Our Faculty.
Liudmila Self
Class 7 & 8
Originally from Bucharest, Romania, Liudmila grew up there and in Moscow where she trained professionally as an ice skater. She later moved to London to complete her graduate degree in education, and went on to receive an MFA in documentary filmmaking. Her first residence in the US was Birmingham, where she taught high school at the Alabama Waldorf School. She received her Waldorf Training from the Rudolf Steiner College and the Sunbridge Institute, and has been teaching at The Waldorf School of Tampa Bay since 2013. Liudmila loves how Waldorf education teaches children to find harmony and cooperation with each other and their natural surroundings. She loves teaching science and the natural world most, and is a pioneer of innovative mathematical teaching methods. Liudmila is a certified and trained herbalist in traditional Chinese medicine, and loves herb gardening and painting.
Felicia Campbell
Class 5 & 6 and Music & Strings
Born in Ohio, Felicia moved a lot as a child and young adult. She married and began a traditional teaching career, but started searching for answers when two of her three sons were not thriving in public education—which is when she discovered Waldorf. Felicia went on to receive her master’s of Waldorf Elementary Education and Music from Sunbridge College and has taught at the Spring Garden Waldorf School and Urban Oak School in Ohio, the Waldorf School of Orange County, California, and the Malamalama Waldorf School in Hawaii. Felicia is an accomplished musician and is constantly amazed at how her study of Anthroposophy deepens her understanding of human development and speaks to the true needs of the child, both in her main and music classes. She is a member of The First Class of the Anthroposophical Society and a certified Biodynamic gardener.
Jackie Zradicka
Class 4 and Handwork
Born in Vermont, Jackie grew up in Texas, California, and Pinellas County. She received a degree in Agricultural Animal Sciences from Texas A&M, and found Waldorf education when her eldest of two children was still young. Jackie was a Tinkergarten Leader for four years before taking on the role of handwork teacher and is now excited to begin teaching Grade 1 at the Waldorf School of Tampa Bay. She loves that Waldorf education honors the child as an individual and seeks to nurture each one’s own strengths and talents. Always an experimenter on the cutting edge of art, Jackie loves to help children and adults alike find their creative voice. On weekends, Jackie can be found walking with her family in the woods, exploring the Florida waterways, or working in the garden.
Violetta Siyanov
Class 2 & 3
Violetta brings a rich tapestry of life experience shaped by living in diverse cultural settings—including Uzbekistan, Israel, California, and New York—and by following a deep academic path. She holds a Doctorate in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from the University of Ottawa, as well as Waldorf Grades Teacher Training from the Rudolf Steiner College of Canada. She was drawn to Waldorf education for its deep sense of purpose, its integration of beauty, rhythm, and meaning, and its reverence for the unfolding of the whole child. What inspires her most is how Waldorf nurtures both physical development and inner life—awakening the spiritual through art, music, movement, and story. She sees it as an education that helps children grow into capable, resilient, and wholehearted human beings. Violetta is also a gifted artist and handworker, and she often lends her skills in our Handwork classes.
Susan Brown
Class One
Susan grew up in a diverse Chicago neighborhood where she spent time at the lakefront, symphony, museums, and also on her bike, or eating raspberries from her family’s urban garden. She attended the Chicago Waldorf School from Pre-K through 7th/8th grade, the University of Wisconsin, earning a BA in Philosophy & English Literature, and received her Waldorf Teacher Certification from the Rudolf Steiner College in California. With more than 20 years of Waldorf teaching experience, Susan still loves working in a spiritually minded community that values true three-folding principles and endeavors to create beauty and balance wherever she goes. Susan has been teaching at WSTB for almost a decade, is a mom to two daughters, a couple of rescue kittens, and loves the never-ending challenge that is gluten-free baking!
Brian Garland
Practical Arts & Gardening
Born in Staten Island, Brian grew up primarily on a farm in upstate New York, spending long hours getting lost in the forest. A professional advertising photographer for 20-plus years, and having traveled and worked in more than 20 countries, Brian found Waldorf education when his youngest daughter turned three and he began taking her to Parent + Child classes in Los Angeles. He was drawn to the curriculum’s focus on developing the whole child, as he believes most traditionally educated individuals are direly lacking in practical life skills. Since moving to the Gulf Coast of Florida, Brian has focused his innate artistic prowess on construction, woodworking, gardening, and survival skills and has been involved with WSTB for over eight years. An avid and talented potter, when he’s not at school or at the wheel, he can be found relaxing on the beach or needle-felting with his wife and daughter.
