Our Teachers

Meet Ms. Scheinfeld…

Dr. Anke Scheinfeld has been a Waldorf early childhood educator for nearly two decades. She received her Masters in Early Childhood Waldorf Education from Sunbridge College. Prior to teaching, Anke worked as a physician and researcher in Germany, Great Britain, and the USA.

She received her medical degree from the Westfälische Wilhelms Universität in Münster, Germany, and is board certified in Anatomic Pathology by the American Board of Pathology. Anke’s focus is bringing to her students and school community the salutogenic, healing impulse of Waldorf education. She creates a nurturing and joyful environment in the classroom while inviting her students to challenge themselves in ways that foster physical, cognitive, emotional, and social growth. Anke respects the unfolding individuality of every child while providing guidance toward experiences that support balanced development. In this way each child can find their purposeful place within their community.

Anke is an inspired student herself. She enjoys learning with parents and colleagues through everyday work, and in study groups and workshops. She explores human nature through intellectual as well as artistic endeavors. Anke loves to create with her hands, using natural materials to make playthings and practical objects.

Anke’s children, Isaac and Noa, attended Waldorf school from Parent and Child Class through Grade 12. Her husband, Andrew, is an Obstetrician/Gynecologist at NYU.

Meet Ms. Ilana…

Ilana grew up in New Jersey and moved to Washington, DC after college to pursue a career in nonprofit fundraising working for organizations serving the homeless and underserved communities. From there, she developed a great passion for teaching, eventually leading her to NYC. Here, she got her Masters in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from Bank Street College. She is so excited to be bringing her 8 years of teaching experience and love of special education to the New Amsterdam Team. She is an educator with a great deal of passion for progressive education and the Reggio Emilia Philosophy. In her spare time, Ilana can be found attending live music around the city, eating as much good food as she can in the city, and traveling as much as possible.

Meet Ms. Genevieve…

Genevieve grew up in a valley in Vermont surrounded by the beauty of nature and the good people who care for it. After receiving her BA in Visual Art and English from Fordham University in New York City, Genevieve returned to Vermont to pursue a Masters in Teaching English as a Second Language at Saint Michael’s College. Over the next few years Genevieve worked in an elementary school, restaurant, and bakery before finally landing in a local preschool. There she found the joy of community and the satisfaction of learning and growing with its youngest members. Having returned to New York, Genevieve is so pleased to be welcomed by such a wonderful community as New Amsterdam. She is new to Waldorf education but brings with her a love for craft, music, art, and a deep desire to learn from her fellow teachers, children, and their families.

Meet Ms. Brooke…

Brooke Sativsky has been working in the field of early childhood education for over two decades.  She earned her BS in Human Development and Family Studies at The University of Wisconsin-Madison where she was certified as a Family Life Educator. Brooke continued her education at The City College of New York where she earned her Masters in Early Childhood.  Brooke’s professional training and guiding principles are centered on a holistic family-centered approach to early education. Brooke brings a love of the natural world, outdoor exploration, and art into the classroom, while striving to build a classroom community culture of care where each child can thrive.  Brooke is inspired by the Waldorf philosophy and is thrilled to join the New Amsterdam community.

Meet Ms. Jenn…

Jenn Allen grew up just outside of Richmond, Virginia and enjoyed the many benefits of ample access to the outdoors. She moved to New York in 2015 to study theatre in a project based curriculum and graduated NYU with her BFA in Theatre and English. Since 2019, Jenn has been a multi-hyphenate artist and dedicated early childhood educator. Jenn is passionate about creating joyful spaces for early learning, community building, and embracing the magic of childhood. 

Meet Ms. Jane…

Jane Higgins grew up near Sydney, Australia in sun, mud, and weeds with rich opportunities to play freely. After an early career in the field of human rights and development, working for various international and Australian non-profit organizations, parenthood brought about a great shift. The rights, needs, and magical qualities of the youngest human beings really caught her attention. She has been a devoted early childhood educator in NYC for the past decade. Starting with the education of her own two sons she then became an organizer of local Brooklyn playgroups for 2-year-olds. Drawn towards Waldorf education she joined a beloved Waldorf-inspired playgroup run as a parent cooperative; first as a parent, then as an aftercare & an assistant teacher, and finally as a lead teacher (2017 - 2021).

Jane received her Waldorf training in Early Childhood from Sunbridge Institute in 2014. She also has a CELTA certification in teaching English Language Learning, a B.A (Literature and Film) from the University of New South Wales, Australia and M.A (International Relations) from the City College of NY. Jane finds time with young human beings fascinating, instructive, life-affirming, and at times very entertaining. She also enjoys travel, nature walks (especially with dogs), puppet shows, and mud pie cooking.

Meet Ms. Morgan…

Leah Morgan has had a dual-career trajectory: both in early childhood education and in digital design. Leah spent a gap year prior to college as a pre-k teacher assistant, then nannied for several years. Leah studied psychology in undergrad, including developmental psychology, at The New School, and enjoys learning about early childhood education. Leah is particularly drawn towards the Waldorf emphasis on natural materials and learning through outdoor play. After a bountiful product design career primarily focused on web applications for education nonprofits, Leah is enthused to be back in the classroom. Leah spends her free time running, doing yoga, and taking her dog to Tompkins Square Park.

Meet Aspen…

Aspen Dobbins has been caring for children for as long as they can remember. They first started working with children as a natural progression from being an older sibling. At a young age they became the co-director of an urban gardening program for children in West Philadelphia, they were also a farmer, bread kneader, seamster, and futon maker. They didn’t know at the time that they were laying the foundations for their path to becoming a Waldorf Educator.

In 2003, Aspen joined their daughter, Eden, for their first parent-child class together at the Susquehanna Waldorf School. They were eager to attend again after their second daughter was born. It was then that Aspen understood that this path was not just for their children. Aspen began working at the Upper Valley Waldorf School in Vermont as a kindergarten assistant in 2008. After taking a week-long course at Sophia’s Hearth, Aspen knew it was time to begin a full early childhood training. Aspen became a lead teacher in the Nursery and Morning Garden at the Upper Valley Waldorf School in 2012 and was a Kindergarten teacher with Lake Champlain Waldorf School in 2016. Most recently, Aspen worked as a teaching artist with Inclusive Arts Vermont to work with providers to bring arts and foundational movement into their home programs as a way to bring accessibility and social and emotional learning for all students with a focus on creating space for children with disabilities.

Aspen is also a yoga teacher, a writer, a toymaker and a former paraeducator and is certified in the State of Vermont to provide professional development for early childhood educators. They received their Bachelor's degree from Champlain College in writing and their diploma in Early Waldorf Education from Sunbridge Institute. Along with their life experience both in and out of the classroom, their training with Sophia’s Hearth and various WECAN Conferences have also greatly supported and influenced their work as a teacher.