Our Faculty

Accept the children with reverence, educate them with love,
send them forth in freedom.
​~Rudolf Steiner

Julia Burke

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. Julia is a certified Waldorf teacher, having earned a diploma 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.” 

Smith Cliffton

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. ​

Susan Hoffman

Dr. Susan is pleased to return to teaching at Hearthstone after 15 years! With an A. B. Smith College, Ed. M. Harvard, and Ed. D. Johns Hopkins University, Susan has a diverse educational background. Her love of teaching comes from her joy in watching students develop confidence in their abilities. She has more than four decades of experience teaching which includes training teachers, developing mathematics curriculum, working as a mathematics resource teacher, classroom teaching, and individual tutoring in mathematics and reading. She was twice the state level winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching. She also was awarded a Cafritz Foundation grant for studying mathematics in China and Japan. Susan grew up in Oklahoma City, spent a decade in Massachusetts, lived in the Netherlands, and taught in DC Public Schools for 20 years before moving to Sperryville and establishing Belle Meade School.

Janet Kerig

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. 

Kitty Keyser

Ms. Kitty is a certified Waldorf teacher 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.”

Angie Kiger

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."

Brant Marlett

​Mr. Brant grew up in Rappahannock County and attended Virginia Tech, where he majored in English and Communications. After graduation, he moved to Nagoya, Japan and taught English for three years, studied Japanese, and traveled with his wife Claire. Then, they moved to Oaxaca, Mexico where Mr. Brant was a professor at several different universities, teaching classes in English, Spanish literature, culture, and advanced English grammar. After eight years of living in Mexico, he and his wife have returned to Rappahannock with their Mexican-adopted street dog, Burdi-B. In Mr. Brant’s free time, he enjoys mountain biking, playing chess, reading, and hiking. With 10 years of teaching experience all around the world, being exposed to many different cultures and ways of life, and a willingness to learn and listen, Mr. Brant is excited to bring his experiences and perspective to the students and community of Hearthstone.

Justine Rosenbaum

Ms. Justine has a BFA in Ceramics from Indiana University where she participated in the Overseas Program in Dijon, France. She has a Teacher's License for grades 1 through 8 and taught in the Rappahannock County Public School system for three years. Ms. Justine has been teaching at Hearthstone School since 2003. She is particularly fond of introducing students to Gulliver's Travels as part of a magical exploration of mathematics. 

Jason Wise

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.