TEACHING STAFF
Teaching Staff
Teachers at Apple Blossom are on a path of our own inner growth, and we see our role as striving to foster growth in each individual child while leading the children in community with one another. From Susan Howard’s article on the Essentials of Waldorf Early Childhood Education, as educators, we are striving to set aside our egos and realize that, “Ultimately the most profound influence on the child is who we are as human beings – and who and how we are becoming.”
Apple Blossom Village is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.*
Apple Blossom is currently seeking a collaboration for our Thursday Multi-Age Enrichment Class to offer Guest Teachers to share Anishinaabe Cultural Traditions and Language once a month. Stipends available. Please email Dacia at naturalchildhood@gmail.org with ideas or interest.
DACIA DAUNER
Founder & Lead Educator | Apple Blossom Village
I believe that some of the most important learning happens when children are given the freedom to explore, create, wonder, and build a lasting relationship with the natural world. This belief is at the heart of my work as Founder and Lead Educator of Apple Blossom Village, a year-round outdoor immersion program where children learn through meaningful experiences, connection to place, and the rhythms of the natural world.
My own connection to nature began during childhood in the Bemidji area, where I spent countless hours wandering the woods, helping in the garden, exploring the arts, and simply learning through curiosity and play. Today, I am dedicated to creating those same kinds of experiences for children—and to helping educators and parents rediscover the profound role that nature can play in the well-being and development of the whole child. I believe in the importance of giving children abundant opportunities to learn through hands-on experiences, creativity, movement, and connection to the land.
I hold degrees in Early Childhood Education, Accounting, and Humanities from Bemidji State University. Since 2011, I have continued my professional development through Waldorf Education summer intensives in Portland, Oregon. My training includes Waldorf Early Childhood and Kindergarten coursework, as well as training in teaching grades 1–5. I am currently completing an online certification in Outdoor Learning and have attended the International Children and Nature Network Conference for the past two years.
As a current recipient of the Initiators Fellowship–Minnesota, I am working to expand Apple Blossom Village’s impact throughout my local community and Greater Minnesota. Through hands-on, in-person workshops and Outdoor Learning Retreats for educators and parents, I share an approach to education that considers the well-being of the whole child while encouraging adults to deepen their own relationships with the land. I am excited to continue teaching in the Grades classroom as the Morning Educator for Grades 4 and 5.
Over the more than 20 years of working with children and families, I have led workshops for childcare providers, parents, and educators and have organized family festivals and community events. In 2022, Apple Blossom Village purchased and constructed yurts for use as outdoor classrooms, further expanding our capacity to provide immersive, nature-based education throughout the year.
I am passionate about sharing the experiences and insights that have shaped my work and am available for speaking engagements, professional workshops, and parent coaching.
Outside of my work, I enjoy spending time with my family and I am happiest outdoors. I continue to find inspiration through nature, handwork and the arts, world cultures and languages, and travel whenever the opportunity arises.
JUSTINE
After six years as the Full Time Lead Teacher for Multi-Age Kindergarten, Justine is moving into the role of Full Time 1st - 3rd grade Educator and Afternoon Grades Teacher. Justine has her degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood from Bemidji State University. She spent six years working for Head Start in home and center based programs. This is where she truly developed her passion for working with families and teaching young children. She stayed home with her own children, Louis and Celia, and had discovered the Waldorf philosophy when she started researching the best kindergarten options for her son. The developmentally appropriate and child centered learning drew her to Apple Blossom. Justine attended Taproot, a Waldorf-Inspired Homeschool Training in 2023, and has attended several Lifeways Early Childhood Trainings online. This Summer she completed Waldorf Training online for Grade 2. Observing her own children engaged with their natural environment also contributed to her love for outdoor education. Justine now brings her talents for handwork, folk dance, music, and Spanish to the children in the Grades Class. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, sewing, reading, and spending time with her family.
ALEXANDRA STAUDT
Alexzandra Staudt began as a parent volunteer in the Kindergarten in 2019. When her own child, Poppi, moved into the 1st - 4th grade, Alexzandra came with her and worked as the 1st - 4th Grade Classroom Assistant, sharing her talents with us! This fall, Alexzandra will assist in both the Multi-Age Kinder Class and the older grades. Alexzandra is also a Summer Camp Leader for Apple Blossom and runs various Adult Workshops. Alexzandra has been a “maker” all her life and is passionate about engaging kids with their head, heart, and hands. Knitting, sewing, building, cooking, and gardening are some of the skills she enjoys teaching about. As a citizen scientist she is always in observation mode, just waiting to spark conversations about birds, animals, plants, or weather with students and parents. Alexzandra is a fierce advocate of alternative learning and environmental stewardship and sustainability.
