FACULTY & STAFF

V. Growing up, Virginia attended Maharishi School, and spent her time riding, caring for, and learning with her young horse, Mocha. Her love for helping people and animals in meaningful ways, being active outdoors in all weather, and simple fun runs deep. 

Virginia brings a well-versed background working with children as a licensed Speech Therapist for the past 13 years in local and surrounding school districts and in her own private practice. She holds an M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Northern Iowa, and a B.A. in Art and Psychology from Earlham College in Indiana.

Although not wearing the speech therapist hat now as much as before, with all three of her children attending Singing Cedars, Virginia also wanted to be at the school using her knowledge, skills, and creativity in both familiar and new ways to help support children in the new Early Childhood class!

In her personal time, Virginia especially enjoys outdoor physical activities such as gravel biking, running, nature walks near water, and Crossfit. She loves seasonal crafts and handmade decoration, small DIY and organizational projects, tracking “quotable quotes" from overheard dialogue (especially funny ones), word games, nature art, food art, music, photo and video documentation of life's simple joys and adventures, and writing.

Heather Perleberg, Early Childhood Assistant Teacher

Photo and bio coming soon...

Prithvi Shenoy, First Grade Teacher

Born and raised in New York, Priv ventured to Minnesota to attend college and has called the Midwest home ever since. Along the way, she met her husband, Nate, and together they have built a beautiful life with their three children, ages 20, 10, and 7. During her years of experience in a range of public school classrooms, Priv especially enjoyed working within a multi-age Montessori learning environment. She went on to study Applied Behavior Analysis in graduate school and served as a behavior therapist in children’s mental health. In 2020, their family embarked on a new phase of their journey and began homeschooling, weaving together diverse philosophies, including Charlotte Mason, Classical and even a touch of “unintentional Waldorf.” In late 2023, they embraced a new chapter, moving to Fairfield, Iowa with their younger two.

Priv felt a strong connection to the warmth of Singing Cedars upon arrival to Fairfield, recognizing in this community the very values she and Nate have long nurtured in their home. She brings her whole heart to her classroom and feels blessed to learn and grow alongside Singing Cedars families. 

Maddie Manchala, 2nd/3rd Grade Teacher 

Coming Soon

Erin Adams, 5th/6th Lead Teacher

Erin grew up in the town of Fairfield where her love for nature and art, including camping, hiking, swimming, watercolor, drawing, and crafting were strongly supported. After graduating from Iowa State University with a degree in elementary school education, she became a public school educator teaching art. Throughout the next 10 years Erin taught other areas of elementary education, including 4th and 5th grade and supporting fellow teachers with curriculum and instruction.

As her own child grew closer to school age, Erin began exploring more holistic approaches to education. In her own words, she shares, “My family loves and values imagination, nature, and the arts and I wanted to be able to incorporate this into my daughter’s schooling and my own teaching. When I found Singing Cedars I knew that this was exactly the community I had been searching for.”

Patricia Cornelius, School Administrator & Early Childhood Director

Patricia Cornelius has dedicated the last 25 years to the support and care of children as a Waldorf Early Childhood teacher and Pedagogical Chair both here at Singing Cedars and previously at the Waldorf School of Philadelphia (WSP). She holds a bachelors degree in Organizational Management which she utilized, along with her teaching experience, to serve for four years on the administrative team while at WSP.  Prior to her years in Waldorf education she ran a successful business as a Yoga and Meditation teacher.  When not working Patricia enjoys time with her family, gardening, cooking, traveling, and being in nature.

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