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OUR TEAM

Early Childhood

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ATHLETICS & Circus Arts

Professional Staff

- Sarah Gillis, SMWS Class of 2012 and Sr. Space Operations Engineer at SpaceX

“I feel like one of the really important things that you get out of a Waldorf education is curiosity—curiosity to go and learn and explore what’s out there in the world. I fell into engineering and a path that I don’t think I would have anticipated, but having an arts background where you’re bringing creativity and imagination into problem-solving, there’s a really incredible synergy between those.”

- Sarah Gillis, SMWS Class of 2012 and Sr. Space Operations Engineer at SpaceX

Finding Inspiration and Overcoming Fear: An Interview with Sarah Gillis
Read more
Uriah Beauchamp

Gardening Teacher

Uriah Beauchamp is an educator, outdoor guide and forager with over a decade of experience teaching and guiding in various settings in Colorado and beyond. He is passionate about teaching real world skills in the great outdoors.

Uriah earned degrees in Humanities and Spanish from CU Boulder, and has been teaching everything from foraging and survival skills to mountain biking to organic farming and Permaculture in Colorado in the years since graduating. His interests include ecology, mycology, foraging, herbal medicine, survival skills and bushcraft, plant identification, botany, bikes, and of course permaculture and organic farming and sustainable community-based agriculture.

One of Uriah’s main goals is to share the wonder of plants and the natural world with as many people as possible.

Christina Perez

Early Childhood Summer Camp Lead Teacher

Christina Perez is a certified Waldorf early childhood teacher and conscious parent educator with greater than 20 years of early childhood teaching experience.  Christina is the founder of Little Sprigs which offers resources for parents to receive the support they need to cultivate a peaceful, loving home and a family dynamic based on core values, trust, and authentic guidance. She is passionate about guiding children in ways that build their emotional and social intelligence and foster respect for each other and the earth. 

 

Christina moved to Boulder, Co. in 2021, with her daughter, Mila, who is currently in the 5th grade. She immediately started volunteering, working as a substitute teacher in the early childhood classrooms, and is looking forward to being of service to the community. She is currently attending Antioch University to continue her education and will receive a degree in Human Development in December 2023. Some of her favorite activities are hiking, camping, making music, dancing, holding mama circles, anything handwork, celiac baking, comedy, and hanging out with tiny humans.

Ariana Papousek

Circus Arts Director

A true ringleader at heart, Ariana has been leading and directing circus productions for over 10 years. By blending circus arts with story-telling, Ariana has created original works, as well as adapted classic stories into full length productions.

From youth programs to touring with her adult troupe, Ariana has brought to life many stages and empowered hundreds of talented artists by helping them find their characters within different show concepts. When you see Ariana on the stage you will likely see her performing on unique invented aerial apparatuses, standing on someone’s shoulders, or dancing with flames.

Ariana is over the moon excited to be back at Shining Mountain for her 5th year as circus director for our program. 

Kate Alagna

Educational Support Teacher

Kate Alagna received her BA in English Literature in 1998, and went on to receive her teaching credential as well as a Masters Degree in Literacy Instruction in the Beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains. She worked at Prosser Creek Charter School in Truckee, CA,
teaching first, second, and third grades. After moving to Telluride, CO in 2007, Kate was
hired at Telluride Elementary and took on roles as Classroom Teacher, Interventionist,
Enrichment/GT Teacher, and Technology Teacher.                                                        
After 12 years of teaching in Telluride, she and her family relocated to Boulder. She
then taught in BVSD teaching 1st, 2nd, and 5th. After feeling as though she could make
a deeper impact with fewer students, she launched Fireflies Learning Studio. After
initially assuming she would simply tutor, she realized that was only a small part of
fostering successful students. She believes in making a difference by continuing to
connect and support students to become their best selves. Her Big Dream is to open an
Educational Collective, a place where student support, in all forms, can live and grow
under one roof and is accessible and affordable to all.                                                        
In her free time, Kate spends time with her family and her naughty puppy! She loves
writing, reading, running, hiking, biking, cooking, eating, and watching “boring
documentaries” (according to her three teenagers). She does not love doing laundry.

Mike Koenig

Middle School Assistant Boys Basketball Coach

Mike grew up in Virginia, spending his youth getting lost in the woods and playing all sorts of sports, namely: basketball, baseball, and BMX racing. In high school, he switched gears to focus solely on baseball and cycling (mountain and road), but loved pick-up basketball with his buddies, which continues to this day.

Mike moved to Colorado in 1993, attended DU, was on the cycling team, and president of the Alpine Club. He then raced professional bikes for 10 years and was also the head coach of the DU cycling team from 1999-2003. Mike is currently a coach for Boulder Junior Cycling and is a certified Double Goal Coach through the Positive Coaching Alliance. Cycling aside, he’s thrilled to coach basketball this year at SMWS. Mike’s day job is the President & Co-Founder of Studio Shed, an off-site prefab construction company whose mission is fair housing for all.

Mike has three girls at SMWS, and first started here in 2013. In his free time, he enjoys time with his girls, all things outdoors, trying to bake bread, and a good game of HORSE.

Abby Haughness

Middle School Assistant Girls Basketball Coach

Abby Haughness grew up in New England. She played basketball for 4 years at the collegiate level, helping her team win a conference championship and move forward into the NCAA tournament in her junior year. She graduated with a master’s degree in physical therapy and while working in this new field also started coaching for her hometown’s middle school girl’s basketball team. This team took home a championship in the biggest tournament in the region,
her first year coaching. During the summertime, she co-coached girls’ high school AAU basketball for several years.

After moving to Colorado, she completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and began coaching in the adult running and multisport world. After taking some time off of coaching to raise her child while also running her own physical therapy business, she has decided to return to coaching again and is excited to share her love of basketball with others. She knows that her involvement in sports helped shape how she lives her life as an adult. Abby’s coaching strongly focuses on having fun, team camaraderie, working hard, and that mistakes are OK and will happen when challenging one’s self. Abby is truly grateful for the positive experiences she has
had in athletics and looks forward to sharing her passion for sports with the athletes and community of SMWS.

Dave Buckland

Middle School Boys Basketball Head Coach

Dave was born and raised in the Green Mountain state of Vermont and called it home until June 2021 when he moved to Boulder with his wife Nicole and children Natalie and James. The goal of the move was to change things up in a new city and for his kids to continue their Waldorf education at Shining Mountain Waldorf School. Dave is a long-time Waldorf parent of 10+ years and spends his days running his creative marketing agency BucklandCo. In his off hours, he enjoys making music and playing, watching, and talking about sports. Basketball has been his primary sport since 3rd grade when he started playing in rec leagues. Later, he continued his basketball journey attending various local and regional basketball camps and playing for his school teams in middle and high school. His coaching experience includes managing large teams in business for over 25 years, teaching parks and rec youth tennis and guitar, and multiple years of little league coaching.
Jules Radu

Early Childhood Assistant

Growing up, Minnesota was my home, I have also lived on the coast of Maine and in the Alaskan woods. I love animals, the outdoors, art, and laughter. I made mosaic and stained glass art for many years, and helped run art shows. After having kids, Cedar and Lila, I switched to creating meditation necklaces. At the moment I am super into knitting little creatures for kids to love. I am always exploring art. I married a Coloradian, Andrei, so here we are raising kids together, exploring Mother Earth and all her beauty, camping, skiing, laughing, and trying to be the best that we can be.
 
