Our Leadership & Staff
Waldorf School of Pittsburgh is proud of its exceptionally dedicated and experienced staff. The staff works collaboratively with our faculty to ensure we are striving to meet our school's mission and vision while living our values.
Leadership Circle
Kirsten Christopherson-Clark
Head of School
Kirsten Christopherson-Clark was a Class Teacher prior to moving into administration at Waldorf School of Pittsburgh (WSP) in 2011. In addition to teaching at WSP, Kirsten taught at the Waldorf School of Milwaukee, the Urban Waldorf School, and Spring Garden Waldorf School. She served as faculty chair, mentor, Interim Administrator, and Expansion Coordinator prior to becoming Head of School. Kirsten and her husband, John, delight in being parents of a WSP student.
Education
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M.Ed., Waldorf Education, Antioch University
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B.A., International Communication and German
Robyn Thomas
Grades Faculty Chair; Grade 6
Ms. Thomas began her path of discovery in Waldorf education with the birth of her daughter, twenty years ago. Ms. Thomas taught in public schools throughout Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts before working at Waldorf School of Pittsburgh as the After School Program Director. She became a class teacher in 2001 and has held various positions at the school, including Director of State Licensing, Enrollment and Marketing Assistant, and Morning Garden Assistant.
Education
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M.Ed., with Waldorf Teacher Certification, Antioch New England
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B.S., Elementary Education, Armstrong Atlantic State University
Jill Zihar
Early Childhood Faculty Chair, Buttercup Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Miss Jill always knew that she wanted to be a teacher and when she found Waldorf education she knew that the loving, creative, magical environment was where she wanted to teach. In 2002, she started working for Waldorf School of Pittsburgh as the After School Director and the following year became a Kindergarten teacher. From 2007–2012, she taught in a mixed-age Kindergarten at Waldorf School of Philadelphia. In 2012, Jill and her family returned to Pittsburgh where she has taught Nursery and Kindergarten. She finds joy in teaching, reading, cooking, and watching her own children experience Waldorf education as they move through the grades.
Education
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M.Ed., Waldorf Education, Sunbridge Institute
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M.A., Literary and Cultural Studies, Carnegie Mellon University
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B.A., Literature and Elementary Education, Allegheny College
Administration
Emily Bush
Interim Director of Admissions and Marketing
Emily’s first glimpse with Waldorf education began with a tour of a Philadelphia area school as part of her graduate school studies. Fast forward several years and the Morning Garden program at WSP became the perfect fit for both her children as they moved into a school environment. With 12 years of experience as a small business owner, Emily relies on her communication and organizational skills to share the values and curriculum of a Waldorf education with prospective families.
Education
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MES, University of Pennsylvania
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B. Arch, Carnegie Mellon University
Fleming Davis
Custodian and Facilities Assistant
Fleming Davis comes to us with eight years of professional cleaning experience, one of which was this past year as a member of our former cleaning company. On occasion last year, Fleming was a substitute driver on one of our bus routes — quickly becoming among our students’ favorite drivers. We are thrilled to introduce him as our full-time janitor beginning in 2020. Fleming is the proud father of an infant son who is still too young for our programming, but we look forward to him joining our student body in the years to come!
Education
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City Charter High School
Jennifer Moore
Marketing and Communications Consultant
With over 15 years of experience creating brands and marketing materials in the nonprofit and higher education sectors, Jenn brings a rich set of skills and experiences to Waldorf School of Pittsburgh. With a background in human-centered design, Jenn is passionate about understanding people's needs and developing solutions to meet those needs. Jenn is so excited to put her skills and passion to use in service of WSP, where her daughter is in the class of 2029.
Education
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B.F.A., Graphic Design, Academy of Art University
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B.A., Theater Arts, University of Pittsburgh
Mark Staley
Facilities Manager
Mark's journey to Waldorf School of Pittsburgh began in 2013 when he and his wife adopted two young boys. "Waldorf education has been the best support for our kids and has helped us become better parents." With over 30 years experience in the theater arts and 20 years in the business sector, Mr. Staley brings to all his work a unique set of diverse and multifaceted skills. He is an excellent and engaging communicator with innovative organizational skills adaptable to the needs of a variety of projects through collaborative and creative problem-solving. A lifelong learner and health practitioner, Mark teaches yoga, meditation, healthy eating, acting, and movement.
Education
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MFA, Performance Studies, California State University, Long Beach
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ERYT500 Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga Teacher
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Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, American Association of Drugless Practitioners
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Certified in Plant-Based Nutrition, Cornell University
Dave Taylor
Director of Finance and Business Operations
David Taylor recently joined Waldorf School of Pittsburgh in September 2023. Previously he led financial teams in the pharmaceutical industry before retiring and wanting to work in the not-for-profit industry. A proud dad to four daughters, he and his wife Jackie recently moved from NJ to Pittsburgh to be closer to family.
Education
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MBA, St. John's University, NY NY
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B.S., Finance, Rutgers University School of Business, New Brunswick, NJ
Jen Widich
Front Office and Family Communication Manager
Jen Widich is our Front Office and Family Communication Manager. She comes to us with thirteen years of teaching experience followed most recently by two years as the Director of Brightside Academy in McKees Rocks. Jen has had the meaningful experience of teaching Kindergarten and English to children while living in Okinawa, Japan for three and a half years. She brings a warm, steady presence and deep commitment to the teamwork required for a well-run school.
Education
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B.A., Elementary Education, Juniata College
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Semester Study Abroad, York, England, University College of Ripon and York St. John
2023–2024 Board of Trustees
Board Officers
Dr. Christal Edmunds, President
Lisa Kulick, Vice President
Melissa Wagner, Secretary
Board Members
Kirsten Christopherson-Clark, Head of School
Dawn Penney, Parent Association Rep to the Board
Faculty Representatives
Robyn Thomas, Grades Faculty Chair
Jill Zihar, Secretary and Early Childhood Faculty Chair