Sweet Clover Nursery Program
Birth to Age Three (Montpelier Campus)
LEX SANDMAN-PITONYAK
Lead Teacher, Rosebud Class
Lex first came to ºÚÁÏÉçÈë¿Ú in 2017 as an assistant at Sweet Clover Nursery. She began the Birth to Three training at Sophia’s Hearth and became the Lead Teacher in the Sweet Pea room. In 2021, she left to join her husband in Qatar where she worked for a term as an FS2 Lead Teacher at an international school before ultimately relocating to Egypt where her husband is from. Lex has three years of eurythmy training from Peredur Eurythmy in England, and holds a BA from Bennington College with a concentration in Visual Art. As a Vermont native, she is delighted to be back with her son Adam.
DANIELLE DIRECTOR
Lead Teacher, Sweet Pea Class
Danielle has a masters in Art Therapy and Counseling from Long Island University. Prior to joining ºÚÁÏÉçÈë¿Ú, Danielle worked with infants utilizing Pikler principles at Mountain Village School in Stowe. She’s also currently enrolled in both The Gaia School of Earth and Herbs, as well as at Sophia’s Hearth for Waldorf Teacher training. Danielle has a passion for introducing them to the natural world, whether through gardening or harvesting herbs for tea. She’s excited about bringing puppetry to circle time, after having worked alongside a mentor specialized in marionettes and the Waldorf early childhood classroom. Danielle aspires to bring the arts as a method of developing burgeoning language and self-expression in the little ones. In Danielle’s spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, being in nature, and hand sewing.
SOPHIA KOTKES-CUMMINGS
Assistant Teacher, Sweet Pea Class
MELORA KENNEDY
Assistant Teacher, Dandelion Class
Melora is from Oregon and moved to the East coast when she was 27. In the process she got a Bachelor’s in History and a Master’s in Education including a certificate in Waldorf Education. She found her true love in Waldorf education which she feels is the most authentic response to what children (and adults) need to thrive. She has taught as a class teacher up through grade five and for the last twelve years she has been teaching preschool and younger. She loves Orchard Valley and the Sweet Clover Nursery, and has been honored to work in a support role for the last 6 years. On her own time she paints (pictures), swims and gardens.
Grace Farm Early Childhood Program
JOANNA VONCULIN
Apple Tree PreK Lead Teacher
Joanna has long been drawn to the nurturing and intentional qualities of Waldorf education. She has a background in children’s mental health, with a Master’s degree from Villanova University in psychology. She moved into working in early childhood education when her children were small, and has over a decade of experience in directing early childhood programs. She has completed the Sunbridge Institute’s Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher program and also holds a Vermont teaching license. When not at ºÚÁÏÉçÈë¿Ú, Joanna enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, learning history, traveling, singing, being in the woods and by the ocean, and trying her hand at nearly any handwork she happens to come across.
JUNGWOO KIM
Maple Tree PreK Lead Teacher
Jung grew up in South Korea, where she earned a BA in fashion design. Her journey to Vermont began by traveling across the world and eventually to Plainfield, VT. Jung’s desire to bring a natural and loving education to her children inspired her to explore Waldorf Education. She immediately fell in love with it and decided to start a new career path, joining Sweet Clover Nursery in 2017. She earned her Waldorf Early Childhood Birth to Three Certificate through Sophia's Hearth and is currently working toward completion of her Early Childhood Certification for children ages 4-7. During her free time, she enjoys reading, singing, gardening, sewing, and spending time with her three children.
GEORGINA HAASE
Assistant Teacher, Maple Tree Kindergarten
Georgina's experience with Waldorf education began when her own children attended ºÚÁÏÉçÈë¿Ú. She and her spouse were one of the founding families of ºÚÁÏÉçÈë¿Ú and she has worked here for fourteen years in different areas, including leading the summer camps. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Behavioral Science from Northern Vermont University. She received her Waldorf Early Childhood certificate from Sophia's Hearth Teacher Education Center in Keene, NH. Georgina is from Mexico and enjoys gardening, handwork, animals, dance, and laughter.
MICHELLE GULLAGE
Kindergarten Teacher & Summer Camp Director
Michelle worked in Outdoor and Adventure Education for over a decade before stumbling upon Waldorf Education while looking for a preschool for her oldest child in 2008. In 2009, she stepped into the Kindergarten classroom where she taught before moving up with her current class to First Grade. She has a BS in Recreation, Parks and Tourism, with a concentration in Outdoor Education, and a Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Certificate from Sunbridge Institute. Michelle lives with her family on a mountaintop just a few miles from school with a menagerie of animals. In her spare time, she loves to drink coffee, listen to bluegrass, and run the miles of dirt roads and trails surrounding her home.
MARIANNE PERCHLIK
Morning Garden Teacher
Marianne is the mother of three ºÚÁÏÉçÈë¿Ú alums and discovered Waldorf Education through the original Morning Garden class. She was part of the parent community that created ºÚÁÏÉçÈë¿Ú in 2004. In 2017, Marianne joined the faculty of ºÚÁÏÉçÈë¿Ú and has held several different roles here. For 12 years, she has practiced as a childbirth mentor, doula, and parenting coach. Prior to motherhood, Marianne served at the Juvenile Defenders office as a Juvenile Attorney. She holds a JD and a Master’s in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School, as well as a BA in Theater and English. She is a certified Waldorf High School Teacher from the Center for Anthroposophy and taught for 4 years at the Initiative; a Vermont Waldorf High School on the campus of Goddard College. She is a certified Waldorf 0-7 teacher from Sophia’s Hearth. Marianne is passionate about singing, writing songs, gardening, sustainable agriculture, and swimming.