Christie Acton

Middle School Assistant Volleyball Coach

Christie Acton is thrilled to expand her role at SMWS by supporting our growing athletics department as assistant coach to alum, Jasmine Brown, and our middle school volleyball team! Youth sports have always been an important part of Christie’s life. She learned to play volleyball in middle school, developed through high school, and continues to play today in sand volleyball leagues. Her goal is to help our SMWS team develop a love for the game and practice key character-building moments that surface in youth sports, including teamwork, perseverance, respect, self-confidence, communication, and more. Go Lions!

Jasmine Brown

Middle School Volleyball Coach

Jasmine’s passion for volleyball began when she was in middle school at Shining Mountain. Through hard work, dedication, teamwork, and (of course) lots of love, she’s become irrevocably invested in the SMWS athletic community. She grew up dreaming that one day she would get to be a coach and spread a love of the game with future athletes. Currently enrolled in a political science undergrad program, she hopes to spread peace and justice through the world by one day working for the UN. In her free time she loves to read, garden, play games with her family, learn languages, and do Muay Thai.
Kevin Hanover

Middle School Cross Country and Track & Field Coach

Kevin is originally from Cape Cod, MA, and after spending 12 years in NYC building his fitness business, opted for some mountain life. Kevin founded HBodyLab LLC in 2009 and built a very successful fitness business in the city working one-on-one with a wide range of clientele, including adolescent athletes. He has worked as a head coach for E3Sports and T2 Multisport, churning out some of the best amateur athletes on the east coast. When his daughter turned two years old, he decided it was time to pack up and move the family (and the dog that won’t get out of his bed) to sunny Colorado. Currently he enjoys all the things about mountain life and building business all over the world. He is an ISSA certified elite strength coach with continuing education in sports nutrition, cycling, and run biomechanics and fitness therapy. He is currently working as the head coach for SMWS middle school XC and Track & Field, along with beginner triathletes, elite national trail runners, 70.3 world qualifiers, 140.6 Kona qualifiers, duathlon national and world championship qualifiers, and ITU short course pro athletes. He represented team USA in 2019 and raced the ITU duathlon world championships in Pontevedra, Spain.
Audrey Marold

Lower School Office Manager

Audrey is the proud mother of two hilarious and artistic Lower School students at SMWS and is thrilled to step into the role of Lower School Office Manager. She is a 5th-generation Denverite, and now she and her family live in the mountains of Boulder County. Audrey practiced massage therapy for over a decade, before turning her attention to the administrative side of health and wellness. In her free time, she enjoys walking in the forest with her goofy dog, Beezus, and tormenting her children with random musical theatre knowledge and terrible accordion playing.

Leslie Ann Leddy

Accompanist

Leslie Ann has been a professional pianist, piano instructor, music teacher, and accompanist for the past 22 years. She taught piano at Furman University, and Shorter College, where she received a Bachelors in Art with an emphasis in Piano Pedagogy and minors in French, Chemistry, and Biology. She has performed with several orchestras and toured Eastern Europe, Europe and Greece. She has helped create music programs and taught at several Boulder schools, as well as accompanied for First Presbyterian Church, Boulder and Evergreen. She has also performed with the Denver Brass Ensemble, as well as the Boulder Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra.

Leslie Ann originally hails from Rome, Georgia, and has called Boulder home for her Peach Piano Studio for 18 years. Many of those years she has participated in accompanying for Shining Mountain Eurythmy and Choir classes. She is gleefully returning to this special place for more Choir and Eurythmy accompaniment, as well as to join the sustainability committee. When she is not practicing piano, or teaching, she is most likely on a mountain trail training for another ultramarathon. 

JJ Calhoun
High School Math Teacher
JJ started his journey of teaching mathematics at what is now Pikes Peak Community College, where he led recitation for various courses. While studying mathematics at Colorado College (2017), JJ served as a teacher’s aid at local public high schools and a tutor for his peers. The past three years, JJ taught high school mathematics in Colorado Springs. He has taught courses at all levels, from geometry to calculus and even college level number theory. JJ plans to deepen his understanding and love of mathematics by taking graduate courses at CU Boulder starting this fall. When JJ isn’t proving theorems, you can find him climbing in Eldorado Canyon State Park, or running up a Flatiron.
Adrian Sütter

High School Science Teacher

Adrian joins the high school this year to teach life science and earth science. She received a degree in geology from Macalester College, and was then employed in the field of environmental consulting in Phoenix, AZ. After completing PA school, she has worked as a physician assistant for the last ten years. Adrian graduated from the Washington Waldorf School in Bethesda, MD, and is currently completing the Center for Anthroposophy’s Waldorf High School Teacher Training course. Adrian is passionate about gardening and the out-of-doors and lives with her daughter in Denver.

Rachel Haynes

Rainbow Garden Lead Teacher

Rachel comes from a family of teachers and knew she wanted to be one at an early age. A life-long educator, Racel is passionate about early childhood and Waldorf philosophy. She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a BA in Social Sciences and a double minor in Multicultural Anthropology and Psychology. She then went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and her Colorado Teaching License. Upon graduating, she embarked on a 12-year career that included teaching in public and private schools in Boulder County until she had her daughter, Sophia, and found Waldorf education through a parent/child class. This was a destiny moment that changed the trajectory of her life. She began studying Rudolf Steiner and taking Lifeways classes and opened a Waldorf-inspired preschool out of her home. Now that her daughter is starting 1st grade, she’s delighted to have the opportunity to join the Shining Mountain community. Rachel lives in Longmont with Sophia and their 4 chickens and can be found reading, biking, hiking, camping and collecting chicken eggs.
Marian Munkvold-Saunders
Interim High School Administrator

Marian was born and raised in Norway, before moving to Houston, Texas in 1998. After graduating high school there, she attended EM Strasbourg Business School in Strasbourg, France, and the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas where she received a BBA and MBA in Finance. After college she moved to Carlsbad, California where she continued working in the business and investment field. Once she became a mom, she and her husband moved to Santa Barbara, California where she stayed home full time, raising two children. In 2010 their young family returned to Texas and settled in Austin. At this time she discovered Waldorf education. Both children have attended Austin Waldorf School since kindergarten, and Marian was actively involved in the parent volunteer community there. In 2017 she joined the administrative staff at the Austin Waldorf School where she worked as Administrative Support and then Office Manager. She and her family are thrilled to call Boulder their new home and to become part of the Shining Mountain Waldorf School community. Marian loves to read, cook, do handwork, travel, and spend time outside with her family skiing, biking, and hiking.

