadelphia in 2011 with a degree in philosophy. His teaching career began in 2012 at the college level, both in administration and in the classroom, and since then he has taught in two states, working with students from seemingly every age and background, from retired veterans in Medford to the college prep academies of the affluent suburbs of Dallas, TX to the urban public schools of the greater Austin area. He first learned about Steiner-Waldorf education as a parent of a preschooler, and since then his diverse and wide-ranging educational background has stoked an abiding interest in human development, motivating him to begin pursuing his M. Ed. in Waldorf Education through Antioch University- New England in Spring 2020. He is thrilled to be putting roots back down in his beautiful adopted home of the Pacific Northwest by taking on the role of class teacher at Madrone Trail in fall 2021!

Ruth Cohen was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Germany, Japan, and the United States. She spoke only Spanish until first grade and went on to teach ESL, Spanish, French, and speaks Hebrew at home to her four daughters. Having grown up internationally, she studied French and International Community Development for her undergraduate and spent her summers in college on work projects in Honduras, Spain, Kenya, and Turkey. She then went on to earn her Masters of Education. Post university years, she taught ESL, French, and Spanish and participated in community development projects in Korea, India, Nepal, Cambodia, and Pakistan and lived in Israel for 13 years, where she started her family. She first encountered Waldorf education in Israel, after having taught foreign languages to elementary and high school for 11 years and knew this was the path she wanted for her children and herself as a teacher.

In 2019, Ruth moved her family to Ashland from Israel where she did her foundation year and taught Handwork at a Waldorf initiative. In Ashland, she took on the first grade as the class teacher and was also the grades Spanish teacher at the FolkSoul Farm Grades Cooperative. She has since then been the director and lead teacher at the Waldorf- inspired Olive Tree Preschool, a bilingual early childhood program. In her free time she loves to be in nature with her girls, exploring this land of pristine rivers and lakes, swing dancing and singing in all the languages.

Kelli Richardson was born and raised in the Portland area before moving to Ashland where she earned her degree in English and Writing and a Master’s in Teaching. After starting her family, she enjoyed substitute teaching all over Oregon for the past ten years. She enjoyed the challenge and the ability to see how hundreds of teachers ran their classrooms. Since putting down roots in Eagle Point with her husband and four sons, Kelli decided it was time to seek out something more consistent. Having already put two of her children on the waitlist, she was excited to see the opening for a 4th grade class teacher at Madrone Trail. Kelli is quickly realizing that Waldorf education is a great fit for her and her family. She enjoys bringing music, movement, empathy, and beauty into her classroom.

Heidi Martin was born in Berkeley, California. She and her two siblings were the children of a busy, corporate executive who kept his family on the move every four years, up and down the West Coast. After living in Huntington Harbor and the Wine Country of California during her elementary school years, she then attended high school on Mercer Island, Washington. She has always maintained a longing for adventure after all those moves!

Heidi left high school in the U.S. to travel to Tubingen, Germany at age 16 to live as an exchange student for a full year. She was first enchanted by Waldorf Education there, in Germany through her host-sister’s experiences at the local Waldorf High School. After living in Europe for a year, she returned to her homeland to attend college at U.C. Berkeley for four years, majoring in English.

At 21, Heidi left the Bay Area and moved to the picturesque land of Southern Oregon. She settled in Williams and became a tutor and teacher for children of all ages for many years. At age 30, Heidi was inspired to deepen her skills in the art of teaching and enroll in the Waldorf Teacher Training in Eugene, Oregon. She completed the program in 2003. Subsequently, she taught kindergarten at the Corvallis Waldorf School from 2003-2005. Then, in the Spring of 2005, she accepted an invitation by Waldorf parents in Southern Oregon to move back to Ashland and open a Waldorf-inspired kindergarten for the community.

After having a second son in 2008, Heidi finished her undergraduate studies at Southern Oregon University with a B.A. in English and Writing. She continued to teach preschool and kindergarten in the Rogue Valley out of her home, while also mentoring other Waldorf Early Childhood Teachers. In May of 2012, she was hired at the Siskiyou School to teach First grade. For eight years off and on until 2023, she taught first through fifth grade at the Siskiyou School, alternating with teaching preschool in her backyard yurt. In 2019, she was the lead teacher of the Pear Blossom Kindergarten at Madrone Trail, guiding parents in a home-based kindergarten program during lockdown in Spring of 2020.

