Helena Acosta holds a B.A. in Art History from the University of Los Andes in Venezuela and a Certification in Art Exhibition Management from Elisava Design School in Barcelona, Spain. She was an Independent art curator for 10 years, developing projects worldwide in places like New York, Tokyo, Barcelona, Mexico, and Cuba, among others. During this period, as part of the exhibitions’ programs, she developed art and creativity classes for children and adults. Helena always regarded this educational component as one of her job's most fulfilling and favorite parts. 

 

Her love for art, teaching, and traveling bloomed at a very young age. Her mother is an art teacher, and her father is an anthropologist. At home, she passionately learned the importance of creativity and curiosity in exploring nature and cultures.

 

Helena taught art classes at the University of Jose Maria Vargas and in Private Art Institutes in Caracas, Venezuela, and she has been invited to talk about art and activism at Musashino Art University in Tokyo, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and Cervantes Institute Tokyo. In 2018, Helena experienced the most amazing gift in her life, she became a mother. From that moment, her approach to teaching art took a different and more beautiful pathway as she started to apply her passion for creation to her daily parenting dynamics. Helena quickly fell in love with the philosophy of Waldorf when she enrolled her daughter at The Playgarden and enthusiastically started to work as at Spring River School, bringing to the classroom her love for creativity and discovery, finding magic in everyday objects and nature. She is also the founder of a home-based art studio for children called Jax Little Art.

Alaina Berlin is a Jacksonville native and lover of all things ocean related. Growing up, she was the oldest child, so automatically took on a caregiving role. Gaining a bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Sociology from Flagler College allowed her to stay by the sand while diving deep into an overflowing cup of historical knowledge.

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Stemming from her love for the ocean, came a love for teaching. Lanie taught surfing and English lessons while living in Mexico, which ignited the fire to become a teacher full time. She taught History and Spanish at a private neurodivergent school in Orange Park before arriving at Spring River. 

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With an abundance of love for history and the appreciation of its significant role in current events, Lanie is excited to embark on the Waldorf journey.

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“History doesn’t repeat itself, it rhymes.” - Mark Twain. 

Originally from Iowa, Jamie Borland moved to Jacksonville at the age of 16 to attend an arts high school where she studied visual arts.  Jamie then attended and graduated from the University of North Florida with a double major in International Studies and Photography.  

 

During college, Jamie studied abroad in Ecuador and spent time in rural Guatemala, where she created a photo essay documenting indigenous populations.  After college, Jamie returned to Guatemala but focused her efforts on working with the population of street children living in Guatemala City.  There, she volunteered with Safe Passage, an elementary school located within the city dump, and Photo Kids, an after-school program founded and run by a Reuters photographer, which focused on giving adolescents living and working within the city dump a means of reflective and creative expression as well as job skills.  

After her impactful experiences, Jamie returned to Jacksonville and embarked on a new journey, establishing her own photography business. Her keen eye for photojournalism, mastery of lighting, technical expertise, and approachable nature paved the way for a successful wedding and portrait photographer career. Over time, her business expanded to include lifestyle and editorial assignments, collaborating with local magazines and small businesses.

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In 2015, when it was time for Jamie’s oldest daughter to enter first grade, she took on a new role. She saw the need for a more holistic approach to schooling and thus began what has been an exciting homeschool journey with her two daughters, now 14 and 8. 

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In 2020, Jamie’s oldest daughter began attending Spring River two days a week as a fifth grader under the guidance of the amazing Ms. Julia.  This is where Jamie fell in love with anthroposophy, Waldorf education, and Spring River! Jamie loves learning about the different developmental stages and educational approaches Rudolf Steiner has put forth and incorporating them into her homeschooling and parenting.  

The joy of being part of the Spring River community and wanting to see it flourish gradually led to more involvement. From 2022-2024, Jamie served as Spring River’s Yearbook Editor in Chief and yearbook photographer.  During the 2023-2024 school year, Jamie filed in as an interim substitute teacher for her daughter’s second-grade class and also substitute taught for other grades throughout the year.  Being part of the Spring River community has been a deep source of personal and spiritual enrichment and fulfillment, and she looks forward to continuing in her role as a photography teacher and assistant administrator with Spring River High School.

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Jamie is also passionate about practicing inner work and is certified as a qigong and MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) instructor. She enjoys spending time in nature, photography, reading, baking, journaling, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Michelle received her Bachelors of Science in both Biology and Chemistry from Wilmington College and a Master’s of Science in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She began her chemistry career developing analytical methods at the FDA, and subsequently conducted and oversaw sample analysis at a contract analytical chemistry laboratory. Michelle is currently a freelance chemist.

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Michelle was introduced to Waldorf Education in 2014 and was an active member of the Playgarden Board of Directors for six years. She served as Secretary for four years, then served a two-year term as president. She played an integral part in the successful separation of Spring River from The Playgarden in 2021 and in the founding of the new organization, JEC.

