Faculty

Aeshanee Akin is the main lesson teacher for the Class of 2036. Born in San Francisco, she grew up in Hawaii, where she attended first-through-eighth grades at Haleakala Waldorf School in Maui. As a teen, she had an opportunity to travel to the old Soviet Union as a Maui / Moscow Youth Ambassador for Peace — the first non-political student exchange with that nation, initiated when Gorbachev came in. She later returned to Russia several times, attending Moscow State University, and getting married there. As a young mother, she taught English and other subjects at one of the first Waldorf schools in Russia following the fall of the Soviet Union. After returning to the US, she worked at Haleakala Waldorf School for seven years as a painting specialist in the grades, and as an assistant in Early Childhood Education, before relocating to New England where she earned a Master’s in Education from Antioch University. After graduation, she did an extended internship in Early Childhood and in the Seventh Grade at Pine Hill Waldorf School. Aleshanee has now been teaching in various capacities for 20-plus years, including a year of class-teaching at an international school on the island of Cypress in 2021-2022. Aleshanee is an author, with books in English published by Waldorf Publications on fiber-arts education, as well as books in Russian on Natural Childbirth. She is the mother of three grown children, and has family in Southern California.

Andrea Hubert is the main lesson  teacher for the class of 2031. She was born in Austria and raised in Germany, where she earned a master’s degree in business management before moving to the United States in 1992. Her two sons are both WSOC Alumni, having graduated in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Andrea worked in the early childhood department and handwork program, served as a Board member and on Parent Association leadership, and completed Anthroposophical Foundation Studies in 2006. Her deep appreciation for the gifts of a Waldorf education led her to re-enroll in the WSOC Advanced Studies program, which she completed in 2013. She most recently graduated WSOC's class of 2022 , serving as main lesson teacher from grades 1-8.

Christiane Unutzer Bohr is the main lesson teacher for the Class of 2033. She was born and reared in Germany, closely connected to nature and the four seasons. She holds a B.A. in arts and crafts from Iowa State University and an M.F.A. in textiles from California State University, Long Beach. She taught in the arts department at Cal State Long Beach and elementary schools in the Long Beach Unified School District. "Miss Christiane," as she is known to the children, has three children that are Waldorf graduates. Christiane has been teaching since 1996, first as the handwork teacher and then becoming a class teacher in 2003. Most recently, she was the main lesson teacher for the Class of 2024 from Grades 1-8.

 Gloria Chang is the main lesson teacher for the Class of 2034. Gloria has been at WSOC since 2015, serving as a handwork assistant teacher, grades 1-3 assistant teacher, 3rd grade gardening teacher, and substitute teacher. She completed her Waldorf Advanced Studies in 2018, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Ohio State University and a Masters of Education from New York University. Gloria and her husband are the proud parents of two WSOC students, Lauren in rising grade 12 and Katherin in rising grade 7.

Jenell Carlson is the main lesson teacher for the Class of 2032. She was born and raised in Southern California. She received a B.A. in literature at San Diego State University and a M.A in Linguistics with an emphasis in Language in Culture from California State University Long Beach. She completed the Waldorf Teacher Training program at the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher, the Consciousness Studies program at Rudolf Steiner College, and the Spacial Dynamics program for movement instructors. Jenell is also certified to teach Bothmer gymnastics and English to Speakers of Other Languages. Prior to serving as the Main Lesson teacher  for the class of 2032,  Ms. Carlson was the director of the Parent-Child Program and the high school surfing and sailing coach. She has two grown children who attended WSOC and she loves surfing, sailing, backpacking and learning new things.

Sara Rodelo is the main lesson teacher for the Class of 2029.  She began her Waldorf journey in 2008 as a Waldorf parent. Her credentials include both the WSOC Foundation Studies and the WSOC Advanced Studies Program, and she has worked as a Playgroup Assistant and Second Grade Teacher Assistant at WSOC. She holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees: in International Relations at San Francisco State University, and in Spanish from the University of Madrid, Complutense. Beyond the required courses for Waldorf teachers, she has completed multiple specialized Waldorf trainings, including Spanish language, Early Childhood at Rudolf Steiner College, and multiple annual Waldorf conferences.Prior to being a teacher and parent, Ms. Rodelo focused on humanitarian work, living and serving in Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and San Francisco. She has taught students both nationally and internationally, in non-profit settings and in both public and private schools: encompassing early childhood, lower, middle, and high school. Ms. Rodelo is dedicated to instilling a dedication to lifelong learning in her students. She has one child attending WSOC.

Ximena Schreiner is the class teacher for the Class of 2035. Ximena contributed her talents at WSOC by assisting in the grades’ classrooms, and her dedication to our school led her to focus on teaching the grades. Demonstrating her commitment to professional growth, Ximena completed Foundational Studies in Early Childhood through Lifeways and has furthered her knowledge by studying Brain Science with the esteemed Sharifa Oppenheimer. Ximena will continue her Waldorf studies this summer and fall, further deepening her understanding of our educational philosophy. Prior to her Waldorf training, Ximena achieved a Bachelor's degree in Architecture and Art History from USC. Her quest for knowledge and appreciation for diverse cultures led her to undertake studies abroad. Ximena delved deep into the captivating art history of Italy during a semester abroad and embarked on an immersive summer program, exploring the architectural wonders of East Asia in Japan, Taipei, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia. Before joining our school community, Ximena's professional endeavors as an architect encompassed projects of various scales, both nationally and internationally. She brings a wealth of expertise acquired during her time living in Brazil for seven years, where she also met her husband. Ximena's love for the arts, math, science, culture, and above all, learning, shines through in her approach to Waldorf pedagogy.