Monica Maldonado

Grade 1 & Grade 6 Assistant

Monica Maldonado began their professional teaching career in 2014 after receiving a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from The Master’s University School of Music. Monica has experience in teaching music and art in one-on-one, small group, and public school settings, as well as one year of teaching music, art, and history in the elementary school setting as a student-teacher. Thanks to their teaching experiences, Monica strongly believes that every child can become a musician and artist and that all learners deserve a well-planned, differentiated arts education. They are very excited to be working at Shining Mountain and supporting their class in any way they can. Monica is also passionate about traveling, performing shows with their band and creating abstract mixed media artwork.

Ashley Wiley
Registrar

Ashley grew up in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, Illinois and has traveled to many different places all over the world including: Mexico, Portugal, France, UK, Morocco, Spain, and the British Overseas territory of Gibraltar. In 2014, after studying and living abroad for two years in Granada, Spain, she moved back to the city of Chicago where she met her husband Tom. She first learned about Waldorf education from Tom as he attended the Chicago Waldorf School from PreK-8th grade. In an effort to learn more about this education, she attended a CWS holiday fair where she was immediately inspired, and in 2015 started Waldorf Teacher Training in Chicago. Ashley is a Fiber Artist and has been perfecting her craft since she started to crochet at 7 years old, so when learning that the Waldorf curriculum included crochet, she was hooked! Ashley brings over 7 years of teaching experience including a year as an Early Childhood and Handwork Assistant at CWS, as well as 4 years of administrative experience at CWS working as their High School Office Manager and Registrar & Database Manager. She is very excited to join SMWS and is grateful to take on this new position remotely as Registrar.

Lee Griffith

Class Teacher Grade 6

As an accomplished cellist and music teacher, Lee has broadened his teaching capacities to become a Waldorf middle school class teacher. After completing his music degree at the prestigious University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music, Lee discovered his love of teaching extended beyond cello lessons, and that he was inspired by the art of teaching encompassed in the rich array of subject matter brought through the grades 6-8 journey. Waldorf philosophy and pedagogy, specifically the picture of child development, aligns with his approach to being an educator. Lee has been a class teacher in the grades and a cello teacher at the Cincinnati Waldorf School. He looks forward to continuing his Waldorf teacher certification for the grades school cycle. Lee enjoys reading, traveling, hiking, meaningful conversations, thrifting, rock climbing, teaching private cello lessons and, of course, performing.

Mike Terborg

Athletic & Auxiliary Programming Director

Mike Terborg first served as the SMWS Athletic Program Director from 2006 to 2010 while also coaching the High School Boys Basketball Team. In 2010, Mike moved to Seattle with his wife where he began his career as a Strength Coach and Injury Rehabilitation Specialist, and since 2018, has also been writing educational content for health, fitness, and wellness companies. During his time at Shining Mountain, Mike led an athletic program that fostered a healthy balance of physical, social, emotional, and psychological development. During his first tenure, Mike also served as the 5280 League President for two years, was three-time 5280 League Coach of the Year, and received recognition from the Positive Coaching Alliance for his dedication to teaching life lessons through participation in school sports. While program director, SMWS was also awarded the 5280 League Sportsmanship Award for the 2009-2010 school year. Mike has a B.A. in Global Studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He lives in Gunbarrel with his wife and three children. 

Soni Albright

Admissions Director

Soni Albright has spent the last 10 years working in Waldorf School Admissions, previously at East Bay Waldorf School in Northern California, and currently at City of Lakes Waldorf School in Minneapolis, MN. She has all the while, also been in the classroom, as a Cyber Civics teacher for 6-8th graders. Before that, she spent a decade in a variety of school settings (Public, Montessori, Charter, etc.) as a classroom teacher, and has taught a wide variety of subjects such as visual arts, study skills, social studies, and language arts.

Christie Acton

Marketing Manager

Christie earned a bachelor’s degree in Media and Communications from the University of San Diego in 2000. She went on to be a media planner at several recognized advertising agencies in Southern California. Her experience as an ad professional grew from work on brands such as DIRECTV, Expedia, Hilton Hotels, and American Honda Automotive. In this time Christie was responsible for managing advertising campaigns across all media, including television, print, radio, outdoor, and online. Christie then shifted her career in 2010 to focus on sales and account management for Citysearch and then later LivingSocial, which increased her knowledge of digital platforms. Christie is now excited to support SMWS in the role of Marketing Director. She discovered the benefits of Waldorf education first-hand for her son at the Austin Waldorf School starting in kindergarten and now at SMWS in the grades.

Taliza Mizrahi

High School and Middle School Counselor

Taliza Mizrahi holds an MA, LPCC in Somatic Counseling Psychology and specializes in serving Tweens, Teens, and Young Adults through a combination of Creative Arts Therapies, Group Work, and Youth and Young Adult Mentoring. Taliza has been working with SMWS students and families as a mentor, dance teacher/youth empowerment facilitator, and therapist since 2006, and has formally been working as the middle and high school counselor since 2016. Over the course of her career, Taliza has served in a variety of settings from on-campus mental health counselor for undergraduate and graduate students at Naropa University, Family Therapist and Behavior Coach for high-risk youth and families, Surfing the Creative International Rites of Passage Youth Leadership Director and Lead Therapist, Hip Hop dance teacher and youth empowerment facilitator, youth/young adult mentor through her Buddhist community, and as a private therapist, mentor and case manager for youth from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. As a child of an immigrant, Taliza grew up with a different language and culture in her home and has personally navigated a life of straddling cultures and grappling with a multicultural identity. She enjoys working with youth from all over the world, with multicultural backgrounds and with blended cultural families. Taliza grew up in the Washington, DC area. She studied at CU-Boulder, Naropa University and is a graduate of Soka University in Southern California. When she is not at the school, Taliza is dancing as much as she possibly can, enjoying live music and natural waters of any kind,  laughing at every opportunity, snowboarding, camping, and adventuring with her husband and 3 small, busy, and hilarious little boys, usually outside somewhere beautiful! 

Enrique Olivares

Facilities and Grounds Assistant

Enrique is a California native born in San Diego. He is married and has two boys ages 12 and 19. Enrique moved to Colorado in 2017 and enjoys the mountains and nature. Hiking has become one of his favorite activities, as well as fishing—no success so far, but it’s a peaceful pastime to be with my family. Even just a simple picnic on the weekends is meaningful to Enrique. He has been working in maintenance at different locations and is now very grateful to be here at Shining Mountain Waldorf School.

