Faculty & Admin
“Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives. The need for imagination, a sense of truth, and a feeling of responsibility — these three forces are the very nerve of education.”Rudolf Steiner
Catherine is an alumna of Edge Hill school, having attended the school from grade one through grade eight. She is very happy to have returned after many years to be part of the community once more. In some ways Edge Hill was the beginning of Catherine’s teaching career. It was while teaching kindergarten in 2007 that Catherine decided to pursue a career in education. Catherine has a fine arts degree with honours in music from York University. She then went on to study at OISE at the University of Toronto. Since graduating she has been working in education in private and public schools in Ontario, Manitoba and England. Catherine’s love of learning has never diminished. Throughout having children, homeschooling and teaching part time, she has continued to take courses and has specific training in literacy development, special needs education and supporting multi language learners. Catherine and her family returned to the area in the summer of 2022. There’s nothing they love more than a day at home together. Catherine also enjoys hiking, playing board games, cross country skiing and needle felting.
Courtney grew up in Mount Forest and now lives in rural Grey County. Courtney attended Wilfrid Laurier University for a degree in Environmental Studies and has experience teaching in the Wellington Catholic and Bluewater School Boards. Her field research specializes in glacier activity, habitat restoration and environmental stewardship. When Courtney isn’t teaching she is spending time with her animals (chicks, ducks and puppy). Her interest in animals leads her to her many passion projects of caterpillar, bee and ant habitats. Courtney enjoys exploring, baking and sports. She looks forward to the coming year and learning lots!
Lisa has successfully completed the Waldorf teacher certification at the Rudolf Steiner Centre, Toronto specializing in Early Childhood Education. Also a Forest and Nature School Practitioner, she has been a lead teacher at Edge Hill School for the past 10 years and has been a member of the Edge Hill community for 15 years. Lisa grew up in the Durham area and is a passionate doll maker and enjoys sewing, needle felting, wood carving, crafting and puppetry. When not at school Lisa enjoys spending time with her two children who attended Edge Hill. She finds solace in nature: mountain biking, foraging for wild food, winter fat biking, paddling, and cross-country skiing. She credits her time in nature as a way of nurturing a deep sense of gratitude for life. Lisa is thrilled to be part of the Edge Hill Faculty, and in an environment in which the wonder of childhood is nurtured and celebrated.
William and his family have recently relocated to West Grey from Guelph in order to complete work on their unique straw bale home and fledgling homestead. Excited to be of service to the Edge Hill community, William took on the role of substitute teacher for the 2025-26 school year and delighted in the connections he formed with students across the grades. William loves to inspire growth of all kinds in his students by engaging their enthusiasm, fostering curiosity, and adding just the right amount of humor. Prior to joining the faculty at Edge Hill, William spent six years working in Dementia Care. This work taught him the power of building trust in guiding others through challenging life transitions. Before this, he traveled throughout North America and Europe as the drummer with various musical acts and taught many aspiring young drummers as a private music instructor. Having completed his Foundations in Anthroposophy through the Rudolf Stiener College of Canada, he plans on obtaining his full Waldorf teacher certification over the coming years.
Andreea Constantin has known from an early age, while she was living in Romania, that her calling was to be a teacher. After moving to Canada at the age of 8, she attended public school in Toronto and later pursued her career as an Ontario Certified Teacher, completing her Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Studies (Toronto Metropolitan University) followed by a Bachelor of Education (University of Toronto). For the past 15 years, Andreea has worked in an educational capacity serving various roles, including: 1. Early Childhood Educator in Daycare and Kindergarten classrooms 2. Teaching in public school classrooms (K-Grade 5) 3. Multi-Language Resource Coach, supporting English Language Learners (K-Grade 8) 4. Teaching in outdoor learning settings (Forest School and Camps) As a result of this journey, she developed a strong desire for a different atmosphere than what had become normalized in the public school system regarding the education of our youngest learners. Andreea was inspired by the definition of the word “educate” and began longing for a school model which honoured this essence: “Educate: from the root word Educe – means to bring forth what is within....” Her experiences as both a teacher and parent led her to realize that unlike the “table rasa” image of the child held by public school systems – where children are considered a blank slate to be fed knowledge by intellectual adults – her personal view of the child is more attuned with that of a Waldorf educator; as holistic beings—body, mind, and spirit—where development naturally unfolds in specific, age-appropriate stages. Education for her has always been about honing in on the strengths of the student rather than filling empty minds. This became even more apparent after becoming a mother to two children (now ages 4 and 7). She marvelled as she watched them grow and learn in a Waldorf homeschool setting, witnessing how children’s unique characteristics, interests and temperaments benefited from personalized approach. Seeing so many of her values and beliefs reflected back from the Waldorf philosophy, she completed the Foundations in Anthroposophy Part 1 & 2 Course at the Rudolf Steiner College Canada in 2022 and set her goal to teach at a Waldorf School. Becoming a part of the teaching team at Edge Hill Country School is the realization of a dream that was planted years ago, so she moved her family from the Niagara region to Durham, and she is so grateful for this opportunity! Some of her passions outside of teaching include exploring the outdoors with her family (hiking, paddle boarding, skiing), textile art (felting, toymaking, crochet/knitting), as well as baking (sourdough recipes and traditional Romanian desserts).
