Faculty – Class Teachers
Taylor Womac Parent Child & Bridge Teacher ~ Wildflower Garden & Second Grade Co-Teacher
Taylor’s journey into Waldorf education began in 2018, when she and her oldest child first stepped into Great Oak School’s Parent-Child classroom. She was immediately inspired by the beauty and intention of the Waldorf and Anthroposophical philosophies, and soon began weaving these principles into the rhythm of her home life. In 2023, Taylor joined the faculty at Great Oak School as the Parent-Child and Bridge Assistant, also lending her warmth and care to the Kindergarten in the afternoons. The following year, she served as the First Grade Co-Lead, Parent-Child Lead, and Kindergarten Assistant. Having moved gracefully through a variety of age groups, Taylor now finds her home in the Wildflower Garden, where she leads the Parent-Child and Bridge Program. A native Texan, Taylor earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Creative Studies from Texas A&M University. She began her Waldorf Teacher Training with Gradalis in the summer of 2025. When not in the classroom, Taylor cherishes time with her husband and three children. She finds joy in reading, walking, cooking nourishing meals, journaling, crafting, creating a cozy home, camping under the wide western sky, and learning new skills that nurture both heart and hands.
Lindsey Schnell Preschool Teacher ~ Butterfly Garden
Lindsey joined Great Oak School as an assistant for the Rose Garden in 2015 and began her Waldorf Teacher Training at Pleaides Initiative in Austin the same year. She grew up in the West Texas town of Midland where she worked in the oil and gas industry. Lindsey has four children ranging from 25 to 12. She has been involved in community theatre as an actor, director and stage hand. She is also a runner, a vegetarian, a recent convert to trough gardening, and a live music fan.
Mary Leigh Hall Preschool Teacher ~ Honeybee Hive
Mary began her journey at Great Oak when her youngest daughter, now 5, started attending our parent-child program at the age of 2. It was during this time that she fell in love with our school and the Waldorf philosophy, sparking an insatiable curiosity about Steiner’s teachings and Waldorf education. Mary has taken several classes focused on early childhood rhythm and structure to enhance her understanding of Waldorf practices and began her full-time position as our lead bridge program teacher and kindergarten assistant at the beginning of the 2024/2025 school year. In summer 2025 she began a program to receive her Waldorf Early Childhood Certificate, deepening her commitment to this educational approach. She is a mother of two wonderful daughters, including an 18-year-old who is currently navigating her college journey. Mary cherishes spending time with her girls, exploring new restaurants, discovering local coffee shops, and enjoying cozy evenings around a fire with good music.
Vanessa Williams Kindergarten Teacher - Mushroom Garden
Vanessa has been with Great Oak School since 2018. She holds two degrees in Classical music, several certifications in teaching music, has earned her certification in Early Childhood studies from the West Coast Institute for Studies in Anthroposophy and is nearing the completion of her Waldorf Music Teachers Certification through Sunbridge Institute. She loves sharing the daily rhythm and rhythm of the week with her young students, with a big emphasis on music, handwork, developmental movement, and outdoor exploration. Her musical experience is hard at work, accompanying eurythmy classes and instructing general music here at Great Oak School. Vanessa’s personal hobbies include writing and recording folk music for children, hiking and yoga. She resides in Tomball with her family, where she also teaches piano out of her home studio.
Rachel Muehlmann Kindergarten Teacher - Song Bird Garden
Rachel grew up in Canada and New England, and has lived in the Houston area for 6 years. A Waldorf student from kindergarten through 12th grade, she loves the Waldorf curriculum and strives to bring some of the wonder, beauty, and goodness of her own kindergarten experience to the classroom today. Rachel holds a Bachelor’s degree in History and an MFA in Creative Writing in Poetry and completed her Waldorf Early Childhood teacher training in the summer of 2022. She lives with her librarian husband and twin sons, and enjoys swimming in large bodies of water, staring into tree canopies, cooking, reading and singing, among so many other things!
