Our Faculty
Andrea Rosa McKiernan
Director
Lead Teacher - Sunflower Garden
She/Her
Andrea has been a certified Waldorf Early Childhood Educator since 2008 when she completed her training at Sunbridge Institute. She has been teaching Nursery and Kindergarten for the past 18 years. In addition to her training, Andrea has also completed a three-year Advanced Therapeutic Movement Course for Early Childhood Educators as well as a certification course in Therapeutic Puppetry and Storytelling for the young child. Andrea has three adult children and two grandsons. She enjoys spending time in nature as well as doll-making and fiber arts. Andrea is passionate about Waldorf Education and the healthy development of the young child.
Kate Werwa
Lead Teacher - Robin's Nest
Director of Community & Campus
She/Her
Kate has been working at Mountaintop since 2016, both in the office as enrollment coordinator and in the classroom, working with the youngest children in the Robin's Nest program. She also directs the Summer Camp Program in July. She holds a degree in English Literature and in her former life worked in book publishing and copyediting. She was introduced to Waldorf education when the younger of her two boys enrolled at Mountaintop, and she fell in love with the pedagogy and the community. She graduated in July 2024 from Sunbridge Institute where she received her Certificate in Waldorf Early Childhood Education. In April 2022 she completed a Waldorf Administration and Leadership Development Program through the Center for Anthroposophy. She is thrilled to continue to be a invovled in the Mountaintop community, both as a class teacher and administrator.
Kathryn Meyer
Lead Teacher - Robin's Nest
Director of Office Management
She/Her
Kathryn started teaching at Mountaintop Waldorf School in 2013 as a founding faculty member with the Little Ones (now the Robin's Nest) program. She completed her Waldorf Early Childhood Education training in 2018 at The Alkion Center in Hawthorne Valley, NY. She believes that caring for children in the Robin's Nest program is about creating an extension of the home. Working with parents and children alike brings her great joy. Kathryn also holds a degree in social work. She and her husband are raising two daughters, both of whom have attended Waldorf schools.
Alexa Mossbrucker
Lead Teacher - Starflower Garden
She/Her
Affectionately known as Ms. Moss, Alexa found her calling in Waldorf education ten years ago. She studied alongside Ms. Dakota at the Alkion Center at Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School and has since become certified by Sophia's Hearth for early childhood teaching. Her teaching journey began at Mountaintop Waldorf school as a substitute in Ms. Kathryn's Robin's Nest. From there she worked at Primrose Hill Waldorf-Inspired School in Rhinebeck and most recently led the Sunflower Garden parent/child programming and bridge program at Mountain Laurel Waldorf School in New Paltz, NY. Alexa and her family reside in Saugerties and love this area. She is so glad to be back at Mountaintop where she can feel magic in the air and a kindred spirit in the earth. As a mother of four children, she has learned the importance of nurturing children with love, warmth, stories, songs, and a reciprocal connection with nature, which will be important values brought to life within the Starflower Garden.
Dakota Butler
Lead Afternoon Teacher - Starflower Garden
She/Her
Dakota is native to the Hudson Valley. She found a deep interest in Anthroposophy and Waldorf Education when she was a nanny for a family whose children attended a Waldorf-inspired school. Over several years, she supported the Primrose Hill school in the grades programs, administration, committees, camps, and early childhood classrooms. She completed her Waldorf Early Childhood training through the Alkion Center in Ghent, NY in 2024, and is currently enriching her education through LifeWays North America. Dakota brings warmth, joy, and a dedicated presence to the children in her classroom. Dakota feels right at home at Mountaintop; with her young son just across the way in the Sunflower Garden.
Rae Beers
Teacher - Starflower Garden
They/Them
Rae is excited to be joining the Mountaintop School for the 2026-2027 school year. They are a certified B-12 teacher and have worked as a preschool teacher over the summer. Rae went to a Waldorf school in high school and loved all of the traditions and magic created within the school and community. Rae is looking forward to creating new memories for the students and fostering a sense of
magic and curiosity within the Starflower classroom.