Hester has had a life-long history with Waldorf education, starting in grade one at the Toronto Waldorf School. Her Grade 1-12 experience as a Waldorf student, nurtured her love of: making art, music, and her interest in Waldorf pedagogy and teaching a Waldorf curriculum. Hester was introduced to the Edge Hill Country School community as a parent, shortly after her move out of Toronto with her family. She immediately loved the unique community-oriented atmosphere of this small rural school. As her children moved on to high school, she moved onto various supporting roles within the school: Specialty teacher, supply teacher, educational assistant, morning garden teacher and faculty development coordinator. She is excited to embrace her new role as class teacher for the Grade 6 and 7 class. Hester has a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Child and Youth Care from the Metropolitan University in Toronto (previously Ryerson), and a College Diploma in Child and Youth Work from George Brown College. This field of study informs her approach in her work with children, youth and their families. Throughout her career, she has worked with children and youth with varied needs and abilities, in a variety of settings. She has worked for the Toronto District School Board, various youth care facilities and Elephant Thoughts, a local organization that offers change through education to the children and youth they serve. For the past six years, she has offered art and nature camps to local children at her family’s property close to Holland Centre, ON. In her free time, Hester enjoys the company of family, friends and her two family dogs. She appreciates the privilege of living rurally in Grey Bruce, where time in nature and making things is enjoyed whenever possible. She is grateful for the Edge Hill community and for the opportunity to teach the rich middle-school curriculum that Waldorf education offers!
Kylie Olmsted is an Ontario Certified Teacher with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in French and a Bachelor of Education from Laurentian University. She has spent more than a decade teaching French Immersion and Core French in public schools across Ontario, as well as offering private tutoring and homeschooling programs. Kylie is passionate about making language learning engaging, meaningful, and accessible through authentic, real-world learning experiences that foster confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of language. She believes education is most meaningful when it fosters curiosity, connection, and a strong sense of community. Throughout her career, Kylie has been committed to creating inclusive learning environments where children feel safe, valued, and inspired to learn. Her experience extends beyond the classroom through many years at Presqu'ile Rotary Youth Camp, where she progressed from Camp Counsellor to Waterfront Director and Program Director, mentoring children while leading staff teams and creating enriching outdoor learning experiences. In her role as Director of Operations, Community and Media for Dreamwalkers Meditations, Kylie develops bilingual educational resources and supports social-emotional learning and behavioural health initiatives that help educators create classrooms where children feel connected, regulated, and ready to learn. She has also supported children and adults with diverse learning needs through organizations including L'Arche Daybreak and the YMCA, experiences that have deepened her commitment to differentiated instruction and creating learning environments where every child feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed. Kylie believes a child's social and emotional well-being forms the foundation for joyful, meaningful learning and strives to create classroom experiences where every child feels a true sense of belonging. Kylie is grateful to be a part-time volunteer French teacher within the Edgehill community, where she combines her love of the French language, nature, creativity, and child development within the Waldorf philosophy of educating the whole child. When she isn't teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and two dogs, exploring the outdoors, volunteering within her local community, travelling and making memories with friends.
Krysta Adam is an Early Childhood Educator with a diploma in Early Childhood Education from Georgian College who is passionate about nurturing children's natural curiosity through meaningful, hands-on experiences. With experience as a camp counsellor, nanny, and children's program leader, she enjoys creating environments where children feel safe, capable, and inspired to explore the world around them. As a mother of three, Krysta has spent many years embracing Waldorf-inspired education, developing a deep appreciation for the importance of rhythm, creativity, imagination, and a strong connection to nature. She believes that children thrive when given the freedom to learn through play, exploration, and meaningful relationships. Outside of the classroom, Krysta studies herbalism and enjoys creating handcrafted herbal products through her small apothecary business. Her love of the natural world continues to inspire both her personal life and her work with children. She is grateful to be a part of the Edge Hill faculty and excited to be a part of a community that supports the magic of childhood!
Catherine is an alumna of Edge Hill school, having attended the school from grade one through grade eight. She is very happy to have returned after many years to be part of the community once more. In some ways Edge Hill was the beginning of Catherine’s teaching career. It was while teaching kindergarten in 2007 that Catherine decided to pursue a career in education. Catherine has a fine arts degree with honours in music from York University. She then went on to study at OISE at the University of Toronto. Since graduating she has been working in education in private and public schools in Ontario, Manitoba and England. Catherine’s love of learning has never diminished. Throughout having children, homeschooling and teaching part time, she has continued to take courses and has specific training in literacy development, special needs education and supporting multi language learners. Catherine and her family returned to the area in the summer of 2022. There’s nothing they love more than a day at home together. Catherine also enjoys hiking, playing board games, cross country skiing and needle felting.
Jessica Willman joined the staff at Edge Hill in 2025 as administrative support for Communications and Finance. With a Bachelors of Science in Nursing and a range of experience in Mental Health, Jess comes with a unique knowledge set that compliments the needs of a growing school community. Jess is a supporter of Waldorf education and currently has her 2 children enrolled at Edge Hill Country School. Her experience in Parent Council and being a part of the wider community led her to step into a larger role supporting the school from behind the scenes. When not at school she can be found reading a book, organizing something or playing roller derby.