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BOULDER, CO, September 15, 2024 — Sarah Gillis, Shining Mountain Waldorf School Class of 2012, made history this week as part of the four-person civilian crew aboard SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission. On Day 4 of the mission, Sarah, who is serving as Mission Specialist, released a powerful musical performance—from outer space, while traveling more than 17,000 mph (27,358 kph) around the Earth!—in collaboration with renowned composers and young musicians across the planet. Watch it here (4.5 minutes, volume up!):

The extraordinary performance, entitled “Harmony of Resilience,” was the culmination of a year-long project supported by orchestral recordings from the Eastman Scoring Stage at Warner Brothers and contributions from student ensembles around the world; it demonstrates Sarah’s commitment to integrating music and science, and, she says, shines light on the resilience and potential of children around the world. The performance is serving as a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and is part of a larger initiative to inspire young minds and integrate arts into the STEM framework, transforming it into STEAM. El Sistema USA is an educational curriculum which Sarah helped develop that works toward these goals.

STEAM Power at SMWS: Merging Arts with Science

In addition to assisting with science experiments on Polaris Dawn as its Mission Specialist, Sarah brought a violin along, which has always been a key component of her education. She trained as a classical violinist from a young age while attending Shining Mountain Waldorf School and playing in Boulder Suzuki Strings, and continued to practice even after her studies veered toward science and engineering. Sarah reveals more about her musical background and the story behind the Dragon spacecraft concert in this clip from “CBS Saturday Morning.”

Sarah’s interest in the long-term effects of space travel on the human body began during her high school years, and continued as she studied aerospace engineering at CU Boulder before joining the SpaceX team. 

“Sarah’s success perfectly reflects the ethos we hold at Shining Mountain Waldorf School,” said School Director Meg Gardner. “We believe in giving students the freedom to explore their interests and develop their critical thinking skills through personalized projects and experiences. Sarah took full advantage of these opportunities and began her work with space flight and space medicine as part of her high school studies. This is exactly the kind of self-directed, creative, and curious mindset we aim to cultivate in every student.”

A School Community Inspired  

Sarah’s journey continues to inspire not just her family and alma mater, but also the broader community. Gardner expressed the hope that Sarah’s path will help encourage current students to imagine their potential. “Sarah‘s journey is a reminder of the incredible feats young people can accomplish when they infuse their dreams with hard work and determination, and trust the path before them.”

In fact, Sarah was carrying a small locket from Shining Mountain Waldorf School with her on the mission, which included a photo of the entire community of children, teachers, and staff, waving upwards, with the words “Dear Sarah, Your Courage is Our Inspiration!”

Sarah Gillis, then (Sarah Levine, 5th grade student) and now (Sarah Gillis, Astronaut & Mission Specialist).

Other Records Broken

On the night of September 10, 2024, Sarah Gillis became one of the first two women to travel more than 1,400 kilometers into space, making her and fellow crew member Anna Menon the furthest-traveled women in space since the Apollo program. Sarah also now holds the record for the youngest person performing a spacewalk, and conducted the world’s first commercial spacewalk on September 12, 2024. 

For Sarah, this mission is a remarkable culmination of her journey from Shining Mountain Waldorf School to space. Today, her groundbreaking collaborations and innovative use of music as a form of outreach showcase how an education rooted in diverse disciplines can lead to extraordinary achievements.

Splashdown

On Sunday morning, September 15, 2024, Sarah and the Polaris Dawn crew successfully returned to Earth. From the SpaceX polarisprogram official Instagram: “Happy, healthy, home: Polaris Dawn safely splashed down after completing the first spacewalk from Dragon, reaching new heights in Earth’s orbit, testing Starlink in space, and conducting ~40 science experiments. A new era of commercial spaceflight dawns, with much more to come.”

Here are some additional exciting moments from this morning, sent via Sarah’s mother, Sue Levine, former Director of SMWS: “Some of the highlights were the first glimpse of the capsule, the drogue parachutes opening, and the beautiful view of all four of the final parachutes. They splashed down into calm seas, and were euphoric as the capsule was opened.”

