Valerie is a graduate of NAU with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She received her four-year Early Childhood Waldorf Teaching Certificate through the Micha-el Institute in Oregon and loved every second of this training.

She found her way to Waldorf education when Desert Marigold became a charter school. From the first day she toured the campus, she knew the community here at Desert Marigold was where she belonged. Valerie is the widowed mother of 4 children, all of whom attended Desert Marigold School. Her daughter Rylie was in Desert Marigold’s first graduating High School class.  

Valerie has taught in the early childhood here at Desert Marigold for more than 12 years, as well as one year teaching 2nd grade. Before finding Waldorf education she taught in public school Kindergartens in Mohave Valley and Tempe Unified, and with another charter school before her children were born. And she spent last year teaching kindergarten at Desert Sky Community School, the Tucson Charter Waldorf, before moving back here to the Valley of the Sun.

Valerie’s favorite pastime is anything to do with wool; spinning, knitting, dyeing or sewing.