Meet our teachers

A woman sitting on a tree stump outdoors, holding a baby goat, smiling, with trees and a small shed in the background.

  • Sommer brings a rich and diverse background to her work as an educator. She holds a BA in Educational and Cultural Studies from Evergreen State College, a Waldorf Teaching Certificate from Sound Circle Center in Seattle, and a Permaculture Design Certificate from Lost Valley in Oregon. Her strong work ethic was shaped early on through her time as a wildland firefighter in Oregon, and her understanding of human and ecological relationships grew through extensive travel—volunteering on organic farms across Europe and studying Spanish and cultural immersion in Central and South America. Her fieldwork in Mexico in wildlife biology, with a focus on ornithology and botany, also continues to inform her nature-centered approach to teaching.

    For over 15 years, Sommer has devoted herself to nurturing and educating children of all ages. She has taught in a variety of settings, including the Seattle Tilth Children’s Garden, AmeriCorps programs, Brightwater Waldorf School in Seattle, and as a teacher at Windsong School in Spokane. Through these experiences, she has developed a deep appreciation for the rhythms of childhood, the importance of meaningful work, and the power of imaginative play.

    Sommer is continually inspired by the wisdom of Waldorf education and the healing presence of nature and animals. Her teaching is grounded, heartfelt, and alive with the magic of the natural world—guided always by her most beloved mentor: Mother Nature herself.

  • Since childhood, Hayden has cherished the outdoors through activities like camping, hiking, fishing, skiing, and spending long, hot summer days at the lake. With five years of experience as a nanny, she had a remarkable opportunity in 2019 to be a live-in nanny in Oahu, Hawaii, where she connected deeply with the ocean and the interconnectedness of all living things.

    After returning to the Northwest, Hayden welcomed the birth of her baby daughter and has been diligently pursuing a degree in teaching. As a mother, one of eight siblings, and an aspiring teacher, she is genuinely intrigued by the Waldorf method and is excited to be part of it firsthand.

  • Nature and the life within it has always been a passion for Sami. She grew up on a farm in Central Florida, rescuing animals and riding horses, experiences that shaped her love of learning and care for others. She has a natural curiosity and enjoys spending her time engaged in creative hobbies, caring for animals, gardening, and staying active through movement.

    Sami holds a gymnastics coaching certification and has three years of combined experience teaching in Florida and Vermont. Her approach centers on building a meaningful relationship between the child and the activity, helping children develop confidence, healthy habits, and joyful memories. She delights in encouraging children to discover what makes them who they are and nurturing those qualities with care.

    Sami is devoted to making a positive difference in the lives of children and adults alike, supporting their growth with warmth and intention. She dreams of one day tending her own homestead, caring for animals, cultivating a flourishing garden, and raising a family of her own.”

A young woman with long brown hair smiling outdoors in a wooded area. She is wrapped in a brown and beige plaid blanket, with trees and patches of snow on the ground in the background.

  • Cory has been known as a village auntie for over 20 years. In recent years she was the after care lead at the Waldorf School in Sandpoint, and also a rotating lead at a forest pre-school in Taos, NM. 

    While at university, family work beckoned Cory, leading her to study and practice as a doula in support of birth, post partum, and end of life. Simultaneously, 13 years as a licensed massage therapist has continued to stoke the passion of studying human physiology and development, emotional intelligence, and tending to the nervous system. Children and animals have taught her some of her deepest lessons, as did her travels globally and within. Rudolf Steiner and Bell Hooks have shaped her studies, as well as the 8 limb path of yoga, and indigenous practices of Hawaii and Thailand, among other cultures closer to home.  

A woman with long blonde hair smiling outdoors against green foliage.

  • Melissa Cotter is an adventure seeker, outdoor lover and mother of a spirited little one. Having an 8 year career as an orthodontic assistant doing bill paying and ordering, Melissa decided to slow down life and become a stay at home mom. It was then she found Blessing Farm and Forest, a beautiful outdoor school for her son. Soon after, an administrative position opened up and it was a perfect fit with her passion for organization, personal finance, and still being connected with her son’s learning experience.