 

Michelle has worn "many hats" at Spring River - forest school teacher, STEM teacher, games teacher, Enrollment Director, Bookkeeper and devoted Board Member.  She is a member of the Sophia Circle and completed the Explorations course offered by Antioch University and the Center for Anthroposophy in the spring of 2019. She has volunteered with Duval County Special Olympics Surfing Program as a surf coach for over 5 years.  

Carrie, the visionary founder of Shakti Life Kitchen, has been at the helm of this thriving organic plant-based food company for 15 years. Her entrepreneurial journey began as a part owner of European Street Café , a role she held for over three decades. This experience instilled in her the value of community service and the power of collaboration in achieving ambitious goals.  Carrie's academic achievements include a B.A. in Sociology, certification as a Plant-based nutritionist from Cornell, and a certificate from the Master's program in Waldorf Education at Antioch University.    

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Being raised in Northeast Florida and being immersed in the service industry for over 30 years has allowed Carrie to make supportive connections city-wide that support the mission to further Outdoor Waldorf Education and set the platform for our becoming a Biodynamic garden. She is deeply connected to the life of the land and gets her inspiration from that which grows locally. She is a mother to Zophia, a graduate of the K-8 Spring River program. Carrie was hired as Spring River School’s program director in 2021.  Her teaching experience is from 4th to 6th grade.  Carrie also served as a volunteer for the Waldorf movement for eight years where she served as Board President of The Playgarden, Inc. in 2012-2013 and board member for the following seven years.

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Carrie is a co-founder of the NE Florida Chapter of the Anthroposophical Society named the Sophia Circle. Her dedication to this study has helped her create a bond with the Center for Anthroposophy, our nation's premier organization supporting Waldorf teacher training and the growth of Biodynamics.

Rosie Eddy grew up in an Army family so answering the typical “where are you from” question is always difficult! However, her parents are from the Tampa Bay Area (Seminole and Dunedin) and she grew up traveling to Florida for most school breaks and holidays, so Florida has always felt like home.

 

Her husband (born and raised in Alabama) recently retired from the Navy out of Mayport, NS, and they are thankful to be able to put down roots here in Jacksonville for themselves and their two sons.

 

Rosie graduated Cum Laude from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in December of 2016 with a degree in Secondary Math Education. She was offered a position as a math and electives teacher and started teaching a month before graduation at Liberty Middle School in Madison, AL. She achieved tenure status and then ultimately resigned in the summer of 2020 when hey husband went on active duty. The time out of the classroom was a gift to her family.

 

Rosie was a freelance tutor during this time and able to focus more fully on her oldest son and his learning differences, a healthy pregnancy with their youngest, their move to Mayport, a healthy delivery, and settling into the rhythm of life.

 

Rosie is so thankful that took that time out of the classroom to focus on her family, but she is thrilled to have this opportunity to once again work with larger groups of students and help them foster confidence in themselves as problem solvers and critical thinkers! Math can be intimidating to students for a multitude of reasons, but Rosie will be present to remind them that they CAN do hard things and that almost everything was hard before they learned how to do it.

 

Rosie takes a student-centric approach to teaching. A typical class might look like students taking notes and going through guided practice with her for 15-20 minutes and then working together and encouraging each other in problem solving activities and games around the room. She is very excited to work with the Spring River High School students!

Amy Jaskiewicz grew up in a small town outside of Jacksonville. Her family shared ten acres of land with her grandparents. Between houses, she learned about farming and homemade food while helping her grandmother make her delicious Mayhaw Jelly.  Among land to play and a large extended family, she was exposed to the beauty of the outdoors, animals, and using her imagination. After four years at Florida State University, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in English Literature. 

 

After working in the web design marketing field, she decided to move back to Jacksonville and pursue a teaching career. Amy taught fifth grade before moving to Texas with her husband. In Texas, she had three children and soon after moved to Colorado for her husband’s career in pharmaceutical oncology. Compromising between her husband’s need to surf and her desire to be closer to family, they moved to Atlantic Beach in 2015. Soon after, she began homeschooling her three children. Her youngest graduated from Spring River 8th grade this year. Homeschooling her elementary and middle school kids was where she was introduced to Latin and began teaching it in her homeschooling CO-OP. Amy is enthusiastic to bring a love of Latin to the Spring River High School students while teaching the classical language in an easy-to-understand curriculum. 

 

Along with reading, a love for animals, art, and travel, Amy enjoys spending time with her family.  She is excited to teach Latin to the inaugural class of Spring River High School students. 

Jill was raised in Atlantic Beach, graduated from Fletcher, and went on to graduate from the University of North Florida with her degree in education. She is certified in High School Biology and Middle Grades Science and endorsed in Gifted Education. Jill taught in Duval and St. Johns counties for 32 years. 

  

She has a passion for science that began in elementary school and continues. 

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Lifelong learning is important, she is pursuing certification as a Master Naturalist through UF. She is also working on a dog training program and would like to train service dogs eventually. Jill has homeschooled her granddaughters (who are Spring River students) in science.  She was very excited to learn that Spring River was adding a high school level. The emphasis on immersing students in the wonder and science of our unique environment and also fostering the responsibility we hold as its guardians is a core value she shares with the school.

