Jaimmie Stugard, Director and KinderHouse Teacher
Began at LifeWays in 2002
A lifelong caregiver, Jaimmie has been caring for children since she was a preteen. She was introduced to LifeWays as a college student, when she was welcomed into the center to complete her student observation. She was so inspired by LifeWays philosophy and practices that she asked to volunteer. Before long, she was offered a position as a caregiver. Many years later, she was honored to step into the role of director when LifeWays Milwaukee’s founder, Mary O’Connell, moved on to work extensively with LifeWays North America, training early childhood educators across the country in LifeWays unique approach to child care.
Jaimmie continues to work directly with the children as the KinderHouse teacher. She also teaches music and is a guest lecturer in the Midwest LifeWays Training. She has served on LifeWays Board of Directors since 2003.
Jaimmie completed the LifeWays Early Childhood Certification in 2006 and has earned her Child Care Administration Credential and Child Care Leadership Credential through UW-Milwaukee. She is a wife and mother of two school age children and resides in Bay View. She is an avid reader, storyteller, musician, artist and nature enthusiast. She enjoys hiking, camping, singing, homemaking, gardening, crafting and the good company of her friends, neighbors and family.
Belinda Kenwood, Primary Caregiver
Worked at LifeWays: 2004-2008, 2015-present
Belinda Kenwood is the mother of two adult children. She has worked with young children for over 25 years in both traditional and Waldorf early childhood environments. An experienced caregiver in center based care settings as well as a Waldorf inspired home care setting, she has also served as a preschool teacher, afterschool care teacher, preschool summer camp director and a Waldorf kindergarten teacher at Prairie Hill Waldorf School, where both her children attended school from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Profoundly inspired by Waldorf Education’s holistic approach to educating the developing child, she registered for the LifeWays Early Childhood Training course in East Troy, WI and received her certificate of completion the summer of 2004.
She continues her study of child and human development and remains passionate about the LifeWays way of caring for very young children where the focus is on the importance of relationship based care in a mixed-age, home-like environment, and where the Creative Arts, Nurturing Arts, Social Arts and Practical Life Skills are practiced on a daily basis.
Along with her LifeWays Early Childhood Training certificate, Belinda holds a B.A. in a duo-major, Special Education for the Hearing Impaired and Elementary Education, from Michigan State University.
Jane Danner, Caregiver
Worked at Lifeways: 2008-2014, 2021-present
Miss Jane is an experienced caregiver, kindergarten teacher, mother of six and grandmother of five, soon to be six. As a young at home mother, she took the very first LifeWays course with Mary O’Connell, the founder of the Milwaukee Lifeways. At that time she was in the midst of parenting her own brood of children and was content to practice her skills on them. Then her youngest, Carl, went off to school and she found herself looking for more. She called Mary and started working as the Lifeways cook that fall.
When a suite opened up a few years later, Miss Jane jumped at the chance to ply her trade and work more closely with the children. She left for a few years to teach Kindergarten at Tamarack Waldorf School but her love of being with children drew her back during COVID. As she is fond of saying, “You can’t change a diaper via zoom!”
When Miss Jane is not changing diapers, she enjoys bike trips, camping and ball room dancing.
And spending a few days in March visiting her daughter in warm, sunny South Carolina!
Tamara Treviranus, Cook
Began at LifeWays in 2010
Tammy has completed course work in Cultural Anthropology at UW-Milwaukee and is a certified Massage Therapist. She is the mother to two children, both of whom grew and thrived at LifeWays in their younger years. Tammy’s favorite way to spend her time is gardening and growing food for her family, cooking and eating.
Tammy’s favorite thing about LifeWays is the experience of being in a village where home, family, friends, children and whole foods are valued and working in harmony to support these ideals.
Jason Boose, KinderForest Teacher
Began at LifeWays in 2017
Before arriving at LifeWays in the summer of 2017, Jason had been a stay-at-home Dad with two young sons. Prior to that, he was a librarian for 15 years, and a newspaper journalist in the days before the internet. After the birth of his first child, Jason realized there is a job that will never be usurped by modern culture; He soon found the LifeWays curriculum in place at a gentle home school close to his home in Riverwest. With the knowledge that children will always need loving care and parents need a community of peers to look after their children away from home, Jason decided to pursue coursework in early childhood care and earned a LifeWays Early Childhood certification in August of 2016. He enjoys cooking for his family, gardening, reading, thunderstorms, snowstorms, waking up inside a yurt on a summer day, and (according to his wife) falling asleep on the sofa while listening to podcasts. Jason is ever grateful to the LifeWays family who made it possible for him to continue contributing to the rich, joyful environment that our community fosters.
Emily Bertran, Caregiver
Began at LifeWays in 2021
Before Emily began her journey at LifeWays, she was a stay at home mom to her daughters, Lola and Rose. She attended Roosevelt University in Chicago and received a B.A. in Hospitality and Tourism. Emily has been part of the Lifeways community for several years and is an alumni of Tamarack Waldorf School. Emily has always kept the things she learned in the Waldorf school close to her heart and continues to implement them both in her home and at LifeWays. She deeply enjoys baking, gardening, knitting and all things crafting.
Suraiya Kambandu Schilz, Caregiver
Began at LifeWays in 2022
Suraiya discovered her passion for early care and education upon beginning her work at Nextdoor Foundation in 2019. There she assisted in a toddler classroom before starting at Renaissance Child Development Center where she spent nearly two years co-teaching a class of one year olds. Suraiya grew up in Riverwest with her parents and three younger sisters, all who attended Tamarack Waldorf School before moving to Green Bay.
Suraiya has been familiar with LifeWays since she was a child and has always loved Waldorf education. The family-like atmosphere and the close-knit classes were things that Suraiya has always found very special and she looks back on her Waldorf experience with great fondness. Through Waldorf, Suraiya learned the importance of creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere as well as a sense of community for the children in your care. A Universtiy of Wisconsin student, Suraiya spends most of her free time reading, rock climbing, camping and enjoying time with her family and friends.
Indigo Dawn Lubotsky, Caregiver
Began at LifeWays in 2023
Indigo grew up and currently lives in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood. In addition to being a LifeWays alum, Indigo attended Tamarack Waldorf School from kindergarten through eigth grade. Her time in a Waldorf school shaped and inspired her deeply. Indigo has always enjoyed working with
children and embraced the role of LifeWays caregiver. She is pursuing her degree in early childhood education. She loves to ride her bike, read, crochet, see concerts, and spend time outdoors.
Teressa Kocs, Caregiver
Began at LifeWays in 2023
Teressa moved to Milwaukee from Delavan in 1991 to study Russian and Linguistics at UWM. She became a nanny and daycare teacher while completing her studies, then worked for years in the legal and mortgage professions. Although she enjoyed certain aspects of her career, she always felt her true calling was to care for young children. She has been working as a nanny and child care provider ever since! She first discovered LifeWays back in 2008 while searching for care for her toddler son. She found the nurturing, home-like environment to be extremely special and unlike any other daycare center in the area. Most recently, Teressa ran her own licensed family child care center in Shorewood. However, the long hours and administrative aspects of running the business left her longing for more balance in her life, and more time to enjoy her family and hobbies. Her own childcare approach is well-aligned with LifeWays principles and practices, and she is excited and honored to be a part of the LifeWays community! In her free time, Teressa enjoys camping, cooking, eating out, and the company of her husband, son, and three cats.