Susan Hayashi - Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Susan completed her Teacher Education at the Rudolf Steiner Center, Toronto in Spring of 2014. She also holds a degree in Economics and Political Science from York University as well as a Public Relations and Marketing qualification from Seneca.
She has worked at Toronto Waldorf School in various kindergarten roles since 2007 and enjoys spending time with her family as well as creating pottery in her studio.
Rasa Tamkeviciene - Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Rasa completed her Teacher Education certificate at the Rudolf Steiner Centre Toronto in Spring 2007 and then became a remedial teacher certified by HEART (Healing Education And Remedial Training program) in 2009. Rasa received her Bachelor of German linguistics from Vilnius University in Lithuania. She has taught both in German and her native Lithuanian language, and is fluent in four languages: Lithuanian, English, Russian, and German.
In Spring 2022 she finished a course in Positive Psychology: Human Flourishing: Strengths and Resilience from University of Pennsylvania. Rasa is currently enrolled in Theraplay Therapy course. Her daughter currently attends TWS and her two sons have both graduated from this school. She enjoys doing handwork, making jewelry, and deepening her knowledge in Psychology and Astrology.
Mario Mancuso - Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Mario Mancuso completed his Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher certification and Foundation studies in Anthroposophy at the Rudolf Steiner Centre Toronto. He was an Early Childhood Teacher at Waldorf Academy for 3 years before joining the TWS faculty in July of 2017.
Mario is also a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) and a graduate of the School of Early Childhood at George Brown College. He held an ECE teacher position at one of the George Brown College Lab Schools. He was also a pioneer in the implementation of full-day kindergarten with the TCDSB where he coordinated a variety of workshops on child development and early learning. Mario is a certified Yoga instructor and enjoys teaching children’s yoga to foster and support self-regulation.
Mary Meschino-Natale - Kindergarten Assistant
Mary graduated from the Institute of Child Study from the University of Toronto, receiving her Teacher’s Certificate and Early Childhood Diploma along with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Political Science. She is also a certified Waldorf Early Childhood Educator, receiving her certificate from the Rudolf Steiner Centre, Toronto in 2012. Her learning included the Foundations Studies and the Healing Education & Remedial Training programs.
Mary was hired as a Kindergarten Assistant for the TWS Early Childhood Faculty in 2006 and has since continued to work in all areas of the early childhood and kindergarten faculty. Her interest in children’s stories and storytelling has led Mary to write several children’s stories which have been featured in the We Nurture Stories for Children podcast.
Nadia Singh - Kindergarten Assistant
Nadia has an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Life Sciences from Queens University. She also studied in a four-year post graduate program at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine where she became a Naturopathic Doctor in 2003. In 2007 Nadia’s search for a more holistic approach to education led her to discover Toronto Waldorf School. In the 2013-2014 school year, Nadia worked as the lead teacher in the aftercare program at TWS, before joining the Kindergarten shortly thereafter. In 2018, Nadia completed the Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Training at the Rudolf Steiner Centre in Toronto.
Polina Gohshtein - Kindergarten Assistant
Polina is a recent graduate of the Early Childhood Education Program at Seneca College. She completed her Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy in 2013. She volunteers as an administrator with LifeWays Ontario while working towards her LifeWays Early Childhood Certification.
Michelle Zhao -
Profile coming soon!
Chenfei Li - Kindergarten Assistant
Profile coming soon!
Leili Golbous - Kindergarten Assistant
Profile coming soon!