Administration
Nicole Morrison
Business Manager & Health Aid
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Nicole grew up in the small town of Moab, Utah. The scenic beauty of the Utah desert provided many opportunities for outdoor exploration with her two younger sisters. Nicole developed a love of hiking and camping, and a deep appreciation of nature.
Some of the colorful life experiences Nicole has had include: traveling to Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Jamaica and Belize; sky diving in Hawaii; living with six roommates at one time (in college); searching for the Solstice Snake petroglyph in the Utah backcountry without a map and actually finding it; getting married; and becoming a mom.
Nicole discovered Waldorf education while looking for preschools for her daughter to attend in Moab. Nicole will be forever grateful to Ms. Tiger for introducing her to this inspiring method of education during those preschool years.
In 2015, Nicole and her family moved to Eugene so her daughter could start first grade at the Eugene Waldorf School. Nicole had never owned rain boots, an umbrella or a rain jacket prior to moving to Eugene.
In 2016, Nicole joined the Administration Team at EWS. She has a bachelors degree in Family Life Studies. Nicole loves being part of the EWS community and loves working at a school.
Sara Spahn
Office and Communications Manager
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Sara was raised in the driftless area of Northwest Illinois. She and her brothers grew up playing in nature—sculpting snow tunnels and camping in White Pine forests. After high school, Sara was an exchange student in Germany during the fall of the Berlin Wall. Before completing her Master of Arts degree, she was a student at the University of Innsbruck, Austria where she first learned about Waldorf education.
Before stepping onto the administrative team in 2004 at EWS, Sara worked in arts administration and education at an award winning cultural arts center. Today she enjoys working to forward the mission of EWS and to bring Waldorf pedagogy to children and families.
Together with her family she enjoys backcountry skiing, camping, hiking, gardening and grilling the ‘best pizza’ yet.
Desirea Stott-Rodgers
Administrative Assistant
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Desirea Stott-Rodgers grew up in the small town of Junction City, OR but spent as much time as she could petting cows, cleaning horse stalls, running from hissing geese, and climbing walnut trees on her grandmother’s ranch in close-by Cheshire.
Her studies (with a focus on philosophy and education) took her to Texas for five years, and her thirst for adventure and social justice settled her in Connecticut. There, she co-founded a non-profit that continues to combat child trafficking and care for survivors. Desirea worked with that non-profit for 10 years, both in communications and as their Creative Director.
While living in Connecticut, Desirea began her photography studies. Documentary photography has now taken her to over 20 countries and her work has been featured in several publications. She continues to provide documentary sessions for families and non-profit organizations.
Her interest in Waldorf education was sparked through a brief conversation at a party. Years later after her oldest daughter was born, Desirea remembered that conversation and began to read more about Waldorf education. She felt lucky to find EWS and attend the parent-child program with her daughter. Today, she feels even luckier to be part of the administration team and have both daughters attending EWS.
Desirea currently resides with her husband and two daughters on her grandmother’s land in Cheshire, OR, where she pets several furry animals, cleans out the bunny hutch, runs with her daughters, and occasionally still climbs those same walnut trees.
Theresa Bergman
Enrollment Coordinator
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Bio coming soon!
Jill
Accountant
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Jill was born and raised in the Willamette Valley. Her family has a small farm outside of Eugene where she still spends a lot of her time. Jill attended the University of Oregon during her first three years of college, before moving to Alaska where she completed her final year of education at the University of Alaska Anchorage, earning her bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Accounting
Jill lived and worked in Alaska for 20 years. Soon after starting a family of her own, she decided it was time to move back home to be near her family. Living in Alaska had been a wonderful time and became “home” after so many years. She misses the midnight sun and the wonderful people but feels grateful for the experience and the ability to come back to Oregon where she came from, and near the people who are kin.
Jill’s accounting experience came from organizations with missions to help others. In Alaska, she worked for Hope Community Resources who worked to better the lives of the developmentally disabled. Then she transitioned to Rural Energy Enterprises, a wholly-owned subsidiary of RurAL CAP, a non-profit organization that works to improve the quality of life for low-income Alaskans.
Since returning to Oregon in 2014, Jill has worked as a Contract Accountant for many local organizations around the area. She has developed a much deeper knowledge of accounting by practicing its application in many organizations, tailored to best suit each unique operation. She arrives at Eugene Waldorf School wide-eyed and excited to learn.
Atta Turck
Woodworking Teacher & Site Coordinator
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Born and raised in Germany, Atta is a master craftsman who gained his love for woodworking from his grandfather. He earned a master’s in economics at the University of Munich, holds a teaching certificate in adult education, and attended the Waldorf high school teacher training at Rudolf Steiner College.
Atta taught in numerous community colleges in Germany. Prior to coming to the United States he lived in Tuscany, where he worked as a builder, started his own woodworking shop, began a biodynamic garden, and worked on a small farm with grapes and olives.
After moving to Cottage Grove, Oregon, he opened his own woodshop specializing in doors, windows, and custom furniture. He also developed wood-turning into a fine art. As operations manager in a small door company in Eugene, he honed his organizational and leadership skills. Also in Eugene, he served as a small claims mediator for the court and eventually branched out to community mediation, human rights advocacy, and restorative justice mediation for the juvenile court system.
After two years in Vancouver, BC, where his wife, Mary Webb, led a class to their middle school graduation at the Waldorf school, he became the woodwork teacher at the Waldorf School of Garden City for grades five to twelve. He also accompanied two high school classes as an adviser to their graduation.
In addition to living in Italy, Oregon, and British Columbia, Atta has traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Middle East, India, and North America.