Heidi’s emphasis as a teacher of all children is in nurturing the foundations of learning through rich sensory experiences, integrative movement, music, puppetry, arts and storytelling. Her favorite thing to do is play her guitar and sing with her students. She has attended numerous supplemental teacher trainings and workshops over the years and has gained a wealth of knowledge in the realm of therapeutic work, nutritional support for children and the art of Waldorf teaching, both grades and early childhood.

Heidi feels deeply rewarded to look back on over 19 years of Waldorf teaching, both Early Childhood and grades. At present, she lives in Talent, Oregon with her husband, Greg, and sons Ayani and Oliver. They love to garden together, fish in Oregon’s pristine, wild rivers and take trips to the Oregon coast with their three beagles!

Dara was born and raised in Ashland. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Music from SOU before moving to New York City, where she received her Master's in Education. She and her family spent a year and half living and traveling in Eastern Europe, before returning to the Rogue Valley in 2010, which is when she began her journey at Madrone Trail. She took her first class from first grade all the way through eighth grade, who graduated with flying colors in 2018. In 2019, Dara began the journey again with her second class of first graders, the Sunflower Class. Dara is passionate about Waldorf education and loves the Madrone Trail community deeply. She loves to share her passion for music, and her experience and knowledge with others in the community and thrives on connection and cooperation. Dara has three children of her own, all of whom also attend or have graduated from Madrone Trail.

As a Southern Oregon Native, Luke spent his childhood exploring the forests, rivers, and parks throughout the Rogue Valley. When he wasn’t climbing trees and getting dirty he was playing sports with his friends and brothers. His love of nature and the outdoors eventually turned into a personal and professional passion. He has spent over 2 decades educating youth both as a classroom teacher and an outdoor educator. In his formal education he received a BS in Environmental Science from Oregon State University and a Masters in Teaching from Southern Oregon University, though he would tell you that most of his education came from the many places he has traveled and lived, and his deep interest in the human experience.

After leading international teen service trips to places like East Africa and the Galapagos islands, and working as a wilderness leadership instructor, fate seemed to bring him to Waldorf education at the San Francisco Waldorf School, where he spent five years teaching science and outdoor education…and fell in love with the Waldorf way. Now, with his wife and two sons, he again calls Southern Oregon home. He loves being a part of the Madrone Trail community and supporting the mission to bring this wonderful education to the public.

Mateo Tryllium appeared on this Earthly scene in the heart of Dixie; Birmingham, Alabama. He discovered the magic of the wild at a young age, spending most of his free time playing imaginary games up the banks and down the creeks, deep in the woods of his ‘hoods. In the burbling songs of the brook, the enchanted aromas of the foliage, and the visionary illuminations of the green filtered sunbeams, his creativity ran wild. The vistas of his childhood fancies imprinted upon his soul the importance, nay, the necessity of a connection to the natural world and a belief that anything is possible.

He got bigger. He learned the ways of the other world; the one with rules, currencies, denominations, and degrees. But he never forgot the lessons of the forest. Feeling disheartened by the limited possibilities of formal education, he designed his own major entitled Creating Social Revolution Through Healing Ourselves and Our Mother Earth at Fairhaven College. He wished to devote his life to creating a sustainable future for subsequent generations through permaculture, alternative energy systems, and environmentally friendly methods of human habitation. However, he realized that a more important solution to the world’s growing problems lay in changing the paradigm that led to these problems in the first place. So after ten years of studying, trying to find the most effective way to save the planet, he discovered Waldorf education. Within two years had a Master’s in Education, a state credential for teaching in public schools, and a Waldorf teaching certificate.

Mateo has taught at Waldorf schools in British Columbia, Hawaii, Washington, Colorado, and Oregon. He brings his great enthusiasm for personal and planetary healing to children through stories, art, music, and dance. He is one of the founding teachers of Madrone Trail and is happy to see the genesis of this amazing school come to fruition.

