Lynn Aaberg has been a class teacher at Honolulu Waldorf School since 2001. She has degrees in botany and biology from University of California, Riverside and UCLA, and her Waldorf Teacher Certification from Sunbridge College.
Beth (Elizabeth) Allingham is one of the founding faculty of the Honolulu Waldorf School, having begun as a trainee with the first graduating class in 1994. She was invited to teach Biology "until someone else could be found." She has taught guest science blocks at the Chicago Waldorf School, the Waldorf School of the Peninsula, the Waldorf School of Orange County and the Perry Court Waldorf School in Canterbury, England. She earned bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and Plant Science from the University of California at Riverside and a master’s in Plant Pathology from the University of Florida. In addition to teaching chemistry and biology main lessons and electives, Beth has been the College Counselor at HWS since 2002, and has taught basketry, hula, Hawaiian crafts and fiber arts at various times. A fluent speaker of Spanish with some proficiency in French, Italian and Hawaiian, Beth also loves to read, sew and garden.
Frances was born and raised, then married and raised three children in Mo-town. Ill-armed with a degree in art education she taught in public schools. She vowed never to set foot in a classroom again until her husband stumbled across the Detroit Waldorf School. After Gerald completed his training, Frances took her Waldorf training part time as she chauffeured her children to Waldorf and was active in the school PTO. She slipped back into the classroom after working first in the school kitchen, the accounting office, and specialty subjects. Ultimately she had the joyful experience of being a class teacher. In 1987 she followed her husband to Honolulu and continued to class teach. After almost 40 years with Waldorf she continues to learn more about this remarkable education daily.
Evelyn was born and raised on a very tiny island called Jamestown, located in the very tiny state of Rhode Island. Her twin sister loved to play basketball and mow lawns,but Evelyn tumbled into the world of gymnastics. Evelyn's love for movement leaped out of gymnastics and into dance. She was searching for a form of movement that brought forth the soul spiritual nature of the human being rather than simply emphasizing the physical body. She was also seeking a movement that worked not only with classical music, but poetry as well, for she had a ardent love for writing. Evelyn was 19 when her mother discovered a movement art called eurythmy and knew that eurythmy was what her daughter was seeking. Evelyn began her four year training that year at the American Eurythmy School. She graduated in 2007 and has taught in Alaska, California, Washington DC and Cape Cod. However, Evelyn finds teaching in Hawaii to be one of the happiest times in her life thus far.
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon moved to Honolulu in 1980. Married in 1997. Found the Waldorf School while searching for a good education for her two children. Hobbies swimming, gardening, hiking. University of Hawaii, BA Political Science. Paralegal Certificate, Brigham Young University. Hawaii State DOE Substitute Teacher Certificate, Kula Makua Teacher Training Graduate, both Kindergarden and Class Teacher Certificates.
Jemma
Della Croce is pleased to join the Honolulu Waldorf School faculty after
spending eight wonderful years as a class teacher at Haleakala Waldorf School
on Maui. She attended teacher training programs in Maui, Oregon, and
Honolulu. In 2002 she received her teaching certificate from Kula Makua.
Jemma also holds a BA in Theatre Arts from San Diego State University.
She is excited to join the community here at HWS and is especially happy to
work alongside her husband Peter, also a new faculty member at the school.
Peter Della Croce – Class Teacher
Through the years, Peter Della
Croce has taught children and adults in Massachusetts, California, Hawai‛i, and
Thailand. After earning his Waldorf Teaching Certificate, he is
continuing his training for a Masters of Arts from Rudolf Steiner College. Raised in
the small town of Pine Beach, New Jersey, his interests brought him to study
music and graduate Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor of
Music. Peter and his wife Jemma, also a trained Waldorf teacher, are
excited to have moved from Maui to O‛ahu.
