As is customary in Waldorf schools, the Emerson Waldorf School is governed by a three-fold structure comprised of the Board of Directors, which is responsible for legal and financial matters, the College of Teachers, which is responsible for pedagogical matters, and the Administration, which is responsible for the day-to-day running of the school.

The College of Teachers

The College of Teachers is the guardian of the curriculum, the identity and the mission of the school. This is the body which makes final decisions about which teachers join or leave the school and which programs are offered (within budgetary limits). The College meets weekly, on Thursday afternoons, and works collaboratively and through consensus. Its primary mission is to nurture and support the ideals of Waldorf Education within the school. It is comprised of experienced teachers, who have been at Emerson for at least several years, and who are invited to join. The College has a Chairperson, and parents are welcome to communicate directly with him about any pedagogical concerns–although it is best to speak first with your child’s class teacher when possible.

The Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is comprised of parents, alumni, faculty, and friends of the school who have been invited to join as members, plus one Parent Representative elected by the Parents’ Organization, and the school Administrator, who is an ex-officio member. The Board supports the work of the administration and the College of Teachers by discussing and making recommendations on budgets and finance, legal matters, fundraising and development, and long-range planning. Regular members serve for a term of three years, while the PO representative serves for one year. The Board has several standing committees, including a Finance Committee and a Long-Range Planning Committee, and may establish temporary committees and Task Forces to accomplish special tasks. Members of the community are welcome to refer matters of concern to the Board through written communication with the chairperson or by attendance at the open session of the Board held at the beginning of its regular meetings. Board minutes are kept in a file in the Main Office, and available to the community.

Members of the Board for 2010-11 are:

Leigh Matthews, Chairperson
Patricia Cornell, College Representative, Vice-President
Mark Hulbert, Treasurer
Charles Viles, Secretary
Joanne Andruscavage, Administrator, ex-officio
Ingeborg Boesch, College representative
Liz Alway, Parent Representative
Karla Boyce-Awai
Georg Buehler
Erin Hoeg
Paige Chandler
Carol Mahaffey
Rich Schmalbeck
Joyce Felder
Barbara Holloway

Administration

Joanne Andruscavage, Administrator

Ms Andruscavage brings more than 30 years of teaching and administrative experience in private schools to her role as Administrator of the Emerson Waldorf School. She received her BS in Education from Florida International University and her M. Ed. from Loyola College in Maryland and has worked in several private schools around the country including the Austin Waldorf School in Austin, Texas. Ms Andruscavage is an avid reader, loves the outdoors and enjoys sports of all kinds. She also volunteers her time in the areas of animal rescue and service dog training.

Our school Administrator is a member of the College and an ex-officio member of the Board. As administrator, she is responsible for implementing the decisions of the College and Board and is responsible for communications within the school, in the larger Waldorf community, and with local and state institutions, for ensuring that all legal requirements are met, finances accounted for, and that the school is run efficiently. She oversees and works with an administrative staff which plays an integral role in the daily operations of the school through staffing the offices, attracting and processing new enrollment, communicating with parents, recording and organizing school records, managing school finances, maintaining school property, and many other tasks which are part of school life, from supplying band-aids to processing transcripts. Our Administrator operates an Open Door policy, and you are free to stop by and talk to her about your suggestions and concerns at any time.

Circle of Chairs

The Circle of Chairs meets weekly, and is comprised of the Administrator, the Faculty Chair, and the Chairs of the three sections of the school: Early Childhood,  Grades and High School . This committee can respond quickly to needs for immediate decisions or direction on issues with both pedagogical and administrative aspects.

Faculty

All teachers at Emerson Waldorf School are members of the Faculty, and meet weekly as a group, on Wednesday afternoons, on Teacher Workdays, and during Work Week, for study and discussion of educational topics and issues and concerns relevant to their teaching. There is a Faculty Chair, and sectional Chairs for each of the three sections of the school: Early Childhood, the Grades, and the High School.

Our teachers all have Waldorf training, in addition to undergraduate or postgraduate degrees, and varied teaching and life experiences. Teachers, who are in daily contact with the children, have the ability to respond directly to student needs and parent concerns. They strive to connect with each family, building a network of support for each child. Teachers maintain open communication with parents through regular class meetings and email. If a parent has any concerns about their child, it is best to first approach the child’s Class Teacher with this concern. Please visit the Early Childhood, Grades 1-8, and High School sections of the website for teacher biographies.

The Emerson Waldorf School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin the the administration of its education policies, admissions policies, tuition adjustment program, athletic or other school administered programs.