Christabelle Chajon
Office Manager
Christabelle grew up in Long Island, NY and moved to DC over 10 years ago. She earned a degree in Early Childhood Development and Education in 2003, and brought her deep interest in social and emotional development into her teaching practice in private schools, including Wilmington Friends School in Delaware. She learned more about Waldorf education after having her second child, and her growing curiosity brought her to take a tour at Acorn Hill 5 years ago. She was immediately drawn to the grounding and calming sensory experience walking through the classrooms, and the philosophy and pedagogy resonated so much with her that in addition to choosing Acorn Hill for her daughter’s first school experience, she participated in Parent Circle and various committees. She loves working with the amazing faculty and community of families at Acorn Hill. She also enjoys the outdoors, spending time with family and friends, learning about and practicing holistic medicine, and playing violin in community ensembles.
Angeli Escalante-Bieler
Spruce Class Teacher
Angeli was born in the Philippines, and grew up in Catonsville, MD and New York City. She studied Fine Arts at Goucher College and later graduated with a B.A. in Communications & Business Management. Shortly after, she left for the Big Apple to work for a large Wall Street law firm. Angeli spent about 15 years in Manhattan working in corporate, securities, and film finance, while volunteering for the Children of Bellevue, reading to hospitalized children, Reach Out & Read, and as a Child Advocate for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) in Manhattan and Brooklyn Family Courts. She returned home to Maryland/DC after 9/11, and became a member of the Junior League of Baltimore, continuing her dedication to community service. Angeli got off to an early start caring for children in the 1970’s by helping with her mother’s home child care service. She was introduced to Acorn Hill by a WWS parent, whom she met at a nearby dog park where their puppies played together. She started as a substitute teacher at Acorn Hill in 2016, later becoming the 3 Day Nursery assistant teacher while she completed the Waldorf Early Childhood teacher training at Sophia’s Hearth. Outside of teaching, she is a licensed Realtor who helps manage her family’s properties. Angeli lives with her husband, a sports journalist, and her beautiful son, Sean, born in July 2019. Her family includes a cat named Einstein and two dogs, Fionnuala-Tula & Ellie.
Kate Gage
Pedagogical Resource Coordinator
Kate was born in the DC area. She traveled through Europe, settled in Ethiopia, and traveled again in East Africa. When she returned to the States, she finished her BA (science, painting, poetry and pottery), and received her MFA (in painting and new forms) from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y. During her middle years she lived in an artist’s loft in Soho, in the country on Martha’s Vineyard, and at the foot of the Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. She gardened, made art, designed theatre sets, and got involved in a household hazardous waste project. Kate discovered Waldorf education shortly after the birth of her daughter and is now a certified Waldorf Elementary Education and Therapeutic Education Teacher. Since 1996, she has loved working at Acorn Hill as a nursery and parent-child teacher. Kate has written articles for Waldorf publications and gives workshops and presentations at the annual Waldorf Kindergarten Conference and to our Acorn Hill community.
Marie-Christine Hoover
Willow Afternoon Teacher
Marie-Christine was born and raised in the Loire Valley, France, lived in the countryside and was lucky to grow up with wonderful homegrown vegetables and fruit from her family’s garden. She studied in Orleans where she earned degrees in Tourism and English. She came to the United States, met her soon-to-be husband, and they moved to Bethesda, after getting married in her hometown in France. Marie-Christine worked for the French Embassy and French mission to the OAS for several years, then opened and ran a French Antique furniture store in Kensington with her husband for 10 years. She loved the contact with customers and the smell of beeswax used to nourish the old furniture. When her first daughter was ready for school, Marie-Christine was introduced to Acorn Hill – it was love at first sight! Marie-Christine is a certified Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher and a teacher in the Five Day Nursery. Her daughters, Emma and Hannah are both Acorn Hill alumni. Hannah is a rising tenth grader at the Washington Waldorf School and Emma is now a student at the University of Maryland. Marie-Christine loves singing, camping, and taking walks in the woods with her dog Loki, finding peace and inspiration in nature.
Rajni Joshi
Dogwood Class Teacher
Rajni grew up in Lucknow, India where she earned a Masters of Anthropology and a Masters of Social Work. She started her career managing health programs in India for underserved rural populations. After moving to the U.S., she worked for several years teaching at a cooperative preschool in Silver Spring. When Rajni and her family moved back to India from 2014-2018, she worked with Ritinjali, a non-profit in New Delhi, where she trained teachers, organized programs for adolescent girls, and started a program to train young women from poor, urban areas in early child development. Rajni is a certified Waldorf Early Childhood Education teacher. She has taught at Acorn Hill since 2019. Rajni lives in Takoma Park with her husband and two sons, who attended the Acorn Hill summer program and parent-child program. She is drawn to the wholesomeness of the Waldorf philosophy of education and its emphasis on nature and imagination. Rajni enjoys yoga, painting, gardening, writing poetry, and acting in Hindi theater productions.