Joanna Lynden

Accompanist

Joanna grew up outside of Chicago, Illinois, playing the piano, roaming the remnants of tall grass prairie, and wandering the vast forest preserves. She began accompanying choirs in 8th grade and has supported choral groups, ensembles, and vocalists ever since. Joanna is a composer/arranger with a Bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of Colorado, and as an organist has served many congregations in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and even Switzerland. She directed the local women’s a cappella group, IRIS, for thirteen years, and her choral compositions have been performed by high school choirs and various ensembles across the country. Joanna loves a wide variety of musical styles and is proud to have two sons living in Boulder who also play professionally: Aaron on violin and Otis on electric bass. Joanna has accompanied eurythmy and choir classes at several of the Waldorf Schools in the area for the last decade, and she is very excited and honored to again be contributing to the musical life of Shining Mountain.

Megan Corcoran
Games/PE Teacher Grades 1-8

In addition to teaching part-time Games & Movement in the lower grades at Shining Mountain Waldorf School, Megan is the founding director of Re-Embody Somatics, a health and wellness business that supports emotional empowerment following traumatic stress and anxiety. Megan earned her dual master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and Dance/Movement Therapy in 2007, from Antioch University in New Hampshire. During that same time, she studied Waldorf Movement Education at the Spacial Dynamics Institute in upstate New York. Additionally, Megan is a Somatic Experiencing Trauma Practitioner and a certified Health and Wellness Coach. From 2007-2021, Megan was the first through eighth grade Games and Movement Teacher at Prairie Moon Waldorf School in Lawrence, Kansas. In the summer of 2021, she and her family delightfully moved to Boulder, CO to join the wonderful school community at Shining Mountain! Megan enjoys time with her family and friends: swimming, hiking, hiking, soaking in the hot springs and dancing!

Liz Sickler

Bluebell Prekindergarten Assistant

Liz grew up in northern Wisconsin and went to college for Biology, massage therapy and energy work. She’s experienced in massage therapies for ten years and also recently worked with infants at a little learning center. She wants to become an art teacher in the near future and loves kids, animals, rocks, art, hiking, biking and singing bowl meditations.  She is excited to start this new adventure learning and growing with the children at Shining Mountain Waldorf School .

Mary Alice Daniel

Rainbow Garden Teacher

Mary Alice grew up on a beautiful farm in the blue, slow rolling hills of the Virginia Piedmont. Her childhood memory stew is steeped in moss, turtle shell, horse mane, and pond water. She is drawn to the Waldorf world because of the reverence for nature, story, magic, and beauty. Mary Alice has lived in Boulder for over 25 years. She is a graduate of both Naropa University and the University of Colorado. At Naropa, she studied Painting and Environmental Ethics. At the University of Colorado/Denver, she acquired a Master of Landscape Architecture. Mary Alice worked for the city of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks as their Sign & Graphics Specialist for many years. She also completed Early Childhood Montessori training at the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies. She is passionate about protecting the beautiful world of childhood. A few things Mary Alice loves (in no particular order): making art, Watercolors/ Encaustic /Mixed-Media, teaching piano to children, running, salt water, plane tickets, and rescue Chihuahuas! Most importantly, Mary Alice and her partner, Mark, are very proud parents of Margaux. Margaux is a sparkling, fun loving, 13 year old girl in Mr. Janzen’s 8th grade class here at Shining Mountain.

Alex Hardesty
LS/MS Cello & Choir Teacher, HS Musical Explorations and HS Outdoor Education

Alex is excited to join Shining Mountain Waldorf School this year as the Cello Teacher! Alex was born and raised in Boise, ID where he found a passion for music at a young age playing double bass in the school orchestra. Alex completed his undergraduate degree in Double Bass Performance at Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA. During these years, Alex discovered a secondary passion for the cello, and began to transfer all his knowledge from its close relative, the double bass. As a multi-instrumentalist, Alex enjoys the challenge of learning new instruments, composing, performing, and loves the confidence and creativity that music can bring to young students. Currently Alex is in his final year of his Master’s of Architecture Program at University of Colorado Denver, and hopes to use both his music and design knowledge in his teaching career. When not playing music or building models, Alex enjoys spending time in nature, fixing bikes, climbing, writing poetry, and sharing good food with friends and family. 

Karen Glas

Rainbow Garden Teacher

Karen was born and raised in Boulder and attended Shining Mountain from 1st-12th grade. Her class was the first graduating class from the high school in 1996. Karen is grateful for the relationships fostered by Waldorf Education that have supported her throughout her life. After graduating from high school, while earning a BA in Art at Naropa University, she also studied in Vienna, Austria, apprenticing with master painter, Michael Fuchs, and Madrid, Spain. Karen’s love of Waldorf Education and small children led her to Sunbridge College, where she obtained a Master’s in Early Childhood Waldorf Education in 2004. Sunbridge College was founded by her daughter’s grandfather, Werner Glas. While earning her degree from Sunbridge, Karen was fortunate to assist and receive mentorship from several master teachers at Boulder Waldorf  Kindergarten, Shining Mountain, and Blue Sky Kindergarten. Karen started a state-licensed  Waldorf-Inspired home preschool that she ran for over 10 years in Gunnison, Colorado. In 2017, Karen moved back to Boulder so her daughters could attend  Shining Mountain and be close to their grandparents. In her free time, Karen loves mountain biking, hiking, nordic skiing and dance. She recently created an artisan business called Honey Glow and enjoys crafting beautiful beeswax lanterns with  pressed flowers.

Liz Truesdall

High School Humanities Teacher

Liz graduated from Shining Mountain Waldorf School and promptly jetted off to Portland where she realized she wasn’t ready for college. Instead, she decided to run a martial arts school, and have some out of school experiences. She loved teaching and working with students daily, and realized her calling would be in teaching High Schoolers. Since she went to a Waldorf school, she felt that would be the best fit. After her Bachelor’s was finished, she enrolled in the Center for Anthroposophy’s High School Teacher Training. While that was in process, she was hired as a Humanities teacher at Portland Waldorf School, where she worked for two years. Unfortunately, like many institutions, PWS took a hit when Covid struck, and many lost their jobs, including Liz. Undaunted, Liz moved back to Boulder, where she began a Master’s program in Secondary Education for English, and is tutoring students in English, History, Research, Interviews, Organization, and Executive Functioning. Liz has a knack for understanding and working with students with Learning Differences, as well as the highly gifted that always end up rolling through Waldorf Schools. She has been called “the teen whisperer”. In her free time, she is reading, petting a cat, or working out.

