FACULTY & STAFF

Santiago has enjoyed an international performance and teaching career. Baena started his music studies at the school of music of his hometown La Ceja, Antioquia, Colombia, where served as principal clarinet and woodwind instructor. Click to read more or to contact Santiago.

Jacqui has gracefully stepped into the role of Administrative Director and is doing a wonderful job. Jacqui has been with the school for the past 7 years in various roles. She started out as our grant writer and then moved to Assistant Office Manager and jack of all trades, which she still is that!

Brita is a Southern California native, but happily became a New England resident after attending college in New Hampshire and falling in love with the region. She has always had an appreciation for the musicality of language and is fluent in Latvian as well as German. Click to read more or to contact Brita.

Francesca was born and raised in Modena, Italy and attended the University of Bologna. She worked in the classroom in Italy from 1994 to 2010 before moving to the US. She has been with Seacoast Waldorf School since 2012. Click to read more or to contact Francesca.

Maureen has been with the SWS community since 2016. She comes here with many years of experience in the textile arts as a quilt maker and quilt shop owner. She has taught quilting to children and adults.

Maureen brings a willingness to learn, share and create with the wonderful students. She loves sharing fiber arts to the campers in her Fiber Arts Camps.

Maureen enjoys living in Eliot with her husband Mark. She is a member of the Eliot Aging in Place Committee.

Miss Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in Early childhood education administration and has completed her Lifeways certification as part of her Waldorf training. She has been working in the early childhood field as a teacher and administrator for 18 years. Click to read more or to contact Jennifer.

Martha grew up on a farm in the Seacoast area. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Physical Education (Kinesiology) as well as her Master’s of Education in Early Childhood Education, Special Needs from the University of New Hampshire. Martha also attended the Spatial Dynamics Institute and completed the Level I training. Click to read more or to contact Martha.

Sara grew up in Louisiana, where she studied and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Architecture from Louisiana State University. She was originally drawn to Waldorf Education through her love of fibers and Handwork. After receiving her Waldorf Teaching Certificate from Antioch University New England, Sara taught Handwork to grades 1-8 for many years before becoming a grades teacher. Click to read more or to contact Sara.

Dennis attended Anderson University in Indiana where he earned a BA in History and Art and Design. After graduation he worked as a journalist for a small, local paper in Maine and began substituting in local public schools, where his love of working with children began. He has worked as an outdoor educator in the White Mountains and on the North Shore of Massachusetts, as well as in special education. Click to read more or to contact Dennis.

Wendy grew up in Wisconsin where she attended a small, liberal arts high school based on the philosophies of Henry David Thoreau, and was first introduced to Waldorf Education during her senior year research project. She went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she studied Biology and Literature. Click to read more or to contact Wendy.

Lisa Eggold grew up in Illinois and received her BA in Early Childhood Education from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in 2002. She was the lead preschool teacher at Our Savior’s Lutheran School in Springfield, Illinois, before moving to Maine to teach at Seacoast Waldorf School. Click to read more or to contact Lisa

Trish is very excited to be back at SWS after working for 11 years as an aftercare teacher, nursery teacher, and parent/child teacher. Now she gets to explore the other side of Waldorf Education as an aide in the 4/5 grade classroom.

Trish has also worked at Waldorf School of Great Barrington, Saratoga Waldorf School and Little Harbor Waldorf School in Sag Harbor, NY, where she was a mixed-aged kindergarten teacher.

When not working Trish loves taking Tai Chi and Zumba classes, doing crossword puzzles, sewing, and swimming in the ocean.

Martina grew up in Toronto, Canada, and received an Hon. B.A. in Human Biology and a Masters in Political Science as well as an M.B.A. in 2009. She started her time at the Seacoast Waldorf School in 2017, when her oldest child entered the nursery and was a kindergarten assistant teacher from 2019 until 2022. Martina lives in Portsmouth with her husband and 2 boys. She spends most of her time outdoors with her boys, hiking, camping, skiing, and exploring the beautiful seacoast.

Christina grew up in Vermont spending her time amongst the mountains. She attended the University of Vermont where she earned a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Child Development. Before joining Seacoast Waldorf School she was a Family Service Specialist with Head Start in Massachusetts. Christina always dreamed of living near the ocean and now lives in Wells with her husband and two children. She has a love for the beach, nature, dance and art.