Mariam Mokhtarzada
Head of School
Mariam Watson Mokhtarzada began her parenting journey in Acorn Hill’s first infant-child class. As her children grew at Acorn Hill, so too grew Mariam’s involvement in the parent community. She particularly enjoyed organizing the Silent Auction and credits her joy for fundraising to Acorn Hill. After her last child completed kindergarten at Acorn Hill, Mariam remained involved in Acorn Hill in different ways over the years before taking an active role in supporting Acorn Hill through the pandemic. Mariam is passionate in helping organizations deliver on their mission and has served in leadership positions at for-profit and non-profit organizations and boards. After working for over a decade as Director of Human Resources at an internet start-up, Mariam co-founded and served as the first Executive Director of Next Wave Muslim Initiative. Mariam has a Bachelor’s in Nursing, Master’s Degree in Organization Development, and a certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the University of Maryland Do Good Institute. Mariam loves traveling, hiking, and kayaking. She lives in Silver Spring, Maryland with her husband, Zeki, and their three children.
Natasha Nair
Oak Class Teacher, Classroom Support Coordinator
As the daughter of a foreign service officer, Natasha grew up in Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Cairo and Maryland. She then attended McGill University in Montreal, Canada. After completing her BSc in Psychology, Natasha went on to work as a meditation and yoga program manager for both adults and teenagers. This led her to go back to school and complete her MA in Elementary Education at American University. She then taught various grades in the D.C. public school system. When her son was born, she discovered Acorn Hill and immediately fell in love with its holistic and nurturing environment. As another child came along and years went by, it became clear to her that Acorn Hill represented the perfect blend of her love for children and her beliefs in child rearing and education. She lives with her husband Dileep, her children Rayan and Maya, and her labradoodle, Milo.
Monica Nermark
Enrollment and Business Director
Monica first came to Acorn Hill as a parent in 2010 in the Parent-Child program, and enjoyed the warm atmosphere of the school. Her children continued to attend Acorn Hill until 2016, while Monica became active in the Parent Circle, and joined as a substitute teacher and Administrative Assistant. In September 2018, Monica was hired as the Administrator. Monica was born in Sweden and raised in Italy, Sweden and Switzerland, before completing her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania. After working in Washington, DC for a year, Monica moved to London for 13 years, where she took on various roles at a number of small businesses. After moving back to the Washington, DC area, Monica stayed at home with her two children, and was actively involved in school and neighborhood community activities. Monica lives in Silver Spring with her husband and two children and enjoys gardening, hiking and spending time with friends and family.
Chardai Powell
Office Manager
Born and raised in Maryland, Chardai is a book lover and storyteller who studied journalism in Chicago. She now channels her love for literature into curating engaging content for a Black-owned publishing company, where she helps amplify diverse voices. Whether she’s exploring local museums, trying new restaurants, or hunting down the perfect pastry, she’s almost always carrying a book. Chardai loves connecting with her community through stories, good food, and shared experiences, always looking for the next great read or hidden gem to explore.
Becca Stem
Office Assistant
Becca was born in the Baltimore area, and knew from a very young age that she wanted to make a special impact on children, as some of her teachers had done for her. Becca resides in Carroll County with her husband, two cats, and turtle. With a passion for gardening, she began weaving biodynamic gardening practices into her space at home, growing an abundance of vegetables, flowers and herbs. In 2020 she earned her degree in Early Childhood Education, with an interest in the Waldorf pedagogy and the studies of Rudolf Steiner. It was then that she joined Acorn Hill and has since worn a few different hats (or aprons). Outside of this, Becca enjoys playing guitar, being out in nature and hopes to one day have chickens running around in her backyard.
Missy Campbell
Oak Afternoon Teacher
Missy grew up outside of Worcester, Massachusetts and spent much of her time exploring in the woods near her childhood home. She attended The College of Wooster in Wooster Ohio earning a Bachelors in Art History. She moved to D.C. in 1997. Her professional journey has taken her from Christie’s Auction house in Boston, to National Geographic in DC, three years as a licensed massage therapist to an early childhood educator for the past 12 years at a private school in downtown D.C. She found her calling when she started working in early education and has developed a love for teaching our youngest children. She lives in Silver Spring with her husband and 10 year old son. She enjoys going on hikes with her family, spending time by the ocean and exploring new places.
Jeannie Amado
Dogwood Assistant Teacher
Jeannie, born of parents that migrated from Cuba and the Dominican Republic, spent her early childhood years in the Takoma Park and Silver Spring area where she also became a Washington Waldorf alumni. After different kinds of adventures in different states, she is residing in the area again with her 4 year-old son and 2 dogs. She has been working in the education system since 2016 as a Substitute Teacher, an Education Assistant and this last school year she was an Afternoon Teacher at Acorn Hill. Two summers ago she completed a parent coaching course to complement her BA in Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution and has recently begun periodically taking on clients. She loves working with families and supporting them in their journeys of parenthood and she also loves working with young children. Seeing children flourish within nurturing relationships and environments is something Jeannie is passionate about facilitating.
Jessica Hare
Spruce Assistant Teacher, Owl’s Nest Assistant
Jessica is from Liberia, in west Africa, and has lived in the US for 19 years. She loves working with children, specifically the preschool and kindergarten age group because they learn from her and she learns from them. Jessica has a degree in Early Childhood Education from Prince George’s Community College and brings a wealth of experience from working with children for over a decade.
