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 (M-W) & Lead Teacher (Th-F)
John Palumbo

Prior to coming to Spindlewood in 2008, John was an assistant kindergarten teacher at Merriconeag Waldorf School in Freeport, ME for 2 years prior to moving to this area to build a home for his family.  He is a woodworker and builder and while at Merriconeag was also the caretaker of the buildings and grounds.

John is a man with a wide range of skills and abilities. He grew up in his family's business preparing and serving food and loves cooking; especially with children.  He holds a liberal arts degree and has completed Foundational Studies at the Center for Anthroposophy in Keene, NH.  Prior to studying Waldorf Education, John was a substance abuse counselor and prevention specialist.  John and his family are currently participating in the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association journey person program to foster skills that are helpful to establishing a homestead.