With over 35 years of Waldorf teaching experience, Malina brings a deep love for the art of teaching and the growth of the human being. She has served as a class teacher at the Emerson Waldorf School in Chapel Hill, NC, for the past 16 years, where she is preparing to graduate her second class. Her teaching journey has also led her to the River Valley Waldorf School and to Waldorf and Camphill communities across two continents.

Malina holds degrees in Elementary Education from Bulgaria and in Curative Education from Northern College, Aberdeen University, and Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools in Scotland, with a second major in Art Therapy and Developmental Movement.

She is passionate about weaving the principles of curative education and the Extra Lesson into classroom life, bringing healing, balance, and a deeper understanding of each child’s unique journey. As a mentor and colleague, she finds great joy in supporting other educators and learning from the diverse communities she visits.

For the past decade, Malina has served as the AWSNA Delegate for the Emerson Waldorf School and has worked for over 16 years as an accreditation team member and chair for AWSNA, SAIS, and AIMS—contributing her insight and dedication to the wider Waldorf movement.