ADDIE DAUNER
Addie Dauner began at Apple Blossom Village as the part-time Morning Assistant for the Multi-Age Kindergarten. She has also been working at Apple Blossom Summer Camps since the beginning, and now after completing a summer Waldorf Kindergarten Training in Portland, OR, Addie will be our new full time Multi-Age Kinder and Preschool Lead Teacher. Addie graduated from Bemidji State University with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Mass Comm, and is now pursuing a Forest Therapy Certificate. Addie also leads our Growing Together Class on Thursdays and collaborates with Dacia to offer Parent Coaching. She uses her skills in photography and videography to update our Instagram page and document our seasonal learning at Apple Blossom. As a mom to Kingston, Addie holds a special love for all young children and is excited to move into this new role at Apple Blossom Village.
SARAH WILSON
Sarah Wilson runs our Forest Adventure Day programs, Summer Camps, and leads Outdoor Workshops for Educators. Sarah is also employed with Peacemaker’s Resources and has taught Social Emotional Learning class at Apple Blossom through a grant providing this opportunity. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Bemidji State University. Exploring the forests around her home from an early age sparked her passion for the environment. For the past 15 years, she has enjoyed sharing that passion by engaging young people in place based, powerful learning. She loves to experiment with innovative teaching methods and is passionate about creating equitable learning spaces that lift up marginalized voices. Sarah has been a part of Apple Blossom since the early days, helping co-found the Nature School. Sarah and Dacia are collaborating on a book with seasonal nature activities for parents and children and often work as a team to run workshops for educators. She lives and plays in the gardens and forests around Bemidji with her family.
KRISTIN VOGEL
Kristin Vogel has been involved at Apple Blossom is various capacities for many years. beginning back when Apple Blossom was brand new and offered childcare/preschool to assisting at Summer Camps and Parent/Child Class and as a Parent Volunteer at various programs. In all her experience, the Waldorf philosophy has resonated with her the most. The importance of nature, art, caregiver/child connection and nurturing the whole child are things she strives for in her home life and in her current position as a nanny. She looks forward to helping at Apple Blossom as needed. Kristin enjoys caring for her chickens, cooking, reading, coffee and spending time at the lake. She lives in Bemidji with her husband Jeremy and two children, Sullivan and Frederick.
ANN SKOE
Ann Skoe remains connected to Apple Blossom through volunteering at events and leading Summer Camps. Ann had been our German Teacher at Apple Blossom for both the Kindergarten (ages 4 - 6) and the Grades (ages 6 - 10). While she no longer holds this role at Apple Blossom, her influence lives on in our traditions and songs at Apple Blossom! We hope to have Ann join us as a special guest in the future or see her at Summer Camps. For several years of her childhood, Ann lived in Germany. At Colorado College, she earned a degree in German studies. Ann is licensed to teach both German and Spanish and is fluent in French. At Peacemaker Resources, she supported childcare providers as they strengthened the social emotional learning in their programs. She has also held a wide variety of positions at Concordia Language Villages. Ann also works for the Headwaters Science Center in Bemidji, and teaches world languages online through Fergus Falls public school district. She looks forward to sharing her love for nature with your child.
CAILEE FURER
Cailee Furer is a Summer Camp Leader at Apple Blossom Village as well as a past Apple Blossom Parent/Child Class Educator. She is a licensed Parent and Family Educator and Early Childhood Teacher who teaches parent education classes and family classes at Bemidji Area Schools ECFE and Village of Hope Family Shelter. She has served as the Founder and Director of Bemidji Early Childhood Collaborative and is passionate about serving families and young children. Cailee has been involved in Apple Blossom for many years in various capacities since her daughter attended preschool there and she worked part time as a toddler teacher and fell in love with the philosophy. She lives with her partner, Nick, and their two daughters Lily and Evie. When she has the chance Cailee loves to travel and visit new places, read, knit, garden, hike, attend theater, and simply sit outside and do absolutely nothing.