Our Faculty
Accept the children with reverence, educate them with love,
send them forth in freedom.
~Rudolf Steiner
Julia Burke
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Ms. Julia was raised in Madison, Virginia on her family’s farm. She earned her BA in Health Arts and Sciences from Goddard College and graduated with her Master’s in Education in 2016. In 2016, Julia went to Long Way Home in Comalapa, Guatemala and interned at a vocational school focused on Democratic Education. In 2017, having returned to the states, Ms. Julia worked with Skyline Cap’s Madison Headstart program before finding her dream job at Hearthstone. In 2024, Julia earned her certificate in Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Education from Sunbridge Institute. “I come to this body of work with gratitude, love, and deep respect for the child. I teach because I love to learn and I love being able to cultivate that love of learning and exploring in others.”
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Mr. James received a B.A. in Philosophy from DePaul University in 2005. He promptly moved to Oregon and spent the next 15 years working in permaculture and organic / biodynamic farming. In partnership with Rootsworks he worked as a sound engineer and was an influential member of the Southern Oregon Hip Hop Collective. His work focused on opening creative channels for children and young adults to express themselves through music, art, and nurturing plant life. He is a father, a published poet, and lifelong advocate of healing humans and the Earth through natural modalities.
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James Armstrong
3rd / 4th Grade 
Smith Cliffton
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Mr. Smith teaches Fitness to the Upper School. Mr. Smith is a former student of Hearthstone School and is an avid fitness enthusiast. He teaches youth martial arts at Stonewall Abby Wellness with co-owner Gordon Wicks. He also trains there himself studying the arts of jiu jitsu and kickboxing, while also expanding his knowledge of calisthenics and fitness.
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Summer Alexander
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Ms. Summer grew up in Rappahannock. She holds a BA in English and a BS in Nursing. In addition to nursing, Summer has worked as an ESL teacher in Prague and NYC, as a massage therapist and esthetician, and in restaurant operations. Summer’s interest in textiles and design began at a young age. Fiber arts became a focal part of her life when she began knitting. This entryway led to spinning, dying, and weaving. Summer is very grateful for the opportunity to share her love of fiber with the Hearthstone community.
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Janet Kerig
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Ms. Janet earned her B.A. from the University of Maryland and has over 30 years of teaching experience. Ms. Janet is an exhibiting fiber artist and a percussionist. She specializes in earth basketry, wheat weaving, and children's folk art.
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Kitty Keyser
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Ms. Kitty received her Waldorf teacher training certificate from Sunbridge Institute and has taught at Hearthstone since 1996. She also teaches dance at the Mountainside School of Dance. “I teach because I love children. It is my way of serving society, to make this world a better place, because these children WILL do so! The reason I teach at Hearthstone is because it's a loving environment for the children, and it's a school that I feel is serving the children in the best way possible. Children have the right to an education that nourishes them in such a way to be whole, healthy, wise and loving human beings...an education that academically prepares them ... and that assists them in being good stewards of our planet.”
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Angie Kiger
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Ms. Angie was raised running through the park and rock hopping in the creek with her brother in Old Hollow, Sperryville. She graduated from Rappahannock County High School in 1988 and moved to Wilmington, NC to attend UNCW. As life would have it, she met her future husband, got married, and had 2 beautiful daughters. She began working at the local preschool while both of her daughters attended. She has continued to work at the preschool until recently when she was offered the opportunity to come home to Sperryville. "I feel so honored to be a part of the Hearthstone family and fortunate enough to spend my days with your children."
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Ana G Gomez
Spanish - 8th Grade - High School |
Ms. Ana is a historian, educator, and cultural manager. She holds a Ph.D. in History obtained in Mexico. Her experience includes teaching history and Spanish, developing bilingual classroom materials, research, and editing educational and museum content. Ms. Ana also collaborated on Spanish curriculum projects in the United States. She is a native Spanish speaker and has advanced English proficiency.
Ms. Ana lives in Rappahannock with her husband and their dog Corazón. |
Kyla Andreoni
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Ms. Kyla grew up in Rappahannock County and started her career in teaching under her mother’s lead at Highland school in Virginia. She has now spent over 25 years working with children; her passion drove her to explore teaching all over the States, in diverse schools like Montessori and Kumon, various kid camps, after school programs, and educating through home schooling & tutoring, whilst working as a nanny and home caretaker.
Ms. Kyla enjoys being back in Rappahannock teaching at Hearthstone for her third year with the nursery /pre-k and subbing for all grades. |
Matt Rooks
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Mr. Matt graduated from Emory & Henry University in the spring of 2025 and began teaching at Hearthstone soon after in the fall. Mr. Matt grew up on the opposite side of Thornton Mountain in Luray, but has been attending Hearthstone summer camps since he was three years old; giving him a deep connection to the school and its purpose. Mr. Matt has always had a passion for teaching and building deep connections with anyone who enters his classroom. When Mr. Matt isn't in the classroom he spends his free time outdoors with a good book and his rescue dog, Max.
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Jason Wise
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Mr. Jason graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Mechanical Engineering and Math degree in 2006. His passion and focus was on renewable energy. After graduating, he worked in the biodiesel industry in Asheville, NC. Mr. Jason also worked as a professional math and physics tutor for adults and children. He later went on to teach math for a homeschool collective until 2016. Mr. Jason believes that teaching allows him to grow and empower others. With that being said, he continued his studies in many different fields. In 2017, he became an Associate Chef at the Living Light Culinary Institute in Ft. Bragg, CA. Since then, he has taught many classes in healthy international cuisine. He is also a Hatha Yoga teacher and has been practicing since 2008. In his free time, he loves hiking up mountains, cooking, gardening, playing music, writing, and traveling.
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Michele Weiss-Smith
World History - High School French - N/K - 7th Grade |
Ms. Michele is thrilled to be back in Rappahannock County and part of the Hearthstone School faculty. Ms. Michele holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in classical voice performance with extended studies in piano from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she was offered a full graduate assistantship for a Master in Music. She studied vocally with Florence Berggen, Formerly of The Juilliard School, and Martin Rich, formerly of The Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Michele's deep love of children, however, led her to pursue her additional post-baccalaureate studies in Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, where she completed a teaching certificate program with extended studies in psychology. During and following these years, Ms. Michele worked extensively in children's theater and television and film as an actress, writer, teacher, and musical director. She appeared in various roles on both regional and national television and holds membership in the coveted Screen Actors Guild. She has also performed as a professional storyteller for various venues. Ms. Michele has taught in both public and private school, settings, including, most recently, Highland School in Warrenton, VA. She served as a music teacher for eight years at Creative Minds Montessori School in Pennsylvania and as a middle-school teacher at Circle of Seasons Charter School, also in Pennsylvania (COS is a member of the Alliance for Public Waldorf). Ms Michele is passionate about the role of functional nutrition in healing and also holds a Holistic Health Coaching Certificate from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York. She is presently in the process of opening her own healing music and art studio in Warrenton, VA with a focus on teaching functional nutrition and healthy lifestyle habits through music, movement, drama, and art. Ms. Michele loves the outdoors, nature, animals, songwriting, painting children's murals, and writing children's stories. She is fascinated with indigenous healing modalities and cultures, holistic healing methods, and creative arts in therapy. Ms. Michele is an avid researcher in areas of functional medicine, psychology, religious and esoteric studies, and medical astrology. She loves working with children and loves to learn!
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