Born and raised in Colombia (not Columbia) South America in a close-knit family Gloria obtained her BS in Business Administration.
Gloria first arrived in the United States via Texas. Later she moved to California attended UCLA obtaining a certificate as Translator/Interpreter Spanish-English-Spanish… Why stop there! Gloria then attended San Joaquin Delta College obtaining her Associate Degree with Honors in Art and Science. To further her education she transferred to California State University Stanislaus getting her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies – Cum Laude as well as her BCLAD-Spanish Teaching Credential and an endorsement to teach Spanish at a High School Level.
Since 2012 Gloria has lived in Hailey and has been part of the Syringa staff since November 2019.
Amy was born and raised in Hamilton, Ohio. Receiving the insight early in life that her path was to become a teacher, she followed this by earning a bachelor’s degree at Wittenberg University. Her childhood, combined with a humbling collegiate swimming career, helped Amy gain an appreciation for industriousness, discipline, self-reliance, and friendship.
After college, the coast and mountains called Amy away from the Midwest. Basing out of Cardiff by the Sea, her travels took her through Europe, Costa Rica, and Peru before settling in Ketchum, Idaho where Hemingway Elementary invited her to teach a third-grade classroom for many years. During these years she served on many district committees, helping shape the curriculum, environmental practices, and wellness policies of BCSD. Living amidst the beauty of the Sawtooth Mountains and simultaneously discovering yoga created a longing in Amy to further her connection with spiritual experiences and the rhythms of the Earth. During the evenings, Amy pursued a Master’s degree in Holistic Nutrition with a minor in herbalism. Her goal was to link this branch of knowledge to her teachings and workings with families.
Starting a family pulled Amy out of the classroom for a few years, but opened her schedule to be able to work for Nurture, a local nonprofit, teaching nutrition education for Blaine County Schools. In 2008, Amy met a woman in a coffee shop who invited her to a Beltane Festival, which turned out to be held at the future site of a Waldorf Elementary. This opened the door to a discovered passion for Waldorf education. Now with three children, this philosophy resonated deeply for her family. Fueled by the values acquired in childhood, Amy became instrumental in helping found Syringa Mountain School, Idaho’s first Public Waldorf Charter School. She finds daily inspiration from her students, family, co-workers, music, dance, hiking, skiing, meditation, gardening, nutritious food, and the wonders of nature. Amy dreams of opening a biodynamic, permaculture farm/Waldorf school in Bali in her retirement years.
Sandi Viau was born and raised in Burley, Idaho. She moved to the Wood River Valley with her three sons in 1987 but was transferred elsewhere in 1992. She managed to return 20 years later to be closer to her family. Sandi, a CPA, has a bachelor’s degree from Boise State, and an MBA from Gonzaga University. Her work experience includes Idaho Legislative Auditors Office, managing accounting departments for Mountain States Savings Bank, TPM Financial, Century Publishing, and Lake Las Vegas Joint Venture, and owning a tax franchise and CPA practice. She has volunteered as a SCORE mentor, BB/BS director, Hailey Chamber director, and member of the BCSD finance committee. Currently, she also serves on the WSHP board, HURA board, and NSM HOA board. She wants to ensure her Grandchildren have a quality choice for Education in the Wood River Valley.
Keith lives in Hailey, with his two sons, Quincy and Zachary. His hobbies are woodworking, art, surfing, skiing, snowboarding and pretty much any outdoor activity. Keith grew up in a ranching family in Nevada, where his family raised horses, sheep, and beef cattle, as well as an assortment of smaller birds and animals. Keith worked in the mining and exploration industry until moving to the Wood River Valley in 1997. Mr. Davis started his teacher education in 2003 at CSI and moved with his family to the San Francisco Bay area in 2006 to complete his training. Keith received his bachelor’s degree in humanities and cultural studies at Dominican University of California in 2009 and completed my credential program there in 2010, the same year that his oldest son entered kindergarten in a Waldorf-inspired school in Marin County. Mr. Davis had researched the different avenues for his children’s education and intuitively decided that the Waldorf pedagogy had more to offer than the other schools in the area, even though it was quite different from how Keith had been trained in my credential program. Mr. Davis has worked in the Marin County School District in a variety of capacities, teaching in both the special education department and kindergarten, as well as volunteering at his son’s school whenever possible. Keith’s oldest son went through the 3rd grade and his youngest son spent a year in kindergarten at a Waldorf-inspired charter school. During that time Keith gained a great appreciation for all that a Waldorf school had to offer. When his family moved back to Ketchum in July of 2013, Keith was very excited to hear about Syringa Mountain School and wanted to be a part of it. Mr. Davis is very happy to be a member of such a wonderful and dedicated team going forward.
This native Idahoan, Kristin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Boise State University and a Masters of Arts Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Idaho. She taught for the Twin Falls School District for 12 years. Additionally, Kristin has developed curriculum and taught undergraduate math, reading and basic computer courses for the College of Southern Idaho. She volunteered for the American Red Cross teaching lifeguarding, water safety instruction, and CPR/First Aid courses. Now, inspired by the teachers at The Mountain School and Syringa Mountain School, Kristin eagerly adds the Waldorf philosophy to her ongoing educational instructional development. She is pictured here with the after school knitting club. Kristin is such an asset to SMS in every area she is supporting behind the scenes for us.
Crystal is so excited to continue her work with the library program and Kindergarten at Syringa. She worked very hard to open our very own Syringa Library. Crystal used to spend winters in St. Thomas, USVI, and lived in the Wood River Valley part-time, but now she calls Hailey, Idaho her permanent year-round home. Crystal and her husband Matt have three children Samuel, Sarah, and Mabel.
Crystal has her associate’s degree in education and library science. She is finishing her bachelor’s this year in General Studies. She is also enrolled in the Sophia Institute in the Waldorf teacher trainer program.
Crystal is passionate about encouraging all children to love reading. “Everyone is a reader…. Some just haven’t found their favorite book yet.”
Nigel was born and raised in England (hence the different accent) and began his teaching career in England. He holds a UK teaching credential from Oxford University, an Idaho Teaching credential, and a Masters Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Idaho. Nigel has been a school administrator since 1987 but has always had a teaching role in any school he has worked. Nigel has worked in many different school settings from a boarding school on the East Coast to International Baccalaureate Schools in the Caribbean. Nigel, however, considers Idaho his home.
Nigel first came to Idaho as the Middle School Director for the Community School in 1990. His love of the outdoors and his belief that the some of the best classrooms don’t have walls helped him transform a junior high school into a cutting edge middle school. After 17 years Nigel left The Community School for a year in the Caribbean helping transform a local Island school into an international school. Since then, Nigel has run a high performing environmental charter school in northern Illinois and helped restructure a struggling school in Oakland, California. However, at every opportunity, Nigel returned to the Wood River Valley.
Nigel continues to dote on his wife and two children but also takes the opportunity to find solace in the great outdoors in all seasons in Idaho. He looks forward to learning something new each day and is excited about collaborating with the parents, students, faculty, staff, and Board at Syringa.
