Dear Colleagues,

Tikkun Olam: an ancient Jewish term for repairing and improving the world. The concept of tikkun olam has gained popularity in modern life as a call to social justice and action - by religious and secular Jews and more broadly. It was a theme at the funeral for Betty Staley last Sunday when hundreds gathered at the Sacramento Waldorf School to celebrate her life and recognize her impact and legacy. Ideas of social justice, equity, fairness and, perhaps most importantly, directed action, were ingrained in Betty by her father from her earliest years. They are evident again and again in her biography and life’s work. We will highlight important aspects of her work over the next few months. 

The first weeks of 2025 have been very challenging for so many, ample evidence of a world in serious need of tikkun olam, repair and improvement. We are all watching the ongoing, catastrophic fires in Los Angeles - the destruction is difficult to comprehend. We feel and witness shock, loss, and, sadly, finger-pointing. We also witness a shared sense of humanity, generosity, compassion,  common grief, and a deep desire to help. Next Monday we will mark the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr, who devoted his life to repairing AND improving this world. This disaster reminds us anew of our connection and commonality, so much stronger than our difference and separation: ”All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”  

We also recognize that these fires have additional, re-traumatizing impact for communities in Northern California, Colorado, Maui, and the many other areas that have experienced the terror and devastation of wildfires. Students in these areas need their schools and teachers and the reinstitution of trauma-informed practices that you became all too familiar with. As you provide for their needs, please take extra care of yourselves and your colleagues as memories are reawakened. For most of us, teaching, education, and working to support the rising generation is our primary service, our way of healing and improving this world. We need to support one another as we do this essential work.

We are very grateful that at this time, our Los Angeles area Alliance member schools are okay. El Rio Charter and Ocean Charter are the closest of our schools to the fires; they have community members impacted but are actively exploring ways to support the two independent Waldorf schools that sustained major damage, Pasadena and Westside. See this week’s edition of Waldorf Today for descriptions from each school in their own words. These two schools are prioritizing providing routine, rhythm, stability, connection, and familiarity for students and relief for families - a now all-too-familiar script for acute community and individual trauma.

Warmly,

Liz Beaven

Executive Director

We offer the following to help meet our desire to help, to assist in some small way in the healing that will be needed.

• Donate:
• Money is typically the most helpful support after a disaster; it can be used for a variety of purposes to address changing needs.

• To support Pasadena and Westside Waldorf schools:
• Support Pasadena Waldorf School here
• Support Westside Waldorf School here

• To support Waldorf Emergency Pedagogy: 
• Donate to Emergency Pedagogy Without Borders Intervention here

Some suggestions for general support: 

• American Red Cross here
• California Community Foundation's Wildfire Recovery Fund here
• World Central Kitchen here

Some resources for schools and teachers:

• Talking to Children About Wildfires and Other Natural Disasters here
• How to Talk to Kids About Wildfires (PBS SoCal) here
• Guidelines for Helping Children Impacted by Wildfires (NCTSN) here 

Upcoming Professional Development

and Teacher Preparation

WECAN -  Love the Skin They Are In

Two part series- Jan. 29th & Feb. 5th: Online

https://waldorfearlychildhood.org

Waldorf Handwork Educators: International Handwork Teacher Development Programs

Jan. 2025: 2-year program: Synchronous Program, Online (live attendance)

Jan. 2025: 2-year program: Hybrid Program, Online (video recordings & live discussions)

waldorfhandwork.org/teacher-development

WECAN - Parent and Caregiver Events

Jan. 2025-May 2025, Online

https://waldorfearlychildhood.org/news-and-events/

Leading with Spirit: Training programs: The Art of Facilitation, Prepared to Serve, and The River Raft and You

Winter -Spring 2025 offerings: Online

leadingwithspirit.org/

Center for Anthroposophy- Starlight Rays in Darkened Times: Seminars on Contemporary Topics

Jan. 25, Feb. 8 & Feb. 22, 2025: Online, Saturdays 3-4:30 pm ET

centerforanthroposophy.org/starlight/

Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training: Speaking Your Way to Health Speech Workshop

Feb 8, 2025: In-Person, El Sobrante, CA

https://mailchi.mp/bacwtt/new-workshops-for-2025

Woodland Star Charter School: Parent Education Series

Feb. 26th & Mar. 12th: In-Person, Glen Ellen, CA

https://conta.cc/4fT0v8V

Kairos Institute- Healing in a World of Need

Feb. - Mar. 2025 offerings: Online and In-Person

https://centerforanthroposophy.org/programs/kairos-institute/kairos-institute-emergency-pedagogy/

Center for Anthroposophy- Waldorf High School Teacher Education Program

Class of 2027 enrolls this summer, July 2025. Online & In-Person

https://centerforanthroposophy.org/programs/waldorf-high-school-teacher-education/whistep/

New Adult Learning Institute - Grounded in Practice: A New Waldorf Foundation Year

Aug 18, 2025 - April 30, 2026: One Week In-Person (Vancouver Island, Canada) & 8 months Online (bi-monthly)

https://haven-wood.ca/nalinstitute

Gradalis Understanding Waldorf Education (UWE) Program

Sept. 2025-April 2026: Online

gradalis.edu/uwe-mentorship,/

Center for Biography & Social Art

In-Person or Online

Flyer

Awakening Connections; Creating Community

Jennifer Militzer-Kopperl: Renewal of Literacy

On-demand support courses for literacy and language arts in the grades; access for 6 months or 1 year, Online

renewalofliteracy.teachable.com/

Ashley Radzat Consulting: Comprehensive support for educators and school communities

On demand In-Person or Online sessions & workshops

radzatconsulting.com/school-services

Upcoming Conferences:

WECAN Early Childhood Educators Conference- A New Path: Transforming Conflict Through Destiny Learning

Feb. 7-9, 2025, In-Person, Spring Valley, NY

Feb. 22, 2025, Online

https://web.cvent.com/event/

WECAN Pacific Northwest Regional Conference- Living in Right Relationship, Remembering the Sacred: Bringing Healing Education to the Land and All Beings

Feb. 14-16, 2025, In-Person, Portland, OR

https://web.cvent.com/event/

Waldorf Handwork Educators February Conference, Growing Together: The Power of Community Handwork

Feb 15, 16, 17 2025, Online

waldorfhandwork.org/teacher-development

Please visit our website to find out about job postings at our member schools.

https://www.publicwaldorf.org/job-postings

For more information:

Liz Beaven, Executive Director 

Carly Fedor, Administrative Assistant

Alliance for Public Waldorf Education

1000 River Rock Drive, Suite 218

Folsom, CA 95630

Public Waldorf is a service mark of the Association of Waldorf Schools

of North America and is used pursuant to a license.

STAY CONNECTED