Antoinette De Nardis - Humanities Teacher and Student Support Coordinator
Antoinette has been teaching and working with children for over forty years in urban pre-school and day care settings, early intervention programs, lower school classrooms as well as high school English classes and special-needs students. After completing her Waldorf training in Detroit, she lived in Stuttgart, Germany for ten years where she worked in a Waldorf school for disabled children and began raising her family. She returned to the States, and while her four daughters were getting a wonderful education at a "country" Waldorf school in Massachusetts, Antoinette completed her degree and graduated magna cum laude with a concentration in Art History. She has a Masters in English and is completing a Masters in teaching ESL. After raising her daughters, she taught on the Big Island at the Waldorf school in Kona. She finds it wonderful to be teaching adolescents and to be a part of such a striving, flourishing school community.
Simone Derow-Ostapowicz - Special Subjects Teacher and Lead Aftercare Teacher
Simone Derow-Ostapowicz was born in Santa Barbara, California and grew up in Arkanas. Simone began her Art education with Roxanna Wallace, Ozark Mountain School District. After graduating from Alread High School, she spent a year at the University of Arkansas studying Art and Drama. Simone then moved to Hawaii and attended the University of Hawaii. She continued her undergraduate education at Windward Community College. There, she was inspired by Snowden Hodges' Drawing and Painting classes. After transferring to the Manoa Campus Simone began studying sculpture with Fred Roster, Jinny Mitchell and Frank Sheriff, where she received a Bachelors Degree in Fine Art. Simone started working professionally as a Jewelry and Performance Artist. She was hired to teach Jewelry Fabrication and Block Printing at the Honolulu Waldorf High School. She is set to complete her Kula Makua Teacher Training certification this year. Simone has taken on the role of Lead Aftercare Teacher and is teaching Handwork in Grades One and Two.
Cammy Doi - Lower School Librarian; Special Subjects TeacherCammy was brought up on the east coast in a delightful village on Long Island Sound.. Major problem: WINTER! After receiving her BA in Art History from New York University, and then working as an editor for a NY book publisher, she flew off to lovely, warm Hawai'i, and never left. She got her law degree from UHM's Richardson School of Law, where she met her husband. They have three children, two of them HWS alums. In 1990 she took a sabbatical from her work as a Public Defender and volunteered at the HWS Library. Twenty+ years later, she's still in the Library and still loving it. Besides children, she most enjoys reading, crossword puzzles, and laughter.
Roberta Ducharme - Parent Child Program Teacher and Aftercare Assistant Roberta has a degree in Child Development and Early Childhood Education from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, a Waldorf Kindergarten degree from Sunbridge College in New York, and a LifeWays certificate. She has taught in a private nursery in Rome, Italy; in the public schools and at a rural Waldorf school in Wisconsin; at Haleakala Waldorf School on Maui; and in Parent Child programs. Her three children were raised on the family dairy farm in southwestern Wisconsin, along with forty milking cows and assorted calves and other farm animals.The farm was also home to her Nursery School, called Little Friends, where feeding the chickens and tending the garden was a part of the daily life. Recently she has been working in organic farm certification. She happily returned to Hawai‛i to work with young children at the Honolulu Waldorf School.
Phil Dwyer - Applied Arts Teacher, Class of 2013 Co-Sponsor
Phil's love of the practical arts, the land and his zest for life has been with him since his formative years. This love took him on decade long journeys throughout the mainland U.S. and Hawai‛i, where he apprenticed with metallurgists, jewelers, sculptors, horticulturalists, educators, writers, humanistic psychologists, ontologists, theologians and metaphysicians. He developed various entrepreneurial skills via working with many socio-educational organizations and went on to establish several small business enterprises. His move to Hawaii in 1990 led to his creating a successful computer networking company, but his love for the Earth called him away from the virtual world for the real one. He founded a farm-school in Kealakekua where he guided apprentices in rural living, biodynamic farming and community supported agriculture (CSA). The farm hosted an annual summer farm-school camp and daily Waldorf school classes. Phil started working with Waldorf back in the '70s while he was studying biodynmics. He continues his studies in group dynamics and human development (anthroposophy) while teaching Earth Arts at our High School and nurturing hope for our youth and the world they will help heal.
Jana Fraser - Grades Movement Teacher
Jana Fraser is a longtime member of the Honolulu Waldorf
School ‘ohana, having attended
the school from Kindergarten through Grade 8.
