History

The Sophia Institute was founded in 1998 in order to provide Waldorf/Steiner teacher training and Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy. After a phase of individual mentoring, a group of parents and teachers requested Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy and Waldorf Education in Viroqua, Wisconsin (USA). Conrad Rehbach, a certified Waldorf teacher with many years of teaching experience in Waldorf grade schools and high schools, and therapeutic work in the Camphill Movement, founded the Sophia Institute Foundation Courses in Anthroposophy and the Arts. Within ayear the first group of students graduated from the course. Over the years our diverse faculty has contributed to the growth of the Institute. Our programs now include Waldorf Teacher Certificate Programs, Foundation Studies Programs, Introductory Courses, and Summer Intensives Courses. The success of these programs continues to attract students from near and far, deepening their understanding of Waldorf pedagogy and Anthroposophy and preparing them for Waldorf teaching.

The Sophia Institute, and especially the Foundation Courses in Anthroposophy, were originally developed primarily for those individuals who want to become Waldorf grades teachers. Over the years, we encountered students with a wide variety of interests: early childhood or Kindergarten teachers, parents of students in the Waldorf schools, grades teachers, high school teachers, people interested in bio-dynamic farming, administrators, fundraisers, development coordinators, etc. They all shared a strong interest in deepening their understanding of Anthroposophy.

We believe in and practice a collaborative learning style, where the students and teachers together form a temporary learning community. The contribution that each individual brings to the learning community is an integral part of the learning experience, and determines the course’s direction. The Sophia Institute Courses and activities have been influenced and shaped by this process of collaboration. A great inspiration for the creation and work of the Sophia Institute was given by Tamara Slayton (1950 – 2003), Waldorf educator, author, and workshop leader. We were fortunate to learn from Tamara during the formative years of the institute, and regard her as one of our guides. She was especially skilled in facilitating and nurturing temporary collaborative learning communities, in both adult education and in teaching children, that strive towards the experience of spiritual insights in a participatory and inclusive style.

The Sophia Institute courses are designed to meet the needs of those individuals who want to develop their artistic abilities, and acquaint themselves with or deepen their understanding of the basic world-view of Anthroposophy brought by Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). The achievements inspired by Anthroposophy can be seen throughout the modern world today. It attracts those people who wish to work out of new impulses in the fields of agriculture, the arts, education, curative education, social therapy, natural sciences, and medicine.

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