Bäume is the German word for tree. We believe trees serve as a natural example of growth, and establishment of strength. We named our home this word as a tribute to a written piece by Herman Hesse.

Our deepest passion is to support, nourish, enrich child development in our community, in the same way a tree house offers support to childhood play through creativity and imagination.

Hannah Steward-Founder/Program Director

Since I was a teenager, my dream was to have an art school and a place for unconventional learning. As a young student, I was largely self-taught. It was a blessing to me, that I was able to explore my interests freely without the curriculum interferences designed for institutions, rather than individuals. It is with great joy I have created Bäume, for children in my community.

My interests in Waldorf education began several years ago, but flourished after leaving my Masters’ degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I enrolled in Sophia Institute to become an official Waldorf teacher. I am currently completing my study of all grade levels from Early Childhood to High School, with the intention of providing education for all grade levels over time. You will find, however, that I have a long history of study in philosophy, religion, art, dance, and various healing arts over the course of my entire life. I am deeply creative and passionate about living in connection to our nervous system, spirit, and within the rhythm of each season. I have a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Hawaii, West Oahu, with interest in cultural anthropology. In 2016, I obtained my diploma as a licensed massage therapist from Cortiva Institute in Seattle WA, and a trained doula at Bastyr University, with Simkin Center for Allied Birth Vocations.

I have many unique experiences, including living in England for six months, visiting Switzerland, Spain, Italy, France and traveling extensively for the last 20 years of my life. After meeting my husband in Hawaii, and giving birth to my daughter at home, we decided to return to Tennessee to establish our roots and to be closer to family, and of course the trees.

I have found a need for wholesome community that values the importance of embracing children holistically, through a deeply felt respect. It has been my commitment, since my daughter’s birth, to serve her throughout her development. After returning from Hawaii, it has been challenging to find what I was looking for—so I decided it was a perfect time to open our home to other children to join us on this journey of early childhood learning through Waldorf inspired methods!