An avid athlete who loves surfing, softball, and volleyball, she holds a
Master’s degree in Sports Administration, and degrees in education and
exercise/wellness. She has taught physical education and has coached students
at Olomana School,
Kailua High
School, Kalani
High School and Punahou, where
she also implemented weight training and nutrition plans for high school
athletes. Jana concurrently teaches the science of nutrition at the University of Phoenix, while balancing family life
with her husband, their two-year-old son, and soon, their second child. Jana and her
husband also run a non-profit called CHAMP (Comprehensive Health and Academic
Mentoring Program) that, through athletics, provides services primarily to the
youth of Waimanalo.
William Gentner - Class Teacher
William was raised in San Antonio, Texas. He received a B.A in Theater arts at Southwestern University, Georgetown, Tx. William spent the first thirty years of his post graduate life supporting his acting habit coordinating and managing businesses in the natural food and sustainable agriculture industry. He was introduced to Waldorf by his partner's son and completed his Waldorf teaching certificate in June 2004. Instead of having to support his acting habit by managing businesses he supports his managing habit by acting out in the classroom.
Hillary Godwise – Math Teacher, Class of 2015
Co-Sponsor
Hillary Godwise was born
and raised in Indiana
where she was active as a performer with the Peru Amateur Circus. As a high
school student she was involved in academics, athletics, and various
clubs. Hillary attended Indiana University, where she played volleyball
and earned a degree in Mathematics Education and Computer Technology. She also took classes in marine biology,
chemistry, and physics for fun. She
holds a degree in special education and a master’s degree in Athletic
Administration from Ohio
University. Her keen interest in kinesiology, exercise
physiology, and underwater diving prompted her to work as a rescue diver. She
also swam competitively and coached volleyball.
In 2002 Hillary returned to Indiana to
teach and coach volleyball at Butler
University. She continued her love of diving and marine
life and worked with marine mammals at the Indianapolis Zoo. She has coached young women from 4th
grade to NCAA Division I level and believes that girls need more role models in
order to become strong, smart, kind, gentle, confident, and independent
women. Her other interests include
cooking, gardening, exercising, and being a wife and mother. Hillary has also boxed professionally and
proudly defeated Olympic ice skater Tonya Harding in a boxing match.
Jason
Godwise – Science Teacher, Class of 2014 Co-Sponsor
Jason Godwise hails from Indiana and is truly a “Renaissance
Man.” Jason’s passion for the arts,
academics, and athletics were evident in high school, having been president of
the art and poetry clubs, captain of the football and wrestling teams, and
working in the school library. In
college he wrestled, played football, and majored in Biology, Geology and
Psychology while serving as president of Jujitsu, spelunking, and weight
lifting clubs. As a school teacher Jason
coached wrestling, football, track and started poetry, science, and ecology
clubs. In 1995 Jason was awarded the
Autobahn Award as Outstanding Science Teacher; in 2003 he won the $10,000 Lilly
award for Teaching Excellence. He is
experienced in the martial arts and has fought in bare knuckle matches around
the world including the UFC, Vale Tudo of Brazil, and Japan. Jason
has traveled extensively studying the forest ecology of America, New
Zealand, Canada,
Brazil, and Poland. Jason is licensed to teach Math, Physics,
Chemistry, Earth Science, Biology, English, Social Studies, Business,
Vocational Technology, Health, Physical Education, and Special Education and is
a licensed high school librarian. He
believes people have potential they aren’t even aware of and, with guidance,
can become amazing beings.
Angie Golis-Yamamoto - Director of Development
For over twenty years, Angie has made lasting contributions towards the success of non-profit organizations by applying innovation, focus and hard work to develop fundraising programs, build the capacity of volunteers and staff, and create systems that result in higher revenue and strong, long term relationships. Angie has worked at Maryknoll School, the University of Hawai‛i Foundation-Cancer Research Center of Hawai‛i, and Damien Memorial High School, Academy of the Pacific as well as Easter Seals, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu, and Friends of the Hawai‛i State Art Museum. Angie was born and raised on Maui, attended St. Joseph Elementary School, Maui High School, then moved to Oahu to attend the University of Hawai‛i at Manoa, graduating with a B.A. in journalism and Speech, and received her professional diploma in speech education. Angie “walks for miles” for exercise and started her cookie basket business as a hobby to relieve stress from fundraising.
