The school was founded in 1999 by John Miles for the purpose of providing Waldorf teacher training.  It has grown to include anthroposophical conferences, adult art education, and special events.  It has actually transformed into a community educational center and we provide both parent and teacher courses.  The parent educational aspect has been helpful in allowing parents insights and understanding into anthroposophy and the principles of Waldorf education.

The Institute currently operates at The Portland Waldorf School, a large infant-grade 12 program. We also use Bothmer Hall in SE Portland for workshops, which is a large new facility adjacent to the local anthroposophical doctors' clinic.

Born in 1942, John is a long-time anthroposophist and Waldorf Teacher, having worked in both Europe and North America. He has taken more than three classes through as a class teacher, run and owned two music stores, and was to a large extent responsible for introducing Choroi musical instruments into the United Kingdom and Canada.

He has been involved in Waldorf Teacher Training since 1974 in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, and is at the present time Director of the Micha-el Institute in Portland, Oregon. He is a well known lecturer, evaluator, and mentor in Waldorf Schools in North America and Japan, and his present mission is to produce a complete range of source books through Promethean Press for Waldorf Teachers to cover Music, Speech, Drama, and Geometry, as well as making pedagogical research available in English to teachers and parents working out of a Waldorf impulse.

Other faculty at the Institute include experienced Waldorf teachers, doctors, therapists, subject teachers, and visiting lecturers.  Adjunct faculty teach anthroposophy, main lessons, art, sculpture, and movement.