Phyllis Cooley, Starfish Class Teacher, 4th Grade

After two and a half years serving as our office manager and middle school cooking teacher, Phyllis is now stepping into class teaching and taking on our 4th grade Starfish Class.

Phyllis was born and raised in Ashland. After working and living around the country, decided to move back to Ashland to raise her children. She received a bachelor’s in History from the University of Oregon and has worked in health care, finance, and real estate. Phyllis has a love of culinary arts and uses her home mini homestead and garden to make beautiful, delicious cakes, canned goods, and meals. She loves cooking with her own children and is excited to bring culinary and cultural teachings to Siskiyou School students. Phyllis is in her Waldorf Teacher training with Micha-el Institute having completed the foundations year, and summer intensives for grades 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7th. Phyllis' dedication to Waldorf Education is evident as she is teaching while being a student herself. 

Phyllis was coaching gymnastics for students from around the Rogue Valley and was impressed with the quiet confidence and communication skills of students from the Siskiyou School. She was inspired to enroll her son and daughter as students and has been an avid supporter of the Waldorf program ever since.  Phyllis and her husband, Shawn, have a son Rye, a freshman in high school, and a daughter Lux in 7th grade.