Who We Are
The school was founded in 2002 by John Miles for the purpose of providing Waldorf teacher training. It has grown to include anthroposophical conferences, adult art education, and special events. It has transformed into a community educational center and we provide both parent and teacher courses. The parent educational aspect has enabled parents to have insights and understanding into anthroposophy and the principles of Waldorf education.
During the school year the Institute operates at The Portland Waldorf School in Milwaukie, Oregon. Our Summer Conferences are held at the Micha-el School on Woodstock Boulevard in South East Portland. We also use Bothmer Hall in SE Portland for workshops, which is adjacent to the local anthroposophical doctors’ clinic.
The Director, John Miles, is a long-time anthroposophist and Waldorf Teacher, having worked in both Europe and North America. He has taken more than three classes through as a class teacher, run and owned two music stores, and was to a large extent responsible for introducing Choroi musical instruments into the United Kingdom and Canada.
He has been involved in Waldorf Teacher Training since 1974 in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. He is a well known lecturer, evaluator, and mentor in Waldorf Schools in North America and Japan, and one of his present missions is to produce a complete range of source books through Promethean Press for Waldorf Teachers to cover Music, Speech, Drama, and Geometry, as well as making pedagogical research available in English to teachers and parents working out of a Waldorf impulse.
Other faculty at the Institute includes experienced Waldorf teachers, doctors, therapists, subject teachers, and visiting lecturers. Adjunct faculty teaches anthroposophy, main lessons, art, sculpture, and movement.