Sarah returns! (Screenshot from polarisprogram & johnkrausphotos)

—Article by Joshua Berman

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About Shining Mountain Waldorf School

Shining Mountain Waldorf School (SMWS) is an independent pre-K through grade 12 independent school located in North Boulder. SMWS is an accredited member of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America and the Association of Colorado Independent Schools. Shining Mountain’s purpose is to unleash the capacities of young people to imagine and create a better world. Our mission is to cultivate intellectually curious students with a strong sense of self, compassion for others, and the tenacity to live to their fullest human potential. Admissions: https://shiningmountainwaldorf.org/admissions/


About Waldorf Education

Based on the education philosophy initiated by Rudolf Steiner in 1919, Waldorf education is a culturally rich, age-appropriate curriculum that educates the body, mind, and spirit of the child. Since the founding of the first school, Waldorf education has become a global independent school movement with more than 1,000 schools worldwide in over 60 countries.

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Donna El-Hehiawy

HR Director

Donna resides in Boulder, Colorado, where she shares her home with her dog and cat and her visiting daughters, who are currently attending college. Originally from Encino, California, Donna moved to Colorado to pursue her education and graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources. What began as a college journey quickly became a lifelong connection to the community she now calls home.

After graduation, Donna built a successful career in Human Resources, gaining more than 15 years of professional experience while also dedicating many years to active involvement in her daughters’ schools. Throughout her career, she has been known for her collaborative spirit,
strong organizational skills, and genuine commitment to supporting people and communities.

Donna brings enthusiasm, warmth, and a deep sense of purpose to her role at the Shining Mountain Waldorf School, where she is excited to support the school community.

Outside of work, she is an avid bicyclist and enjoys kayaking, exploring the outdoors, and capturing meaningful moments through photography.

Job Details

  • Job Title: Facilities & Grounds Assistant

  • Program: Administration

  • Reports to: Facilities & Grounds Director

  • FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

  • Date: January 2026

Position Summary

Shining Mountain Waldorf School (“SMWS”) is a PreK-12th grade campus consisting of 8 acres and 15 buildings located at the foothills of North Boulder, Colorado. In conjunction with the Facilities Director, the Facilities and Grounds Assistant provides year-round maintenance, seasonal upkeep, and improvement of school buildings and grounds to support our nature and outdoor school curriculum. Maintenance, safety, and improvement projects are essential to welcome visitors and the SMWS community to the natural beauty of the SMWS campus.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Required skills to address issues relating to campus maintenance: plumbing, electrical, carpentry, painting, HVAC, care of the grounds, etc.

  • Daily tour of campus and playground for hazards, trash, safety, and wildlife concerns

  • Daily response to requests for repairs and campus assistance

  • Daily late afternoon safety checks for campus and building safety

  • Weekly service and safety inspection of school buses (fuel, oil, tires, etc.)

  • Weekly cleaning and organizing of facilities and grounds workshop

  • Weekly safety inspections of playground equipment

  • Preparation for school events and meetings, including setup and breakdown of tables and chairs

  • Seasonal work, inspecting and maintaining classrooms, air conditioners, swamp coolers, furnaces, water heaters, thermostats, etc.

  • Supplement early morning seasonal and evening snow removal and ice management throughout campus in preparation for the student and parent arrival and departure of the school day

  • Delivery and moving of items throughout campus classrooms and buildings

Additional Responsibilities

  • Outdoor work, walking, repairing, and attention to our 8-acre campus

  • School events set up and break down – festivals, concerts, and plays   

  • Driving ability to include driving school truck with trailer   

  • Working knowledge of automotive care and maintenance   

  • Working with faculty and assisting in moving and preparing classrooms   

Education and Qualifications

  • Familiarity with landscaping and irrigation, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, painting, HVAC, and general maintenance items

  • Friendly and approachable temperament working with faculty, staff, students, and community

  • Previous construction, trade, and technical skills

  • Self-starter in recognizing and completing necessary campus needs and maintenance

  • Skill and ability to operate power tools in accordance with proper safety guidelines

  • Basic computer skills

  • Driver’s license required with excellent driving record

  • Available to work a flexible schedule at times when work is needed outside of normal working hours – early mornings and weekends (early/late snow removal, event set up and break down, facilities emergencies, etc.)