Tyler Blass
Games & Grades ASAP Aftercare
Tyler was born in Fairfax County, Virginia, and grew up in Tallahassee. He played soccer competitively throughout elementary and high school, winning the Florida State Championship in his Senior year. Tyler has taught and run camps and after-school programs since his late teens and was a head JV coach and an assistant coach to Varsity for Chiles High School. He graduated with a degree in Hospitality & Recreation from Florida State University and is delighted to be joining the WSTB community. Tyler loves how Waldorf education “thinks outside the box” when it comes to education, building confidence, and helping children grow in healthy ways. You can pretty much always find Tyler outside, hiking, campin,g or hitting the trails!
Monica E. Donohue
Spanish Language
Monica was born in Mexico City, the daughter of Spanish parents. She studied French at Ecole Lemania in Lausanne, Switzerland, and returned to Mexico to receive a degree in Translation and Interpreting from Colegio Internacional de Idiomas. She has worked as both an interpreter in Spanish and French and has taught the Spanish language for over 25 years. Monica is thrilled to be joining WSTB as she has known many Waldorf students over the years and long admired their imagination, artistic capabilities and their compassion towards others, animals, and the environment. Monica loves the outdoors -- when the weather is good, you will find her kayaking, taking the dogs to the beac,h or on the bike trail.
Jenny Venenzia
Grades Support
Originally from Florida, Jenny grew up exploring the Indian River Lagoon—boating, fishing, and soaking in the natural world that continues to inspire her today. She discovered Waldorf education while searching for a school that aligned with her values as a parent, and soon found herself called to the classroom. Jenny began her journey at The Waldorf School of Tampa Bay in the Early Childhood program, assisting in both preschool and kindergarten for four years before joining the grades teaching staff. She has completed numerous trainings through Sunbridge Institute, the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN), and Sophia’s Hearth. In 2025, she began her Waldorf Teacher Certification with the Great Lakes Waldorf Institute and is concurrently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Arts Education at Mount Mary University. What Jenny loves most about Waldorf education is its steady rhythm and the deep sense of stability it provides for children and families. Outside of school, Jenny enjoys fishing with her son, spending time at the beach, and embracing the beauty of Florida’s natural landscapes.
Maral Merian
Grades Support
Maral (MA-ral, which means “deer” in Armenian) was born outside Boston, Massachusetts. She attended the University of Florida, where she majored in Marketing. Maral is an accomplished artist, has taught art in other elementary schools, and believes everyone truly is an artist! You will often hear her say, “Art is about what you learn on the journey, not about the finished product!” Maral loves how Waldorf education isn’t a “one size fits all” approach and instead supports the creative mind and promotes learning through art and nature. Maral can often be found painting or doing something artistic, reading, sitting out in the sun, taking nature walks, practicing yoga, cooking, gardening, and is currently learning how to forage.
Kaylee Davis
Grades Support
Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Kaylee moved to the Tampa Bay area in 2017—and soon after, found her way to Waldorf education. While working as a nanny, she connected with a local Waldorf family and was immediately drawn to the rhythm, reverence, and intention that wove through their days. Though she hadn’t yet heard of Rudolf Steiner, the philosophy stirred something familiar in her soul, and she’s been walking the Waldorf path ever since. Kaylee holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of South Florida and brings over a decade of experience caring for children. She is currently enrolled in a Clinical Western Herbalism program and continues to deepen her studies in holistic wellness, cyclical living, and regenerative care. Kaylee admires how Waldorf education supports children in a way that honors their wholeness and sees this work as sacred service to the future. Outside the classroom, Kaylee can often be found playing music, working with native plants, or crafting herbal remedies at a local apothecary. She delights in cooking, dancing, and finding ways—both big and small—to leave the world better than she found it.
Melissa Wood
Kindergarten Lead
Melissa was born in Marin County, California, and spent her summers in Stuttgart, Germany, where she listened to her great-grandfather lead anthroposophical reading groups—a quiet thread that would one day become her calling. A lifelong Waldorf student herself, she attended the Marin Waldorf School, co-founded by her parents, before going on to earn a degree in International Relations from UC Davis. After a successful corporate career, Melissa felt the pull back to her roots and returned to the world of Waldorf education. She spent ten years teaching at Summerfield Waldorf School and Farm in Sonoma County and completed her Waldorf Early Childhood Certification at Sunbridge Institute in New York. Melissa joined The Waldorf School of Tampa Bay in 2020, bringing with her a deep reverence for the magic of childhood. She treasures how Waldorf education protects the wonder and dignity of early childhood— even amid the distractions of modern life. Known for her warmth and presence, she can often be heard singing throughout the day and is passionate about supporting parents on their own journeys, reminding us all that parenting is “the hardest job on Earth.”