Bruna Martins First Grade Teacher
Bruna was born in Brazil, where she acquired a Bachelor’s degree in Geology and later a Bachelor’s degree in Portuguese and French (this second Bachelor’s degree was completed by studying in the evening while she was working as a Geologist). Upon the completion of this second degree, she made the decision to change her career to become a teacher and began to teach language to adults. In 2017, when she became a mother, she also discovered Waldorf Education, this and other pedagogical explorations led her to get her Master’s degree in Linguistic Studies. She specifically studied Plurilingual Education which she feels aligns well with Waldorf Education by recognizing each human being as unique with an emphasis on cultural diversity. Since beginning her teaching career, she has taught adults and children – refugees and college students – in France, Brazil, and the US.
Mara Bernal Second Grade Teacher
Originally from Colombia, Mara earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education with an emphasis on language teaching. For many years, she taught in her home country, where she developed strong connections with international schools and the IB program. In 2009, she moved to Austin, Texas, and continued her career at an international school with a Spanish immersion program, where she taught for another ten years. During this time, she pursued several trainings in curriculum design, assessment, inquiry-based learning, and mathematics, developing a special passion for teaching elementary math. Afterward, she devoted a few years to raising her son. When it was time to choose a school for him, she was drawn to a Waldorf curriculum. Having already been studying Waldorf pedagogy, she felt deeply inspired by its gentle pace and nurturing rhythm. While her son was in the Bridge class, she fell in love with Great Oak School, where her inspiration to dive deeper into Waldorf education led her to join the faculty. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, gardening, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Karina Cole Third Grade Teacher
Karina was introduced to Waldorf education in 2020 through an internship at Bright Water Waldorf School in Seattle, Washington. After studying comparative education in her undergrad, discovering Waldorf felt like the missing puzzle piece she was looking for. She finally found a school with happy children, beautiful classrooms, and teachers who loved their work. Karina continued her studies in New England at Antioch University, while also working as a kindergarten assistant at Monadnock Waldorf School. In 2022, she completed her Master of Waldorf Education, finishing her practicum at Honolulu Waldorf School in Hawaii. She worked there for two years, taking on the same 1st grade class, she had interned with Spring before. Eventually, Karina’s path led her from the islands of Hawai’i to Houston, where she found Great Oak. Karina loves spending time with her fiancé and family and exploring nature. She loves to bake, paint, and make little videos of her dog.
Frances Hernandez Fourth Grade Teacher
Frances was born in Puerto Rico and has always shown a big passion for art. When she was younger, she spent most of her time drawing and painting. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American History and then began to work as an Art Teacher, where she fell in love with education. While completing her Bachelor’s degree in Early Education, she began her Waldorf training in Cuernavaca, Mexico. In 2018 she moved to California to teach at Live Oak Waldorf School. In 2022, Frances and her family moved to Texas to begin her new teaching journey at Great Oak Waldorf School. Frances graduated from the Waldorf Learning Support program in 2025.
Britney Tegtmeier Fifth Grade Teacher
Rooted in a deep respect for the developmental journey of the whole child, Britney brings a blend of therapeutic insight, educational experience, and Waldorf community leadership to her work as an educator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified ADHD Specialist, and certified yoga teacher. Over the past several years, Britney has worked with children and adolescents in a variety of settings—including tutoring, therapy groups, and middle and high school youth programs—always with a focus on fostering emotional intelligence, connection, and self-awareness. Her approach blends the contemplative practices of yoga and mindfulness with a deep understanding of child development and neurodiversity. Britney has had the privilege of serving the Great Oak School community both as a board trustee and as an administrator for four years. As a parent and stepparent to six Waldorf students, she has experienced firsthand the transformative power of Waldorf education and is passionate about supporting families and children on this path. She is committed to creating warm, grounded, and rhythmical learning spaces where students feel seen, safe, and inspired to grow.
Amanda Rogers Fifth Grade Partner Teacher
Amanda is a Renaissance woman who is comfortable in the realms of both art and science. She studied art history for two years at Texas State where she focused on works from the pre-historic era to the Renaissance, using oil paintings as a way to understand the cultures and ideas of contemporaries during those periods. She enjoyed teaching art during this time and that experience, in part, has led Amanda to return to teaching. Amanda then went on to earn a Bachelor of Applied Science in Biotechnology from University of Houston where she was also a lab assistant, engaging in experimentations on algal cells for protein extraction. Amanda spent several years in the corporate world and became familiar with the works of Rudolf Steiner. She joined Great Oak in 2025 in a co-teaching role in fifth grade, teaching math, language arts, and art, and assisting our lower grades teachers in the mornings.