Work Setting

  • Status: Full time – 40 hour a week non-exempt position

  • Type: This is an hourly, year-round position

  • Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (may require some early morning and evening hours)

  • Environment: Work setting varies based on assignment – indoor and outdoor work on campus and buildings

Salary and Benefits

  • Pay: Hourly wage of $25.00 per hour – overtime paid (time and ½) when over 40 hours are worked per week

  • Time Off: Personal Time Off (monthly accruals of 2 weeks and 3 weeks after 1+ years)

  • Sick Leave: Colorado Paid Sick Leave (1 hour earned each 30 hours worked up to 48 hours each calendar year)

  • Holidays: Up to 15 Paid National Holidays per calendar year, including a paid week during the December holidays

  • Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability, 401(k) with match (determined annually), flexible spending account, and other ancillary benefits

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the Essential Duties and Responsibilities of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to perform:

  • General construction work-related requirements, including but not limited to: lifting, bending, standing, kneeling, carrying items, working on a ladder, etc.

  • Ability to lift at least 60 pounds

  • Work in tight spaces – work may be in small spaces within buildings, crawl spaces, and frame restrictions

  • Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 


Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and three references to hrmgr@smwaldorf.org

Shining Mountain Waldorf School is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing, and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, religion, gender, gender identity, disability, familial status, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, where employees are treated with respect and dignity. 


Job Details

  • Job Title: Substitute Teacher

  • Program: Grades 1 through Grade 12

  • Reports to: Campus Operations Director

  • FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

  • Date: October 2024

Position Summary

Shining Mountain Waldorf School, a PreK to High School, is seeking Substitute Teachers. In order to create an encouraging learning environment for students while their regular Teacher is absent, our Substitute Teachers will need to effectively manage and instruct the class. We are looking for individuals who have teaching experience, love the classroom environment, and are available (sometimes on very short notice) to work during the week. Knowledge of Waldorf education is a plus.

Essential Responsibilities

  • Teaching and supervision of students in the event that their regular teacher is unable to lead class.

  • Manage classroom behavior and follow lesson plans provided by the regular Teacher to create a cohesive and consistent learning experience for students.

  • Manage the classroom effectively to encourage student participation, minimize distractions and maintain a positive learning environment.

  • Adapt teaching methods to fit the needs of each individual student.

  • Supervise students in and out of the classroom, including in class transitions, and on the playground.

Work Setting

  • Classroom and playground environment

Salary and Hours

  • Pay: $25 per hour with a 2-hour daily minimum

  • Timesheets are required to be completed

  • Substitute Teaching hours vary and are contingent on SMWS Faculty absences from the classroom and class needs

  • Calls to Substitute Teach may be made on very short notice – evening and morning hours

  • Substitute hours are based on SMWS need for classroom coverage

Education and Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree

  • Teaching experience and classroom experience required

  • Comfortable with students and academic focus

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the Essential Duties and Responsibilities of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to perform:   

  • Sitting and standing for class presentations   

     

  • Lift 25 pounds, bending, stretching   

     

  • Mobility to move about the classroom, walking around our 12 -acre campus, and playground   

     

  • Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.  

 
Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest and resume to hrmgr@smwaldorf.org.

Shining Mountain Waldorf School is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, religion, gender, gender identity, disability, familial status, sexual orientation or national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, where employees are treated with respect and dignity.



Kim Rector
Kim Rector

Admissions Director

Kim brings more than 12 years of dedicated experience in Advancement and Admissions within Waldorf Education. Kim’s journey with Waldorf Education began in 2013 at the Austin Waldorf School, where she discovered a deep passion for Waldorf pedagogy and Anthroposophy. After relocating to Colorado in 2014, Shining Mountain Waldorf School quickly became a second home for her family. That same year, Kim stepped into the role of Lower School Receptionist, marking the start of nearly a decade of service and leadership at SMWS.

With over 15 years of experience in non-profit fundraising and event management, Kim was a natural fit for the position of Development Director at Shining Mountain, a role she held from 2017 to 2020. She then transitioned into Admissions, serving as Admission Director from 2020 until her family’s return to Austin in 2023. Kim continued work in Waldorf Education by serving as Admission Director at the Austin Waldorf School for the following three years.

Kim studied Biochemistry at Texas State University and has completed her Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy.

Outside of her professional life, Kim and her husband, Julian, are parents to their three children, Sydney, Suri, and Julian. Together, they enjoy hiking, fishing, camping, skiing, and cooking as a family.