Teachers & Staff
“The teachers are so deliberate and thoughtful in all of their actions with the children. I never have to worry about how my son's day is going.” —City Garden Parent
Alphabetical List of Teachers & Staff
Dawn Brown
Head of School
Dawn Brown grew up in a rural community in northeast South Dakota. As a child she was surrounded by the great outdoors, spending many weekends at her grandparents farm. She was exposed to art and music at an early age as she painted alongside her father, a wildlife artist and making music with the family band.
She graduated from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln with a degree in Elementary Education and received a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Most recently she completed an Education Specialist degree in K-12 Leadership and Administration from Northwest Missouri State University.
She has served as a K-12 Speech Implementer and has taught first and fifth grades. She moved to Columbia in 2000 to take on the role of Reading Consortium Director with the Heart of Missouri Regional Professional Development Center. After three years there, Ms. Brown formed her own consulting business and provided professional development in the areas of curriculum, assessment, and instruction to schools across the United States.
Coming to City Garden is a sort of 'coming home' for Ms. Brown as she gets back to her roots leading City Garden and its mission to provide a holistic education focused on arts integration and nature immersion.
Dr. Rebecca Bruton
Middle School Math Teacher
Rebecca grew up in mid-Missouri and attended the University of Missouri where she earned a B.A. in mathematics education and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction. She taught high school math for four years before returning to MU. During her time at the University, Rebecca earned a Ph. D in mathematics education, taught mathematics methods courses to future teachers, worked on research focused on mathematics teacher knowledge, and supervised teaching interns. Rebecca holds a Missouri Teaching Certificate in middle school and high school mathematics.
Rebecca values problem-based and place-based learning that allows students to make connections with mathematics and offers applications to the world around them. She encourages student collaboration and discussion to help build a deeper understanding of mathematics. Rebecca is excited to join City Garden School as she believes in education that supports the individual student and meets the needs of the whole person. She hopes to foster a love of learning and nurture and develop knowledgeable stewards of our earth.
Rebecca loves spending time with her husband, Jake, and their children and pets. As a family, they enjoy traveling and experiencing nature through camping. Rebecca enjoys hiking, sewing, card games, paddle-boarding, tending to her yard, and learning about plants and birds.
Neeley Current
1st/2nd grade teacher
Drawn to the beauty, simplicity, and interconnectedness of Waldorf education, Neeley Current was City Garden School’s first Board President. Working with teachers, the board, and parents she was instrumental in transforming the vision of City Garden School into a fully operational organization. Now, as a grade teacher, she has been able to pursue her love of teaching by directly serving the children at the school.
Neeley earned a B.A. in German and Anthropology and a Master’s in Information Science and Learning Technologies from the University of Missouri. She worked for a decade at the University of Missouri College of Education, where she helped run a user-centered design lab and an educational research center. Prior to that, she was a librarian at Stephens College where she also studied dance, music, and film. She continues to learn dance & movement education from Nancy Stoy and most recently she studied storytelling from Dr. Eric Miller at the World Storytelling Institute.
Neeley loves dancing and restful time at home with her family.
Jody Frank
Kindergarten Teacher
Ms. Frank has always been very fond of the outdoors. She started her time with City Garden as a summer camp teacher in 2021. While walking through the woods and playing in the creeks at Rock Bridge State Park, she knew that City Garden was the perfect fit.
Ms. Frank has a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri, School of Natural Resources, with an emphasis on Natural Resource Management. She has worked as an Outreach and Education Coordinator at Prairie Fork Conservation Area, where she spent many sunny days teaching children about different aspects of the environment. She very much enjoys working with children and seeing the wonder of nature through their eyes. She has spent much of her career teaching and spending time with children of all ages.
Ms. Frank enjoys hiking, gardening, reading, and knitting. She loves to be outside with her two children, Olive and Ezra, and her husband Indi. They enjoy traveling and finding fun adventures together.
Ali Freeman
Second Grade Teacher
Ali Freeman has almost a decade of teaching in kindergarten and first grade. She graduated from University of Central Missouri with a double major in Early Childhood and Elementary Education.
After having her son in 2018, she decided to step away from the classroom to be a stay-at-home mama to her son (Lochlan). During that time she found her creative energy and started her own small business, Eclectic Ali Design; where she combines her love of walking the creeks and designing one-of-a-kind art with the treasures that were left behind.
Ali loves this new opportunity to step back into education as the Second Grade teacher, time spent with children and being one with nature...a place she is so happy to be. She is excited to get her feet wet again and grow in an environment that fosters a love of learning through nature-based opportunities.
Jessica Gorsuch
Middle School Teacher
Jessica grew up in St. Louis, where she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from Webster University. She has spent the last 10 years in the mountains of Colorado, raising a family and teaching her 3 children to ski, raft, camp, hike and explore their abundant natural environment. It was during this time that she served as Executive Director for two outdoor schools, the second of which offered her the immersive experience of running her first non-profit organization. In addition to earning her Forest School Director and Teaching Certificate, Jessica was honored to become a member of the Colorado Collective for Nature-based Education, gaining a more in-depth understanding of education policy and reform.