Aja Sugameli
Afternoon Lead Teacher - Sunflower Garden
She/Her
Ms. Aja began her journey with Waldorf Education as a grade-school child at Tucson Waldorf School. Her education inspired her to study mythology, philosophy, and the arts; taking focus on the fine arts in middle and high-school. As a young adult, she found her way into birthwork and served her community as a Childbirth Educator and Assistant home-birth Midwife for 7 years. Firmly believing “Peace on Earth begins with Birth”, Aja dedicated herself to supporting families and newborns find their way over the threshold of birth and into harmonious living. A mother herself, Aja brings a nurturing and joyful spirit to her work in the classrooms. Aja Graduated from the Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Education at Sunbridge Institute July 2026 and is currently continuing her education in theraputic movement for early chilldhood through the Nurturing The Roots program. She is thrilled to be leading the afternoon 'SunClub' program for the eldest in the sunflower class this year.
Florence Poulain
Assistant Teacher - Sunflower Garden
She/Her
Florence grew up in Anjou, France and received her MA in Cinema Studies with the City University of NY. She worked in the film and television industry for 15 years. She completed her Somatic Movement Education with the School for Body-Mind Centering and also Infant Development Movement Education and is a Butoh theatre dancer. She has been an assistant teacher at Mountaintop Waldorf Children’s Garden since 2023.
Alex Distler
Morning Assistant - Robin's Nest
She/Her
Ms. Alex has many years of experience in teaching and caring for children of all ages. She most recently completed her MAT (Masters of Teaching) in Visual Arts at Russell Sage College. As a teacher and substitue Alex has been a member of the Mountaintop community for many years. This year she will be supporting the Robin's Nest in the mornings.
Megan Hyland
Assistant Teacher - Robin's Nest
She/Her
Megan joins Mountaintop as a teacher with a background in early childhood and Waldorf education. She holds a B.S. in Early Childhood & Childhood Education from SUNY New Paltz and recently completed a M.S. in Reading from SUNY Albany. Megan brings hands-on teaching experience from Acorn Waldorf School and Spring River Waldorf School, and is excited to bring her nature-based, child-centered approach to Mountaintop
Carol Jordan
Director of Operations
She/Her
Carol has a BS in political science from Purdue University and a law degree from Indiana University. Carol came to Waldorf education in 2000, when her children began their Waldorf journey.
Carol was the Business Manager at Mountain Laurel Waldorf School in New Paltz, New York for eleven years. During this time, she served on the Board of Trustees, the Finance Group, the Personnel Group, the Enrollment Group and was the chair of the Full Faculty Business meeting for three years.
Carol is currently the administrator at Acorn Waldorf School in Accord, New York. She has done consulting for Mountaintop in the past and joined the administrative team in 2023. She appreciates the continued opportunity to deepen her connection to the Waldorf movement, such a vital and powerful gift to the world.
Paula Williams
Parent/Child Teacher
She/Her
Paula Williams worked as a Business Administrator before starting a family and discovering her natural love of being with children. While searching for a place to educate her then four-year-old child, she met with her child’s would-be kindergarten teacher at a Waldorf School. Instantly she knew she’d found what she was looking for. She enrolled in the Waldorf Teacher Training, received her teaching certificate, and became a Kindergarten teacher at the local Waldorf School. Along the way she was asked to teach Parent-Child classes. To her surprise it was a perfect fit, and she’s doing it still!
Wendy Weinrich
Founder/Director Emeritus
She/Her
Wendy has been a certified Waldorf Early Childhood Educator since 1996, having completed her training at Sunbridge Institute. She taught Kindergarten at Mountain Laurel Waldorf School for 11 years before starting Mountaintop School in 2007. Wendy has completed a three-year Advanced Therapeutic Course for Early Childhood Educators, which takes place in Denver, CO. She received an MA in Dance/Movement Therapy from Antioch/New England in 1987. She is continually striving to expand her understanding of the young child. Wendy is the mother of two grown sons, both of whom attended Waldorf schools, and she is a proud Grandmother.
Barbara Krzywonos
Before-care Provider
She/Her
Barbara has been involved in the Mountaintop aftercare and before-care program for over 10 years. Barbara has one daughter and two teenage granddaughters. She enjoys spending time with the children, who love her dearly.