Staff Biographies

Position: Mixed age Kindergarten Teacher

Terry Anne Paquette was born and raised in Bremerton, Washington on Puget Sound. Prominent in her childhood, music continues to be a source of enjoyment. She loves to sing, walk, take care of home and garden, visit with friends and family and spend time near or in rivers and mountains.

Terry Anne received a B.A. in Sociology/Psychology from Linfield College, McMinville, Oregon in 1969. Never dreaming she would one day be a kindergarten teacher, Terry Anne had a long career as a newspaper computer typesetter, production manager, graphic artist and vocational education teacher in Reno/Lake Tahoe area. Terry Anne was introduced to Waldorf education in 1988 when her son Joshua entered third grade at Mariposa Waldorf School. After serving one year as the Aftercare Director at the school, she entered the evening training course at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, California. During her training, Terry Anne cared for children in her home Waldorf-inspired pre-kindergarten and summer camp (called Heavenly Days). She then taught kindergarten classes at Portland Waldorf School and Mariposa Waldorf School before helping to found the Yerba River Charter School (YRCS) in the summer of 1994. In July 2002, Terry Anne was selected to serve as Administrator.

Ashley Trux

Position: Pre-School teacher

Ashley Trux  was born and raised in the beautiful mountains of Lake Tahoe, Ca. She cherishes her childhood experiences that allowed her to be carefree and explore the mysteries of the natural world. Ever since Ashley and her husband Loren moved to Bend they have enjoyed exploring the beautiful lakes, rivers, mountains in the area.
Ashley is the Rosebud Pre-School teacher and loves working in the realm of  Waldorf education.

During her journey into early-childhood teaching she has grown fond of knitting, sewing, painting and cooking.  Striving to bring love, care and strength within her heart, she loves working with children. Ashley received a B.A. in psychology and Spanish from the California State University in Chico. Currently, she  is studying at Rudolf Steiner College during the summer and will receive her certificate in Early Childhood Waldorf Education in 2012.

Betsy Mitchell,

Position: 1st Grade Teacher (2010/2011)

I began teaching when I was a teenager, growing up in Michigan. I worked afterschool and over the summer at an alternative school for special needs children. This was an “ experimental” school back in the seventies that had the guiding principle that what the kids really needed was love. They use ”play therapy” to connect with the kids at their own level. I moved from Michigan to Oregon to go to college. I had planned to go to the College of Education in Monmouth, Oregon. However, when I came to tour the campus I found that the University of Oregon in Eugene to be a better fit for me. I changed my major from education to psychology and graduated with a BS degree in 1985. Trying to find a job in Eugene with a degree in psychology turned out to be very difficult. I ended up moving to Portland and getting a Massage Therapy License from the Oregon School of Massage in 1987.

Studying the human body in Massage School sparked an interest that led me into the medical field. I ended up studying Nursing, and graduated from Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland in 1991 with an RN license and a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Nursing. I worked as an RN for 19 years. I found that the part of my job that I liked the best was just talking to the patients and hearing their stories. It seemed that the more time that I had to talk to the patients, the faster they got better. Over the years there was less and less time to connect to the patients and their families.

When I wasn’t working, I was home raising the children with Bill. We started with Keenan. Keenan went to the Portland Waldorf School Kindergarten in 1992, and the Eugene Waldorf School first and second grade. Then we had Caela and decided to home school. We used the Waldorf curriculum to home school Caela until her sixth grade year. Keenan has since graduated from Wesleyan University, with a degree in film in 2009. He works and lives in New York. Caela has finished her freshman year at the University of Minnesota. She is studying classical flute performance. Nicholas and Mallory are at the Waldorf School of Bend and are very happy here. I found something very nurturing about our school and felt drawn to it as well. It seemed that the more time I spent at the school, the more I enjoyed being with the children.

Last year I began to study Waldorf education with the intention of becoming a Waldorf teacher. I entered the Michael Institute Waldorf Teacher Training program and found warmth growing inside me that I had never known before. I love learning, and teaching, and connecting with people. Being a Waldorf teacher is like coming home for me. It unites different aspects of my life experiences and allows me to share what I have learned with children and their families. I am honored to be here now.

Favorite Quote: "Let the beauty we love be what we do. " - Rumi

Laura Elmore, lelmore@bendwaldorf.com

Position: 3rd Grade Teacher (2010/2011)

Born in Battle Creek, Michigan and raised in Cadillac, Michigan where the temperatures plummeted to subzero, Laura has been in the warmer climate at the Waldorf School of Bend since 2003. Laura has been involved in Waldorf education for about eight years, but in 2004 she began her training at the Micha-el Institute in Portland. She plans to continue at the Institute to complete her Waldorf Teacher certification. Laura has experience teaching Waldorf preschool, kindergarten and grades. Says Laura, “Waldorf Education is unique and that in itself brings us here”.

Laura is also a licensed Massage Therapist. She specializes in baby massage and partner massage for pregnancy and labor. Dancing and music is another passion. In addition, she loves to hike, camp, bike and sit on her porch to watch the world. When she has the time, she loves to cook. When not working, most of the time is spent with her three beautiful and active daughters and her loving husband.

Favorite Quote: “Live to Love – Love to Live”

Brenna Frost was born and raised on a small farm, nestled in redwood forests near Arcata, California.  As a teenager, Brenna had the opportunity to live in Heredia, Costa Rica as a foreign exchange student.  Later in life she moved to Alaska, looking for another adventure.  Before earning her B.A. in Education from Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, Brenna pursued a degree in studio art, with an emphasis in drawing and ceramics.  As a college student, Brenna also taught in the rural Alaskan community of Manokotak (a village only accessible via a dirt runway for very small planes!)  She also taught numerous grades as an elementary teacher with the Anchorage School District.

When Brenna is not following her passion as a teacher, she can be found spending time with her family.  Brenna and her husband have three young children.  Together the Frost family enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, bike riding, rock climbing, and just about anything in the beautiful outdoors.

Brenna fondly views Waldorf education as an artistic curriculum that can connect young minds with nature while enhancing one's social, emotional, and academic intelligence.

Favorite Quote: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” -Mahatma Gandhi

Loren Trux

Position: 2nd Grade Teacher (2010/2011)

Loren completed his undergraduate work at California State University, Chico in 2007 and received his California teaching credential the following year in 2008. Upon Moving to Bend in 2008, Loren became a substitute teacher for the ‘08/’09 school year. Loren started his Waldorf teacher training at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, CA in the summer of 2009 and will finish the summer of 2013. Loren discovered Waldorf Education through his loving wife Ashley. Loren likes to do anything out doors. He likes to mountain bike, cross country ski, telemark ski, fish, skateboard, kayak hike and much more.

Loren says, “Waldorf education is the most beautiful form of educating I have encountered.”

Susan Strauss

Position: Eurythmy Teacher / Supplemental Teacher

Susan Strauss

Position: Eurythmy Teacher / Supplemental Teacher

Moe Anderson

Position: Grades Teacher (2010-11: 6th/7th Grade)

Martina Muller, mmuller@bendwaldorf.com                                           

Position: Specialty Teacher for German