Faculty & Staff
Katharine Woods, Head of School and Waldorf Teacher
Katharine Woods is a native of New York City, twelve-year resident of The Wood River Valley, and mother of a fifteen year old daughter. She graduated from The Rudolf Steiner College in San Francisco, California in 2000 with a credential to teach Waldorf kindergarten - Eighth grade. Katharine then taught at both The San Francisco and Santa Cruz Waldorf Schools in California for five years. She also started the non-profit organization called The Friends of the Earth Festival Company which offered art and theater after-school programs and produced seasonal festivals devoted to celebrating the gifts of the Earth. She is a certified permaculturist and the vision of opening a Waldorf school in this community has been deeply held for many years. Katharine's family is widely involved in educational projects around the world and is generously making the opening of this unique school possible for the youth of the Wood River Valley.
John Delorenzo, Primitive Wilderness, Animal Husbandry and Woodworking Teacher
John Delorenzo has been an essential member of The Mountain School team since the spring of 2006. He has been indispensable in overseeing the building of the school’s farm, play yard and classroom. John has been involved in animal husbandry and mountain man living all his life. He has raised six sons and one daughter and lived in the Philippines for five years and in Japan for eleven years building schools and teaching children both woodworking and animal husbandry. He has lived in Bellevue, Idaho for the last 12 years and is an avid bow hunter and mountain man. Before taking his position with The Mountain School John worked as a master finish carpenter and cowboy in the Wood River Valley. John was raised during his early years on a homestead in Arizona and then moved to Newport Beach California during his adolescence. He is currently 54 years of age and has three sons living in the valley.
Jessica Banks – Kindergarten Co-Teacher, born and raised in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, graduated from the Eugene, OR Waldorf Teacher Training Program in the summer of 2007. One short week after graduation, Jessica joined The Mountain School family for its grand opening. In the fall of 2007 Jessica co-taught the first Kindergarten class with Kate Woods and took the helm in January 2008 when Kate became the first grade teacher. During Jessica’s first summer on The Mountain School farm she met aspiring perma-culturist, Miles Teitge. The following year their precious son, Edyn Crow, could wait no longer and in January of 2009 Jessica took time to rest, birth and nurture Edyn. For the 2010-2011 school year, she rejoined our school as the Lead Preschool teacher. Jessica is looking forward to once again teaching in the Kindergarten this year with her talented co-teachers!
Bege Reynolds – Kindergarten Co-Teacher. Bege’s interest in teaching young children began in high school when she did her senior project on a comparison of public, Montessori and private school kindergartens. She then went on to receive her BA from The Evergreen State College as well as her Standard Elementary Teacher’s Certification in all subjects K-8 in 1985. She has taught in public schools, Montessori schools (Pioneer Montessori for the last several years) and outdoor schools on and off for 26 years. Her son Elliot came to TMS 4 years ago and through parent meetings, reading “Renewal” magazine, teacher talks, learning how to craft in the parent groups, participating in the festivals and garden parties, she saw the benefits for her son and embraced the Waldorf philosophies. Bege writes “ Waldorf education and it’s connection to nature, the outdoors, daily, weekly & yearly rhythms, gardening, singing and the arts appeals to me. The lessons of gratitude and reverence that Waldorf education teaches are important and make so much sense. I feel blessed to have had the Waldorf education for my son for 4 years and now want to help pass it on to other young children by teaching at TMS.”
Kerry Brokaw – Kindergarten Co-Teacher. Kerry credits her 4 children as being her best early childhood teachers. She has been a Waldorf parent for the past 19 years, and more recently worked as a Waldorf Early Childhood lead teacher, assistant and parent/child educator, one of her favorite jobs being at The Mountain Springs the year before last. Her husband, Bags, will teach at The Sage School this year.
Kerry received her BA in Latin American Studies from Harvard University
Travis Scott – Grades Assistant Teacher & OK Main Lesson Teacher. Travis Scott is a native of western Montana and grew up immersed in wilderness and animal care. Travis lives in Hailey with his wife, Carrie, and daughter, Cora, and is currently enrolled in the Micha-el Institute Waldorf Teacher Certification in Portland, Oregon. He earned a B.A. in English Literature from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky in 1995. Travis has a decade of experience as a wilderness river guide, has taught skiing and swimming, and has a wide range of woodworking skills. Travis has a passion for human growth and helping each person express their deepest potential. In addition to his Waldorf studies and teaching, Travis owns and operates The Well Life Center in Hailey, dedicated to innovative means of enhancing wellness and health.
