Junko Miyata

Education 
B.A. in Elementary Education and English from Hiroshima University, Japan 
Waldorf Early Childhood Certificate from the Waldorf Institute of Southeastern Michigan (WISM)

Bio 
Junko Miyata is an Early Childhood Lead Teacher at the Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor. She first joined the school in 2014 and has served in a variety of roles including Parent Child assistant, Forest Parent Child co-lead, and Redbird assistant. She returned in 2022 after homeschooling her children for over two decades. Junko’s background includes work at the Minneapolis and Detroit Japanese Schools, as well as professional roles in HR and executive support at a British firm in Tokyo.

Junko’s teaching is grounded in deep respect for each child’s individuality and the evolving nature of Waldorf education. She is inspired daily by the children in her care, finding joy and purpose in supporting their growth while continually striving for her own self-development. She sees herself as both a mirror and a window for her students. Outside the classroom, Junko enjoys cross-country skiing, hiking, pickleball, knitting, cooking, reading, and connecting with people from all walks of life.