Teachers

P. Jayesh Narasimhulu

Jayesh is a Waldorf math and science teacher and has also taught and conducted many lessons outside school classrooms. Transdisciplinary lessons in learning spaces beyond the school campuses have been his forte, to instill an enthusiastic learning/work ethic in varied environments, on land and in the sea. The Surveying lesson for example, for grade 10 students of Waldorf schools, is a program where math, physics, geography and technology are integrated to provide students with multiple points of engagement within the learning process. Some of the other off-campus lessons that he has taught and organised, in various parts of the world​ are Oceanography, Geomorphology and Boat Building & Engines,

He has also been involved in organising and teaching many teacher education programs for upper primary and high school teachers and has taught combined high school classes in Australian/ Indian schools.

Niek A.H. Slooter

Niek was born and raised in The Netherlands and was always passionate about biology. From childhood on he was always in and around water and also started scuba diving very early. After high school he followed his passion and studied biology at the Wageningen University and Radboud University Nijmegen. First he started his teacher education degree and after receiving this (MEd.) he did his Master of Science (MSc.). Then Niek worked for a few years as a marine researcher and published several articles. After some time doing scientific research, he discovered a new career as a Waldorf teacher and that really changed his life in a very positive way. For 15 years, he has been teaching 7th to 12th class biology, chemistry and physics at a Waldorf school in The Netherlands. Every year he gave 13 main lesson blocks, he was responsible for exam classes and was a class teacher for many years. He also went each year to the full week Waldorf teachers conference in Kassel (Germany) where he contributed by giving lessons as a teacher for teachers but also hosted daily excursions and discussion groups. At the moment he focuses more and more on homeschool teaching abroad, Waldorf student projects and online teaching to different students and classes worldwide.

Juan Pablo Barillas

Juan Pablo Barillas is a pioneering Waldorf teacher in Guatemala. He was a founding teacher at Colegio Waldorf Guatemala (a K-12 school of more than 500 students), teaching there for seven years, and serving on leadership. Born and raised in Guatemala, Juan Pablo went to a bilingual school (English and Spanish) and then helped to create a bilingual program for Colegio Waldorf.  He sees language as a window into a culture. At the Universidad Del Valle de Guatemala, Juan Pablo studied civil engineering, and in true renaissance fashion graduated with a qualification as a high school history teacher.  He has taught a wide variety of subjects to students in middle school and high school, including history, philosophy, mathematics, and physics.  Juan Pablo is currently part of the faculty for the Great Lakes Waldorf Institute (based in Minnesota), which offers professional development and Waldorf teacher education programs.  Juan Pablo is also the author of a Parenting and Teaching blog called “Waldorf en Español”, you can check it out at: https://waldorfenespanol.com/

Maria Cabeza

Maria Cabeza was born in Southern California and raised in Boulder Colorado, Maria attended Waldorf schools throughout the grades. She met Jamie as his student in 6th grade and had the privilege of studying with him through twelfth grade. She earned a degree in environmental engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder and developed an infectious curiosity about the natural world. Maria is especially interested in how studying the sciences can support our understanding of life on planet Earth and optimal living. In her free time, she has conducted extensive research into nutrition, as well as the practice of breath work and meditation.

Maria has been with Jamie York academy since its inception.

Ana Isabel Barrios

Ana Isabel is a 20-years experieced High School Teacher. She is a biologist and studied at an American School in Guatemala. She is the head of the Science Department at the Waldorf School of Guatemala.