Renée Rahn is the Dancing Elves Parent Child Lead Teacher. She has been teaching young children in a variety of settings since 1987. Renée studied for four years at the University of Oregon, majoring in Natural Science and Piano Performance. In 1986, she received a BA in Natural Science in Elementary Education from Eastern Washington University. Renée has taught doll making and fiber arts of all kinds to children and adults for over 20 years. She studied puppetry arts with Juniper Tree School of Puppetry, child development at Rudolf Steiner College, and completed her Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Education through Sound Circle Center in 2014. In her free time, Renée enjoys hiking in the mountains, walking the beaches of the Oregon Coast, bicycling, and creating wearable and playable art with natural fibers. Renée is one of Windsong School’s founding teachers.

Lauren Bergstedt-Kohler is the lead teacher for our Sunbeam Kindergarten and for our Sweet Pea Parent Child class. She has a Doctorate of Physical Therapy and enjoyed working as a pediatric physical therapist for many years prior to becoming a Waldorf educator. For this reason, she has a special interest in sensory and motor development and brings an important perspective to our early childhood program. She has three kids of her own and enjoys gardening, running, baking, and the outdoors. Lauren completed an advanced therapeutic course for Waldorf early childhood educators offered by the Denver Center for Anthroposophic Therapies and has a Waldorf Early Childhood teaching certificate from Sound Circle Center. Lauren is a founding teacher of Windsong School.

Photo & biography coming soon!

Sarah Mortenson-Gauss, M.Ed., is the lead teacher for our Honeybee Kindergarten. For over twenty years, she has taught young children in a wide range of capacities and settings, which includes four years in early childhood classrooms here at Windsong. She has long held an interest in human development, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Luther College, and later, her M.Ed. and teaching certificate from Gonzaga University. She completed her Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher certification through Sound Circle Center for Arts and Anthroposophy in 2019.  In her free time, Sarah enjoys exploring new places, reading, gardening, cross-country skiing, hiking, and camping with her family.

Ghazal Tahmasebi is the lead teacher for Seasonal Camp and Friday 5th Day Kindergarten. She holds a B.A. in Literature from her home country, Iran. After moving to the U.S. she followed her dreams, first as a baker in Chicago, and then as a Waldorf kindergarten assistant in Spokane. Ghazal loves working with children and learning alongside them, helping them discover beauty in simple, joyful moments. In her free time, Ghazal enjoys baking, cooking, sewing, knitting, embroidery, and photography.

Missy Wilson is the lead teacher for our Treefrog Kindergarten. She spent her childhood living in Southern California and arrived in Spokane via Portland. After high school her love for children led her in the direction of early childhood education. During her studies she has consistently worked with kids in many fields ranging from volunteering in her own child’s classrooms to working as a paraeducator. She is thrilled to begin her next chapter learning and growing in Windsong’s early childhood program. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family hiking, skiing, and exploring all that this beautiful region has to offer.

Biography coming soon!

Zeyneb Hobson is the lead teacher for our Balsamroot Kindergarten. She spent her childhood living in both the US and Turkey. After settling in Portland, OR, she received a BA in Printmaking and a BFA in Art Practices from Portland State University. Zeyneb comes with experience as a grades teacher at Heart Pine Waldorf School in Florida. She is excited to continue teaching and learning about Waldorf pedagogy in Windsong’s early childhood program. In her free time, she enjoys adventuring outdoors with her family, gardening, cooking, and making art in a variety of mediums.

Biography coming soon!

Marta Matsumoto is our First Grade Teacher for the 2025-26 school year. Marta joined the Windsong faculty in 2015 and was part of the founding cohort of the school’s grades preparation study program. Having taught grades 1–8, she has a love for all the stages of child development and a deep appreciation for Waldorf pedagogy and meeting the children where they are. Marta holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology from the University of Colorado and cites her previous experiences—as an AmeriCorps volunteer, National Park ranger, natural history museum educator, and math textbook editor—as rich preparation for her work as a Waldorf teacher. Marta is passionate about nurturing curiosity, a love of learning, and meaningful connection to the natural world in her students.

Michelle Lingo is our Second Grade Teacher for the 2025-26 school year. Michelle has worked with children from age two through high school in many different environments and capacities, but her passion for working with children came to fruition with her experience as a camp counselor and staff member at summer camp on Lake Coeur d’Alene. She has spent many summers nurturing the personal and spiritual growth of children along with the joy and love of the environment and mother earth. She has been expertly described as “bringing a rare mix of kindness and ferocity in what she does, while making sure that the children are at the heart of any decision.” Michelle has attended both North Idaho Community College and Spokane Falls Community College, with an emphasis on Early Childhood Studies as well as Elementary Education. Michelle has participated in the cohort founding Windsong’s grades preparation study program. Born and raised in Spokane and the Pacific Northwest, she is a lover of the outdoors, adventure, and organic gardening. She enjoys hiking with her two dogs and spending time in the woods camping or on the lake canoeing.

Holly Hicks is our Third Grade Teacher for 2025-26 school year, and teaches Movement for several grades. Holly has a Master’s degree in Waldorf Education from Antioch University and has taught in the Waldorf setting for over nine years. Holly also holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Waldorf Grades teaching certificate.

Eve Bowers is our Fourth Grade Teacher for the 2025-26 school year and our Music Specialty Teacher. She grew up in rural Oregon and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Portland State University. She discovered Waldorf Education as a student at the University of Oregon from a display of 7th grade lesson pages, and eventually embarked on the journey of Waldorf teacher education, receiving her certificate from Sound Circle Center in Seattle.

Brian Blessing is our Sixth Grade Teacher for the 2025-26 school year. Brian is very proud to have been the Class Teacher for Windsong’s inaugural graduating Class of 2018. He is a graduate of Georgetown University with a bachelor’s degree in Literature. Brian also holds a graduate degree in Education from Providence College where he earned his public school Teacher Certification in Middle School and High School English Language Arts. Previous to teaching, Brian worked as a commercial fisherman in New England and Alaska, a vocation that funded a decade of extensive travel, during which time he lived in and/or visited 27 different countries and 48 different U.S. States.

Akiko Melton is our Japanese Specialty Teacher. Akiko was born and raised in a scenic town near Nagasaki City, Japan. She earned her undergraduate education degree from Tachibana University in Kyoto, Japan. She has taught all educational levels: kindergarten through college. She is inspired by how students learn the culture of Japan through the language.

Florencia Saenz is our Spanish Specialty Teacher. Flor was born and raised in Peru and lived there until 2014 when she and her husband moved to the States to be closer to their children and grandchild. She comes to us with much teaching experience having taught English to children in Peru. As a native Spanish speaker, Flor wants to share the principles of proper Spanish while imparting the beautiful nuances of her language.

Biography coming soon!

Olga Grigoryan is our Strings Specialty Teacher. She feels privileged to be a part of Waldorf Education. Music means a lot to Olga’s life, and she believes it is one of the ways God uses to communicate with people. She enjoys performing classical and sacred music with various groups, such as duet, piano trio, quartet, chamber orchestra, and symphony orchestra. Olga was born and grew up in Russia. She graduated from Saratov Sobinov Conservatory with a Master’s Degree in Music and Music Education. It is a joy for Olga to share her knowledge and experience with students.

She and her husband have four amazing sons. They spend time together hiking, discovering new places, cooking and baking, reading books, playing various instruments and singing.