Petra Liati, Early Childhood, TK and Kindergarten

Petra Liati was born in southern Germany where she grew up in the outskirts of a small village surrounded by forest covered mountains.

It was 17 years ago when her creative skills in hand work and crafting fueled her interest in Waldorf Education. Thus, she decided to enroll her children into Waldorf Kindergarten and Waldorf School in Germany. 

Meanwhile Petra attended the University of Cologne, Germany where she studied Theater, Film and TV Science, as wells as English and Pedagogy and successfully passed the intermediate examination, which is equal to a bachelor's degree. 

To further her Waldorf Education, Petra completed an Early Childhood Waldorf Training Program for daycare providers and led a group of ages three and under for three years. When the opportunity to work in the United States opened, she and her three children moved to Los Angeles, where she worked as a part time assistant at a Waldorf/RIE Preschool in the Hollywood Hills. At the same time, she became part of the staff at the Valley Waldorf City School as a yard supervisor in the aftercare program, and in 2017 joined the Early Childhood program. 

Petra completed the Early Childhood program at the Waldorf Institute of Southern California (WISC), a three year teacher preparation program, and has been teaching in Valley Waldorf City School’s Early Childhood, TK and Kindergarten, since March 2021.

Maika Kusama, Second Grade, Ceramics

Maika Kusama was introduced to Waldorf Education over twenty-five years ago when she attended a Waldorf summer program with her daughter led by two visiting German instructors. Astounded by the engaging days brimming with art, community, and nature, she vowed to connect her family to this style of education for many years to come. Since that decision, her daughter and nine nieces and nephews have attended Waldorf schools at some point during their education. This deep and storied connection ultimately led her to becoming a Waldorf style teacher in 2018.

Maika received her Fine Arts Degree from Mills College after finishing Master's level classes with Ron Nagle where she was awarded the Eleanor Crumb prize in ceramic excellence. She is currently completing her formal Waldorf education with the Waldorf Institute of Southern California (WISC).

In her free time, she is an award-winning ceramic artist, avid chef, organic gardener, and amateur musician with a passion for yoga, dancing, martial arts and outdoor adventures in the great unknown!

Almut  Schroeder , German & Cello

Almut  Schroeder was born in Frankfurt, Germany into a Musical and Waldorf oriented family. She experienced Waldorf schooling and her musical environment up close and personal.   She earned her first teaching degree in the Education Department of the Waldorf School in Kassel - which is the German State Licensed School for Pedagogy.   During this time she worked at several Waldorf schools.   After graduation, she taught in the State Kindergarten of Kassel. Over the years she has been inspired to pursue two more certifications: a degree as State Examined Music Teacher, and a certification as a Cello Teacher. While involved as a cellist in Kasseler Chamber music, Almut worked for 5 years at her Alma Mater, the Music Academy of Kassel.

She has been a valued teacher at The Valley Waldorf City School for several years.  She currently teaches Cello and German.  She has also spent a year as the Kindergarten teacher.  She has two daughters, both Waldorf Graduates.

Matt Troedson, Third & Fourth Grades, Games

Matt was born in Napa, CA and studied Russian Literature at UC Irvine.  He returned to northern California to study child psychology until he took another detour and spent 12 years working in the finance industry in Sacramento.  While training in Aikido, he found Waldorf education and became instantly intrigued.  After reading much about Rudolf Steiner,  he completed his Waldorf Teacher certification at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, CA and finished his BA in Multiple Subject Teaching from Brandman University.  His first class was an exceptional group of students at Cedar Springs Waldorf School in Placerville, CA, where he had the joy of teaching them from 5th to 8th grade. He traveled to southern California, being called to teach in Orange County and then found himself at Valley Waldorf City School in summer 2020. He is overjoyed to continue as class teacher for grades 2 and 3, and as the College Chair for Valley Waldorf City School.    

Matt has one daughter, a fiery spirit who is overjoyed to be a part of Grade 2 at Valley Waldorf City School, a talkative cat named Howie and a spouse who is lovingly patient and supportive of Matt’s calling to teach in Waldorf education.  In the pursuit of self-care, he also enjoys reading, cooking, gaming (board games and role playing games), traveling, and Aikido.  

Quote: “For even the wisest can learn incalculably much from children.”  ― Rudolf Steiner, How to Know Higher Worlds

Sarah Northrip, First Grade, Handwork

Sarah Northrip was born in Los Angeles, where she has lived most of her life. She earned her B.A. in Liberal Studies, her credential, and her M. A. in Teaching, from Chapman University and subsequently fell in love with the rich curriculum developed by Rudolf Steiner. Sarah is committed to social justice and believes in the power of education to transform not only ourselves, but the world. She has attended numerous workshops and lectures on Waldorf Education and child development and is a member of the Anthroposophical Society. She began her Waldorf Certification at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, CA and completed it locally at the Waldorf Institute of Southern CA.  

Before moving back to Los Angeles in 2008, Sarah took a class from grades 1-4 at Journey School in Aliso Viejo, (a charter school inspired by Waldorf pedagogy).  She has worked at The Valley Waldorf City School since 2011 in various capacities, including registrar/office manager, kindergarten assistant, handwork teacher for grades 1-8, substitute teacher, mentor, and as a grades teacher herself.

She lives with her husband, two sons, one who attends and one who graduated from Valley Waldorf City School. When she has the rare joy of spare time, Sarah enjoys baking, singing, writing, and all kinds of handwork, which she brings into her teaching.

“Love is higher than opinion. If people love one another the most varied opinions can be reconciled - thus one of the most important tasks for humankind today and in the future is that we should learn to live together and understand one another. If this human fellowship is not achieved, all talk of development is empty.” -Rudolf Steiner

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” -Albert Einstein

Nicole M. Bush, Violin

Nicole was born in Los Angeles into a musical family. She began studying the Violin at age 4 and eventually added Piano, Flute and Voice into her curriculum. Nicole has a degree in Violin Performance from USC and a Masters Degree in Spiritual Psychology from USM. She has performed all over the world with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and in Los Angeles with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Pasadena Symphony, Long Beach Civic Light Opera, as well as in local studious recording for Movies, Television and many recording greats.

Nicole began her Education in Waldorf when her daughter attended Valley Waldorf City School. She was one of the founding parents at VWCS, teaching Violin, and performing for the community on a regular basis.