The Madrone Trail Initiative was the beautiful vision of one Jelena Spencer, a parent of a Waldorf preschooler at Star Of The Morning Children's Center in Jacksonville. Jelena was a student at the Waldorf School of the Rogue Valley, and her daughter enjoyed the delight of having Sydney Rudolph as her first teacher, just as her mother Jelena had done some 25 years earlier. Jelena's parents could not afford tuition for all of their children to attend the private Waldorf School but Jelena was able to go. She felt grateful for the education she had received but saddened that all of her siblings couldn't have the same opportunity. Jelena envisioned a Waldorf School that her children could attend tuition free and was determined to make this type of schooling accessible to a wider community.

She and a small group of parents and interested Waldorf teachers began meeting in the Spring of 2004. A book study group, led by Gesine Abraham and Sydney Rudolph began meeting the following fall to enhance the group members' knowledge of Waldorf educational philosophy. The founding members also held regular meetings, open to the public, to begin reaching out to the wider community. Events were held, including a puppet show & curriculum display, fundraising activities and brainstorming meetings.

One of the earliest brainstorming meetings yielded the name Madrone Trail for our future school. These intriguing, native madrone trees with their twisting trunks and lovely smooth red wood revealed when the bark peeled away… the hard strong wood that burns incredibly hot, so full of energy… this tree represented to us the vision of what our school would become: strong, beautiful, and energetic. The trail encompassed our feeling of a seeker's journey through these beautiful woods of our area… the path to knowledge and understanding.

As time passed Jelena's family had to move out of the area. New members brought fresh insight and needed skills and we formed a strong core of committed members with a wide complement of experience. We applied for and were awarded an incentive grant to plan and implement our vision. The Charter proposal was approved by the Medford School Board in December of 2006. The little seed Jelena planted has blossomed and born fruit. We are well on our way to becoming that strong tree we envisioned for our children….and yours. Won't you join us on the Madrone Trail?