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Jill served as a licensed boat captain and instructor for St Johns County Marine Science Summer Camp for several summers. She also led an annual 3 day environmental education science camp with her students to St, Simons Island, Georgia. 

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“Science is how the world works; no matter which area is being taught, it’s important to make it relatable; that’s how you draw students in.”

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Engaging students is key according to Jill, then varying the methods of delivery…"there are so many ways that students can learn.” 

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Some of Jill's other passions are hanging out with the grandkids, growing things, her dog Ellie, and travel. She recently traveled to Peru and visited Machu Picchu then flew over the Nazca Lines.

Music has always been important to Linda. Her grandpa played piano by ear and founded the Barbershop Quartet Society in Toledo in the 1930s. Growing up in Michigan, Linda and her sisters played their player piano (and also school) in their basement for countless hours. She joined the junior choir in second grade and (after some begging) was allowed to take piano lessons beginning in third grade.  Linda studied viola and cello and played bass in the high school Jazz Band. To march in the high school Marching Band, she took up glockenspiel to play in the Pep Band, cowbell! Linda also sang in the Madrigal Choir and had leads in the high school Musicals. More recently, Linda has played Irish music on fiddle and Celtic harp. For twenty years, she’s been a faculty member at The Walker Family Band Fiddle Camp in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, whe teaches ukulele and creative movement.

 

Linda obtained her bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and in Music Performance from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan and her Master’s degree in Cello Performance from University of Memphis. Before moving to Jacksonville Linda played as assistant principal cellist with the Memphis Symphony, created a Suzuki Cello program and was a cofounder of the Rhodes College Piano Trio.

 

During those years, Linda discovered Rudolf Steiner’s writings and learned about Waldorf Education. She was one of the founding members of The Jacksonville Waldorf Initiative in the early 1990’s. Her son Victor attended Seaside Playgarden preschool groups along with our dear K teacher, Sierra Humphreys. He was homeschooled K-8 with the Waldorf Without Walls curriculum, Oak Meadow, and attended Douglas Anderson Performing Arts High School.

 

Linda completed the Center for Anthroposophy’s  Explorations and the Building Bridges courses. She is a member of the JEC Sophia Circle Anthroposophical Study Group and often partakes in Holistic Biography courses online. She has been enjoying teaching music for the third through eighth graders for two years at Spring River School.

Alyssa began her work with grassroots organizations in the 1990s at a time when social responsibility was laying the groundwork for community-supported endeavors. She was inspired by the implementation of local resources where people were drawn together to innovate and co-create through common spiritual goals. The ability to operate methodically in complex systems led her to later pursue research-based fields of study, designing human clinical trials for medical research. 

 

Alyssa and her husband welcomed the births of their three children while living in Germany and Switzerland, where she led a campaign to enhance outreach and city funding for an existing Anthroposophical Birthing House. Following a transformative time in the St. Paul’s Steiner School Community in London, the family settled in the greater Boston area, where Alyssa supported the local Waldorf school on economic reform, inspired by the work of The Institute for Social Renewal. She went on to found an independent educational cooperative of experienced Waldorf Teachers, and hosted a rich community social life anchored in seasonal festivals. She participated in the development of entrepreneurial education models with the Pioneer Institute Boston, and completed Waldorf Board Training with Leading Together.  Alyssa holds degrees in Fine Art, Natural Science and Mathematics.

 

Alyssa is passionate about the establishment of free thinking learning guilds, and having been raised on a small family farm, deeply committed to securing farmland for biodynamic cultivation in order to provide adults and children with community education in agricultural settings.

Dana's affinity for working with children led her to teaching as a second career after a successful stint in advertising sales and management in New York City. Following the events of 9/11, she felt compelled to make a more meaningful contribution to society. Dana was accepted into the NYC Teaching Fellows program, where she began teaching in a high-need public school in the Bronx the following September. Juggling teaching during the day and pursuing her master’s degree in the evenings, Dana found deep satisfaction in her newfound career path. She graduated summa cum laude with a Master's of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Mercy College and a Bachelor's Degree in Communications, with a minor in English Literature from Susquehanna University.

 

In 2015, Dana and her family relocated to Atlantic Beach. There, she began homeschooling her two children, both of whom had attended Spring River School during their middle school years. During that time, Dana taught middle school Mathematics and Creative Writing, as well as leading an after school literature study program. Dana believes in a child centered, holistic approach to education, focusing on nurturing the whole child. Dana understands that each student is an individual with distinct needs and talents, and when nurtured leads to growth: intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. It is this philosophy that has attracted her to Waldorf education.

 

In addition to homeschooling her own children, Dana is actively involved in advocating for children in Jacksonville. She recently graduated from the parent leadership program, Parents Who Lead - Cohort IV. The overarching goal of this leadership program is to develop civic-minded community members who explore a realm of possibilities that will positively impact the city and the children who reside in it.