Peter Hornbein, PhD

Educational Support Director

Peter Hornbein is a third-generation, Colorado native. His family all lives in the Boulder area including his kids and grandkids. He is a self-described, life-long learner, having earned an M.S.Ed. in Math Education and a Ph.D. in Education and Human Development with an emphasis in Urban Education from the University of Colorado, Denver while in his 60s. He earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a B.A. in Mathematics from San Jose State University. Before teaching, Peter was in a graduate program in Mathematics at the University of California, Berkeley, which he left to assume a position as Director of Strategic Market Planning for Pacific Bell. Peter has been teaching both Math and Special Education for 32 years both in Colorado and California. His research is varied, ranging from work in covariational reasoning and methodologies for teaching the function, to the enactment of whiteness through language in peer-reviewed articles appearing in high-impact journals. He has also conducted work in Women and Gender Studies focusing on gendered urban spaces as well as queered urban spaces and has explored the racialized nature of the enactment of masculinity in gay men. Other work includes explorations in mixed-orientation marriages, executive function, and issues revolving around social justice and neurodiverse students. Outside of school, Peter enjoys painting (oils) and recently took up the Ukulele.

Angie Parham
Middle School Specialist in Humanities

Grateful to all of the teachers who cultivated her love of literature and appreciation for language, Angie hopes to foster that same enthusiasm for language arts in her students. She takes great pride and pleasure in guiding Shining Mountain’s future authors, scribes, translators, journalists, essayists, correspondents, dramatists, editors, and poets. Angie brings over 25 years of teaching experience in English and German to the classroom. In addition to Shining Mountain, she has taught at River Song Waldorf School, University of Colorado, Fairview High School, and Boulder High School. Angie has studied Waldorf education at the Center for Anthroposophy in New Hampshire and holds a BA in German and English, an MA in German, and an MA in Secondary English Education.

Kate Galt
Development Director
Kate has filled her life with learning. She grew up in the blue grass state, Kentucky. She went to school at University of Missouri. Kate has a business degree and corporate experience in marketing and management. She moved to Boulder to study at Rocky Mountain Center for Botanical Studies. For fifteen years, she worked in the health food industry, as a sales executive. After her first child was born, she stopped her extensive travel and stayed put. She attained certifications in coaching and leadership, and began her private practice. At this time, she found Anthroposophy. From that point on; the planet, education, and health made a lot more sense to her. Since that time, she has become an author, speaker, and business coach. Kate has lived in Boulder Colorado for 21 years, and enjoys being outdoors with her loving husband and two children.
Zephyr McConnell

Something

Zephyr moved to Boulder to attend Naropa University in 2011 and graduated with a degree in Contemplative Psychology and Eastern Arts. Before that time she had a career with the National Park Service as a firefighter, backcountry trail worker, volunteer coordinator, and llama packer. She worked in Yosemite, Grand Teton, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, King’s Canyon, Redwood State Park and in the winters did two tours in Antarctica as a carpenter. Zephyr has also studied architecture and is passionate about working with her hands in many creative capacities and in bringing joy and playfulness into all of her pursuits. Even when living out of a backpack she always managed to have some kind of costume available. Currently she lives in Longmont on a small tree farm with her partner, their many furry and feathered companions, and an extensive workshop and costume collection.

Fred Annexstein, PhD
High School Math, Science and Computer Science Teacher

An exceptionally experienced university professor specializing in the disciplines of Computer Science, Mathematics, Cryptography, Distributed Systems, and Software Engineering, Fred also teaches math and science at the Cincinnati Waldorf High School. We look forward to Fred joining our high school faculty to teach advanced level math and science courses. Fred received his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts, and a BS and MS in mathematics Amherst and a MA in Mathematics form the State University of New York.

Lori Ann Kran, PhD
Pedagogical Director and High School History Teacher

As previously announced to the school community, Lori will join us next school year as our new Pedagogical Director. She is coming to Shining Mountain from the Cincinnati Waldorf School, where she was a longtime class teacher and also taught US History in their high school program. Lori will be teaching US history at SMWHS as well as government, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Lori received her PhD in American History from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and earned a BA and MA in American History from the State University of New York.

Katherine Millersdaughter, PhD
High School Humanities Teacher

Katherine has taught literature, composition, and gender studies at the college level since 1992. In 2012, she began leading summer workshops in storytelling, creative writing, and bookmaking for children. From that work, Katherine developed StoryCraft Boulder, a narrative arts studio that gives youth the tools with which to develop a twofold practice in mindfulness and creative thinking. Katherine holds a PhD in Comparative Literature and an MA in English from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Colorado College.

Kristina Wyatt
White Dove Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Kristina comes to SMWS after working as an Assistant Teacher in the Early Childhood Department at the Washington Waldorf School, just outside Washington, D.C, for the last six years.

Kristina first discovered Waldorf Education ten years ago, after reading the back of a Hawthorne Valley yogurt container one morning. Since that time, she has made every effort to educate herself and her family about Waldorf philosophy and pedagogy. She completed her Waldorf Early Childhood Education training from the Toronto Rudolf Steiner Centre in Canada. Prior to that program she completed her Waldorf Teacher Preparation Certification from the NOVA Institute, completed Foundations Studies through the Center of Anthroposophy, and took several summer courses at the Sunbridge Institute in New York. Prior to her Waldorf Education, Kristina received a Master’s in Public Policy from George Mason University in Virginia and an undergraduate degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

Kristina loves nature and being outdoors, hiking, camping and travelling with family and friends. She has learned a lot while traveling in Eastern Europe, hiking in the Eastern United States and Central Asian mountains, and studying in India. Kristina has two boys who have been part of a Waldorf School community for the past ten years.

Whitney Johansson
Educational Resource Teacher

Whitney has always found joy through working with children. Understanding, appreciating, and supporting how individuals learn is a lifelong passion for her. She has worked as an educator in the Boulder area for the past 15 years, including at the Sister Carmen Community Center, Cure Organic Farm, and The Growe Foundation. Whitney earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from Western Washington University. She is a Clinical Herbalist and has a Master’s degree in Science focusing on Human Nutrition. Through teaching Nutrition to kids, Whitney knew that teaching was the path for her. From there she earned her Elementary Education Teacher’s License from CU and was recognized for being in the top of her class. Whitney went on to study the Orton-Gillingham approach extensively, finding gems in the different approaches from different organizations. Through this training, Whitney witnessed the remarkable impact that multi-sensory, direct, explicit instruction can have and how through this instruction, students’ brains can be activated in varying ways so that their learning and processing style is honored and attended to, whether the subject is literacy or math or beyond. As an Educational Resource Teacher, she aims to connect with the whole person and hold them and their learning in the highest regard. When she is not teaching, you will find her frolicking in her garden, playing the ukulele, sewing up a storm, reading about literacy, hugging her dogs and cats, smooching her daughters, and dreaming of their next adventure.

