Susan (Usha) Dermond
B.A., M.A., M.L.S.
Co-Director, Curriculum & Staff Development 
Susan has directed the Living Wisdom School since its founding
in 1997. She taught elementary and middle school in the first
Education for Life School in Nevada City, California for twelve
years before coming to Portland. Her experience also includes
teaching high school English and reading, and work as a public
school librarian. Susan developed the online Education for Life
teacher training program that has made EFL available to teachers
and parents internationally. Susan’s book, Calm and Compassionate
Children, A Handbook, is published by Celestial Arts, a
division of Random House.
To read more about it, you can go to her web site: www.susandermond.com Listen to a podcast
of Usha on The Parents Journal.
Rose Neal
R.N. B.S.N.
Co-Director, Administration
 Rose
has been with Living Wisdom School since 2007. She and her
husband, Andy, have a son who currently attends Living Wisdom
School, and a son and daughter who graduated. Rose works as
a registered nurse in community health care part-time and
is central to the administrative work at Living Wisdom School.
Rose is also certified as a Radiant Child Yoga teacher, and
she and her husband Andy lead the Ananda family council.
Karen Busch
B.S., M.S.
Administrative Assistant
Karen has been teaching since 1987 and
helped to start the Living Wisdom School in 1997. Her extensive
experience includes mixed-age and single grade classrooms,
in regular, special education, and talented/gifted programs.
She has taught pre-school through high school, in both city
schools and rural Eskimo villages. Karen’s training in Education
for Life and her years of teaching experience have been invaluable
in the development of the EFL teacher training programs and
the success of Living Wisdom School.
Helen Gorman
Graduate of Merkura, Wil, Switzerland
Teacher
Helen was instrumental in the founding of the Living Wisdom School in 1997. She has been teaching kindergarten since 1998, and her two children attended LWS until their graduation. Helen is enthusiastic about teaching and continues to find new inspiration in each group of students. Helen’s Swiss heritage is an asset for everyone at the school. She is tri-lingual and loves to share her international experience with her students, introducing them to French and German through music and games.
See a video of Helen working in the classroom.
Sonali Gupta
Graduate of Gujarat University
Teacher
Sonali began volunteering at Living Wisdom School in 2003 and joined the staff in 2006. Starting as co-teacher in the primary classroom, she is now the main teacher in the intermediate class. Sonali is tri-lingual and enjoys sharing her Indian heritage with her students and the rest of the school through language, the arts, cultural celebrations and her cooking skills. She and her husband, Vivek, have two children who attended LWS. Prior to her Education for Life training, Sonali had experience as a systems analyst and IT professional and with the development of adult training programs.
See a video of Sonali leading children in Listen to the Chime.
Matthew Fredrickson
B.A.
Teacher
Matthew taught high school English in California. He holds
a degree from Ananda College of Living Wisdom, interned in
the Intermediate Class here at Portland Living Wisdom School,
and completed the Center for Effective Learning's Highly Effective
Teaching course. Matthew loves to write and is enthusiastic
about sharing his skills with students.
Trina Gardner
B.S.
Teacher
Trina has been teaching preschool for Living Wisdom since 2004. She and her husband, Dan, have three children who have attended the Living Wisdom School; the entire family has been closely involved with all the classes and activities. In addition to her Education for Life training, Trina has experience with pre-K through high-school age children since 1990. Her strong interest in Reggio flavors her Education for Life classroom.
See
a video of Trina leading children in Twinkle, Twinkle.
Melissa Heart
B.F.A.
Teacher
Melissa has been teaching with Living Wisdom School since
2008. She taught in the preschool classroom and the after-care
program and is currently co-teaching the primary class. In
addition to Education for Life training, she has years of
experience teaching Head Start preschool and working as a
family advocate in Washington County. Her background in fine
arts is one of the strengths she brings to the classroom and
her enthusiasm for adventurous art projects is now well known
at LWS.
Rachel Van Boven
B.S., M.A.T.
Teacher
Before coming to LWS, Rachel taught primary-age
students in California. She has an especially strong background
in literacy and individualized instruction. Rachel likes to
create games and learning projects in response to her students’
interests, which keeps their enthusiasm high.
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