Faculty & Board

Mrs. Sweeney’s journey to Tidewater Waldorf School began long ago in a childhood filled with fairies, elves and gnomes. In her early years she attended and graduated from The Harrisburg Academy, a venerable, 225 year old, independent school in Pennsylvania.

She moved on to earn a B.A. in Drama from Kenyon College in Ohio and a L.R.A.M. in Speech from the Royal Academy of Music’s New College Program. She steeped herself in Shakespeare and British History at Wroxton College, Oxfordshire, U.K. and completed her study of acting, mime, movement and voice at London’s The Drama Studio. Feeling confident, Mrs. Sweeney moved to N.Y.C. and for the next twelve years was a hard working actress on stage and TV. She also took time out to become Artistic Director of The Actors Center, a performing arts school in San Antonio, Texas.

Marriage and a baby girl brought respite from these pursuits, until one day she found herself back at work as the Development Director of the Cumberland-Perry Arc, then Director of Development for Gretna Theatre and, finally, Executive Director of the Theatre Association of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Sweeney knew this life could not go on forever for, though she was wearing high heels and business suits, she was dreaming of corduroy jumpers and flat shoes! In a flash, she clicked her heels together and found herself studying for a Masters Degree in Education at Eastern Mennonite University while teaching Life Skills in a special education classroom. As these things happen, her interest in alternate ways of educating children led her to the fork of the road that progresses to Waldorf Education. Happily she found The Susquehanna Waldorf School where she was a class teacher for 1st and 2nd grade and a subject teacher (Latin, English Grammar and Algebra) for grades 6, 7 and 8. Mrs. Sweeney was very pleased to join the Tidewater faculty in 2010.

A fully certified Pennsylvania private school teacher, she hones her Waldorf teaching skills each summer at Sunbridge Institute, The Steiner Institute or Renewal courses in Wilton, NH.

She loves to teach and read, sew and study anthroposophy, paint and write, travel and take walks with her dachshund, Ilsa. Her beautiful grown-up daughter, Erin, has only this to say, “My mother never met a gnome she didn’t like.”

Erica comes to Tidewater holding a Bachelor’s Degree with honors in English and Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She was previously both a librarian and a birth doula, and continues to be active in the perinatal field. Erica is currently enrolled in a Foundation Studies group at the Upper Valley Waldorf School in preparation for a Master’s Degree in Waldorf Education.

Her experience with Handwork and Spanish go back to her earliest childhood. Erica was raised in a family of knitters, quilters, seamstresses and musicians, and she has spent her life learning and loving these and other art forms. She began studying Spanish in the fourth grade and continued through college and beyond. She also spent some time living in Quito, Ecuador studying the many active volcanoes of the region.

Erica lives in Kittery, Maine with her husband and two young children, the oldest of whom is a very enthusiastic Beach Pea this year. Erica enjoys crafting, music, gardening, and spending time in nature.

Martha has been with Tidewater School since 2002. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and a Master of Education in Early Childhood, Special Needs from the University of New Hampshire. She is a 2011 graduate of the Level I, Spacial Dynamics Institute In-Service Training Program (IS9). Spacial Dynamics Institute, Inc. is located in Mechanicville, NY and operates training programs world wide.

Martha’s career includes work with children and adults of all ages in a variety of educational and athletic settings. She has over 30 years of coaching and teaching experience. She also coordinates the Summer Program for Tidewater Waldorf School which offers children’s programming during June and July each summer.

Martha lives in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire with her husband Jeff and two daughters, Drucilla and Isobel.

Maggie Moses is the newest addition to the faculty at Tidewater. She is a graduate of York High School who brings a strong positive energy, creativity, and a love of children to the classroom. Maggie began her career in child care while still in high school. For two years she was in charge of the aftercare program at the Herne School in York. She simultaneously apprenticed under local artist Will Cung where she refined her wonderful artistic abilities.

After graduating high school, Maggie sought a new challenge that would expand her world view, and so set off for Munster, Germany where she was an Au Pair for 1 year. Maggie loved learning about a different culture, making new friends, and gaining a new perspective. She is excited for the upcoming year and looking forward to teaching using the Waldorf approach.

Alison grew up in a family of musicians and teachers. She began playing the violin at age 6 and continued her private studies throughout her college career, where she branched out from classical into jazz and blues. She played viola with the UNH Symphony Orchestra and after college, began to explore the wide and varied world of fiddle music! In 2009, she began teaching strings to children at Tidewater.

Alison first came to Tidewater through her children in 2007 and this year has a child in 1st grade. In 2009, wanting to expand her knowledge of Waldorf and Anthroposophy, she attended “Music Within”, an Anthroposophical Music Therapy Renewal Class in Wilton, NH, where she learned the importance of music in the development of the human consciousness. She enjoys working with the children through music and loves to see how each child approaches learning in their own unique way.

Alison received her BS in Soil Science in 1987 and MS in Natural Resources-Ecology in 1996, both from UNH where she worked for 19 years as a research scientist. She chose to leave that career in 2008 so that she could instead look at nature from a spiritual and healing perspective. She is currently completing her Herbalist and Flower Essence Practitioner Training at Lichenwood Herbals. Alison and her husband Gary ran a music store for 14 years and in 2010, closed the retail operation and moved it into their home in Barrington where they repair and rent instruments and teach private lessons.

Karen owned and operated a popular restaurant for years in Portsmouth prior to working at Tidewater. She has worked in our aftercare program, was Administrative Assistant for a number of years and recently was appointed Office Manager. She is one of the founding families; her son, Sam attended Tidewater from Kindergarten through 5th grade.

Karen is an avid reader, walker, house fixer-upper and loves to travel when she gets the chance.

Linda Sawers began her long career in Waldorf education more than 30 years ago. She spent 17 years at High Mowing School in Wilton, NH, followed by 14 years at the Washington Waldorf School in Bethesda, MD. She taught English, English literature and history at both schools, as well as serving in various administrative capacities, including High School Chair at the Washington Waldorf School. Most recently, she served as the full time High School Chair at the Rudolf Steiner School in New York City for five years. Her responsibilities at the Rudolf Steiner School included overseeing the daily life of the Upper School, including student life, faculty development, HR compliance and working with faculty and parents to foster strategic planning for the future. Her duties also included speaking in various venues on behalf of all of Waldorf education. She represented the school at the Guild of Independent Schools and the New York Association of Independent Schools, as well.

She is now enjoying semi-retirement in Maine and is very happy to join the Tidewater School as the Admissions Chair.