Gwyn Schmidtberger

Lead Teacher 2nd & 3rd Grade

I have always said Kansans have a direct connection to the land, to education and to a way of being a tad bit radical. To work at Prairie Moon sums all three up perfectly; to teach at this unique school in the heartland of America is a magical and mystical experience!.

It is second nature for those of us born here to feel a distinct pulse and rhythm of humanity coursing through our lives. However, for many curious ones, there is a normal itch to set out for adventure and a fresh place to call home. Like Dorothy riding the tornado and landing in many exciting places, I set off years ago, and was surprised to have eventually returned to Kansas. My sense is that my karmic path had Prairie Moon etched into it already back when the doors opened in 2005. 

I am from Hays, on the western plains. I have lived on both coasts, in Mexico and Germany. I have three curious and creative children. I have worked with all ages of children in many different areas of education and managed my own Waldorf influenced home daycare in my hometown from 2009-11. My introduction to Anthroposophy and the Waldorf school back in 2005 came from an opportunity to translate info for a traveling art exhibit of drawings from Waldorf Kindergarten children while living in Düsseldorf, Germany. From that moment on, my view of education and how a human develops was changed forever. 

Prairie Moon brought me to Lawrence in 2013. I received my Waldorf teacher training certification from Sound Circle in Seattle, WA in 2017, accumulating 7 years of work in all areas of the EC program. My next adventure was to step in as Administrative Director, gathering new skills and sharing my talents in a different way. As the spiral of life continues to direct one back to a familiar place, I am entering my next adventure within classroom walls again. My time here at PMWS feels like a well-rounded experience as I look forwarded to taking my new class on through the years of the grades with the children and parents with whom I forged a relationship back in my EC days.

I adore children and fully accept my role as teacher, thriving on the wonder and joy of guiding them through each of the seven year cycle. As a parent myself, what really lights me up is to meet with other parents, navigating how to be the best we can for our children together. It is a never-ending journey for all of us and being a Waldorf teacher on the plains is doing my part as a radical individual here in Kansas!

I am honored to be working with your child, with you and with the faculty and staff of PMWS—“there is no place like home” and when you feel the resonance, your heart just sings.