Motria Shuhan

Motria Shuhan completed her Waldorf Early Childhood training at Sunbridge College. She has eighteen years of experience working with young children including founding the Acorn Waldorf School, a full member of WECAN. She spent nine formative years at the Mountain Laurel Waldorf School in New Paltz, NY. There she worked in the nursery and kindergarten and served as the Pedagogical Chair for three years. 

She also serves as a mentor and teacher educator for Sunbridge Institute in Chestnut Ridge, NY. With a special interest in the art of puppetry, Motria has staged shows for conferences, festivals, and other community events. Mrs. Shuhan completed a three-year Advanced Therapeutic Course for Early Childhood Educators taking place in Denver, Co., where she continued to deepen her understanding of the young child. 

Mrs. Shuhan is the Founder/Director of the school and Class Teacher in the Oaks Mixed-Age Kindergarten.

Joanna Dorman

Joanna Dorman completed her Waldorf Early Childhood training at the Sunbridge Institute. She is a Waldorf alumnus having attended the Waldorf School of Garden City from nursery through senior year. After a career focused in the healing arts, Joanna turned her attention to teaching and has been working in Waldorf early childhood classrooms ever since. Prior to Acorn, Joanna was a Lead Nursery Teacher at the Rudolf Steiner School in NYC. In 2024, Joanna completed her Nurturing the Roots training, a three-year advanced professional development course for experienced teachers to develop observational and support skills to assist young children. As someone with a passion for community building and the belief in accessibility for all, Joanna currently serves as a board member of the Kingston City Land Bank.

Joanna is passionate about working with young children and a deep believer in the power and beauty of Waldorf education. In her work with parents, she strives to help them feel empowered and confident in their parenting choices as they navigate the precious years of early childhood.

As a Waldorf kid herself, Joanna is happiest when out in nature and exploring. She enjoys reading, singing and movement and is a collector of beautiful things, songs and stories. 

Ms. Joanna is the Class Teacher in the Sprouts Nursery.

Seana Elias

A native of California, Seana Elias is a UC Berkeley graduate who moved to New York in 1999.

She became involved in Waldorf education after the birth of her first child in 2007, and avidly undertook a lifelong learning process, including studying Biodynamic farming at the Pfeiffer Center in NY.

After the birth and adoption of her two children with Down syndrome, Seana became a passionate advocate for inclusive education. More recently, she has become earnestly focused on racial justice . She serves on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion groups at both Acorn and Mountain Laurel Waldorf Schools.

In her spare time, Seana enjoys traveling, gardening, snowboarding, and learning new skills in all areas of her life. She lives on a farm in New Paltz with her children. Seana is proud and grateful to be part of the Acorn Waldorf School community.

Ms. Seana is Lead Afternoon Teacher in the Oaks Mixed-Age Kindergarten. 

Jamie McGinnis

Jamie McGinnis is a native of New York’s scenic northcountry who came to the Hudson Valley to attend college at SUNY New Paltz in 1997. She completed her BS in Elementary Education in 2001 and her AS in Environmental Science in 2004.

Jamie brings a love of gardening, local living and the nurturing of young children to all of her work. She has experience as a program coordinator with New York State Parks and Historic Sites, a home-based Waldorf-inspired child care provider, an after school care provider and substitute teacher at Acorn School, and a nursery assistant at Mountain Laurel Waldorf School.

With deep gratitude for the pedagogical wisdom she has gained from her experiences in Waldorf education, Jamie continues to develop her skills and understanding of Waldorf pedagogy and is pleased to have the opportunity to continue work and grow in the enchanting and nurturing environment at Acorn Waldorf School. 

Ms. Jamie runs Acorn's Aftercare Program.

Annamaria Franck

Annamaria moved to America in 1998 from Budapest Hungary, and raised her four children in the Stone Ridge area. We welcomed her to the Acorn School in 2019 as an afternoon teacher, and we were happy to have her as part of the summer camp program. 

Before joining the faculty at Acorn Waldorf  School, she worked as a home care provider for 11 years. Her natural ability and love of our littlest ones makes her a joy to be with and brightens everyone's day. Annamaria is continuing her studies through workshops in Waldorf Early Childhood Education. 

In her spare time she enjoys hiking, gardening and photography. 

Ms. Annamaria is a Morning Assistant Teacher and Afternoon Lead Teacher in the Sprouts Nursery.

Tyraina Walker

Originally born and raised in NYC, Raina made her move to upstate NY back in 2013. Before joining the Waldorf family, she was a childcare provider for 10+ years. Working closely with families, Raina understands the significant impact of nurturing core developmental skills in children. Over the past year she’s integrated this knowledge and her love for the outdoors into wilderness education with Wild Earth.