Andrea Badot Sixth Grade Teacher
Andrea completed her Waldorf grades training through Sound Circle Center in Seattle, Washington in the summer of 2022 and is thrilled to be on track to graduate her class in 2028! Andrea’s passion for joy-filled, hands-on education started with a strong interest in the Montessori Method for her own children and finally with obtaining a certificate in Montessori Lower Elementary Education with the Houston Montessori Center in 2013. She served as Lower Elementary Guide at Kingwood Montessori School for seven years before she discovered Waldorf education and has never looked back. She is excited to apply wisdom from both Rudolf Steiner and Maria Montessori as she moves through the grades at Great Oak Waldorf School. Andrea loves spending time outdoors and took an early interest in nature and portrait photography. Originally from Colorado, she loves to ski, take nature walks, sit around campfires and cook. One of the best gifts she ever received was Julia Child’s modestly titled book “The Way to Cook” as a young bride living in France! She is also deeply interested in childhood development and is currently seeking a certification in Art Therapy through the Kairos Institute.
Tami Arndt-Beatty Seventh Grade Teacher
Tami was born and raised in the small Northern California coastal village of Point Reyes Station. As a young adult she was employed as a nanny in Hawaii where she discovered Waldorf education. This discovery lead her to pursue a study in anthroposophy on the islands and ultimately to return to California to enroll in the Bay Area Waldorf Teacher Training. Tami graduated in 2002 and started her family in West Marin. Over the course of her teaching career, Tami has taught as an assistant and lead teacher in a home preschool using Waldorf principles, was an assistant at Marin Waldorf School for four years and eventually created and opened her own home-based preschool inspired by Waldorf education once her two sons were born. In January 2015 Tami moved to the Houston area with her husband and three children. Tami taught as a Lead Kindergarten Teacher at Bayou Village School in Houston for two years. Tami is an active runner, enjoys crafts and creative work and is devoted to her family.
Hayley Kay Haynes Eighth Grade Teacher
Hayley joined Great Oak School in the Spring of 2014 as a child shadow in the 1st and 2nd grade classes. Since then she has worked 2 years as an early childhood assistant and approximately 2 years as an assistant for 1st through 6th grade. She has led a 1st grade play and a 6 grade play. She has also taught movement, handwork, and substituted in every grade level throughout the years. Hayley has a Bachelors of Arts in Child and Adolescent Psychology and a Master’s of Education and Waldorf Certification from Antioch University. Hayley enjoys drawing, hand work, obstacle course training, theater, and working with children.Faculty – Specialty Teachers
Becky Sykes Gardening & Handwork Teacher
Becky Sykes received her Bachelor of Arts degree as a theater major with an emphasis in costume design from Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota and her Waldorf teacher certification from Antioch University New England. She is currently working on a capstone project that will complete her Master’s in Education from Antioch University New England. Becky was introduced to handwork at age six and has continued to learn and develop new skills ever since. Her handwork repertoire includes many styles of embroidery, quilting, clothing and costume design and construction, knitting, crochet, spinning, leatherwork, natural dying, and basket making. At age two Becky started her first garden alongside her dad in Wisconsin. Becky has been gardening and living in Houston for a little over 20 years. She is particularly interested in cultivated and foraged edible plants with a growing interest in dye and medicinal plants. Prior to joining the Great Oak Family Becky worked as a freelance costume designer and for Urban Harvest as a garden instructor and community gardens coordinator before pausing to start a family. Her two children brought her to Great Oak in 2014 when she started volunteering in the gardens. Becky joined the faculty in 2017 as the handwork teacher. Formal garden classes were added to her schedule in 2019. In her free time Becky enjoys puttering around in her own garden, sewing the odd costume for one of her children and taking spontaneous road trips with her husband.