Saul grew up in the Rogue Valley, enjoying the mountains, lakes, and beautiful wild places. He earned a bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Women’s Studies from the University of Oregon, with additional studies abroad at Oxford University, England and La Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, México. He then spent about 10 years living and volunteering with nonprofit organizations in Central and South America, studying indigenous handweaving in Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, and Mexico, as well as Samba and Capoeira in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, Brazil. Returning to the Rogue Valley, he worked for 3 years as a Special Education Aide before earning a Master's in Teaching from Southern Oregon University. He has since been a TSPC licensed teacher in local public schools, at the middle and high school level. His introduction to Waldorf education came through his daughters attending Waldorf preschool and Woodland Charter School in Murphy, where he spent 3 years as the Spanish teacher. Since 2021, Saul has had various roles at Madrone Trail, as a roving substitute teacher for all grades, and as a main lesson teacher for the graduating 8th grade class of 2023. As the new Social Emotional Advocate and 504 coordinator, Saul brings his love and support to our larger school community.

Nancy was born and raised in Pasadena CA. She loved working with her hands from a young age, starting with crochet, macramé, and sewing and moved on to weaving and knitting. Her parents enjoyed traveling and took her family on many adventures in the states and to Mexico. Nancy discovered the colorful markets in Mexico, mesmerized by the piles of textiles, full of intricate patterns and vibrant colors.

Nancy moved to Montana after spending a summer working in Yellowstone National Park. She attended the University of Montana and graduated with a degree in Visual Art with an emphasis in Fibers. She spent several summers during college working at Idyllwild Arts Summer Program, assisting Native American artists Blue Corn, Lucy Lewis, Rainbow Stevens and Juan Quezada. After graduating college, she joined the Peace Corps and spent 4 years working with a women’s weaving cooperative in Walkerswood, Jamaica. Nancy traveled to Peru, Ecuador, and Guatemala to travel and study with weavers. Nancy returned to Montana and ran a weaving program for adults with physical challenges. Nancy studied tapestry weaving with Rebecca Bluestone in Taos, New Mexico and purchased her first floor loom in Taos. Nancy taught weaving classes at the local yarn store in Missoula and later in her studio. She also started creating and selling her own weavings at craft fairs.
Nancy returned to the University of Montana and received her teaching certificate in Art and Spanish. She spent 5 years teaching Spanish and Fibers at Idyllwild Arts Academy and 4 years at Sentinel High School in Missoula. Nancy led student trips to Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru. Nancy took leave from work for 6 years while raising her son, Logan, and discovered Waldorf Education. She was part of a group of parents to initiate a Waldorf School in Missoula which now has a preschool.

Nancy continues to explore work with fibers. She is passionate about the need to teach children to use their hands to create works of beauty. She completed the Waldorf Handwork Teacher Training Program at Rudolf Steiner College. She loves to spend time with her family and friends, going on fun adventures to the coast, to the mountains, and to Latin America. She always carries a ball of wool in her handbag to create a new piece of beauty.

Profe was raised in the mountains of the high Sierra Nevadas. She enjoys sports, adventure, travel, and the outdoors were an integral part of her upbringing. Profe loves trail running, white water rafting, sewing, mountain biking and spending as much time outside as possible with her 2 dogs. After high school, Profe studied Spanish in Argentina as a Rotary foreign exchange student. When she returned she played basketball at College of the Siskiyous. The love of language and cultures inspired her to study abroad at the University of Guanajuato, Mexico as she earned her B.S. in anthropology from Southern Oregon University, and later completed her Master of Arts in teaching. Profe’s dedicated to student growth by getting children to live just outside their comfort zone, creating community in language, and to recover from mistakes quickly; life lessons that go beyond Spanish acquisition.

Amanda Gerig discovered her love of music as a six year old when she saw her first live musical, Sondheim's Into the Woods. She has been singing ever since! Choral singing has been a consistent source of enjoyment and inspiration in her life, which led her to pursue a bachelor of music degree at Oregon State University where she studied vocal performance and music education. Upon graduating, Amanda got married to her best friend and they moved to beautiful Seattle where she was a member with the Seattle Symphony Chorale. In 2010 they moved to the Rogue Valley to begin a family and stretch out a bit, establishing a 3 acre hobby farm and raising kids, both the human kind and the goat kind! Amanda has fallen in love with Southern Oregon and all of it's many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, as well as the thriving arts community. She has sung with various choirs, theaters and opera companies, and has also enjoyed teaching private voice and piano lessons. Aside from farming and music, Amanda is an avid reader and yoga enthusiast. Amanda first discovered Waldorf as she was researching homeschooling curriculum, and found ways to incorporate many Waldorf philosophies into their days. All three of her children now attend Madrone Trail, and she is excited to be combining her passions for Waldorf and for music into the choir program.