Geri
Ihara - Early Childhood Teacher
Born and raised on Oahu, Mrs. Ihara graduated from the University of Hawai‛i with a degree in Sociology and a
Teaching Certificate. She was introduced to Waldorf education through her
brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Genie Sakaguchi 35 years ago. Starting as a
kindergarten assistant for four years under the excellent mentoring by Roberta
Bishop, attending numerous Waldorf conferences, workshops and through
independent study, Mrs. Ihara began teaching at HWS in 1991. She has since
taught mixed age kindergarten, nursery, parent/child classes, and Waldorf adult
education classes. Currently Mrs. Ihara is the nursery teacher, serves as
personnel chair, liaison to the State Department of Human Services, and is a
College member. In the wider Waldorf community she is a teacher evaluator,
accreditation member and Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America
regional representative.
Silvia Jaimes - Lower School Spanish TeacherBorn in El Salvador, Silvia Jaimes moved to LA with her family when little girl. She found what she was looking for in Waldorf Education – education that nurtured children’s bodies, hearts, and spirits. Silvia developed and taught the Spanish language program at Santa Cruz Waldorf School for nine years before heeding the call to come to Hawaii to grow our fledgling Spanish program in 2008. She loves sharing her culture and language with the children in the lower school. Silvia enjoys dancing salsa and has also found a place in the local culture by learning to dance hula and all that goes with it.
Van James - Visual Arts Instructor Van James has a BFA in Drawing and Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute, and is a graduate of Emerson College in England, and the Goetheanum School of Painting in Switzerland. He teaches painting, drawing, the history of art and the history of architecture at HWS high school and Kula Makua Teacher Training program in Honolulu. He is an advocate for the arts in education and a guest instructor at training programs in California, New Zealand, and Asia. He is the chair of the Anthroposophical Society in Hawai'i, editor of Pacifica Journal, and author of several books on art and archaeology, including the award-winning Ancient Sites of O'ahu. His paintings and drawings are in numerous private collections, and his graphic designs can be found on book covers and brochures worldwide.
Judy E. Journeay - Registrar, High School Geology Teacher
Judy wears many administrative hats in our school, her primary roles are as the school's Registrar and Accounts Payable clerk. Additionally she supports the school's website and database, as well as assisting in IT as needed. Judy is a graduate of the University of Hawai‛i , Hilo, with a degree in Geology, a certificate in the Marine Sciences and teaches the 9th grade Geology Main Lesson Block. She loves Shakespeare, science, singing, and hula. Judy has a daughter in the High School and a son in the Lower School.
Jennifer Kaneshiro - Early Childhood Teacher
Born in Vermont, at nineteen Jennifer set out in search of adventure, self-discovery, and warmer weather. After travelling and focusing on the art of Tai Chi, she settled in the Los Angeles area and began studying child development. The creative, thought-provoking lessons of a memorable professor inspired Jennifer to seek out wholistic education and led her to Waldorf. She began the Teacher Training Program in Southern California and became an assistant teacher in a Waldorf kindergarten. Jennifer and her husband decided to move to Hawaii to raise their two young children.. They moved to Oahu in 2005 and became part of the HWS 'Ohana. Jennifer worked as a sub and aide in the EC. She continued her studies in early childhood and graduated from the Kula Makua Waldorf teacher training program in 2008. In the fall of 2008 Jennifer became a lead kindergarten teacher at HWS. She is the grateful recipient of a life filled with creative endeavors, music, mountains, and the laughter of little children!
Arleen H. Kohnke - Director of Admission
A product of local public school education, Arleen pursued a path in Psychology with undergraduate studies at the University of Hawai‛i/Manoa. Her current interests include healthful cooking and eating, walking for exercise, camping, traveling, human relations, and searching for spiritual truth. While working as a massage therapist, the birth of her first child began her journey to Waldorf education twenty eight years ago. Both her daughter and son attended HWS from Early Childhood through Grade 12. Beyond academics, Waldorf education allowed her children to grow and be in the wonderful garden that is the Honolulu Waldorf School, not only by expanding the entire family's community, but by developing friendships that will last lifelong.