Bret Schacht

Class Teacher Grade 2

Bret Schacht received his Waldorf Certificate and Masters in Education from Antioch New England Graduate School in 2004. The last fifteen years of his Waldorf teaching career have been pioneering at Prairie Moon Waldorf School in Lawrence, Kansas as class teacher and faculty chair. Bret arrived to Boulder with his wife, Megan Corcoran, and their two children, Caden and Mia. The family loves the outdoors, hot springs, stories, good food, campfires and dancing. Bret trained in organic farming at Sunflower Fields CSA, in outdoor education at the Earth Skills Semester Program, and in movement education with Spacial Dynamics. 

Anne Nadelson
Anne Nadelson

Campus Operations Director

Anne holds a BA in Anthropology from Rutgers University and pursued postgraduate studies in Psychology at New York University. She worked for many years in the psychology field with both adolescents and adults as a counselor. After her children were born she was a Waldorf homeschooler, a childbirth educator, a La Leche League leader, and served on the Board of a Holistic parents group. Anne grew up on the beaches and forests of the East coast and came to Colorado in 2007 so her oldest child could join the second grade class at Shining Mountain. For many years she was very involved in the parent life of the school, and joined the administrative staff as the Lower School Coordinator in 2014. Currently she is completing the Center for Anthroposophy’s Waldorf Leadership and Administration training and has recently begun work on her Masters in Education Administration with Regis University. Back East she was always looking for her Waldorf community and has found it in Shining Mountain. In her free time she loves to hike, run, swim and knit, usually with her beloved Great Dane.

Karen Kumar
Karen Kumar

Human Resources Director

Karen joined Shining Mountain Waldorf School in August 2013. Born in Michigan, she has enjoyed living in the Boulder area for over 30 years. Like so many, she came to visit and decided to stay. Her business career has been in the financial sector, which lead to an opportunity to be a founding member of a bankcard processing company where she designed and implemented operational and human resources systems. A wife and mother of two teenage boys, Karen loves to spend time with her family, traveling, reading, skiing and hiking. Karen is thrilled to bring her experiences to SMWS and embraces the caring culture and talented community of SMWS.

Cindy Hauser
Cindy Hauser

Bookkeeper

Cindy has been a long-time resident in the mountains of Colorado. She has been employed in the accounting field for over 30 years. Cindy currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Nederland Food Pantry. Cindy is married and her hobbies include chasing after her 4 grandchildren and riding motorcycles.

Sarah Engle
Sarah Engle

Business Director

Sarah grew up in Berkeley, CA and has lived in many wonderful places but loves Colorado, and has lived here for the past 19 years. She is very excited to be a part of the Shining Mountain community and brings her 25 years of experience in the finance world with her. Sarah has worked in public accounting and has been the controller for a real estate development company, a general contractor, and the CFO for a public relations and marketing firm. Sarah was the controller for The Economics Institute here in Boulder that offered graduate school prep to students from developing countries. She has her Bachelor of Accountancy from The College of Santa Fe in NM where she also obtained her CPA license. Sarah is the mother of a very active 15-year-old son who is a x-country runner and an explorer at heart. She loves Colorado for its active lifestyle and enjoys running, biking, swimming, x-country skiing, snowshoeing and backpacking.

Paul Boak
Paul Boak

Facilities and Grounds Director

Paul grew up in England, spending the first ten years of his working life in a Civil/Structural Engineering office. He moved to the United States in 1996 and spent ten years in California before moving to Boulder in 2007. He brings a skill set which lends itself well to the facilities department, being well-versed in all levels of building construction and maintenance. Paul has a young daughter, Annabelle. He plays soccer in the local Boulder league and enjoys running in our beautiful state.

Nita June
Nita June

High School Humanities Teacher, College Counselor, and Alumni Relations Coordinator

An alumna of SMWS, Nita holds an MFA in Contemporary Performance and is a certified Independent Education Consultant. Nita will be expanding the high school College Advising program next fall, which she took up and developed anew this school year, as well as teaching theatre and humanities courses. We are delighted to have Nita return to Colorado from California and join the SMWHS faculty in these new capacities.

Julie Irwin
Julie Irwin

High School Spanish Teacher

Julie grew up spending lots of time outdoors in between Philadelphia and New Hampshire. She attended Skidmore College in upstate New York where she majored in Spanish literature and Latin American Studies. Living in Chile and traveling throughout South America during and after college solidified her zest for travel, different cultures, and the Spanish language.  She is passionate about using a hands-on, interactive approach with her students. She most recently taught High School Spanish for four years at Sandia Preparatory School in Albuquerque, NM. She and her husband have two young sons who she is raising bilingually. She loves hiking, playing card and board games, skiing, fixing up their old house in Lyons, and spending time with her family. Julie is thrilled to be part the Shining Mountain community!

Joan Bremner
Joan Bremner
High School Art and Architecture Teacher

Joan stepped in this year to be the Interim High School Administrator in addition to teaching art and architecture classes in the high school. She grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio and has lived in Colorado for 35 years. Joan has a B.S. from Miami University, Ohio in Housing and Interior Design and a five year Bachelor of Architecture Degree from Kent State University. In 1985, she studied architecture in Florence, Italy under ‘Super Studio Architects’. Joan has practiced and studied architecture in various forms during the past 35 years. She has taught in the high school since 2006. She completed her Waldorf Training in Art/Art History at the Center for Anthroposophy in NH, in 2013. She continues to develop as an artist by creating her own art in the mediums she teaches which include stone carving, clay sculpting, pottery, metalwork, stained glass and bookbinding.

Craig Rubens
Craig Rubens

Games/PE Teacher, MS Outdoor Education, Circus Troupe Co-Director

Craig wears multiple hats at Shining Mountain. Besides varied teaching responsibilities, he coordinates the Pentathlon, Medieval Games, Michaelmas Games and Field Day. He is a graduate of the Spatial Dynamics Institute and has taught for 25 years in CO and northern CA both as a class teacher and movement specialist. Born in OH, he moved to Boulder to attend CU, and completed his BA at Prescott College in AZ. He has spent many summers leading 4-season backcountry expeditions and class trips into the canyons, rivers, and mountains of the Southwest and the Sierras. Hobbies include hiking, kayaking and gardening.

Thyria Ogletree
Thyria Ogletree

Eurythmy Teacher

Thyria joined the SMWS faculty in 1998.  She received a diploma from the Boulder Eurythmy Program, directed by Helga Michaels and a Pedagogical Eurythmy Certificate sponsored through AWSNA.  She is the proud parent of two adult children, Nyal and Kyra.  Thyria’s other interests include:  cooking, the farm to table movement, literature, and movement of all kinds including dance, volleyball and basketball.

