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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.

Administration

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
  • M.Ed., Waldorf Education, Antioch University

  • B.A., International Communication and German

Bob Roberson

Director of Business Operations

Bob Roberson’s first engagement with Waldorf education came when his daughter enrolled in a pre-school class at Acorn Hill in Washington, DC. Both of his children continued their Waldorf Education when they moved to Pittsburgh in 1999. Bob has served on the Board of Waldorf School of Pittsburgh for five years and on the Finance Committee for all but one year since 2000. He was also part of a strategic planning group.

Education
  • B.S., Business Administration, University of North Carolina

Devon Wood

Director of Admissions and Marketing

Devon Wood has served as Director of Admissions and Marketing since 2011. She wears a second hat (figuratively and literally) at Waldorf School of Pittsburgh as a beekeeper for the school’s rooftop honeybee hives. Devon has over twenty years’ experience working for non-profit agencies, serving in management level positions in community mental health and faith-based services both in Pittsburgh and Central Pennsylvania. Devon and her husband came to Waldorf School of Pittsburgh in 2005, when their first child was 18 months old, for the parent-child Morning Garden program. She likes to say she used her degree and education the most with the discovery of Waldorf education and firmly choosing WSP as an educational home for her two children.

Education
  • M.Ed., State University of New York at Buffalo

  • B.S., Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State University

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
  • B.A., Elementary Education, Juniata College

  • Semester Study Abroad, York, England, University College of Ripon and York St. John

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
  • MFA, Performance Studies, California State University, Long Beach

  • ERYT500 Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga Teacher

  • Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, American Association of Drugless Practitioners

  • Certified in Plant-Based Nutrition, Cornell 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
  • City Charter High School

Anne Fowler

Community Outreach and Development Coordinator

Anne's professional pathway to nonprofit started through volunteering for social justice organizations and grew into a career choice. WSP's dedication to community and compassion is a perfect match. Previously at Literacy Pittsburgh, Anne joined WSP in 2019 where she writes grants for the school and offers development support. In her free time she paints and spends time with her husband and their dog, Boomer.

Education
  • MFA, Teaching (Elementary Education), Chatham Univeristy

  • MFA, Fine Art, Chatham University

  • B.A., Fine Art, Thiel College

Jennifer Moore

Marketing and Communications Support

With just 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
  • B.F.A., Graphic Design, Academy of Art University

  • B.A., Theater Arts, University of Pittsburgh

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
  • M.Ed., with Waldorf Teacher Certification, Antioch New England

  • 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
  • M.Ed., Waldorf Education, Sunbridge Institute

  • M.A., Literary and Cultural Studies, Carnegie Mellon University

  • B.A., Literature and Elementary Education, Allegheny College

2023–2024 Board of Trustees

Board Officers

Meghan Dann, President

Lisa Kulick, Vice President

Denese Giordano, Treasurer

Melissa Wagner, Secretary

Board Members

Kirsten Christopherson-Clark, Head of School

Dawn Penney, Parent Association Rep to the Board

Dr. Christal Edmunds, board member

Faculty Representatives

Robyn Thomas, Grades Faculty Chair

Jill Zihar, Secretary and Early Childhood Faculty Chair

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