Laurie Lee - Director of Communications Laurie’s desire to join the administrative staff of Honolulu Waldorf School was kindled by her involvement as a parent volunteer and her affinity for the Waldorf community. Born and raised in Honolulu, Los Angeles was her home for nearly two decades while working in film and television. As a freelance sitcom writer, Laurie wrote four episodes of “Married…with Children” before returning to her roots to be closer to family and raise her children. In addition to the idyllic climate for year-round outdoor sports and activities, Laurie is grateful for the aloha spirit of the islands and the abundance of canned Spam. A graduate of Punahou School and Santa Clara University, she wishes that she had also attended a Waldorf school.
Lynn Weiler Liverton - HS & LS Wood & Clay Teacher, Class of 2014 Sponsor, Athletic DirectorLynn Weiler Liverton graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s of Architecture degree in 1988. After practicing Architecture in Boston and Honolulu for 4 years, she attended UH and received her M.F.A.. Lynn began teaching at Waldorf in 1996 and teaches grades 6,7 and 8 woodworking and grade 9-12 a variety of mediums. Lynn works as a professional artist in media ranging from monumental bronzes to small scale sculpture utilizing found objects. Her work can be found throughout the city of Honolulu and in private collections nationwide. “The discipline of architecture as a profession and the training I received while working as an architect has continuously served me in my approach to creating art. Gaining my Masters of Fine Arts honed my skills with various media and exposed me to many interesting aspects in the field of fine art. Working with students both inspires and exasperates me keeping me on my toes and the students in my heart.”
Nicole Lueker - High School Chair, Life Skills, Counseling, Class of 2012 Sponsor
Born, raised, and educated in Germany, Nicole and her family came to Honolulu after finishing her master´s degree in clinical psychology. For many years she taught at the HWS and earned her Waldorf teacher certificate as well as her Hawaii State teaching certificate. She was one of the founding faculty members of the Honolulu Waldorf High School in 1994. Four years later she and her family returned to Germany, where she continued to work at Waldorf schools in Munich and Darmstadt. She also had her own private psychological practice providing psychotherapy, coaching, crisis management, and mediation. Last summer, she, her husband, and their youngest son moved back to Hawaii. Nicole feels very fortunate to be back here and to continue her life-long learning within the Waldorf community.
Machiko Mohri - Aide
Machiko has a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and is currently a Kula Makua teacher training student She is the parent of an HWS 10th grader and had been seeking for her son's best education and for her own development when she found Waldorf Education. She enjoys downloading new ideas.
Ikuko Nishimoto - Lower School Japanese Language Teacher
Ikuko Nishimoto was born in Kochi, Japan, and moved to England to further her studies in English and Art History. After working for two years at a Japanese news agency in London, Ikuko was vacationing in Japan, where she met a University of Hawai‛i student. She then moved to Honolulu with him where they married and had a son. After two years at Kāhala School, she became the Japanese language teacher at Honolulu Waldorf and has been here for over 27 years. A proud parent of a Waldorf graduate, her appreciation of the Waldorf pedagogy grew as she attended courses at Kula Makua and Rudolf Steiner College. Ikuko's goal is for her students to learn basic Japanese phrases to gain confidence in interacting with Japanese people in Hawai‛i and Japan. An avid tennis player and cyclist, she recently spent ten days pedaling around France on a solo tour of the countryside.
Bonnie Ozaki-James - Class Teacher
Originally from cold and dry northern California, Bonnie came to Hawaii in 1967 and completed her B.A. in Anthropology at UH. She joined Honolulu Waldorf School in 1972, working in the kindergarten for five years before becoming a subject teacher and then a class teacher, training on the job. She served as Administrative Director for 3.5 years. She has completed three 8-grade teaching cycles. She has three grown children (all HWS alums) and three grandchildren currently enrolled at HWS. She loves to read, hike, and travel.