Cristina Geck
Cristina Geck

Eurythmy Teacher, German Teacher

Cristina was born and raised in New York City until her family returned to Germany when she turned nine.  At the age of twenty, she became deeply involved with the Camphill community of Brachenreuthe, Germany. She lived and trained at this Anthroposophical-based school and biodynamic farm, working with children in need of special care for six years. There, Cristina also discovered her love of eurythmy.  Cristina studied therapeutic eurythmy for children with special needs with Ms. Susanne Mueller-Wiedemann and did her eurythmy training from 1989 to 1992 with the Eurythmieinitiative Stuttgart, directed by Ms. Helga Mattke. In the summer of 2000, Cristina came to Colorado to teach eurythmy at Shepherd Valley Waldorf School and Boulder Waldorf Kindergarten. She has held a BA in Eurythmy since 2013 and is currently in her second year of teaching at Shining Mountain Waldorf School .  Cristina has been part of Sound Circle Eurythmy Ensemble and has been teaching in the pedagogical training of Eurythmy Spring Valley in Chestnut Ridge, New York.

Doug Felkley
Doug Felkley

Woodworking Teacher

Doug Felkley, Woodworking Doug was born on beautiful Catalina Island, in California. Leaving the island when Doug was still a young child, he and his family moved many times before finally settling in Boulder half way through seventh grade. Boulder was the perfect place for him to land, and Doug enjoys all that the Colorado outdoors has to offer. Climbing, cycling, skiing, kayaking, and mountain running have all been on the activity list at one time or another. Doug joined the staff of the City of Boulder gymnastics program in 1982, and after thirty-four years as a coach, coordinator, and supervisor he retired 2016 to pursue an education in furniture design, wood craftsmanship, and sculpture. Combining his love for working with children and his love for creating with wood, teaching woodworking at SMWS is the ideal fit. It is time for another new chapter in his life, combining two things that are very close to his heart: teaching and woodworking. Doug and his wife Jean met nine years ago while attending Bands on the Bricks on the Pearl Street Mall. Together they explore the art and music opportunities in Colorado every chance they get.

Emily Bowman
Emily Anne Bowman

Strings Teacher / Violin and Viola, Orchestra Co-Director

Emily Anne Bowman lives, breathes and dreams in music. A dedicated educator, she keeps a regular schedule as Artistic Director of the Greater Boulder Youth Orchestra and conductor of the GBYO Philharmonic, as faculty with Boulder Suzuki Strings where she teaches violin, viola, fiddle and conducts the Senior Solo Orchestra, and as instrumental music teacher for grades 3-12 violin, viola and orchestra at Shining Mountain Waldorf School. Ms. Bowman has been recognized with the “Exemplary Teacher” award four times by the American Strings Teachers Association of Colorado. Ms. Bowman is an active performer. With music, she has traveled to Europe, South America, Central America, and throughout North America. She can be heard regularly performing with the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado. Ms. Bowman graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Viola Performance from the University of Colorado, receiving the Gabor Ormai Viola Award and the Outstanding Graduate Award from the College of Music. Ms. Bowman lives with her husband and two cats in beautiful Boulder where in addition to making music she delights in spending quality time with family and friends, eating and enjoying the outdoors.

Joshua Berman
Joshua Berman
Spanish Teacher Grades 1-8 and MS Cyber Civics Teacher

Joshua, who is also our school’s Social Media Director, became fluent in Spanish as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nicaragua where he worked with the Ministry of Education and was first dubbed, “don Josué.” He spent much of the next decade in Central America, working as a trip leader and guidebook writer. Joshua has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Brown University and has continued his teacher training at Rudolf Steiner College. Joshua has also worked as an Outward Bound wilderness instructor and is an accomplished travel writer. He has a monthly column in the Denver Post called “Around Colorado” and is the author of six books about travel. He has been a teacher at SMWS since 2007. Joshua’s wife, Sutay, a Registered Nurse and trained doula, teaches prenatal yoga and childbirth classes at Boulder Community Hospital. They have three daughters who attend Shining Mountain.

Theresa Baker
Theresa Baker

Lower Grades Handwork Teacher

Theresa is a native of Boulder who attended CU as a classical antiquities major.  She began teaching handwork to grades 1-8 in September of 1988. Theresa and her husband, David Chappelle, have three children: Micah, Amalindé, and Beau; all three are SMWS alumni. Theresa will serve this year as the Governance Council chair, as a member of the College of Teachers, and on the Campus Planning Committee.

Michael Janzen
Michael Janzen

Class Teacher Grade 7

Michael attended Antioch New England Graduate School for Waldorf Education in 2003. After a successful program, he and his daughter, Zailen, traveled from the lush Northeast to the rugged Southwest to start his teaching career. He taught grades 4-8 and grade 1 in Taos, NM before moving to the SMWS community. He has a plethora of interests and his favorite thing to do is “wake up in the morning”.

Meg Gardner
Meg Gardner

Class Teacher Grade 8

Meg grew up in Oklahoma building tree houses and playing her viola. She attended Indiana University, receiving a BA in Philosophy and Religious Studies. While working with high school students with disabilities, she learned about Waldorf Education, and immediately enrolled at Sunbridge College. She received her MSEd in Waldorf Education and began teaching at the Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork in 2005, where she discovered her passion was teaching middle school. Meg joined the Middle School faculty at SMWS in 2013. She and her husband Jon Ray enjoy their many adventures with their sons, Solomon and Oliver. Meg loves hiking 14ers, backpacking, cross-country skiing, printmaking, painting, cooking, and reading.

Sandra Kirschner
Sandra Kirschner

Class Teacher Grade 1

Sandra was born in Colorado Springs and was raised in Southern California. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. While attending university, she met her future husband, Corey Kirschner. Upon graduation, Sandra met Waldorf Education. She then attended the Waldorf Institute of Southern California at Highland Hall in Los Angeles for her Waldorf Teacher Training. With certificate in hand, Sandra and Corey moved to Colorado where she became the First Grade Teacher at Shepherd Valley Waldorf School in Niwot.  Sandra led two classes (First through Eighth Grade) at Shepherd Valley Waldorf School and also worked for one year as an assistant at Boulder Waldorf Kindergarten. In 2012, Sandra was hired as the First Grade Class Teacher at Shining Mountain Waldorf School. Sandra lives in the quiet mountain community of Jamestown with her husband, Corey, and their cats. Sandra loves scuba diving, downhill skiing, hiking, dancing, and stargazing.