Brigitte Dubois
Oak Assistant Teacher
Brigitte discovered Acorn Hill and Waldorf education after her son’s birth seven years ago. She remembers the first time she and her then eight-month-old son visited Acorn Hill; at their first parent-infant class, they took in the holistic guidance, green spaces and calm places of Acorn Hill and immediately knew this was the place for them. Prior to becoming a parent, Brigitte was an early childhood and primary grades classroom teacher for a decade, working in a mix of traditional, progressive, museum-based, Reggio-inspired, and now Waldorf learning environments that have reflected her journey as an educator and parent. She holds a master’s degree in elementary education and advanced graduate work in the history of education; she engages in board and development work with Acorn Hill and was previously a Parent Circle leader. Brigitte loves spending time outdoors, camping, gardening with native plants, decluttering, cooking delicious autoimmune-friendly meals, spending time near the water, practicing mindfulness with her son, and reading biographies about history’s fascinating women.
Cesia Monterrosa
Dogwood Afternoon Teacher
Cesia is attending Prince George’s Community College, working on earning an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. She worked as an assistant teacher at her church for four years until the pandemic hit and classes were no longer held in-person. Cesia’s hobbies include film photography, baking, and gardening. She learned about Waldorf education through one of her cousins and became very intrigued to learn more. Cesia is now entering her third year at our school, and is very grateful and happy to be a part of the Acorn Hill community.
Vonzella Comegys-Brisbane
Owl’s Nest Coordinator
Vonzella resides in Silver Spring where she has raised her family and served as an educator in area independent and public schools as well as community based programs. During her tenure as a Montgomery County Public School educator she earned a Master’s Equivalency in elementary education and an advanced professional Maryland Educator Certificate in early childhood education PK-3. Her commitment to community based educational programs was a means to contribute to under-resourced children and families in Montgomery County. Some of her interests include cultural anthropology, holistic health and wellness, performing/visual arts and women’s studies. Her three adult daughters are Acorn Hill alumni where they developed lifelong friendships and enriched their dignity and respect for humanity and nature. Our lives are abundant with opportunities to develop ourselves and those around us. We learn from one another and it is for this reason the humanity of the teacher represents the core of the educational experience.
Francisco Echeverria
Kindergarten Assistant, Owl’s Nest Assistant
Francisco was born in Santiago, Chile, and grew up in Silver Spring. During the summers, he would spend time in the Pocono mountains in Pennsylvania, where he went swimming in rivers, hiking, fishing, and making s’mores. Currently a student at the University of Maryland, he is studying to become a high school history teacher. His Sligo Creek upbringing ignited his passion for nature and discovery. He also enjoys spending the majority of his time playing soccer and croquet, while finding meditation through biking and running along Sligo Creek.
Michaela Peterson
Spruce Assistant Teacher
Michaela was born and raised in Bethesda, Maryland and is an Acorn Hill Alumni. She has fond memories of her time here that eventually lead her back! After attending Acorn Hill, Michaela was homeschooled in the Waldorf curriculum until high school. During her high school years she volunteered at her local elementary school in the Special Education department and found a love for working with children. Michaela then attended West Virginia Wesleyan University with a major in Education. Shortly after that she welcomed her son Grant into the world in 2020 and spent the entire pandemic in his hospital room supporting him as he grew stronger from a birth defect. Michaela’s time in the Special Education Kindergarten class inspired her to enter the field of Applied Behavioral Analytics acquiring her Registered Behavioral Technician license. She worked for Behavioral Health Works and Divine Steps Therapy, helping children and their families by taking data on observed behaviors and implementing ABA strategies to help the children thrive in life. Michaela’s goal is to become a Waldorf certified Early Childhood Education Teacher. In her free time she enjoys incorporating all that she is learning at Acorn Hill into her home; making Acorn Hill recipes, watercolor painting, learning to felt and fostering a home rhythm.
Tsehay Mesfin
Spruce Afternoon Teacher
Tsehay moved to the United States 3 years ago from Addis Ababa Ethiopia, which is where she is originally from. She attended an Italian immersion program from nursery to high school. During her years in high school, Tsehay would tutor on the side, but never thought she would one day become a teacher. At the time, she was studying administration finance and marketing and working on growing a hair salon business. After Tsehay moved to the United States she started volunteering at the Italian cultural society of Washington, D.C., and later joined the team of Italian teachers. She worked with different age groups ranging from 2 year olds to 10 year olds. During this period, she fell in love with working with young children, and decided to get certified as an Early Childhood Educator. After some time, as Tsehay was doing some research on nature schools, and specifically Waldorf schools, she found Acorn Hill. The moment she stepped foot inside of Acorn Hill, she recalls getting a feeling that this was what she was looking for. Tsehay has been at Acorn Hill since January 2024, as a substitute teacher. This will be her first year as an Afternoon Lead teacher. Tsehay lives with her dear husband Jesse, and owns a cute chow chow dog named Luna. During her free time, Tsehay participates in community volunteer work and cares for her many house plants.
