Rainbow Mountain Omega Program
William Harwood, Co-Teacher
Omega Science, History, Math and PE
William has taught in the Omega Program since 2006. Prior to moving to Asheville, he lived in Washington, DC where he attended American University, earning a Bachelor's Degree in International Studies and a Master's Degree in European History. William also earned a full scholarship to Germany to study philosophy at the University of Freiburg and later studied environmental science at the University of the District of Columbia.
While in Washington, William worked as an ESL teacher and German language researcher until landing a position with the American Association for the Advancement of Science as a children's science writer. It was during his tenure with AAAS that William wrote numerous shows and books for the “Kinetic City Super Crew” series. This work was recognized nationally in 1996 with a George Foster Peabody Award. While at AAAS, William conceived and developed a web-based after-school science program for upper elementary students called “Mission to Vearth” that earned the prestigious Codie Award for “Best Elementary Education Instructional Solution” in 2004.
William has a deep appreciation for the multiple intelligences, having incorporated this model into “Mission to Vearth” before joining Rainbow Mountain. Now that he is teaching in Omega, he designs each lesson plan to incorporate at least three of the MIs with all of them covered in any particular unit. As a deeply spiritual person, William is fully at home with Rainbow Mountain's philosophy of reverence for life and nature.
William enjoys challenging middle school students to challenge themselves, physically, intellectually and morally. "The best part about teaching," he says, "is seeing the expression on a kid's face whenever he or she develops a new skill or attains a new level of understanding." This excitement for learning, combined with the project-based curriculum, makes teaching at Rainbow Mountain a gratifying experience.
Whenever William has a free moment from Rainbow, chances are good he'll be found playing “Hungry Tickle Monster” with two very special Rainbow Mountaineers, his sons Auden and David, ages seven and five. And, if he's not busy being a tickle monster and his wife, Marcia, says it's okay, then chances are excellent he will be busy on an hours-long mountain trail run, his preferred method of “kinetically meditating” while running through the woods.
Susan Swanson, Co-Teacher
Omega Language Arts and Math
Susan has taught in the Omega Program since 2006. Prior to moving to Asheville, she spent 3 years teaching language arts and math in middle schools in Houston, Texas. Susan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English with an emphasis in creative writing from Elon College and also has her teaching certificate.
While in Texas, Susan not only taught but also developed instructional curricula and enrichment programs for language arts, reading literacy, and math. Her efforts earned her several honors including an invitation to present her reading program to the Texas Middle School Association and recognition by WGBH of Boston for her after-school math program. With WGBH’s support, Susan and her team produced an instructional video designed to help middle schools incorporate math enrichment activities in their after-school programs.
When Susan decided to move back East, a cousin directed her to Rainbow Mountain, “the best school in Asheville.” This strong recommendation brought her here; the school’s emphasis on building relationships—between students, teachers and parents—is what keeps her here. Susan is passionate about the importance of relationship and trust building, and she believes these efforts inspire self-directed, curious and eager learners.
Susan enjoys the challenge of teaching middle school students who can be adults one moment and then children the next. Her students’ are enthusiastic and creative thinkers who sometimes need help figuring out how to get information from their fingertips to their brains. Susan loves giving them the tools to make those connections. She appreciates that Rainbow’s project-based curriculum enables her to customize these tools to meet a variety of learning styles.
When Susan is not helping her students set personal goals, collaborating on a mega-theme project, inspiring “lightbulb” moments, or nudging kids out the door at the end of the week, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé and extended family, reading, watching home improvement reality shows, enjoying music and hanging out with her four-legged girlfriend Betty.
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