Subject Teachers

Susan Cheyenne, Handwork Teacher (Grades 1-4)
Susan is a graduate of the Child Development Program at the University of Connecticut. It wasn’t until she found Waldorf Education for her children that the search for a harmonious educational philosophy and curriculum jelled for her. With a strong upbringing in handcrafts, the discovery of doll making at the Green Mountain Waldorf School captured her imagination. She has created a bevy of dolls for many children across Vermont. Susan started her class room career as an assistant handwork teacher at Green Mountain Waldorf School in 1999. In 2002 she started with the third grade at the Three Rivers School as the handwork teacher. This position has grown and evolved to her current position and she has taught handwork to grades 1 through 8. Susan completed her training for Applied Arts at Sunbridge College. Susan lives in the beautiful hills of Vermont. Her son Sequoya lives at the Camphill community in Hudson, NY. Her son Uriah is an Art major in college.

Grace Chris, Music Teacher
Grace recently graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. Throughout her years at college she taught at all levels including teaching recorder to 3rd grade, high school chorus at Champlain Valley Union High School, and grades 1-8 general music and band at Hinesburg Community School. Outside of school she has directed the St. Paul’s Youth Chorus in Burlington, was president of UVM’s Music Education National Conference club, and taught music at a preschool in Burlington. Grace also plays many instruments and sings in numerous ensembles around Vermont, including Bella Voce of Burlington and GMYS in Montpelier. She is very excited to begin her first of many years of teaching and is so grateful for the support and love given to her at this school.

Jane Hill, Movement Teacher
Originally from Ontario, Canada, Jane has come to love Vermont and to call it home. She came to the area having chosen OVWS as the Waldorf school for her two children, and as they began their journey through the grades, so did Jane begin her journey as a Middle School grades teacher at OVWS. Jane has graduated our first two eighth grade classes, and has presently become our grades one through eight movement teacher. Jane enjoys the beauty of the four seasons of Vermont, and knows there’s no better place to enjoy teaching outdoors than on our beautiful campus. She also finds it a pleasure to work with and get to know the children in all of the grades.

Heinz Rathmann, Woodworking
Heinz lives in Braintree with his partner, Ellen, and their new puppy, Charlie. He is originally from Germany, but has lived the last twenty-six years in Vermont, a state that he has fallen in love with. Heinz discovered the gift of woodworking at the age of fourteen. It became a passion and a real focus for him. After college and an apprenticeship in Germany, Heinz entered the Civil Service and introduced woodworking to folks needing healing therapy from drug abuse. Following his arrival in Vermont, Heinz began his work in the local Waldorf schools among others. For sixteen years he has taught at the Green Mountain School, Wellspring Waldorf School, Upper Valley Waldorf School, Montpelier High School and others. One of his most treasured projects is the Peace Monument next to the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in downtown Montpelier. In addition to teaching, Heinz is a professional woodworker who crafts beautiful cabinetry.

Meg Scherbatskoy, Handwork Teacher (Grades 5-8)

Geraldine Vatan, French Teacher
Géraldine Béatrice Vatan was born in Paris, France. She grew up between the city and her grand mother mamie Odile’s farm house in the Sologne center region. She spent the summers in the Alps and in the Bordeaux region with her cousin Appoline. Her love of stories and words was well fed at the university where she studied Literature and Theater. During her studies, she traveled to Madagascar on a grant to learn about oral theater with the Hira Gasi troups. After finishing her Masters, she received a fellowship to come to the United States, where she partnered with the University of Massachusetts to research the first French translations of Gospels and Negro Spirituals. She completed her graduate studies at Umass Amherst, and taught French language, culture, literature and cinema there, while working as a translator- interpreter with the Umass Translation Center. She met her husband Josh as she was preparing to return to France, and instead headed north with him to build a house and find out what Vermont was all about. She has taught French to all generations, including preschoolers and seniors. She loves the Waldorf approach to teaching, because it encompasses all that she believes in: active, playful, and artistic learning, poetry, singing, and storytelling. When she is not teaching, she can be found eating with family and friends, dancing the swing, practicing yoga and capuera, and exploring the outdoors.

Rachel Wisdom, Educational Support Teacher
One of Rachel’s earliest childhood memories is of playing “school” with her younger sister. Rachel was always the one playing the teacher, much to her sister’s chagrin. After graduating from college with a liberal arts degree, Rachel decided that she would either follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a teacher, or her father’s and become a librarian. Being Assistant Head of Circulation was interesting, but when she tried a position as a Preschool Teacher she knew she’d found something special! Rachel received her Master’s of Education from Lesley College in Cambridge, with a dual degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. She also holds a Certificate in Early Childhood Education from UCSD. Rachel came to Waldorf education through her daughter, Katje. During Katje’s year in Kindergarten at Green Meadow Waldorf School, Rachel discovered the joy of Parent Handwork. When Katje entered the first grade, Rachel entered the Applied Arts Program at Sunbridge College. In March of 2011, Rachel graduated from that program. Rachel lives in South Burlington with her daughter, who attends Lake Champlain Waldorf School. During their free time, Rachel and Katje like to read together, go biking, go swimming, and play with their dog, Sophie.