Dana Fleming German Teacher & Student Support
A German teacher since 1987, Dana pours a great deal of energy into every type of lesson. She thrives on the versatility and flexibility teachers must demonstrate at a young school. She enjoys teaching adults as well as children, offering classes and workshops. Dana joined Great Oak School’s Faculty in Fall 2012, and served for 6 years on the Great Oak School’s Board of Directors. She has taken two wonderful groups of children from first through fifth grade as a Waldorf class teacher. Dana is married to a theoretical physicist who cooks like a chef and invents astonishing things. Education: B.A., University of California, San Diego and M.A., M. Phil., and ABD, German Literature, Yale University, New Haven, CT. Dana completed her Waldorf Class Teacher Training at Sunbridge College while earning her Foundation Studies Certificate in Austin. Dana serves on the Board of the Association for a Healing Education, and completed AHE’s three-year training course for Waldorf healing education.
Dawn Coe Middle School Math Teacher
Dawn received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Texas and her Waldorf teacher certification and Master’s in Education from Rudolf Steiner College in California. For her Master’s Capstone project, Dawn created a math curriculum based on origami for grades one through eight. Dawn feels that her greatest accomplishment has been in the homeschool education of her five daughters that spanned two and a half decades. Having tested Waldorf methods in her own home laboratory, Dawn became convinced early on that it is the education of the future. The top two items on Dawn’s bucket list are living long enough to celebrate her 80th wedding anniversary and assisting the birth of an accredited Waldorf school in the Houston area. Dawn also created and currently teaches a series of adult education classes to help parents learn more about the philosophy behind Waldorf education. Dawn’s favorite artistic media are fiber arts, sand castling, origami and photomontage; and she recharges by gardening, dancing with her husband, and hacking up stacks of magazines to feed her photomontage habit.
Farrah Godfrey Art Teacher
Farrah has been part of the Great Oak community since 2017, first as a volunteer and, more recently, as an assistant in our Early Childhood program. Her creative spirit and nurturing presence have enriched our classrooms for years, and she now looks forward to guiding middle school students as they explore artistic expression and develop new skills. As an active member of the local Karankawa tribe, Farrah brings a unique perspective rooted in cultural tradition, a deep connection to the natural world, and a reverence for the creative process. She is also the mother of a Great Oak graduate and a 6th grader, giving her a meaningful understanding of the Waldorf journey.
Heather Matthews Strings Teacher
Heather grew up in the Houston area and graduated from Klein High School. She and her husband have been married for over 20 years and have 3 children. Mrs. Matthews holds a degree in Music from Pensacola Christian College where she studied violin under Dr. Alberto Jaffé. She has been playing professionally and teaching strings classes and private lessons since 1994. Over the years, she has been hired to play in concert halls, recording studios, musical theater orchestras, weddings, and other special events. She has taught strings in both public and private schools as well as college pedagogy courses. Many of her students have received music scholarships. Mrs. Matthews enjoys being involved in her church where she plays violin and piano and sings in the choir. She also plays violin with the Symphony North of Houston.
Ingrid Ayanegui Spanish Teacher ~ Grades 6-8
Ingrid is originally from Mexico City and is of Mayan and European descent. She grew up in Houston and graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 2007 with a degree in Psychology and Business Administration. As part of her undergraduate studies, she completed a study abroad program in London, and later pursued a Master’s in Transpersonal Psychology in Barcelona, Spain. A lifelong traveler and cultural explorer, Ingrid has lived in Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Thailand, Israel, Austin, and Houston. She is fluent in Spanish and English and also speaks French. Ingrid brings a diverse professional background to her work with children. Over the years, she has served as a therapist, translator, live interpreter, researcher, volunteer, ceremonial facilitator, and procurement and supply chain specialist. She is also a dedicated mother to her 5-year-old son, whom she homeschooled in his early years using Waldorf-inspired education. In 2024, Ingrid joined the Great Oak community as a kindergarten craft fairy and grades assistant. Her favorite ways to spend her time include exploring nature with her son, practicing handwork, engaging with music and holistic practices, and living mindfully and intentionally.