Eliza McFadden
Kindergarten Lead
Eliza was born in Colorado, but grew up in South Florida, and has known and benefited from Waldorf education ever since she was in Kindergarten. She has a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on social science from Florida Atlantic University. Her guiding principle in Waldorf is conveying the early-childhood idea from Rudolf Steiner that “the world is good”, which is now more relevant than ever. Working in outdoor Kindergartens and knowing her own experience of feeling most at peace whether in the mountains or at the beach, Eliza has seen how children thrive when surrounded by the simple beauty of Mother Nature, which also dovetails with the philosophy of Waldorf in allowing children the space and time to settle into their being while also nurturing a love of learning and of themselves. When she is not with the children or spending time outdoors, Eliza is undertaking teacher training at Sophia’s Hearth.
Beatriz de Magalhães Ribeiro
PreKindergarten Lead
Growing up in São Paulo, Brazil, Beatriz attended a Waldorf daycare founded by Betina Schmidt, followed by two years in another school, then back to Waldorf at the Rudolf Steiner Waldorf School. From the time she completed her studies there, she knew her vocation was to work in education, for she believes Waldorf offers the best ways to build a complete human being. With degrees in education and music, she has been working in Waldorf schools in Brazil and Portugal since 2011. In 2020, Beatriz began studying Emmi Pikler’s theories of infant education to try to better serve the very youngest learners. A birth doula and lactation consultant, she is especially interested in the first 1,000 days of the life of the growing human. What she loves most is how art and music are woven into all kinds of activities in Waldorf, for they enlarge and enrich the spirit, and assist movement in education—inhalation and expansion, exhalation and contraction. With her own love of music and movement, it is no surprise that Beatriz is also a tango dancer.
Christa Mutschler
PreSchool Lead
A Tampa Bay native and one of our most seasoned faculty members, Christa Mutschler has been a beloved presence in our Early Childhood program for over a decade. She first discovered Waldorf education while seeking a nurturing school environment for her young son. Inspired by the deep connection between the curriculum and the developmental needs of the child, Christa joined the Early Childhood faculty soon after and never looked back. Christa holds a degree in Early Childhood and received her Waldorf Certification from the West Coast Institute for Studies in Anthroposophy in British Columbia. She is also a dedicated lifelong learner who engages in annual Waldorf professional development workshops on topics such as singing, observation, retained primitive reflexes, and has studied puppetry extensively with master Waldorf teacher Suzanne Down over the years. Known for her gentle presence and nurturing warmth, Christa brings deep reverence for the young child into every aspect of her teaching. She is also a gifted handwork artist and infuses beauty, creativity, and care into the rhythm of daily life in the Sunflower Sprouts classroom. Outside of school, Christa cherishes time in nature and simple moments with her family.
Mariana Oliveira
Early Childhood Assistant
Mariana was born and raised in Portugal, where she grew up surrounded by family and tradition. She later moved to San Francisco, where she became a mother to two boys, before settling in Florida with her family to embrace a quieter, nature-connected lifestyle. Her journey to Waldorf began as a parent seeking a nurturing environment for her children. She was immediately drawn to the warmth, rhythm, and reverence for childhood that defines Waldorf education—and soon felt called to become an educator herself. Mariana holds a degree in Psychology and began teaching in Reggio Emilia-inspired classrooms. She is currently completing her Waldorf teacher training through the Great Lakes Waldorf Institute. She finds deep meaning in the intentional rhythm of the Waldorf day and the way beauty, care, and presence shape each moment. Outside of school, she enjoys baking sourdough and knitting handmade toys—simple, grounding rituals she brings into her work with children.
Luana Soares
Early Childhood Assistant
Luana was born and grew up in São Paulo, Brazil, and lived in New York for 16 years. Her mother was introduced to Waldorf education through the family’s pediatrician. Luana’s young brothers attended early-childhood programs, and Luana attended the Rudolf Steiner school when she was eight and nine years old. She graduated as an industrial designer and worked for many years in project management for retail and residential construction. With the birth of her daughter, she returned to the kindness and gentle rhythm of Waldorf as a way to protect her daughter’s childhood from a fast-paced life. Motivated by this as well as a goal to open an initiative in Astoria, New York, she rekindled her own warm Waldorf memories. Luana is a lifelong learner in the areas of early-childhood and parent-child programs. She enjoys getting to know new people and loves to laugh and spend time with friends. Movement, including yoga and CrossFit, and being outdoors and near the water all make her feel good and provide peace of mind. When she is not engaged in those activities or spending time with family and friends, you might find her reading the latest in-depth book on childhood development and nutrition.