Bibiana Potter - Early Childhood Teacher
Bibiana Potter was born and raised in Germany, were she completed her four year training as a Waldorf Kindergarten teacher at the Waldorf Kindergarten Seminar in Stuttgart Germany. During her volunteer year at the Honolulu Waldorf Kindergarten she met her future husband, Bart. Their two teenage daughters have attended HWS since they were three years old. Bibiana has been an early childhood teacher at the HWS for over twenty years. She has also taught German language and handwork in the grades school and is a member of the Kula Makua teacher training seminar in Honolulu. She loves to hike, swim and travel with her family during the summer.
Ernie Provencher - Grades 6-12 Strings Teacher
Ernie Provencher is a versatile and accomplished bassist who has played as a freelance performer while living in Boston, N.Y.C., Helsinki, Santa Cruz, CA., Hong Kong, and Honolulu. Ernie has played for recordings, Broadway shows, and live appearances worldwide. He has written numerous compositions for modern dance and has been on the staff at the Theater Academy of Finland and the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts. In addition to performing, Ernie is active in music education in Honolulu including band teacher at Hanahau’oli School, string teacher at Honolulu Waldorf School, lecturer in Music in The Theater and Dance Dept. at U.H. Manoa, and private students. Ernie has played with Michael Franks, Eartha Kitt, Joanne Brackeen, Curtis Fuller, Chico Freeman, George Gruntz, Mick Taylor, Dan Hartman, Georgie Fame, and many others. In Honolulu he has played with Jeff Peterson, Bill Tapia, Mihana Souza, Makana, Gabe Baltazar, Del Beazley, The Hot Club of Hulaville, Ginai and Pierre Grill, and the Balkan fusion band Partners in Time.
Joseph M. Ruszkowski, Ph.D. - Music teacherDr. Ruszkowski has a PhD in music education and technology from the University of Hawai‛i and brings his knowledge of both to Honolulu Waldorf School. He lives to surf.
Ulrike Scherer - HS & LS Music, Handwork, Grades 5-6Ulrike Scherer grew up in Germany and came to the US in 1963 for
“a year abroad.” She became acquainted with Waldorf education and decided
to stay. After doing some teaching at the then fledgling Green Meadow Waldorf
School, she went back to school herself, completing a masters degree at Adelphi
University and a Waldorf teacher training in Garden City, both on Long Island. She then became a class
teacher at Green Meadow and took a class through eight years. At the end
of this period, Ulrike was asked to come to Hawaii to teach the first seventh grade at
the school. She graduated the first eighth grade and continued as a class
teacher for another set of upper grades. After the birth of her daughter,
she became a subject teacher, teaching German, Handwork, Math, Recorder etc.
for many years. Six years ago she joined the High School faculty to teach
German, History of Music (in Grade 11), and to work with the language
department. She is now semi-retired and
has more time to devote to her favorite activities: handwork, reading, singing
and visiting grandchildren.
Regina Lumsden Saito - Movement Teacher and Student Support Regina was born and raised in the countryside of Sao Paulo, Brazil. She was active in dance and movement, springing into her career as a PE teacher. She found Waldorf Education through a Eurythmy class and that launched her all the way to England in 1989. There, at the Peredur Center for the Art, she studied Eurythmy and discovered Bothmergym/Spatial Dynamics, in which she obtained her certification. She was one of the gym club teachers in Michael Hall for two years. In 1997 she moved to Hawai‛i, enrolling her eldest child in the Honolulu Waldorf School. Once her youngest was old enough to attend, Regina joined the faculty, jumping into the Movement program. To deepen her understanding of the correlation between movement and academic learning, and to assist the school in providing additional support for those students facing learning challenges, she attained her certification in Remedial Training from the Rudolf Steiner College in Sacramento, California.