Julieta Récamier Spanish Teacher ~ Grades 1-5
Julieta is an experienced educator with over 20 years of teaching in private schools. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Interpretation and Translation, a Teacher’s Certificate, and a TKT (Teaching Knowledge Test) Certificate. In addition, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development, deepening her understanding of how children learn, grow, and thrive. Beyond the classroom, she is passionate about supporting students’ emotional and social growth. For the past three years, she has co-led children’s workshops on Emotional Intelligence and Mindfulness alongside her daughter, Mariana, helping young learners build resilience, empathy, and self-awareness. Her teaching philosophy centers on nurturing the whole child—academically, emotionally, and socially—while fostering a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.
Kaydance Christensen Movement Teacher
Kaydance brings over 20 years of experience in movement, body awareness, and holistic education to her role as Movement Teacher at Great Oak School. With a foundation in exercise science from the National Personal Training Institute in Chicago and years of experience teaching snowboarding, she weaves strength, rhythm, balance, and imagination into every class. Her additional training through TIBIA Massage School and the IntuAction Program deepens her understanding of alignment, structure, and the whole child. In 2023, she earned her Pentathlon Certificate through Spacial Dynamics and has since trained two 5th-grade classes for the Austin Waldorf School Pentathlon. Now in her fourth year assisting and third year leading movement, she supports 1st–8th graders in building coordination, confidence, and joyful embodiment through games, rhythm work, spatial challenges, yoga-inspired activities, and Pentathlon training.
Marine Kojanyan Eurythmy Teacher
Marine, born and raised in Yerevan, Armenia, holds a B.A. in Chemistry and an M.A.in Biology from Yerevan State University. She received her professional Eurythmy training at the Eurythmy School in Stuttgart, Germany, completing a four-year program and three years of artistic work. Marine has performed with the Else-Klink and Goetheanum Ensembles, bringing Eurythmy to audiences across Europe. Also, she was involved in “fairy-tails” projects in Eurythmy and performed a spiritual word and “visible” music to help and support the physical, emotional, and cognitive growth of the children with special needs. In addition to her Eurythmy work, Marine has a deep love for handcrafts, visual art, and icon painting. Her acrylic works have been featured in art exhibitions. She also brings experience in natural science research, having worked at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. She speaks four languages: Armenian, Russian, German, and English. Marine joined Great Oak in 2013.
Paul Sommer Orchestra Teacher
Paul is the founder and director of Instruments of Praise bands and orchestras. Since 1993, he has directed over 100 home-school and private school bands and orchestras in the Greater Houston area. His professional life includes teaching, performing, speaking and conducting at various churches and schools. He has a B.B.A. from Baruch College in New York City. Throughout the years, his bands and orchestras and students have been recognized for their musical excellence and individual achievements and have received numerous awards. Paul has four children ranging from ages 24 to 18 who still play their string and/or brass instruments along with him in a local orchestra. Along with his passion for music, he enjoys the beautiful outdoors while fishing, kayaking, hiking and biking.Administration
Angela Harris Administrative Director ~ Grades Program
Angela was born in Southern California and has since lived in or near five major cities, including San Francisco and New York. Growing up, she enjoyed a bit of an unconventional education and, together with her husband, decided to homeschool their two boys. In 2011, Angela co-founded a learning community for homeschoolers in Northern New Jersey and began teaching a variety of subjects such as world history, literature, and writing. Before moving to Texas in 2013, she piloted a course for a fellow homeschool mom and former NASA Goddard rocket scientist which focused on teaching math concepts to young children through play and exploration. In 2015, she became a writing instructor for Brave Writer, LLC. During the 2018 academic year, Angela served Great Oak School as an after-care teacher and then as the Preschool Assistant in the Butterfly Garden before becoming a middle school teacher in the fall of 2019. She had the honor of graduating the school’s first five 8th grade classes. Angela earned her Waldorf teaching certificate through Gradalis in 2022. In 2024, she became the Administrative Director for the Grades program.