Elyse Fenstermacher
Early Childhood Assistant
Elyse hails from New York, Virginia, and Ohio, as her parents were both active duty in the Air Force. She loved singing in her high school choir and participating in All State Choir before attending St. Olaf College, where Elyse sang in a world-class collegiate choir that toured all over the U.S., UK, and Ireland. She studied art history, French, and comparative religions, with some canoeing and scuba diving mixed in for good measure! Elyse loves the spiritual depth of the Waldorf approach and the lightheartedness and joy brought forward by both staff and students. She is “over the moon” to be joining WSTB full-time this year. Elyse loves to sing in sacred and secular music ensembles, engage in ambitious experimental cooking projects, paint, and watch the waves at Honeymoon Island State Park.
Sophia Shapiro
Early Childhood Assistant
Sophia was born and raised in Gainesville, Florida, and was a Waldorf student herself. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Florida and then received a Master’s in Special Education with a focus on behavioral disorders from Hunter College in New York City. She has worked in various schools in Florida in New York in many different roles for twenty years. Sophia joined WSTB over eight years ago when she and her eldest daughter attended Ms. Connie’s Merrily We Meet program. Considering the child as a whole, while creating a magical environment to nurture and develop the child’s imagination is what draws her to Waldorf education, as well as how the curriculum complements the natural development of the child, not just cognitively but socially and emotionally as well. Sophia is passionate about creating art of all kinds, currently immersing herself in the fiber arts world, and loves to root for the Gators on football Saturdays.
Connie Manson
Parent + Child Lead
A native of Virginia, Connie grew up in a musical family—studying piano, guitar, and voice while performing classical, contemporary, jazz, and Afro-Caribbean music. After receiving her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts, she moved to New York City, which is where she discovered Waldorf Education, and went on to receive her master’s in education and Waldorf Teacher Training from the Sunbridge Institute. Connie is drawn to the magic and artistry of Waldorf teachings, and how it teaches respect for the child. She has spent the last few decades creating puppet plays, directing theatre, and teaching early education and music. Connie has been with WSTB for eight years, has taken up the ukulele, and is the artistic director of Starlite Puppets, which shares puppetry inspired by Rudolf Steiner with the greater community.
Abby Grundy
Parent + Child Assistant
Abby grew up in Northern California and attended Summerfield Waldorf School and Farm from Kindergarten through 10th grade. She is a fourth-generation Waldorf student -- her great, great grandparents were Anthroposophists who studied directly with Rudolf Steiner in Stuttgart, Germany. Abby was a competitive swimmer for eight years and has taught many children how to swim, as well as been a long-time nanny for Waldorf families both in California and Florida, and has been with the school since 2021. Abby delights in seeing all the beautiful, smiling faces of the children every morning, and feels honored to help hold the magic and sacredness for childhood that Waldorf education prioritizes is the mixed-age Kindergarten. In her personal time, Abby enjoys exercise, holistic nutrition, and is a lifelong backpacker, so sleeping out under the stars is her happy place.
Malha Henrichs
Early Childhood Aftercare Lead
Malha grew up in Dunedin, spending her first 18 years in the same house just off Edgewater Drive, and is now returning after nearly a decade in the San Francisco Bay Area. She first discovered Waldorf education through a WSTB family she nannied for in high school, and is excited to be transitioning into classroom education at this beautiful school. A graduate of the IB program at Palm Harbor University High and the University of Florida (Interdisciplinary Studies), Malha brings a thoughtful, collaborative presence to her work and is eager to grow within the Waldorf approach. She’s passionate about early childhood and supporting children as they learn to interact kindly and discover their unique strengths. Malha speaks Spanish and French, with some German and Turkish, and enjoys practicing languages in her free time. She comes from a diverse and blended family, including two adopted brothers, and delights in cross-cultural connection and lifelong learning.
