Jacquelynn Kolenko

Pedagogical Administrator

5 -8 Educational Specialist

For the past 12 years, Jacquelynn Alamer Kolenko has been an integral part of YRCS, bringing her passion for holistic education, the arts, and student growth to every aspect of her work. As Pedagogical Administrator and Grades 5-8 Home Study Instructional Specialist, she wears many rotating hats, supporting students, mentoring teachers, overseeing Response to Intervention programs, coordinating assessments, and guiding the Human Development program for upper grades. She also plays a key role in the school’s theatre and music programs, bringing creativity and heart to the stage and classroom alike. Her journey into Waldorf education began with her desire to provide her son with the holistic education she never had. She started homeschooling with a group of like-minded families, and before long, they encouraged her to become a Waldorf teacher—a path that has shaped her career ever since. She holds a B.A. in Fine Art, a California Multi-Subject Teaching Credential, Waldorf Essentials training for Grades 1-8, and a Waldorf Leadership Certificate. She has also taught Art History, Jam Band, Tribal Belly Dance, and Life Skills at a Waldorf high school, blending her love of the arts with education.

For Jacquelynn, YRCS is special—hands down. She finds inspiration in her dedicated colleagues and the vibrant, engaged community, always striving to create a supportive and enriching environment for students. She lives by the words, “He who is the best teacher is the best student,” and approaches her work with an open mind and a belief that everyone is striving to do their best.

Raised as both a city mouse and a country mouse—splitting time between Chicago, IL, and rural Wisconsin—Jacquelynn has cultivated a love for both urban creativity and nature’s tranquility. Outside of school, she enjoys gardening, making herbal medicines, cooking, dancing, hiking, and indulging in theatrical shenanigans. She’s also a devoted music lover who makes and sees music whenever she can. A fun fact? She wanted to be Princess Leia when she grew up…and honestly, she still does. She’s drawn to Louis Armstrong and Jerry Garcia, two musicians she admires for their ability to let the music lead where it takes them—plus, she thinks they would have been a hoot to hang out with.

Jacquelynn also runs a small side project, Jack-o-Rose’s Apothecary, where she makes and sells organic and ethically wildcrafted products. Plants are her good friends, and her love for nature and holistic living is woven into everything she does. She holds close the words of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho: “Because when we love, we always strive to become better than we are… When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”