Kathleen Stone-Michael, Nursery Teacher

Miss Kathleen was born in Plattsburg, New York, received her undergraduate degree from SUNY Binghamton and her Masters in Synaesthetic Education from Syracuse University. She taught for several years at all grade levels, from K- College, and then went back to school for a degree in interior design. After working in commercial and residential design for a few years, she returned to teaching and trained in Waldorf Early Childhood Education at Sunbridge College in Spring Valley, NY. She then ran an in-home nursery in Atlanta, Georgia for 7 years before moving to Chapel Hill in 2001, enrolling her son at EWS and becoming our third Kindergarten teacher. In 2004, she started our first Nursery class, and continues as our Nursery teacher. She also spearheads our puppetry program, giving puppet shows at EWS and in the community, and teaches puppetry to the 7th grade.

Patricia Cornell, Nursery Teacher

Miss Patricia has been at Emerson Waldorf School for over 10 years. She brought with her many years of teaching experience in early childhood from traditional schools. Miss Patricia is a graduate of Sunbridge College of NY in Waldorf Early Childhood Education, holds her NC State Credentials from Durham Tech and is currently continuing her training in early childhood development and Brain Gym. Her background includes a degree in design from F.I.T. in NYC and over 20 years experience in design and small business management.  Miss Patricia is also on our Board of Directors.

Each classroom has an assistant, working with the teacher listed above.

Robin Olson, Kindergarten Teacher

Miss Robin has been teaching in our Kindergarten since 1995, and has two daughters who are alumnae of EWS. She has a BFA in Theater and Education from Arizona State University, and has been a Marketing Director, a freelance writer, and taught theater at High School level. She did her Waldorf Early Childhood training at Sunbridge College in Spring Valley, NY.  Miss Robin also loves horseback riding, and teaches horseback riding lessons on the weekends.

Ameli Fairman-Evans, Kindergarten Teacher

Miss Ameli has been a kindergarten teacher at Emerson Waldorf School since 1993–her first kindergarten class was our first graduating senior class! She was born and grew up in Germany, where she went to a Waldorf School. She then settled in England and, while her own child was young, ran a home nursery. Miss Ameli did in-house kindergarten training at Michael House and taught kindergarten there for 8 years. She then she taught Kindergarten for 10 years at Kings Langley, and Pottery and Sculpture in the High School there. She was the Early Childhood representative to the Steiner Schools Fellowship, a member of the Steering Group for the Kindergarten teachers in England, and a representative for England on the International Association for Waldorf Kindergartens in Stuttgart. Miss Ameli moved to the U.S. and joined the EWS Faculty as a Kindergarten teacher. She has also completed the Gradalis Early Childhood Therapeutic Training, and is a member of our EWS Care Group, which focuses on children needing special support.