Lyndonville, VT - The Riverside School, an independent school for grades Pre-K through 8th grade, is pleased to announce that Nancy Phillips will be the Graduation Speaker for the Class of 2020. She served as a teacher at The Riverside School for 10 years, from 2005-2015.

Phillips started her career at Riverside as a part-time 5th grade language arts teacher. She moved to full-time in 2006 as the combined 4th-5th grade teacher, instructing in the library and then the carriage house. From 2011 – 2015, she was the combined K-1st grade teacher. Phillips was the K-1st grade teacher when the Riverside’s kindergarten program started, and those students are now representing the Class of 2020.

Phillips is also a respected herbalist and farmer, hosting retreats on her farm. She is a published author of The Herbalist’s Way and a certified yoga teacher. Her husband Michael is a professional apple farmer and author. She also leads the Heartsong Wellness Center in northern New Hampshire. The Center is dedicated to cultivating peace, joy, and radiant health for individuals, the land, and the planet through Holistic Health Coaching, Wellness Workshops, Yoga, Women’s Retreats, and Organic Orchard and Garden Intensives. For information, visit heartsongfarmwellness.com.

Phillips holds a degree in Social Work and received Advanced Herbal Training with Rosemary Gladstar, world-renowned herbalist from Sage Mountain. She is a certified Holistic Health Coach via the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and a certified Yoga Instructor via the Heart Space Yoga Center. She is the co-author, with her husband, of The Herbalists Way: The Art and Practice of Healing With Plant Medicines.

“Throughout her teaching career, Nancy has incorporated environmental sustainability and gardening into her curriculum,” said Michelle Ralston, Head of School. “Our students were so fortunate to experience Nancy’s passion for farming and learning to appreciate the value of a holistic lifestyle in life every day.” 

Nancy and Michael Phillips are parents to Riverside alumna Grace Phillips ’09. Grace recently graduated from Mount Holyoke College and assists her parents with classes and retreats at the farm. 

Graduation ceremonies for Riverside will take place on Saturday, June 6th with a private ceremony for students and families.