Beth Holden Administrative Director ~ Early Childhood Program
Beth and her family joined Great Oak Waldorf School with her three sons during the 2014/2015 school year; two have since graduated and are thriving. She taught in the Early Childhood Program, gaining a deep love and understanding of the unique needs of the young child before joining the administrative team in 2021. She is currently enrolled in the three-year Leading with Spirit Administrative Training Program, earning a certificate in Waldorf Administration. When not working, she enjoys nature walks, studying herbal medicine, reading, and plant shopping. Beth has a special connection with ASD, ADHD, and the neuro-diverse community, and enjoys studying and learning more about supporting neuro-differences both inside and outside of the classroom.
Didianne Gilman Pedagogical Director
Before joining Great Oak School in 2020, Didianne was a Waldorf grades teacher in Colorado. She taught one class 4th grade through 8th grade and a second class 1st grade through 8th grade. After graduating her second class, Didianne became a Faculty Administrator before her family was relocated to Houston for her husband’s work in late 2019. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Education and a Waldorf Education Teaching Certificate. Prior to her career in Waldorf Education, Didianne worked in human resources for corporate and start-up high-tech companies. She has lived on the east coast, west coast and in between. She has been married for 30 years and has three grown children who are still grateful for their Waldorf educations. Her joys include any and all family time, travel (she has been to all 48 contiguous US states and 5 foreign countries), water and mountains in major doses, reading, gardening and just taking in the world in all of its complexities and wonders.
Zuzana Leckova Finance Director
Zuzana grew up in the former Czechoslovakia and came to the United States as a high school exchange student. She went on to earn her undergraduate degree and two master’s degrees in Accounting and Taxation, all in New York. During the first decade of her career, Zuzana worked in corporate tax for a Big Four accounting firm and a multinational financial institution. She fell in love with Waldorf education after the birth of her first daughter, when she enrolled her in a Waldorf parent–child program. In 2009, Zuzana’s family moved to Texas, where her daughters joined the newly formed Great Oak mixed-age kindergarten. She became an active volunteer and later joined the Board of Directors as a Treasurer. In 2014, she took on the role of Finance Director, where she continues to serve part-time while also working in corporate tax. Zuzana’s daughters are proud Great Oak graduates. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, photography, watching movies, spending time outdoors, and exploring local bakeries and cafés.
Toby Rolf Administrative Assistant
Toby is a native Houstonian and a graduate of the University of Houston, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree. Her family joined Great Oak School in the fall of 2012, immediately drawn to the warm, nourishing atmosphere — the smell of freshly baked bread, the emphasis on natural materials, and the sense of community that resonated deeply with their family. Toby began her journey at the school as a dedicated parent volunteer. Over the years, she supported the aftercare program, assisted with summer camps, and served both as a kindergarten and preschool assistant. In the fall of 2018, she moved into her current role. Outside of school, Toby loves spending time at the beach, traveling, reading, and enjoying time with family and friends. She also enjoys cooking nourishing vegetarian meals for her family and hosting guests at her family’s Airbnbs in Galveston.
Samantha Fox Administrative Assistant
Samantha’s family has been part of the Great Oak community since the spring of 2016 when she enrolled her then-2.5 year old daughter in the Parent-Child program, and immediately fell in love with Waldorf education and the people at Great Oak. Sam joined the administrative staff at Great Oak in the fall of 2022. Sam was born in Michigan, but grew up in Virginia, and spent her high school years in Iowa and Minnesota. She holds a BA in History and also studied French, and worked for Delta Airlines as a gate agent and at the Minneapolis headquarters in the Sales Support department. She has also at times worn the hat of bookseller, travel school intern, holistic health coach, and personal trainer. Sam moved to Tomball in 2015 with her husband and daughter to be closer to her parents, and to escape MN winters. In her free time, she enjoys doing her nails, reading, yoga, weightlifting, traveling, and spending time near any body of water, but especially the ocean. She has a strong relationship with coffee, and a large collection of crystals, special edition books, and nail dip powders.
Melissa Stokes Administrative Assistant
Melissa discovered Great Oak School in 2016 while searching for a play-based, community-Teacher Assistants
Wildflower Garden:
Annie Neilson
Butterfly Garden:
Tara Mykyte ~ Annie Neilson ~ Colette Saucedo
Honeybee Hive:
Haley Allen
Song Bird Garden:
Odalys Hernandez ~ Sunni Harbert
Mushroom Garden:
April Finn ~ Liz Webb