Jessica has recently moved to Columbia to continue her efforts in the nonprofit sector as co-founder and volunteer for a Missouri based nonprofit aiding children with financial burdens. She is excited to explore her new surroundings with her family, while further pursuing her passion for teaching and outdoor adventure.
Emily Harryman
3rd grade teacher
Emily has always felt a call to care for others through teaching, and the holistic and integrated approach of Waldorf education piqued her interest several years ago. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Education from Rasmussen University and has been an educator for more than a decade. Emily has nurtured and taught children from infancy through high school in various settings before finding her way to City Garden in 2020. Emily first led the school’s forest-based afterschool program at Camp Takimina and the summer camp program at Rock Bridge State Park. She is delighted to fulfill her role as a class teacher now.
Emily strives to create a loving and nurturing environment for all students, encouraging the children in her care to use their intuition and individual talents to better the world. Having grown up exploring the woods and creek beds of mid-Missouri, Emily has a deep love and respect for the beautiful land where we hold our outdoor school. When she is not teaching, you can find Emily hiking and foraging in the woods, crafting, and spending time with her family.
Angela Jolley
Kindergarten Assistant and Aftercare Teacher
Angela grew up in Ozark, Missouri, and was often playing in the creeks, rivers and woods. These days came with the familiar sound of the dinner bell when it was time to come home. Angela joined the AirForce at 17,and flew off to Germany, where her love of travel began. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Social Psychology at Park University while living in Montana. Angela graduated from the University of Missouri with a Masters in Social Work and began working for Hospice. Having the opportunity to walk beside someone during their "last chapter" of life was such a privilege! This time gave much insight to what we really need to hold on to during our existence. Realizing the classroom was her calling, Angela began substituting and went back to school earning her teaching certification, K-12 cross categorical from Columbia College.
Angela taught K-5 as a Learning Specialist for 13 years. She enjoyed finding ways to reach all children and meeting them where they were at became her passion. Watching wonder in children's eyes as they created and explored new things, ideas and ways to accomplish a new skill was so rewarding! Conflict resolution became a necessary tool and Angela attended training in restorative practices, equity and diversity. After pausing from teaching, her drive to return to the classroom was strong!
Angela began substituting at City Gardens in October 2023, as well as working aftercare enrichment, She fell in love all over again with seeing the excitement in children's eyes as they learned through exploration. Angela taught three weeks at the nature intensive summer school at Rock Bridge State Park. Angela enjoys looming, photography, RV traveling and spending time with her husband Kyle, and their children.
Nicole Knapp-Weber
Head Middle School Teacher
Born and raised in Florida, Nicole spent ample time outdoors all year round. She graduated from Furman University with a double major in Biology and English and earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from Columbia College. She has a Missouri Teaching Certificate in Middle School Science. When her two daughters were little, Nicole found Waldorf education and steered her career path toward it. She helped establish City Garden School in 2013 with a group of parents who also wanted Waldorf education for their grade school children. In City Garden's first five years, she taught grades 1, 2, and 3 and served as the Director. In 2018, she moved to Hawaii, where she taught grades 1 and 2 at the Honolulu Waldorf School and served as the Grades Faculty Chair.
Nicole loves the Waldorf curriculum for the way it teaches students to think creatively, expand their capacities and skills, build their social and emotional selves, and foster responsibility for others and the world. She loves that each lesson is meaningful and connects to an overall theme for the year. She also loves the outdoors and has been bringing children outside for over 18 years, seeing firsthand the joy, love, wisdom, and peace it brings to her students. Nicole likes to spend time with her family when she's not teaching. She enjoys hiking, camping, reading, and swimming.
Rose Martin
Handwork Teacher
From an early age Rose remembers sitting at a spinning wheel, humming along while drafting fibers into yarn. Immersed in her family’s fiber-arts business, working with natural materials and designing projects became second-nature. The home studio, “Hillcreek Fiber Studio”, offers workshops throughout the year taught by Carol Leigh, Rose’s mom, and special guests on subjects such as; spinning, weaving (various methods), natural dyeing (Missouri plants and ancient dyes), felting, and more. Later on, Rose caught the knitting and crochet bug through working with her sister, Bex, and her business.
Rose still remembers the first class she taught at the age of seven- adults and children circled around to learn how to finger-knit on four fingers. That feeling of learning a new skill and making a project with your own hands is magical and gives a great sense of accomplishment. She continued to demonstrate, assistant teach and solo teach throughout her young-adult life at various fiber-art shows around the country.
