Meet our Instructors and Staff!

With a foundation in Waldorf education, the Endeavor21+ instructors and staff are dedicated to meeting individual needs and growing stronger together.

ENDEAVOR21+ TEAM MEMBERS

Jeanette Rodriguez

Director, Founder
Jeanette has worked in the field of therapeutic education and child development for over 30 years. She has extensive experience working with children with special needs, medical needs and trauma. Jeanette is trained in nonviolent crisis intervention as well as in family counseling and case management.
She was educated at and graduated from the Waldorf School of Garden City. After high school, Jeanette went on to complete a Bachelor's degree in Music Education K-12 and Masters Degree in Creative Arts Therapy, where she specialized in Music Therapy. After working in NYC hospitals as a pediatric Musc Therapist, Jeanette moved to Chestnut Ridge in 2004. Jeanette is one of the founding members of endeavor 21+ and is looking forward to her increased involvement with endeavor21+.

Mayuko Matsuda

Program Administrator
In 2000, Mayuko joined the Threefold Community. Following the completion of her MS. Ed in Waldorf Education, she taught arts, parent & child, math and kindergarten classes at several Waldorf Schools in the area, including Green Meadow Waldorf School, Brooklyn Waldorf School, Clover Hill School, and New Amsterdam School. Mayuko also contributed as an administrator at the Fiber Craft Studio.
Mayuko enjoys spending time with her three children, engaging in activities such as working in her garden, creating garments using her own plant-dyed fabric, and playing music.

Gyana Mella

Program Coordinator
Gyana is a New York-based theater artist and educator specializing in applying the arts to skill building and Social Emotional Learning. Her extensive experience includes working with organizations such as The New Victory Theater and The Leadership Program as a Teaching Artist and Education Consultant. Gyana designs and teaches positive youth development programs for individuals of all abilities in New York City.
Gyana is a seasoned actor, dancer, and physical theater performer. She founded the Calendula Theatre Collective, creating impactful work on social issues. Her play, "Lloronas-Wailers," featured in the VI Latin American International Theatre in the Dominican Republic. Gyana directs devised theater for diverse audiences, including special populations like "Bodies of Compassion" at the Iloilo Correctional Facility in the Philippines in 2020.
In addition, Gyana collaborates with other New York-based artists to create original works for both children and adults. She holds a MA in Educational Theatre of Colleges and Communities from New York University. Outside the world of theater, Gyana is passionate about fitness, healthy living, and bodybuilding. She is a certified trainer and coach, holding the title of Professional Bodybuilding athlete.

Rosalie Biffis

Schedule Coordinator
Rosalie grew up in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania where she attended and graduated from the Kimberton Waldorf School. She continued her academic journey at Smith College, and earned a Bachelor's degree in Art. Her studies delved into various art media such as printmaking, painting, and sculpture, as well as across different disciplines.
Along the way, Rosalie was involved with and worked in different Camphill communities in Pennsylvania as well as in Ireland before finding her way to the Threefold Community.
Rosalie finds joy in being outside, working on various handwork projects, and cooking and baking.

Instructors

Arianna Castillo

Arts and Crafts, Apothecary
Arianna Castillo is from Jersey City, New Jersey. Her heritage is Puerto Rican and Honduran. She has worked at Endeavor 21+ and Otto Specht School on and off since 2021. She is an Alumni of Arbor Vitae School of Traditional Herbalism. It’s there that she learned about herbal protocols for healing and how to identify wild, medicinal plants. Arianna is passionate about nature therapy and how it can help regulate our nervous systems.

Daphna Stern

Music — Vocal
Daphna's musical journey started in high school with the Girl's Jazz Choir, leading to exploration in opera and jazz singing during college. Holding a BFA in Fashion Design, she pursued Psychology courses and Art Therapy studies. With a Waldorf Elementary Teacher Education certificate, she's been at Otto Specht School for 8 years, teaching and singing with students.
Daphna also teaches chorus at The Fiber Arts Studio and Endeavor 21+ summer course.

Dave Buckner

Poetry, Book Club
After completing a degree in religious studies at NYU, Dave began a career in human services and teaching. He has taught math and English to students of all skill levels.
After working at a nearby private school for five years, Dave expanded on his career path and moved into the health and fitness arena in 2019. A licensed massage therapist for four years, Dave now works at a medical clinic and a fitness center and helps clients with their overall wellness goals.
He has worked with Endeavor 21＋ for two years, and he currently teaches poetry and leads a book club class there every Monday.

