New Staff for 2022-2023 (part 1)
We are thrilled to introduce some of our new faculty and staff members for this school year. There are quite a few new faces. This is in part because we have created a much smoother and more rhythmical schedule for all of our grades but also because of our new curriculum delivery schedule for our upper grades classes. You can read more about that in last month’s blog post here.
We hope you get an opportunity to meet and welcome these new community members at some of our upcoming events.
Look for part 2 of this blog in October.
Mohammed Alyaqoobi
Teacher, Arabic
Mr. Mohammed, originally from Baghdad, Iraq grew up loving to read history books. After completing his Bachelors in Technical Engineering, he taught in Libya, North Africa for over 13 years. More recently, he has worked with Catholic Charities as an employment specialist helping refugees and new arrivals find job placements. He is also the founder of “Dar aslam House of Peace Foundation,” a local non-profit that serves the community in a variety of ways including education, counseling and job placement.
Pilar Gomez
Teacher, Spanish
Pilar grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina and came to the United States 22 years ago making this beautiful and diverse country her home. As a child, her family moved around every two years within Argentina and Chile due to her father’s military career. This, in part, contributed to her love of traveling and living in new places and meeting different kinds of people. This is also where her fascination with Anthropology, Geography, and languages developed. Pilar completed her degree in Los Angeles and later moved to Wisconsin. When not traveling, she enjoys hiking with Ruby (her 3-year-old German Shepherd dog), camping, knitting, swimming, and playing with her two young children. Her oldest is currently attending 3rd grade at Tamarack and has been delighted with his Waldorf education. Pilar is excited to teach Spanish to all of the grades and to show them the richness of Latin American and Spanish cultures.
Education: B.A in Anthropology and Geography, Bilingual EN and SP interpretation and translation certification.
Paul Jarvis
Teacher, Environmental Education (lead for Grades 1-4 and assistant for grade 5-8)
Mr. Jarvis grew up in the Milwaukee area and received a philosophy degree from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. Upon graduation he moved to Albuquerque, NM and worked at a television station, as a substitute teacher, and at a natural foods’ cooperative. He returned to school in Albuquerque and received a degree from the University of New Mexico in Secondary Social Studies Education. Upon his return to Milwaukee, Mr. Jarvis taught for 25 years in Milwaukee Public Schools as a Social Studies teacher at various middle schools and high schools. Mr. Jarvis enjoys reading, hiking, travelling, and playing music with friends in his free time.
Jeff Moore
Dragonfly Garden Assistant, Class Assistant
Jeff grew up in eastern Iowa and moved to Wisconsin to attend to his archaeology needs. After that we worked as a land surveyor, wetland delineator, adult tutor, DJ, newspaper reporter, cook, and a construction project coordinator. He likes: watching/studying foreign films; flint knapping; reading too many books at one time; comic book history; and geological oddities.
He has a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Iowa. Mr. Jeff is one of the first Certified Wetland Delineators in Wisconsin, and feels like he should have been at Tamarack long before now.
Liela Snyder
Early Childhood Assistant
Liela grew up in the Milwaukee area where she fostered her love and appreciation for nature and community. She enjoys walking along the river, lake, and nature trails around the Milwaukee area. She has a deep love for exploring new music and authors.
She is an alumnus of Shorewood High School and is currently in a gap year at the University of Minnesota where she is pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education.
“When entering the Waldorf Kindergarten world it is clear the connections that children make through play, imitation, and movement. I believe that every child deserves to be a part of a community that cherishes and loves them.”
Valencia Wright
Administrative Assistant
Valencia is a native of Milwaukee. She received her high school degree last year through Southwestern Illinois College. Her plans are to attend college next January, either at UW-Milwaukee or Mount Mary with the hopes of studying Forensic Science to become a Forensic Analyst. Her hobbies include painting, reading, and writing.
ALEX WYSZEWIAŃSKI
Teacher, Upper Grades Mathematics
Mr. Wyszewiański (vih-shev-yain-ski) grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he developed his love of science, team sports, nature, and gaming. He studied Mechanical Engineering and Afroamerican and African Studies at University of Michigan, and then received his BS in Elementary Education - Mathematics from Eastern Michigan University. He has spent the past five years teaching sixth grade math during the school year and serving as the eighth grade supervisor at the Wayne State Math Corps summer program in Detroit during the summers. The 2022-23 school year will be his first at Tamarack, and he looks forward to bringing his experience and enthusiasm for mathematics education to the upper grades this year.