Tonya Stoddard
Educational Support Specialist
Tonya grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, but until she recently traded the West Coast for the East, had lived in Northern California since 1998. She knows Waldorf through searching for a school for her son, which she found in the East Bay Waldorf School when he was four. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a master’s in social work and a certification in anthroposophical psychology, Tonya has more than 20 years’ experience working with diverse populations and issues, including parent-child relationships. She likes to help others work toward transformation by leading them to develop the capacities of thinking, feeling, and willing through cultivating a rich inner life, making healthy environmental choice,s and creating a positive path toward healing.
Elizabeth Bedore
Administrator
Elizabeth was born in Savannah, Georgia, but lived in eight states by the time she was eight! Her family then moved to Florida, where they settled down. Elizabeth attended Eckerd College and became fluent in Spanish. Her mother was a dance teacher, and Elizabeth has danced, taught, and helped manage the family dance studio for all her childhood and young adult years. While continuing to teach dance, she also began and had a 13-year career in banking. Ten years ago, she opened her own dance studio, which she still runs today. Elizabeth has been at WSTB for seven years and has served on the Parent Council Committee and the Board of Trustees. She loves that Waldorf education offers an education that is focused on the whole child, where childhood is preserved, and is excited to join the WSTB administration. Elizabeth loves rejuvenating with board and card games, attending Broadway productions, and hiking to waterfalls!
Dana Rhodes
Office Manager & Administrative Coordinator
Dana was born, raised, and has lived most of her life in the Tampa Bay area. She has immersed herself in the educational arena for decades, having taught music, arts, and creative summer-camp programs to children of all ages for nearly 30 years. Dana is passionate about allowing space for children to be creative in an environment of self-discovery and to develop a deep love for learning while increasing capacities and the confidence to make their own choices. This year, Dana will share her gifts by supporting students and faculty in her role in administration. When not at school, Dana loves to be near the water—whether the beach, a beautiful spring, or anywhere she can maneuver her kayak! She regularly spends time in the woods to ground and center herself in the peace that Nature offers.
Kate Garland
Director of Communication & Enrollment
Kate was born in Chicago and moved to Florida when she was four years old. She attended the University of Notre Dame, where she double-majored in English Literature and Communications. After graduating, Kate moved to Los Angeles and began a career in Yoga Therapy and Holistic Lifestyle Coaching. She taught and managed several yoga studios in LA before founding her own studio and private yoga therapy practice, which she ran successfully for over 12 years. She has taught internationally, presented at national conferences, and is a published author, including in peer-reviewed journals. Kate was introduced to Waldorf before her daughter was born by her osteopath, who presented it as “the premier holistic education,” and enrolled in a mommy and me class when her daughter was three. Kate has been involved in WSTB for eight years and loves the warmth and mindfulness that faculty, administration, and parents all bring to their relationships. Kate loves long walks with podcasts, applied neurology, and the beach.
Cara Sutherland
Business Manager
Cara was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, and attended Acadia University, where she received a degree in Business Administration with a focus in Entrepreneurship. After Graduation, she moved to Toronto to work for Accenture (formerly Anderson Consulting), traveling throughout North America as an IT Business Analyst focused on Energy Degradation projects. Cara moved on to Accenture, then worked for Oracle (formerly Siebel) out of Houston, TX, within the Telecommunication and Energy industry, continuing to travel throughout North America and the UK. With the birth of the first of her four children, she stepped back from corporate life and has been a parent at WSTB since 2008. Cara volunteered at the school for many years on the IT Task Force, then joined the Board in 2011, where she shared her invaluable experience in financial management and strategic planning. Cara has been a part of the school’s administrative team since 2019, and when not working loves crocheting, puzzles, and pickleball.
Barbara Bedingfield
School Founder and Resident Wise Woman
Barbara grew up in rural, northern Alabama and lived there until 1960 when her family moved to the Tampa Bay area. When a Unitarian church friend returned from a Waldorf Weekend in Michigan with watercolor paints, beeswax, and books, raving of the magic of this education, Barbara was hooked! She received the bulk of her wide Waldorf education from Antioch University New England in New Hampshire and completed a 10-week internship at the Washington Waldorf School with Jack Petrash. Barbara is passionate about the principles of Waldorf that help children to develop warm and flexible thinking, teach them practical skills so that they have the confidence they can do anything, and nurture social capacities that enable children to serve others, and the world. Barbara is a life-long student of Anthroposophy, a talented singer and musician, mother to three adult children, step-mother to two adult children, grandmother to nine, and great-grandmother to two! She is eternally grateful to her husband, John, who has always strongly supported her Waldorf endeavors.