Remembering Mrs. Zay: The Lifelong Gifts of Waldorf Education
In September 1985, I met a woman who would impact the rest of my life.
Jean Zay, already an experienced Waldorf teacher, welcomed 25 students to first grade at the Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School. GBRSS was still a young Waldorf school at the time. Previously known as the Pumpkin Hollow School, it included pre-kindergarten through 12th grade classes when I joined the community. For the next 8 years, this was home away from home and Mrs. Zay was occasionally even called “Mom” when the children, caught up in their work, asked for help with an assignment.
Mrs. Zay was quiet, especially around other adults, almost shy, but she never had trouble bringing herself fully into the classroom with her students. She generously shared her beautiful singing voice, her love of painting, and her delight in Norwegian cheeses from her time as an exchange student. She wore a skirt and a sweater almost every school day for the full 8 years, adjusting only for farm trips and presumably on our 8th grade trip (which included a trip to the beach), where I imagine she had on seasonally appropriate clothing, though I cannot picture it!
She could be counted on to be at school and fully present each day. In 8 years, she missed only half a day to attend a funeral. She was there for every play rehearsal, every festival, each field trip, every dismissal, each new song, each birthday and parent evening. Early on, she sometimes observed our subject classes to ensure that all went smoothly, and she stuck with us, calmly calling in support as needed, through the turbulence of middle school.
Mrs. Zay set the bar for an involved teacher much higher than was achievable by most of her colleagues, through she didn’t expect others to follow her routines and rhythms, and supported younger teachers in tending to their families as needed. She went on to lead two more classes through the grades, to mentor a generation of teachers at the school, and to be the beloved, caring, and wise school librarian throughout her 70s.
When my class graduated with 20 students in 1993, there was no longer a high school, my fellow students had come and gone, subject teachers had changed (new language teachers and a new Eurythmy teacher), but Mrs. Zay and each of the lead class teachers and many subject teachers had remained constant in our lives throughout childhood, holding space for us to learn, grow, struggle, and succeed.
Her vision for us was to appreciate the beauty in the world, think critically about the challenges before us, and be engaged citizens in our communities.
She and her fellow teachers demonstrated this in their own lives as they brought their classes together for regular assemblies filled with song, performances, athletic competitions, and the incredibly memorable Shepherd’s Play, performed each year by our devoted teachers for the students and their families. They also led us on field trips throughout the area, spent a week each year with the 7th & 8th grades on an outdoor adventure, brought speakers and performances to the school, and worked with parents to bring amazing festivals to life. One class even hiked a big section of the Appalachian Trail over their 8 years together!
Mrs. Zay died in November of 2020. It was sad to know that I wouldn’t be able to connect with her again as an adult, but her passing gave our class the beautiful gift of reconnection. My classmates and I, living on 3 continents, connected via What’s App and filled each other in on our lives and shared memories of Mrs. Zay.
The connections established in Waldorf classrooms are truly life-long, and are the kind of connection that, for me at least, feel like time can’t break. I know intimately of my classmates’ childhood struggles and joys. Together we journeyed through reading aloud, painting, learning about animals and ancient history, choreographing Spanish dances (which we then used to remember German cases), jumping in the cold waters of the Green River after May Day, and practicing and performing 8 plays — including our 8th grade production of The Tempest. We supported each other through illness, death of loved ones, divorce, and the arrival of new siblings. Some of us continued together through high school at the local public school or the Waldorf high school in the next state, while others chose independent adventures.
What stays with me now is the knowledge that community is crucial for children, and my classmates are truly good human beings, sharing their light with the world in so many ways.
They are acupuncturists, film makers, writers, Waldorf parents, Montessori parents, public school parents, dog parents, social workers, therapists, business owners, former military officers, conflict resolution specialists, professional musicians, scientists, world travelers, yoga teachers, and Waldorf school administrators (well, I think that’s only me). Mrs. Zay was so proud of each of her students and cared deeply about their success and wellbeing. It is an honor to have been one of her students.
I see the gifts of Waldorf education extending beyond the classroom, the academics, and arts, into the ability to connect with others, to see the humanity in each person, to treasure the group and to feel stable in one’s roots as wings are spread into high school and beyond.
Curious about a community-oriented education for your child? Let’s connect!
Born in California and raised in western Massachusetts, Oregon has been Erin Cooley’s home for over 20 years. A Waldorf student from ages 4-14, she grew up surrounded by a loving community and immersed in beautiful festivals first in Michigan, and then Massachusetts. After studying abroad in Germany in high school, Erin drew on her Waldorf education to complete a liberal arts and sciences degree at Reed College and has dedicated her career to supporting young people in their exploration of the world and pursuit of their educational goals, from early childhood to college.
Erin is delighted to welcome new families to Cedarwood each day and support current families throughout their journeys at the school. Her children thrive in the warm, creative, and inspiring classrooms here.
Away from Cedarwood, Erin and her family enjoy hiking and biking on local trails and building community in their Southeast Portland neighborhood.