Our Faculty

The Harvest School
5125 Shadowbend Place
The Woodlands, TX 77381
281-298-8632

Pre-K through 6th Grade
Waldorf Certified Faculty
Registered with WECAN as a Developing Member
A Texas Licensed ChildCare Facility

Your Subtitle text

Our Faculty

Ms. Jill McGinn
Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Pedagogical Faculty Co-Chair for Early Childhood Programs

Miss Jill, arrived at The Harvest as a prior Pre-K teacher at the Shining Rivers Waldorf School in St Louis, MO. Her training and experience include workshops at the Rudolf Steiner College in NY, “Navigating the Terrain of Childhood” with Jack Petrash at the Prairie Hill Waldorf School in Wisconsin, and “Lifeways” with Cynthia Aldinger at The Climbing Rose Waldorf Kindergarten in St Louis, as well as being the Lead Pre-K teacher at Shining Rivers. She received her B.S. in Kinesiology at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX and completed her masters in Early Childhood Education from Sunbridge College, an accredited Waldorf teacher training institute in New York this June.

Her family includes two sons, Ian and Liam, both enrolled at The Harvest. She spent twelve years as a flight attendant before discovering her calling to guide these bright, young spirits.

Ms. Deborah Mau
Pre-Kindergarten Assistant

Ms. Helen Brinkel
Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Mrs. Anjali Natarajan
Kindergarten Co- Lead Teacher

Anjali, a founding member of The Harvest School, has been active in the field of Early Childhood Education for over 20 years. She has been involved in Neohumanist Education, as a teacher, committee member, and a trainer since 1992. A "Waldorf parent" since 2001, she has attended numerous workshops, taught Parent-Child and enrichment classes; and has been mentored by a Master Waldorf Teacher. Anjali is married and has two sons at The Harvest. She is proficient in both Spanish and Portuguese. She lives a yogic lifestyle of meditation, vegetarianism and has a universal spiritual outlook. She loves nature, swimming, and walking. Anjali has worked as a professional musician in world music for over 20 years, performing, recording and facilitating workshops. Her deep love for humanity, patience and good judgment help her in working with both children and adults.

Mrs. Laura Gabelsberg
First/Second Grade Class Teacher
Administrative/Faculty Coordinator

Mrs. Gabelsberg grew up in the Houston area and graduated Cum Laude from the College of Education at The University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in 1995. She holds a lifetime teaching certification by the State of Texas for Grades 1-8 with English and History special endorsements. Mrs. Gabelsberg completed her student teaching experience in the Woodlands area and then taught sixth and fourth grades in public and private schools in the Dallas and Houston areas. From 2000-2002 Ms. Gabelsberg headed the founding of a democratically-managed private school in West Houston with a group of parents she helped organize. Ms. Gabelsberg attended the Art of Teaching Grade Two at Rudolf Steiner College in Sacramento and plans to continue to work toward her Masters in Education/Waldorf Certification. Laura resides in The Woodlands with her husband of twelve years and their three children. She was an active leader for La Leche League for five years, a member of Unity Church of Christianity in Houston for eight years. She enjoys singing and playing guitar, journal writing, crafting, and camping across Texas.

Mr. Patrick Lilley
Third/Fourth Grade Class Teacher
Pedagogical Faculty Chair for Grades Program

Mr. Lilley is a native of South Africa. In addition to education, his passions are theater and music—both of which serve to enrich his Waldorf classroom. He plays piano, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and percussion, and he worked as a professional actor in South Africa for eleven years before pursuing his teaching career. He taught drama and music to South African students aged 5-28 from 1987-1999. Mr. Lilley moved to California in 2000, earned his California teaching credential in Language Arts and taught high school English and elementary school music. He earned his California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from National University, and taught Sixth Grade at the Napa Valley Charter School and First through Fourth Grades at Woodland Star Waldorf Charter School in Sonoma. Mr Lilley earned his Waldorf teaching certificate from Rudolf Steiner College in Sacramento, California and welcomes his combined Third and Fourth grade class at The Harvest this September.

Miss Lulu Black
Fifth/Sixth Grade Class Teacher
Faculty Meeting Facilitator

Mrs. Nathalie St. Hilaire
Handwork Teacher, First Grade Main Lesson Teacher

Miss Nathalie was born in Quebec City, Canada. She grew up in a vibrant and rich cultural environment surrounded by talented painters, sculptors, stained glass makers and multidisciplinary artists. She has a degree in Industrial design and worked as a commercial interior designer in Montreal for several years before moving to the US. Ms. Nathalie shares tthe French language through her presentations in Handwork class and as First Grade Main Lesson Teacher. Nathalie is presently attending the handwork teaching program at Sunbridge College in NY. She enjoys creating a wide array of arts and crafts in harmony with nature and is excited to share her passion for handwork with The Harvest community. Ms. Nathalie assists in First/Second Grade as the Main Lesson teacher for First Grade as well as grades support staff.

Mrs. Mariana Obon
Spanish Teacher

Ms. Mana was born in Mexico City. She received her Bachelor´s degree in Psychology and continued her education in Buenos Aires, Argentina to become a Dance Movement Therapist. She has been working with children since 2003, from early childhood to elementary. She has also taught dance and music to adults and children. Ms. Mana is married and has an infant son name Lucca. She enjoys teaching and learning with children, she loves to add creativity, music and movement to the class.