Caela Schulz
Caela Schulz

Class Teacher Grade 5

Caela began her elementary teaching career in the public schools after  completing her Masters Degree in Elementary Education at the University  of Colorado Boulder in 1994, prior her BA in English Literature from  Barnard College/Columbia University in NYC. Caela spent 10 years  teaching in the public schools in Boulder Valley and Adams County,  Colorado. Seeking to enrich her teaching during this time Caela  discovered Anthroposophy and Waldorf Education. After several years out  of the classroom to raise her daughter, she began her Waldorf Teacher  Training at Sunbridge Institute in Spring Valley, NY, graduating in 2017. In  2016, Caela took the third grade class at Shining Mountain through until  fifth grade, and is currently with her second class. Caela lives in Boulder  with her husband Eric, who works for Sherpa Mountain Adventures, and  her daughter Lily, who is in high school.

Dorothea Altgelt
Dorothea Altgelt

Class Teacher Grade 4

Dorothea joined SMWS in 1994 as a Physical Education and German Teacher. After ten years of serving as a subject teacher, she completed class teacher training at Antioch University in 2004, and became a class teacher. She was raised in Germany and received her degree as a Physical Education Teacher in Stuttgart. While teaching in a public school, she discovered Waldorf Education and was trained in Bothmer Gymnastics, Spatial Dynamics and Rhythmical Massage. Dorothea helped to bring Spatial Dynamics Training to North America, with Jaimen McMillan as the director. She has taught in Waldorf Schools in New England and Germany. She has also worked as a member of a kibbutz in Israel, and with handicapped adults in Camphill communities. Dorothea and her husband have three daughters who graduated from SMWS, and their grandson now attends SMWS. Dorothea especially enjoys the arts, gardening, and the beautiful outdoors here in the Rockies.

Sarah Guneratne
Sarah Guneratne

Class Teacher Grade 3

Sarah Guneratne’s passion for Waldorf Education began at The Children’s Garden, a Waldorf Kindergarten in Ashland, OR, where she served as Assistant Teacher for two years. As her interest deepened, she became a Class Assistant and yoga teacher at The Siskiyou School, a Waldorf elementary school. Sarah has continued to serve in that role for the last three years. Her experience as an assistant inspired her to pursue Waldorf Teacher training and she will graduate in 2020 from Antioch University, NH. Sarah holds a Masters degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture from the World Medicine Institute in Honolulu as well as a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Colorado State University. She enjoys spending time with her family, hikes with her dog, playing the guitar, yoga, cooking and creating art. Sarah returned to Colorado to join the Shining Mountain Waldorf School as the First Grade Class Teacher. She is excited to root back in Colorado with her partner, Garrett, and daughter, Rhea, close to family and surrounded by the endless scenic beauty.

Joe Koller
Joe Koller

Red Rose Kindergarten Assistant

Joe Koller has been involved with Waldorf pre-schools and kindergartens since the turn of the century—first as a parent, and later as an assistant.  “Papa Joe” has been an assistant to his wife Cherie Flandrick in the Shining Mountain kindergarten since 2008.  He has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and became a Colorado certified Early Childhood Teacher in 2011.  He also has numerous years of restaurant and baking experience and especially enjoys sharing his cooking and baking skills with the children.

Cherie Flandrick
Chérie Flandrick

Red Rose Kindergarten Teacher

Chérie grew up on the Mississippi river in Minneapolis, MN, in a big family. In 1983, she received her B.A. in Sociology and Spanish, and in 1988, her M.A. in Counseling Psychology. For many years she worked as a Psychologist until she fell in love with her oldest daughter’s Waldorf preschool and decided to become a Waldorf Kindergarten teacher. Chérie attended Rudolph Steiner College in California and graduated in 2003. With much love and delight she has taught in Waldorf schools in Minnesota, California, Ireland and Colorado. Chérie has been the Red Rose teacher since 2007. She has 3 daughters that have attended Waldorf schools since preschool.

Mary Beth Fifer
Mary Beth Fifer

Early Childhood Education Director and Aftercare Teacher

Mary Beth has been teaching in one capacity or another since 1982 and feels very blessed to have found her calling in life. She was born in Queens, NY, and spent most of her life on the South Shore of Long Island. Mary Beth graduated from SUNY Stony Brook with a BA in Early Childhood Education and has her Waldorf Early Childhood Teaching Certificate from Sunbridge College. Mary Beth met her husband Walter in high school and they have three children – Jason, Ali and Zachary. Ali and Zachary graduated from SMWS in 2004 and 2010 respectively. She has five beautiful grandchildren.

Mary Beth has been an ECE Director for 21 years, beginning her Waldorf career at Boulder Valley Waldorf School as a kindergarten assistant and then the Assistant ECE Director, handwork teacher, Extended Care and Aftercare teacher. She designed and started the camp program at BVWS. Mary Beth joined the SMWS faculty in 2005 as the Director of Licensing, Rainbow Garden and Aftercare teacher. She again designed and started the camp program at SMWS. She has served on the Advisory Board of Boulder TEC -ECE program and is an active member of a number of Director groups including ACIS and ECCBC (Early Childhood Council of Boulder County), as well as being SMWS representative to WECAN.

Sara Fernald
Sara Fernald

Bluebell Prekindergarten Teacher

Sara grew up in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, where she gained a great appreciation for the beauty of the outdoors. She always loved working with children and knew she wanted to be a teacher from an early age. Sara studied to be a public school teacher in Vermont, but reading “School as a Journey” by Torin Finser, convinced her that Waldorf education is much more aligned with what children really need. This led her to study to be an early childhood teacher at Rudolf Steiner College, graduating in 2010. Following graduation, she worked at Sophia’s Hearth Family Center , a Waldorf child care center in NH for almost five years, before moving to Boulder in 2017. Sara enjoys being outside in nature, especially hiking, spending time with friends and family, and doing crafts.
Mary Fairfield
Mary Eaton Fairfield

School Director

Approached by the SMWS Board of Trustees in August 2019, Mary was honored to become the Interim School Director at that time. In May 2020, she was hired as the ongoing School Director. Mary first joined the SMWS administrative staff in the Development Office as the Fundraising and Outreach Coordinator in 2011. She spent three years creating and managing the school’s major fundraising and outreach events in that position. In 2014, Mary stepped into the Interim Admission and Marketing Director role. She was hired as the long term Admission and Marketing Director a year later. Mary’s experience in marketing, public relations, copywriting, and account management began at an advertising agency in San Francisco. She then continued her marketing career as a partner in a boutique creative agency in Oakland, California, until moving to Boulder in 2009. A primary consideration in moving to the Boulder area was a well-established Waldorf school where her daughter could receive the full arc of a Waldorf education through 12th grade. Mary received her BA in Theatre with a Performing Arts Emphasis and Music Minor in vocal performance from San Francisco State University. In 2017, she completed a two-year course in Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy. She has trained with Sound Circle Center in their Leading with Spirit program, The Art of Administration. In April 2022, Mary received her certificate of completion in both the Waldorf Administration and Leadership Development Program and Explorations of Anthroposophy with the Center for Anthroposophy. Mary has served on the Accreditation Committee of the Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS) since August 2020.