Ms. Fristad grew up living among Dakota peoples in southeastern South Dakota, attending first through 12th grades with Native American students from several states. The imprint of the “circle of wisdom” encountered in that community set the groundwork for her profession with students, teachers and parents. Following high school, Mrs. Fristad earned a degree in Child Development and Family Relations at South Dakota State University. She traveled the western United States, married, and moved to California, where she earned a State Teacher Credential while teaching in Head Start programs. Continuing in Early Childhood Education in the private sector, she eventually encountered Waldorf Education--and she felt she had “come home.” Since 1983 she has studied the source and art of this education, including completing the Sound Circle Teacher Training and a Remedial Education Course at Rudolf Steiner College. She has also completed a Master's of Arts in Human Development at St. Mary's University of Minnesota and holds a Washington State Teacher's credential.  Helping to found and teach in a kindergarten in California, she, her husband and their daughter participated in Waldorf communities in Santa Rosa, CA and on Whidbey Island. Ms. Fristad graduated a class in 1999 at Whidbey Island Waldorf School, followed by a Grade 8 pair, privately taught the following year, growing her developmental support work alongside that.  Mrs. Fristad began her association with Three Cedars in the spring of 2003, working with individual students and small groups on movements and activities which bring greater integration and support ease of learning.  She is happy to be serving at the school,, enjoying swimming, art, gardening, reading, and travel to see her granddaughters in her private hours.