Lead Teacher
Susan Silverio Susan's BLOG

  Susan founded Spindlewood in 1986 as a Waldorf preschool and a model of a LifeWays center.  Already a seasoned Waldorf early childhood teacher, Susan completed the LifeWays Early Childhood and Human Development Training, and has gone on to offer workshops at Waldorf Early Childhood Association conferences at Sunbridge College.  She also taught "World Citizen: The Child from Birth to Three" at Rudolf Steiner Institute with Cynthia Aldinger in 2005.  Since July 2006, Susan has offered one-year intensive trainings for those who care for young children.

"As a single woman in the '70s, I opened my own house as a family day care home, where I discovered children's capacities for self-initiated movement and play. This has remained my lifelong interest.  When I married John Silverio, I welcomed his son into our life.  Together we created a family homestead with gardens, barn and an architectural studio that Matthew now shares with his father.  There was also a small guest cabin, and it was here that Ashwood Waldorf School began in 1986 with my kindergarten class of 11 children. Several years later Ashwood purchased a central campus for its Early Childhood Center and Grade School in Rockport , Maine, and my kindergarten was expanded to become Spindlewood Waldorf Kindergarten and Lifeways Center."

Assistant Teacher
Elisa Olds

 

"When I began substitute teaching 2 years ago, my inspiration of how to be with the children came from my experience as a parent and the education that my daughter and I received at Spindlewood and that she and I continue to receive at Ashwood Waldorf School .  As a kindergarten assistant in a local independent school, I thought of Spindlewood everyday and often wished to go back and see how the magic is made.  This wishing led me to LifeWays Training." 

 

Elisa has now completed LifeWays Early Childhood and Human Development training in Rockport , Maine .
Elisa has also completed a B.A at Hollins University with a focus in Special Education.  She has gone on to Environmental Education at Antioch New England Graduate School.

Ms. Elisa creates a nurturing environment for both parents and children in the Monday morning Parent-Child program. She brings joy and warmth, and provides continuity of care to the children in her role as Kindergarten Assistant Teacher on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.