This workshop series is now full and no longer accepting registration.

A series of online, topic-focused workshops for new and experienced Waldorf early childhood educators 

Sunbridge’s EC Insights workshop series creates opportunities for Waldorf early childhood teachers of all experience levels to gain new insights in a supportive circle of early childhood colleagues. Designed as a response to requests from early childhood educators who wish to continue conversations that begin in introductory courses or to deepen their understanding of Waldorf early childhood pedagogical themes, each EC Insights lesson is supported with reading material and small assignments to further your practical work, recognizing that there are many beginning teachers starting their school year with little professional support as they carry a full teaching load as well as veteran teachers with solid pedagogical experience who long for inspiration and revitalization.

Presented virtually in six two-hour Saturday morning workshops taking place from October through May, the series consists of the following sessions:

• Session 1 / October 19:  Reflections on Waldorf early childhood education and the present educational landscape, including relationships, partnerships, and conversations with Waldorf-inspired and other early childhood movements
• Session 2 / November 2:  The interrelated dynamic between discipline, relationships, and developing one’s therapeutic eye
• Session 3 / January 4:  Developmental transitions during the first seven years and school readiness  
• Session 4 / March 1:  Balancing the inner and outer work in the art of teaching
• Session 5 / April 5: Exploring the growing nature-based early childhood educational movement 
• Session 6 / May 3:  The science behind how and why children really learn through play    

Praise from last year participants:

“I thought the content and the way in which everything was presented was outstanding. The topics were relevant and thoughtful. I appreciated the thoughtfulness that was put into preparing for each topic and the amount of time for listening and break out rooms. I really thought it was stellar.”

“The content… was highly relevant and applicable to my current teaching experience. I appreciated the research and anecdotes, time for reflection and time for sharing. All of it filled the well from which I can draw!”

“I wish it would continue!”

Facilitators

Our experienced and accomplished EC Insights faculty are committed lifelong learners who value the time and community required to continue learning, updating, enhancing and reflecting on their current knowledge and skills. Through active listening, our faculty create opportunities for professional transformation and strengthening as they tune in to the questions and challenges that both new and veteran teachers face, thereby supporting a respectful and collaborative community of learners interested in deep conversation and inquiry. 

Lisa Miccio (sessions 1-6) provides mentoring and professional development to early childhood educators, including as a lead instructor of Sunbridge’s “Introduction to Waldorf Early Childhood Education” Summer Series course. In 2023 she founded The Berry Basket playgroups and family programs in Warwick, NY, where she serves as director and parent & child playgroup teacher. From 2022-23 Lisa served Acorn Waldorf School as the Neighboring Tree Project Specialist, overseeing a grant-funded AWS initiative that aimed to create community partnerships with local early childhood educators, schools, and centers. She taught kindergarten at The Waldorf School of Garden City, where she chaired the DEIJ committee, from 2017-2022, and for a dozen years prior was on the faculty of Green Meadow Waldorf School, where she taught in and served as a co-chair of the early childhood section, directed the early childhood admissions and family programs, and was a member of the Collegium, the Collegium Committee, and the Board of Trustees. Lisa’s teaching experience also includes teaching and mentoring in the Kathmandu (Nepal) Waldorf Kindergarten. A member of the Sunbridge Board from 2013-2024, she holds a BA in English from the College of Charleston, an MS in Elementary Education from CW Post, Long Island University, and an MS in Waldorf Education from Sunbridge College. She is the mother of two Waldorf-educated sons.

Motria Shuhan (sessions 1 & 5) is the founder/director of Acorn Waldorf School, a full WECAN member in Accord, NY, where she serves as lead teacher in the Oaks Mixed Age Kindergarten. Prior to Founding AWS, she spent nine formative years at the Mountain Laurel Waldorf School, working in the nursery and kindergarten and serving as pedagogical chair for three years. Motria also serves as a mentor and educator in Sunbridge’s Early Childhood Teacher Education program. With a special interest in the art of puppetry, Motria has staged shows for conferences, festivals, and other community events. She completed a three-year Advanced Therapeutic Course for Early Childhood Educators in Denver and her Waldorf Early Childhood training at Sunbridge College. 

Meggan Gill (sessions 2 & 4) became Sunbridge’s director of education and organizational culture in 2021 and is also a member of the Sunbridge teacher education faculty. A specialist in diversity, equity, and inclusion, she is also a trained Waldorf early childhood educator and is active in WECAN and AWSNA. Meggan’s teaching experience includes most recently serving as lead toddler teacher at City of Lakes Waldorf School and, from 2009 to 2020, serving on the faculty of the Brooklyn Waldorf School where she led parent-and-child and kindergarten classes and was active on the Faculty Council. Prior to joining BWS, Meggan taught kindergarten at the Olympia Waldorf School and parent-and-child and nursery classes at the New Amsterdam School. Meggan earned her undergraduate degree in health sciences from The Evergreen State College and her certificate in Waldorf early childhood education from Sunbridge.

Rie Seo (sessions 3 & 6) is a lead kindergarten teacher at The Waldorf School of Garden City. Before joining the WSGC faculty, Rie served as the aftercare lead teacher at New Amsterdam School. She also led nursery and parent/child programs at a Waldorf-inspired Japanese Saturday Program in Brooklyn and was the founder and lead teacher for outdoor Waldorf-inspired parent/child classes in Queens. Rie earned her BA in drama from Tamagawa University in Tokyo, Japan, her MFA in theater design from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, a certificate in early childhood education from LifeWays, and her early childhood teacher education diploma from Sunbridge.

Prerequisite
EC Insights participants must have completed, at minimum, a 5-day introductory level foundational course in Waldorf early childhood pedagogy such as Sunbridge’s Introduction to Waldorf Early Childhood Education Summer Series course, or its equivalent.

Schedule
Zoom sessions take place 10:30 am – 12:30 pm (Eastern/NY Time) on the following Saturdays:
October 19 / November 2 / January 4 / March 1 / April 5 / May 3

Cost 

Early Bird pricing (register by October 11 and save $25!): $440 
Regular pricing (register after October 11): $465
Cost includes all resource materials, yearlong access to your Sunbridge Google Classroom, and a $25 non-refundable registration fee.

NOTE: EC Insights is presented as a whole series; individual sessions may not be signed up for separately. Refunds will not be issued for sessions not attended. See registration form for full refund policy.

Registrants who sign up for both EC Insights as well as for Deepening the Picture of the Whole Child: Integrating Waldorf Wisdom with Current Sensory Integration Research, our workshop series held later in the day on many of the same Saturday dates, will receive a discounted price ($700 Early Bird or $725 regular pricing) for both. Participants choosing this option may not apply any other discount, with the exception of CAD payments.

Available Discounts

25% off for

• Schools sending 2 or more participants
• Sunbridge teacher education program graduates
• Payments made in Canadian dollars

Free for current Sunbridge program students in good standing (plus a $25 non-refundable registration fee)

Discounts may not be combined. Qualification for discounts will be verified by Sunbridge staff. 

This workshop series is now full and no longer accepting registration.

Questions?
Please contact Barbara Vitale, admissions and summer coordinator, at [email protected] or 845-425-0055 x20

We reserve the right to make faculty substitutions when necessary. See registration form for refund policy.

Sunbridge is a New York State Education Department Approved Sponsor of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (NYSED CTLE), enabling teachers of any background to choose Sunbridge for their CLTE/CEU professional development credits. Check to see if your state honors our status.