In addition to her childcare career, Raina specializes in floral design and foraged art. She creates personalized pieces using organic materials & has experience as a floral assistant, catering weddings and events. Her calming yet bright and fun spirit is a magnet that aids in growing the innate curiosities children possess. 

Raina enjoys passing time by writing poetry, hiking, strengthening her green thumb, and hula hooping.

Ms. Raina is an Assistant Teacher in the Oaks Mixed-Age Kindergarten.

Alana Potter

Born and raised in Kingston, New York, Alana has always had a deep-rooted passion for

nurturing and connecting with children. She began providing childcare in her early teens, a

calling that has continued to shape her path both personally and professionally. In 2022, Alana began working as a Teacher Assistant in the dual-language classroom at Meagher Pre-K, where she spent three years immersed in the vibrant cultural diversity of her community. This experience deepened her understanding of the unique backgrounds and needs of the children and families she serves.

To further her skills and educational approach, Alana completed the Waldorf Early Education

Training at Sunbridge Institute in the summer of 2025. She is dedicated to creating

environments where children feel supported, inspired, and free to explore their natural curiosity.

In her spare time, Alana finds joy in artistic expression through drawing and painting, and

reconnecting with nature—often barefoot in the rocky creeks she loves to explore.

Ms. Alana is an Assistant Teacher in the Lindens Mixed-Age Kindergarten.

Luciana Lee

Luciana grew up in Pleasant Valley, NY and has more than 10 years of experience working with children. From being a CIT at her town camp to earning a dual Bachelors Degree in Childhood Education and Childhood Inclusive Education, she has always adored working with children. While earning her Bachelors, she played collegiate lacrosse, helped form the first women's club lacrosse program, and spent two summers living in Estes Park, Colorado.

After graduating, she returned to the Hudson Valley and earned her Masters degree in Literacy Education this past May. Becoming inspired by her boyfriend's own Waldorf Education at Mountain Laurel, she was curious about child-centered learning and began her own search for experience. Through joining an outdoor forest learning program, Wildside in Milton, Luciana affirmed her curiosity about Waldorf Education. In her free time, Luciana enjoys going on nature walks, reading books, and having a good cup of tea.

Luciana is excited to join the Acorn community because she believes in nurturing curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning in children.

Ms. Luciana is an Assistant Teacher in the Sprouts Nursery.

Carol Jordan

Carol was raised in southern Indiana in a very fun and loving family. She has a BS in political science from Purdue University and a law degree from Indiana University. She practiced trial law until becoming a mom in 1998. In 2000, Carol and her husband Mark, who is from Brooklyn, moved their family to New Paltz so their children could attend Mountain Laurel Waldorf School. 

Carol was the Business Manager at Mountain Laurel 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 honored and excited to serve the Acorn Waldorf School community as Administrator and also looks forward to the continued opportunity to deepen her connection to the Waldorf movement, such a vital and powerful gift to the world. 

Carol Jordan is the Administrator for the school.

Amanda Odmark 

Amanda was born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina and is now grateful to call the Catskills home. With a BA in Religion and the Arts, she has a born curiosity about the way people move through the world in relation to each other and to nature. Amanda spent the past 10 years working in sustainability communications and marketing and takes a people-first approach to communications grounded in empathy, enthusiasm, and connection.

As a mom of one current Acorn student and one alum, Amanda is honored to support both the vibrant parent community and the dedicated Acorn team as Communications Director. When she's not at Acorn, Amanda loves cooking for friends and family and believes that time spent in nature is never wasted.

Amanda Odmark is Communications Director for the school.

Larry Jackson

Larry Jackson is an accomplished illustrator, designer, maker, curator and educator based in Kingston, New York. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York City, his extensive work includes illustrations for fashion, magazines, and holiday window campaigns. He has exhibited art in both group and solo shows. He’s also had the opportunity to curate and design exhibitions for numerous art organizations in the New York art education community.

Larry is passionate about creating innovative ways to motivate and educate students of all ages. He enjoys creating art vehicles for sharing stories through projects such as fashion shows, illustration, graphic novels and architecture.

Larry is proud to share his love for education through play and art at the Acorn Waldorf School.

Mr. Larry is a Visiting Teacher for the Oaks, Lindens, Sprouts and Saplings classes.

Employment Opportunities

Are you interested in joining our faculty, or becoming involved with AWS as a substitute teacher? Please get in touch with us at at admin@acornws.org to inquire about current openings.

• Substitute Teachers: We always appreciate expanding our list of wonderful substitute teachers! No training is necessary and experience can be minimal. Please provide references. 
  
• Assistant Teacher: Experience in early childhood education is a plus. No training is required. 
  
• Afternoon Lead Teacher: Experience in teaching, and especially in early childhood is required. No training is required, but an interest in growth as a Waldorf teacher is a plus.
• Classroom Teacher: Experience in Waldorf early childhood is required. Training in Waldorf early childhood must be in process or already completed.