W O O D L A N D S T A R C H A R T E R S C H O O L

Learning to think, to care, to create.

17811 Arnold Drive, SonomaCA95476

May 1, 2015

Dear Soon-to-be-First Grade Parents,

We are very pleased to inform you that we have hired Tiffany Burningham (current WSS first grade assistant teacher) as next year’s first grade class teacher. Wewant to thank you for your patience as we conducted a thorough and careful hiring process to find the teacher whom we feel is best suited to lead this wonderful class of children.

As some of you may know, Tiffany has been this year’s 1st grade assistant teacher and has done a wonderful job in that class.

Tiffany came to Waldorf education via her life experiences growing up on a Biodynamic farm in the Sonoma Valley. She describes her upbringing as idyllic and filled with memories and experiences that have strongly informed her choice of study and career as an adult. Tiffany attended local public schools for grades K-12, received her B.A. in Cultural Anthropology with a minor in Studio Art from San Francisco State and is currently enrolled in a joint Waldorf credential/Masters in Education program at Rudolf Steiner College. To date Tiffany has completed her Waldorf training for grades 1-6. The coursework needed to complete her Master’s degree in education will be held over until and finished up in the summer of 2016. This summer she will be attending the Art of Teaching Grade 1 designed for teachers working in Waldorf charter schools. Beginning in the fall Tiffany will be enrolled in a public teaching credential program.

Although this will be Tiffany’s first lead class teaching assignment, we are confident, after seeing her work in this year’s first grade class that she is well prepared and ready for the challenge. She impressed the hiring committee with her teaching demonstration and interview and was very grounded, clear, and thoughtful in all of her responses.

In addition to the training she will receive this summer and learning acquired in her teacher credential program, she will receive mentoring support from Heather Graham, who has years of experience training beginning teachers on integration of public school standards with the developmental pacing of the Waldorf curriculum and in the area of reading instruction. Heather will collaborate on lesson planning, best teaching practices and how to cover standards necessary to meet mandates without compromising our developmental approach.

To further support Tiffany, we will be placing an experienced aide in the classroom and provide mentoring support from Robert, Sheila and members of our experienced faculty, as needed. We are thrilled to have her join our faculty and look forward to having our collegial body richer for the new ideas, creativity and inspiration she’s sure to bring.

We look forward to introducing you to Tiffany and would like to hold a Meet and Greet event on Thursday, May 21st from 6-7 pm. This will be an opportunity for parents to meet and converse with Tiffany. We will be providing complimentary childcare for those with an advanced reservation. To reserve a spot for your child(ren) ages 4 and up, please contact the office at: .

Thank you and we hope to see you on the 21st.

Sheila Reilly, Administrator

Robert Bucher, Education Director

Heather Graham, Assistant Administrator

Ph: (707)996-3849 Fax: (707)996-4369