Jeff Roberson was born in Southern California and loved boogie boarding at the beach often while growing up. He also played many sports during his youth, including basketball, soccer and cross country. His main love was basketball and he was able to play pickup basketball games at local parks, pretty much year round due to the favorable southern California weather. Jeff fondly remembers his parents telling him, “Basketball can’t be your whole life.” Maybe not, but it certainly has come close.

Jeff has been an educator and a coach his entire adult life. With a master’s degree in Education, he has taught many grade levels-from preschool all the way up to 8th grade. He especially loves coaching basketball, and has coached youth basketball for over 15 years as well as high-level men’s wheelchair basketball for two years. He also published his Middle Grade fiction book: Homecourt. Currently, Jeff is the high school varsity Girls’ coach at Cascade Christian in addition to being the Math interventionist and athletic director here at Madrone Trail.

Jeff and his wife, Sarah, have four children and have enjoyed the role of being foster parents to several more as well. Jeff and Sarah were living in Long Beach, CA when they found out they were pregnant with their first child, 18 years ago. They had been to Medford several times already after Sarah’s father transferred within the Providence healthcare system. They decided Southern Oregon would be a great place to raise a family and made the move, which they have never regretted.

Suzanne was born in San Diego and moved to Oregon as a child. She graduated with a B.A. in History from Southern Oregon University and went on to attend the archeological field school at Boise State University. She then worked as an archeologist in Hawaii, Kansas and Idaho. After meeting her husband in Idaho she obtained a teaching credential there and taught both social studies and science at the middle school level for four years. Suzanne left teaching for eight years to stay at home with her daughters. Suzanne joined the Madrone Trail staff in 2020. She is so grateful to be a part of a staff that cares so well for their students. Outside of work Suzanne loves to travel and has been to Kenya, Iceland, Israel, Mexico, Canada, and many European countries. She, of course, loves to read and also enjoys baking, music, crafts and the beauty of Southern Oregon. Suzanne enjoys spending time with her three hilarious sisters, three lovely daughters, her wonderful husband and her “forever puppy,” Benny.

Ms. Rachel grew up in Northern California, in a small town among oceans and redwoods. There she started her journey working with children ages pre-K and younger at various Montessori schools around the Bay Area. From there Rachel worked as a nanny while she began her journey as a mother. Her and her family happily moved to Southern Oregon eight years ago, where they were first introduced to Madrone Trail and Waldorf education. After watching her eldest son flourish at Madrone Trail she quickly enrolled her two younger boys. Being involved with the school reinvigorated Rachel’s love for working with children. Last year when the opportunity was made available to work in her son’s kindergarten class she excitedly accepted. She has since sought out Waldorf based training for kindergarten and is happy to be working in the Little Hummingbirds kindergarten class this year. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, good music, her pup Haus, playing in the garden, and jewelry making.

Megan Shaw was born and raised in the Rogue Valley. She grew up in a large loving family and enjoys an active lifestyle. In her free time you’ll find Megan rock climbing, swimming, and hiking. She also loves reading, playing board games, crafting and baking. Megan comes from a long line of teachers and has enjoyed working with children from a young age. She spent much of her young adult life nannying and helping in her mother’s classroom, where she found she had a knack for working with young children. In 2011, Megan graduated from SOU with B.S. in biology with honors and a minor in chemistry, while at the same time graduating from the RCC EMT program. She then worked for Mercy Flights as an EMT for 2 years, upon which time she had her first bundle of joy. Megan now has two sons who both attend school at Madrone Trail. Filling many roles at our school in the last 3 years Megan has been a kindergarten assistant, substitute, 3rd grade assistant, part-time librarian and the Parent Council Chair. She is overjoyed to continue her fourth year of employment with Madrone Trail as the 3rd grade assistant.