Phyllis received her MS Ed in Waldorf Education from Sunbridge College, Chestnut Ridge, NY. She has been a 1 - 5 Class Teacher in Connecticut, Kindergarten Teacher at Tidewater (now SWS) and 1 - 8 Class Teacher at Merriconeag (now Maine Coast) in Freeport. She has served as a Waldorf board member, block & subject teacher, and mentor; as well as her granddaughters’ Covid home school teacher. Phyllis lives in Bath, stays in Eliot, and visits her daughter Kate in Mexico where, Phyllis is delighted to say, all three grandchildren are happily enrolled at Escuela Raices, the Waldorf school in Cholula. 

Guinevere is so excited to be joining Seacoast Waldorf this year as the  Assistant Teacher in the Periwinkle classroom. After receiving her B.F.A. in Acting from New York University, Guinevere spent many years pursuing acting and directing.  After starting a family, Guinevere transitioned to teaching performing arts to students of all ages and in several disciplines. Guinevere is so excited to follow a childhood dream of working with young children in a warm, vibrant, and creative environment!

Lisa’s family has its roots in Portsmouth but she grew up in Concord, MA. After earning a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and Italian from Connecticut College and a Master’s from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, she moved to Italy. Lisa was introduced to anthroposophy at the Bologna Waldorf school where her two children began their education in 1995. Click to read more or to contact Lisa.

Kayla was born and raised right in Kittery, Maine and now resides in Dover, Nh. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Integrative Studies from the University of North Texas and is currently working on her Master's in Nature-Based Early Childhood Education at Antioch University New England. She has been working with children for the last 9 years in a variety of settings from nannying and child advocacy, to running a homeschool pod. She is super excited to be a part of the Seacoast Waldorf School community this year. When not at school she loves to hike, read, sew, ski, travel, and go out to breakfast. 

Frieda spent most of her childhood in a small town outside of Nairobi, Kenya. Her mother was a teacher and her father continued his studies in genetics and following various species in the wild. Frieda graduated from Smith College with a Bachelors in Psychology. She traveled after college for many years and landed in Brooklyn, NY for 8 years working in the hospitality business and various internships in photography. A New England native on her Mother’s side, she moved back to Southern Maine with her husband and currently lives in Eliot, now with two young boys. She is pursuing her degree in Waldorf Education with Antioch University and finds Waldorf curriculum to be extremely nourishing to the spiritual realm of the human being.

Alexandra “Alex” Krauth has been teaching chorus to the elementary and middle school students at SWS since 2014. She also teaches music at Brixham Montessori Friends School. She received a BA in Music for Elementary Teachers from Keene State College. Click to read more or to contact Alexandra.

Molly grew up in the Seacoast and attended Lesley University, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Expressive Arts Therapy, and a minor in Education. Molly has previously worked at Philip’s Exeter Academy’s Harris Family Children’s Center, Connections for Kids, and as a Personal Caregiver for elderly and disabled clients. Though she has spent her career caring for people along the full spectrum of life, she always finds her way back to early childhood. She is excited to join the early childhood team and looks forward to furthering her education in the Waldorf Philosophy. 

Katrina is very excited to be working at Seacoast Waldorf School this year. She went to Keene State College and received her Bachelors in Nutrition, but very soon realized that her passion was working directly with people, especially children. She worked her first year in a school last year and really enjoyed it, but decided to make the switch to SWS when she realized how many of her students would benefit from a teaching style like those at SWS. In her free time she enjoys writing, reading, cooking, doing anything outdoors, and spending time with family. 

Paula holds a B.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Social Work and Counseling from Franklin Pierce College. After working in the Mental Health field for several years, she married and had two children. Paula was able to stay home and raise her children while running a small home-based daycare. Click to read more or to contact Paula.

Alison is a graduate of the University of Vermont with a degree in Plant and Soil Science. Although this degree is a far cry from enrollment, her many pursuits have brought her to this place. Click to read more or to contact Alison.

Mira was born and grew up in Germany. She attended a waldorf school from the age of 3 through high school. Her favorite aspects about waldorf education were the hands-on learning and natural materials in the room, and the setting which made her feel secure and created a space to develop creativity and social learning. After traveling New Zealand for one year, she went to university were she earned a bachelors degree in social work. During this time she met her future husband, and after working as an early childhood educator in Germany for two years they moved to the US. This past year they found home in South Berwick.
Mira and her husband John enjoy nature adventures with their two boys. They love camping, hiking, going to the beach. Mira’s most memorable hike in Maine was summering Mount Katahdin.

Amy holds her Master's in Elementary Education and is completing her Waldorf Birth to Seven training with Sophia's Hearth. She is pleased to join the early childhood faculty and to have her family join the Seacoast Waldorf school community. Click to read more or to contact Amy.