Miles Teitge – Farm Lesson, Afterschool Teacher. Miles Teitge raised in the jungles of Vashon Island WA., transplanted to the high mountain desert in 1983. Graduated from the Community School, and decided to live and surf in Kauai, trek India, bike across the U.S. Studied Anthroposophy for a year at "Camphill Village, Copake" a Rudolph Stiener inspired community, assisting people with special needs. This was also the home of "Turtle Tree Seeds" which supplies biodynamically grown seeds. Deciding to follow the lineage of my dear mother...off to Seattle for my Bachelor's degree in education at Antioch University. Volunteering at the Seattle Tilth Children's Garden I continued with a keen interest in the plant devas. A world opened before me, while internshipping at the "Herb Pharm" in Williams, Oregon. Cultivating vegetables, medicinal herbs and mushrooms, seed saving, grafting, wildcrafting, bee-tending, humanure composting, etc: a lifetime of learning, skills that will only become more valuable! Reunited with Kate Woods shortly before the opening of the Mountain School, pleased that a new educational model and vision was being championed in the valley. The time was ripe, indeed. Met Miss Jessica and in March 2009 along came Edyn Crow Teitge, my son and personal hero. Other heros include Paul Stamets, Richo Cech and all attemping to listen deeply to our mother earth. I look forward to 2011-2012 and what
leaps of understanding we will share!
Svea Grover – Office Manager, has been a TMS parent for the last 5 years with her two children Eva and Anja beginning with the playgroups in 2007. Anja then joined the KG in 2007. After learning more about the Waldorf philosophy through the parent evenings and all of the school’s beautiful activities, she and husband Chris decided this was also the best place for her 2nd grader Eva. Eva had two amazing years here at TMS with 2nd & 3rd Grades. Anja will enter 2nd grades this year. Svea received her B.S. from Northern Arizona Univ. in Hotel & Restaurant Mgt., has worked as Tournament Coordinator for the Danny Thompson Memorial, was Marketing Manager for the Park City Chamber and Transportation Coordinator for the Sun Valley Wine Auction. She has also worked for many years as a cross-country ski coach for SVSEF and is working to grow her small craft business, Noodles & Doodles.
Kristal Georgiades – Office Assistant, Preschool Administrator
Joined the Mountain School with her daughter in 2007 starting with the Parent Child Play Groups. Her Daughter Sophia enrolled in the first Preschool in 2008. Kristal has learning about Waldorf philosophy for many years prior to the Mountain School, but has never been as immersed and surrounded by its beauty like she has these last few years while her daughter has been here. Sophia will be enrolled in the OK program this coming year. Kristal went to the San Francisco Art Institute as well as the University of Santa Barbara. In 2002 she moved to Idaho after meeting her husband Jason and then to Bellevue where her grew up. She has worked for the El Capitan Canyon Resort as an Assistant Coordinator, Office Manager at a Demo. Unlimited, Accounts receivable for Palouse Properties and accounts payable for Idaho Lumber as well as office Manager for Renaissance Public Charter School. She also assistant taught with Tammy Hood, and is currently running the Parent Child Program at the Mountain School.
Maria Geopfert-Maquire – Spanish Teacher
Sandy Kelly – CPA. Sandy joined The Mountain School staff in February 2010 as accountant and CFO. Sandy brings 30 years of business knowledge to maintain fluidity and efficiency of school finances, and fiscal reporting to the Board of Directors. Sandy graduated from University of California at Santa Barbara in 1982, worked for Arthur Andersen, taught skiing in Squaw Valley, and lived in a VW van in Europe for a year before relocating to the Wood River Valley in 1990. Sandy worked for POWER Engineers for 17 years until starting her own consulting firm several years ago. Sandy is raising triplets (River, Sage and Timber) who will be high school freshman this fall. Sandy loves parenting, skiing, soccer and backpacking and never misses a Sun Valley Gallery walk for a cultural fix.