Faculty & Staff

Jessica Henkel, Assistant Nursery Teacher

Jessica has a deep passion for child development and early childhood education. She previously ran her own home daycare and worked as an in-home nanny. In her approach to childcare, she encourages curiosity and promotes play-based learning. She structures the learning environment so that children feel safe and loved. Jessica brings patience, warmth, and genuine enthusiasm to all of her interactions with children and parents. 

Carissa Wheeler, Assistant Nursery Teacher and Aftercare Provider

Carissa is thrilled to join Singing Cedars and bring her experience as a preschool teacher to the nursery program. In her previous work as both a lead and assistant teacher, she enjoyed cultivating positive relationships with the children in her care. Carissa is experienced in developing and maintaining an early childhood curriculum and creating an engaging classroom environment through hands-on activities. She looks forward to immersing herself in the Waldorf-inspired educational approach this year as she assists in the Lavender classroom. 

Sami Frana, Lead Kindergarten Teacher

Sami is excited to join Singing Cedars as the kindergarten teacher this year. She previously worked at the Cornelia Day Child Care Center at the Washington Community YMCA, both as a teacher and manager. In her work as a teacher for children ages birth to five, she pays special attention to meeting each child’s practical and emotional needs. Sami excels at creating and implementing lesson plans and at providing a supportive, structured learning environment for young children. She feels aligned with the Waldorf inspired style of teaching at Singing Cedars and is eager to continue learning this holistic approach to education. 

Julianna Vajda, Grade 1 Teacher 

Julianna was drawn to Singing Cedars because she deeply values the strength that a closely knit community can have in a child’s development.  This was also the reason she decided to move to a small town in Iowa and attend Grinnell College, where she obtained her degree in Anthropology and Education Studies.  Upon graduating she continued to live in Grinnell where she taught in the public school district and worked as a community engagement coordinator for a local food hub. These experiences culminated in a deep exploration of “place-based learning.”  She believes that understanding our relationship to the land we live on is an underutilized tool that stretches across many disciplines. Inspired by the curriculum at Singing Cedars, Julianna felt a sense of purpose and excitement to be able to carry out place-based learning practices.  And, as an educator and a trained researcher of experiential learning, she admires Singing Cedars’s mission.  Outside of the classroom, Julianna often stays active by hiking, running, painting or cooking. Additionally, she has been a youth volleyball coach for the past five years and has also recently pursued a career in personal training. She is originally from south Florida, but is proud to call Iowa home now. 

Prithvi Shenoy, Grade 2 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. 

Erin Adams, Grade 3/4 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 Director, Early Childhood Director & Nursery Lead teacher

Patricia Cornelius has dedicated the last 25 years to the support and care of children as an 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.

This year Patricia will be returning to the classroom in the mornings to mentor our two new incoming Nursery assistant teachers, sharing the expertise and insight gained through more than two decades of training and experience. 

Sarah Kazakis, Administrative Assistant & Classroom Support

Sarah brings over 15 years of experience in diverse roles, including administrative support and customer relations, to her position at Singing Cedars. Detail-oriented and solution-focused, she has a long track record of helping nonprofits, schools, and small businesses flourish. Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in Regenerative Organic Agriculture and has a strong interest in working with organizations that value ethical service. She’s excited to be part of the Singing Cedars team, lending support both in the administrative office and in the classroom 

Aliyah Warwick, Administrative Assistant: Marketing & Development

Aliyah has worked in administration in various capacities for nearly twenty years. With experience in early childcare and with a child entering the nursery program this year, she is especially passionate about helping students, educators, and schools thrive. She enjoys creating order and beauty through her work, whether it be a promotional brochure or a spreadsheet. Aliyah has an MFA in Creative Writing and has published poetry and essays in literary journals.