Lower School Faculty
Jonathan Hobbs BA (Hons)
Class 3 Teacher and Lower School Department Chair Jonathan Hobbs is a Class Teacher and the Lower School Department Chair. Being a Class Teacher means that Jonathan is responsible for taking the lead on the education of the Class for the eight years he is their teacher. This means developing the community of children, meeting with parents, and working with the teaching team who educate the children. As Lower School Chair, Jonathan take on administrative aspect of the department for Classes 1 to 8. Prior to working at the school in 2012, Jonathan completed the Plymouth University BA degree course on Steiner Waldorf Education with first class honours. He came to this vocation after working as a hearing aid audiologist for several years. Jonathan has a deep passion for teaching and loves to meet the joys and challenges of being a 21st century Steiner teacher at our school. Outside of school Jonathan loves to cycle on or off the road, walk in the beautiful area we live, and spend time with his partner Rosie and their four boys, three of which come to this school. 
Jonathan Liddle
Class 1 Teacher Coming soon… Anne Acland
Class 2 Teacher and Collegiate Chair Coming soon… 
Tom Parker
Class 4 Teacher Coming soon… 
Elizabeth Elsholtz BA (Hons)
Class 5 Teacher, Chair of the College of Management, Head of Personnel and Co-Head of Education for Lower School Elizabeth (BA) is a class teacher, and, in addition to representing Lower School on the SLT, Elizabeth takes responsibility for personnel matters at the school. She also chairs the College of Management. As a parent of two children (at the school), Elizabeth found herself being a parent volunteer at the local playgroup and then at the primary school that her children attended. Both of these opportunities led Elizabeth to contemplate a future as a teacher, and in particular a Steiner teacher. The contemplation became a decision and the family moved from the East coast of Scotland to the South West of England so as to enable Elizabeth to study for a BA in Steiner Education at Plymouth University. After her graduation, Elizabeth spent a year as a Class 1 and handwork assistant before starting her teaching career in September 2013 at South Devon Steiner School. Prior to her teacher training, Elizabeth spent 18 years in hospitality and catering management. In her spare time Elizabeth is an avid book reader and coffee shop frequenter, not to mention spending time with her family at home. Denise Jones
Class 6 Teacher Coming soon… 
Andy Smith
Class 7 Teacher Coming soon… 
Martine Liddle
Handwork Teacher Coming soon… 
Rita M-Perason
German Teacher & Educational Support Lead for Lower School Before joining the SDSS in 2001, Rita was working in Hungary as a primary school teacher and later in Vienna as a Waldorf class teacher. She was actively involved in founding a new Waldorf school in Austria and has been a member of the College of Management for over 20 years. Above her Qualified Teacher Status and Waldorf diploma, Rita also studied Music and different languages. She is a lifelong learner and loves deepening her knowledge in child development and education in general. She has been working with children with developmental delays and at the moment she is studying to become a school health practitioner and an educational support specialist. Rita lives with her husband at the edge of Dartmoor and she loves walking in the beautiful countryside. Clare Davies BA Hons (First Class)
Educational Support Teacher and Behaviour Coordinator Clare has worked with children since 1990 when she first undertook training in her local primary school and then supported a boy on the autistic spectrum. Since then she has worked across a variety of settings within the realms of special educational needs and disabilities including SEND specialist schools, a behavioural unit for pupils excluded from school, and acting as the student liaison for SEND pupils transitioning into mainstream education. She has also delivered workshops on behaviour management and social inclusion to teachers, assistants and meal time assistants. Her daughters have both attended South Devon Steiner School, and during that time she worked in Early Years on a cover basis; this time was a valuable experience that inspired her to weave her previous work practise and continued study of Steiner/Waldorf education within the role of Educational Support Teacher. Clare also has a special interest in behavioural and social issues within the school, and she helps to support children and their teachers in these areas. Outside of school life Clare is a poet and writer - she is currently working in collaboration with an artist on a London based project about the River Thames. Clare also loves walking on Dartmoor, great live music and spending time with friends. 
Julia Troy
Educational Support Teacher Coming soon… 
Kate Towey
Educational Support Assistant Coming soon… |
At South Devon Steiner School, the Lower School staff are just as excited about education as you are.
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