Yoshiko Scion - Special Subjects Teacher
Yoshiko Scion was born in Japan and grew up in California. She spent her childhood keeping her hands busy and spoke little. She collected unwanted dolls with broken parts from her neighborhood, repaired them, and clothed them so that they looked fairly new. When her son was five years old, she stumbled into Honolulu Waldorf School of which she had no knowledge. Her son insisted that it was his school. She decided to give it a try, did a lot of volunteer jobs in the school store, office, and classrooms, while learning about the school and loving every moment. She eventually became a special subject teacher. She teaches handwork, sewing toy animals and clothing with sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. She also teaches beginning Japanese to high school students and doll making for Kula Makua Adult Education.
Stephanie Sheffield – High School Spanish
Stephanie was born in the Philippines and moved to Tampa, Florida
as a young child with her family. Always curious about foreign languages, she
began to study Spanish at a young age and continued throughout high school and
college. She earned her B.A. in Spanish at Florida
International University
in Miami, with
a Minor in Education as well as a Minor in Italian. She began her teaching
career at a public high school in South Florida
where she taught Spanish and Italian to non-native speakers. She moved to Oahu
from Miami
during the summer in hopes of discovering and learning about different cultures
and ways of life. Always striving to learn more, Stephanie loves to
cook, play piano, dance, read, and travel as often as possible. She is very
excited to be continuing her teaching career and sharing her passion for languages
with the students at HWS.
Darel Stark - Violin Teacher
Violinist Darel Stark has performed in over a dozen countries on three continents, including performances at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and the Kennedy Center. Also a violist, conductor and composer, he is one of Hawaii’s most active solo and chamber music performers. He is concertmaster of the Bach Chamber Orchestra, associate principal violin of the Honolulu Symphony, and teaches violin, viola, and chamber music at Iolani School. In addition, he coaches chamber music at Punahou and teaches violin at Waldorf. He can be heard on CBS Masterworks, Musica Baudino, Beauport Classical and SONY Classical. Born in New York City, he graduated from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and studied with Nicole DiCecco, Lazar Gosman and Berl Senofsky. His many accolades include prizes at international competitions in Italy and Switzerland. Visit www.darelstark.com for upcoming performances.
Andrew M. Starzynski - Mathematics and Computer Science Teacher
Andrew was born to two Waldorf teachers and attended the Chicago Waldorf School through high school. In 2001, he graduated from Beloit College with a double major in Mathematics and Philosophy and a minor in Computer Science. After doing some part-time math teaching at the Chicago Waldorf School, Andrew moved to Austin, Texas where he worked in the computer industry for two years. In the summer of 2004, Andrew decided to go to graduate school and completed his M.S. in Applied Mathematics one year later. He then took a full-time job teaching mathematics at the Chicago Waldorf High School. After teaching in Chicago for three years, Andrew moved to Honolulu where he currently resides with his beautiful wife Erika (a class teacher). In the minute amount of free time that he has, Andrew enjoys golfing and going to the beach.
Erika Starzynski - Class Teacher
Born and raised in Toronto, Canada she did her undergraduate studies at Soka University of America, a small liberal arts school in Southern California. She then moved to Keene, New Hampshire for a Master's program in Elementary/Waldorf education. Erika and her wonderful husband Andrew Starzynski moved to Honolulu three years ago. She enjoys the water, swimming, and going to the beach.
Gregory John Stock - High School Humanities, Gr. 7-12 Movement Education, College of Teachers Chairperson
Greg grew up in Central Minnesota and loved playing sports as a child, especially ice hockey, baseball, and football. He is the youngest of six children. He attended St. John's Prep School in Collegeville, Minnesota, for high school, and for college he majored in English and German at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he also played baseball and rugby. He has lived, worked, and/or studied in Germany, Austria, India, Jamaica, and Bali, and his wife, Kaori, is from Japan. His hobbies include surfing, traveling, and backcountry camping. Greg worked in the fields of Outdoor and Experiential education for many years before he discovered Waldorf Education. He did his Waldorf teacher training in Eugene, Oregon, and also studied for a year at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, California, where he focused on Goethean Studies and Biodynamic Agriculture.