Donna Hunt

Yoga
Donna Hunt, a yoga enthusiast since 2012, completed her 200RYT Training at Birchwood Yoga Center in 2014. With over 500 hours of training, she offers master classes on transformative yoga and Stoic meditations.
Donna's mantra is "It's all good!" Her classes focus on comfort and well-being, syncing breath with movements, alignment, and music. Passionate about sharing her love for yoga, she encourages students to slow down, breathe, and embrace themselves - both on and off the mat.☮

Emőke Antal-Schultess

Production — Apothecary
Emőke was born and raised in a small town in Transylvania, where people to this day forage for herbs and use them to make teas and other herbal remedies. When she embarked on her herbal journey, she spent several summers in Transylvania, moving from one village to another, conversing with elders, and learning about the medicinal uses of different herbs. In 2015, Emőke joined the East West School of Planetary Herbology to deepen her knowledge in herbal medicine.
Emőke also offers Herb Walks and herbal workshops to Green Meadow families. As a mother of three, she loves being around children.

Esme

Dance
coming soon—-

Joshua Sucov

Hike
coming soon—-

Klara Irimina

Arts and Crafts, Painting
coming soon—-

Madeleine Wuergler

Handwork
Madeleine works as a handwork teacher at Green Meadow Waldorf School and the Otto Specht School since 2005. After moving to the US from Switzerland, Madeleine sent her four children at Green Meadow Waldorf School where she lead the Parent Handwork Group for 10 years.

Madeleine has completed Business School in Bern, Switzerland, attended Hotel School in Lausanne, Switzerland, pursued the Applied Arts Program in Chestnut Ridge, NY, and is currently an Ayurveda Doctor in training through Kerala Ayurveda in Milpitas, CA.

Melissa Cassidy

Production — Candle Making, Soap Making
Studio Arts
coming soon—-

Mike Sweeney

Hike
coming soon—-

Migiwa Kawasaki

Art and Craft, Painting, Culinary Arts
Before joining Endeavor21+, Migiwa worked as a chef at Natural Foods Co-op Deli, taught Macrobiotic classes, and provided private catering. She also worked at Camphill Copake and Fellowship Community, along with teaching art at summer camps.
Migiwa’s diverse educational background includes completing the Macrobiotic Leadership program at Kushi Institute and training at Sunbridge College, Rudolf Steiner College, the Art Student League, and Spring Valley Eurythmy School.

Nao Motomatsu

Production Coordinator — Package Design
Nao Motomatsu is a portrait painter and Reiki healer with a deep passion for Anthroposophy. Currently enrolled in the Applied Arts Program, a Waldorf Handwork Teacher Training, she serves as a Handwork Class assistant at Green Meadow Waldorf School.

Nao holds a BA from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY, and Fine Arts Certification from the National Academy of Design in NYC.

Tomer Hagay

Music — Instrumental, Hike
coming soon—-

Will Crane

Spacial Dynamics
Will is a master Spacial Dynamics® teacher. Following the completion of foundation studies and Waldorf teacher training at Rudorf Steiner College in 1986, he worked at the Green Meadow Waldorf School for 30 years, initially as a class teacher and later transitioning to a dedicated gym teacher. Throughout his career, he delved deeper into the intricacies of Spacial Dynamics®, exploring applied Movement Therapy and Trainer levels.
Presently, Will contributes his passion and knowledge at the Otto Specht School, where he serves as a movement teacher. He also provides instruction to adults undergoing Waldorf teacher training.

Yoav Samuel Liberman

Woodworking
Yoav S. Liberman's work, showcased in woodworking books, museums, and exhibitions globally. He has a degree in architecture and completed two competitive residency programs at The Worcester Center for Crafts in Massachusetts and the Windgate Foundation Fellowship at Purchase College. He contributes regularly to Fine Woodworking and Popular Woodworking Magazines, with past contributions to American Woodworker and Woodwork Magazines.

Yoav teaches woodworking at the Rudolf Steiner School in Manhattan, also guest teaches nationwide. He authored "Working Reclaimed Wood: A Guide for Woodworkers, Makers & Designers," published by Popular Woodworking Books, a Penguin Random House imprint in 2018.