Faculty 2023/24

Liisa Hymander

Tapiola Co-op Morning Preschool

Growing with the school since our beginnings, Liisa has adventurously carried the blended kindergarten to Grade 2 class in our early years.  Liisa returns from maternity leave for the 2023/24 year. 

Completing Waldorf Foundation Studies, Liisa started her first year of Waldorf teacher studies at the Rudolf Steiner Centre Toronto in the summer of 2019 and completed her teacher training by 2021.  An Honours Child and Youth Worker graduate, she has a spirit for creating space for others to learn, grow and connect.

Liisa is a mother of four children who values curiosity and child centred learning.  Her second daughter has been a student at Northern Lights since 2017.  A passion for whole foods, circus arts, sewing and the outdoors keeps her smiling. Liisa looks forward to welcoming the children to the Tapiola Co-op Preschool program. 

Ashley Morgan

Junior Kindergarten 

Ashley was born and raised in Thunder Bay, where she attended Lakehead University and obtained her Bachelor of Education, Primary/Junior and Bachelor of Arts in French Studies. Ashley lived for a time in Finland where she received her Master’s in Education, coming back to teach in Western Canada. Ashley returned to Thunder Bay in 2019.

She is excited to be part of the Northern Lights School community and delving into the Waldorf philosophy. Ashley enjoys spending time with her family, being in her garden, reading and travelling. She is looking forward to applying her education and classroom experience in this new teaching journey.

Ashley Wilson

Junior Kindergarten Assistant & After Care

Ashley is a mother of 3 children who are now in their teens.   She lives in a rural setting where she gardens, raises chickens, hikes and loves to be in nature with her children. She has a passion for hand crafts such as sewing, macrame, and beading.   

Ashley is of indigenous descent and is a member of BNA (Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek) Sandpoint First Nation which is located by Beardmore.  Ashley has been been at home with her children for many years and recently has been working with children at the Catholic School Board as a Classroom Aide.  She is looking forward to being with the children at Northern Lights School to help them learn and grow.

Caitlin Wheatley

Senior Kindergarten & Grade 1

Solange Cote

Grade 2 and 3

Auralea Michaud

Grades 4, 5, 6  and Friday Nature Program

Auralea grew up just outside of Thunder Bay on a farm before moving to Ottawa to attend university.

She obtained a degree in psychology before becoming a certified primary/ junior teacher. As an educator and  mother of 4, Auralea is passionate about using a holistic approach to educating children and she enjoys presenting challenges and creating safe environments in order for children to grow and develop. She has a passion for gardening, nature, hiking and reading.

Auralea is excited to get to know her students as individuals and help guide them on their life journey.

Erin Scott

Friday Nature & Tapiola Programs

Erin is an Early Childhood Educator with a degree in Natural Science. She believes in the magic and wonder of nature and enjoys fostering a sense of connection to the environment with the children with whom she works.  She understands the importance of open-ended and uninterrupted play with children, as through this type of play the best learning and experiences take place.

Erin is a Metis woman and classifies herself as a naturalist and a steward of nature. She values the importance the natural world provides and believes it should be treasured and protected. She enjoys different aspects of all the seasons but says that late summer is her favourite time of year.  She enjoys swimming, hiking, gardening and foraging. During the cooler months she spends most her time cross stitching, tending to her indoor plants and crafting. 

Arlene Thorn

Board Chair and Development Co-ordinator

Arlene has been part of the Waldorf School and Anthroposophical movement for 40 years. Following years as a parent, Board member and Community Development Coordinator at the Toronto Waldorf School, she joined the Rudolf Steiner Centre Toronto as the Adult Education Coordinator.  In 2012, she and her husband moved to Thunder Bay.   

Upon arrival Arlene joined the Northern Lights Initiative group for an alternative school in Thunder Bay. In 2017 the Northern Lights School started a kindergarten and it has been a daily task to keep the school ‘on the road’.  She is grateful that we are being entrusted with the children in our care.  We are blessed to be creating a Waldorf inspired school within a community of children, teachers, parents and friends.

Amanda Talarico

Business Administrator and Enrolment Coordinator

Amanda is born and raised from Thunder Bay, growing up in the beautiful country side with 30+ acres of maple trees, and has a deep appreciation and connection with nature. She has been with the Northern Lights community since November 2021. After taking the Foundation Studies to further her knowledge about Waldorf philosophy and enrich her family and her children’s education, Amanda fell in love with the community and has been with us ever since. Amanda loves spending time with her children, being creative, specifically with charcoal portraits, needle felted figures and baking delicious treats. Amanda and her husband Joe have 3 children, one in our SK class, one in our preschool program, and one who is 7 months.