Connie Stokes - Administrative Director
Connie was born and raised in Chicago, where she trained as a teacher, married, had two children, founded and helped develop a Waldorf school as teacher, parent, administrator, development director and board member. She ultimately found her way to Honolulu Waldorf School as Administrative Director in 2003. Her love and commitment to Waldorf education is due, in part, to her gratitude for the gift of the educational principles and foundations that she received as a young adult helping her to become a Waldorf teacher and parent her two sons. Her educational background includes a B.A. in Elementary Education, Waldorf Foundations training, and M.S. in Human Services Administration.
Annalisa Stone - Finance Office Assistant Born and raised in Utah, Annalisa moved to Hawai‛i several years ago. With degrees in Business Management, Criminal Justice, and Political Science, she is particularly suited to working in the Business Office. Annalisa and her husband enjoy all the outdoor activities Hawaii has to offer, and she spends her free time dancing hula, and learning about Hawaiian culture.
Cindy B. Sydow - Early Childhood TeacherCindy was born and raised in Honolulu and has childhood memories of sunshine, sand, salt water, waves and volleyball games. She graduated from Punahou School where she played varsity tennis for four years. After studying Fine Art and Art Education at various mainland colleges, she returned to Honolulu, married Florian Sydow, and with him became a founding member of Kahumana Farm and Community in Waianae. For seventeen years they lived and worked there to develop community life, raise three children, work with the emotional and developmentally handicapped, and farm. The first year that teacher training was offered at HWS, Cindy and her three children moved into Honolulu to begin her teacher training and their Waldorf schooling. After assisting in the Kindergarten for a year, she was offered a Kindergarten class of my own. She has been teaching in the EC since and has attended many workshops and conferences on Kindergarten work, music, arts and Anthroposophy. She continues to enjoy swimming and learning to play various musical instruments.
Astrid Tommasino - Niu Campus Administrative AssistantAstrid is not only a parent of two wonderful Honolulu Waldorf School students, but she is an Eighth grade graduate. Her family has been involved with the school for many years. After working with her husband in the family business, Astrid now assists faculty and staff in the lower school with all their adminstrative needs. She has a strong belief in Waldorf education having experienced it first-hand, and is uniquely suited to welcoming both students and parents to the school.
Eric Watanabe - AccountantEric joined the Honolulu Waldorf School in the 2010-2011 school year. He comes to us from the Honolulu Academy of Arts where he worked for several years as the Chief Financial Officer.
Kathryn Wong - Special Subjects Teacher/Website Born and raised in Hawaii, Kathy Wong is constantly amazed to find herself working at the Honolulu Waldorf School even after her two children have graduated. Starting as a parent volunteer in the library, Kathy has worked at the front desk, AP, AR, Technology, Facilities, and as an 'ukulele teacher. She is also a kumu hula with Nā Hanona o ka Hālau Hula Pā Ola Kapu.
Margaret
Yamashita – High School Japanese
Margaret Yamashita was born and raised in Honolulu. She received a B.A. in Japanese Language
from the University of Hawai‘i at Mãnoa, and an M.A. (Applied
Linguistics-TEFL) and Ph.D (Japanese Sociolinguistics) from the University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor. She
did her dissertation fieldwork in Tokyo. She is the co-author of Nihongo, Vol I, II, a secondary Japanese language textbook. She
developed the Linguistic Advantage elementary level Japanese curriculum offered
in after school enrichment programs at different locations in Honolulu.
She has experience teaching elementary, secondary and post-secondary
students here and abroad, and most recently taught at Assets School
for 10 years. She has two sons, and enjoys cooking and gardening in her free
time.
Ulli Zuckerman - Early Childhood Assistant Ulli was born and raised in a remote corner of upper Austria. Growing up in a family hotel business she completed a culinary and catering training, traveled for a year, returned to Austria and completed the eurythmy training in Vienna with further studies in Dornach, Switzerland and England. She met her husband and moved back to Vienna to raise their first son. The family moved to Hawai‛i in 1992 where their second son was born, and joined Kahumana Community. Ulli spent 17 years there working in many capacities and home-schooling her children. She completed the curative eurythmy training at the England and began working as a curative eurythmist. Since 2007, she brings her varied experience to her work as assistant in the kindergarten and after school program at the HWS. Currently, she is doing the Waldorf Kindergarten training and early childhood education classes.