Rose turned her creative passion and an eye for detail into studying photography and earned a B.A. in Photo-Journalism at the University of Missouri. Adventure and work opportunities moved her and husband, William, to Florida. While there, Rose worked commercially with clothing designers, artists, free-lanced for magazines, covered events and weddings and enjoyed making lifestyle images for families and individuals. After starting a family, Rose and William felt a calling to be closer to family again. Shortly after moving back to Mid-Missouri, they were in search of a school for their oldest and City Garden School felt like home. Rose has assisted for the past two years in Handwork classes at City Garden and is excited to further bring her love and knowledge of all things handwork to the students. Outside of school, Rose enjoys exploring with her family, camping, hiking, canoeing, dancing and gardening.
Kaila Perry
Fourth Grade Teacher
Born and raised in Columbia Missouri, Kaila has always found herself happiest when she is outdoors. Kaila is soon graduating from Columbia College and finishing up her student teaching experience with a 4th-grade class. While completing her degree, Kaila has been in many different classroom environments and has found a passion for the way Walldorf Schools approach education. This summer Kaila will complete her Waldorf training and is very eager to learn more about how we teach our students. She is very excited about her first year of teaching at City Garden School!
In her free time, Kaila enjoys hiking outside. She has traveled to many places such as Oregon, Wyoming, Utah, and Montana in search of adventure in the great outdoors. She also enjoys relaxing at home with her two cats Luna and Azizi while reading a book. She loves to learn and cannot wait to get to know everyone who is involved with City Garden School!
Dr. Suzan Schuetz
Aftercare Teacher
Raised in southern Missouri's forests, rocks & rivers, Suzan has long valued the benefits of involvement with the natural world and outdoor play.
She earned her BS in psychological sciences from Columbia College and her Master’s and Doctoral degrees at the University of Oklahoma in Community Counseling & Counseling Psychology, respectively. Leading outdoor adventure therapy groups ignited a passion for facilitating group cohesion & personal growth through natural challenges. Suzan has taught and counseled people for 20+ years and is highly driven to share the outdoor world with others.
Joining City Garden School in 2021, Suzan found a magical matchup of her whole-person approach to learning, her belief in the natural world as a guide, and her emphasis on nurturing body, soul, and spirit with CGS's principles. She is awed by children’s creativity and wonder and cultivates these through play.
Suzan can be found in & around compost piles, worm bins, or soap batches when not at CGS. She might also be in the wilderness on a camping/ hiking/tree climbing adventure, probably with her son, Elijah. Otherwise, she is taking nature photos, gardening, experiencing live music at a local venue, riding her motorcycle, or curling up with a book.
Katy Shaffer
Student Support & Friday Games Teacher
Katy Shaffer began her work with City Garden School in December of 2021, stepping into the role of Interim Director.
Katy graduated from Columbia College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Minor in Elementary Education. She is a certified 1st through 6th grade teacher with Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. She taught 5th grade at a private school in Columbia for three years before having her two babies. After becoming a mother, Katy began exploring alternative education opportunities. She started working at, a Peace in Nature Education preschool (Little PINE). Through the outdoor education experience, she was witness to its incredible effect on children. She is passionate about the success and scope of City Garden School and supporting the students and staff for years to come. She is grateful to have found City Garden School when she did!
Outside of school, Katy enjoys spending time with her two young children and her husband, Josh. She enjoys reading with her kids, doing chalkboard art, and staying in touch with Mother Nature and the Moon.
Dr. Juan Zuluaga
Spanish Teacher
Juan Manuel Zuluaga Robledo (Medellín, Colombia, 1982) is Doctor in Latin American Literature at the University of Missouri. Journalist from the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Master in Political Science from the same institution. Master of Arts and Literature from Illinois State University. He worked in Colombian newspapers as El Tiempo in and Vivir en El Poblado. He is the director of www.revistacronopio.com .
Dr. Zuluaga Robledo has taught Spanish at Illinois University, University of Missouri, Hickman High School, and Columbia College.
From Katy Shaffer ~
My first day in the woods with City Garden students was a magical experience. I saw teachers laughing and playing with their students under a wintergreen canopy. I saw sticks become wands, and children carefully gathered around a campfire. I saw mesmerizing chalkboard art and special forest treasures collected by the teachers and students. I saw a student-made (and manned) rock quarry. Besides what I was seeing, I could feel the vibrant energy of the children from the tips of the trees through the breeze and smoke and around the hiking paths.
That day, I was awakened to just how powerful a compassionate, Waldorf-inspired, outdoor school is for children. I was a witness to nature immersion education and believe deeply that every child should get to experience learning this way. City Garden has figured out that by approaching education in this manner, we are cultivating a holistic experience for our future generation. The founders of CGS are still deeply involved in the mission of the school, serving as teachers and parents. Great effort, and donations of money and time, have been poured into the school by our staff, Board of Directors, family, and friends. The City Garden School community has been intentionally fostered and tended to grow in a responsible, compassionate, and generous manner. I am especially grateful to be with City Garden on the cusp of a very exciting and transformative time.