Upcoming Events…

Morning Preview at the High School
Tue Feb 7, 2012 8:30am to 10am 
Where: Charlotte campus
Observation Morning pre K - Grade 8
Wed Feb 8, 2012 8:30am to 10:30am 
Where: Shelburne Campus
Bubbles and Brew party
Sat Feb 18, 2012 7pm to 10pm 
Where: Firehouse Gallary
RESCHEDULED!!! Healthy Food - Healthy Children
Mon Feb 20, 2012 7pm to 8:30pm 
Where: SHELBURNE CAMPUS
Observation Morning pre K - Grade 8
Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:30am to 10:30am 
Where: Shelburne Campus
View Calendar of All Events

Meet The Faculty


KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS

Sueanne Campbell

Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. Campbell’s love of children began at a young age. During her adolescent years, while growing up in the mountain and lake region of Saranac Lake, New York, she remembers a profound connection to the many young children in her life, as well… more »

Sueanne Campbell

Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. Campbell’s love of children began at a young age. During her adolescent years, while growing up in the mountain and lake region of Saranac Lake, New York, she remembers a profound connection to the many young children in her life, as well as to the beauty of the natural world around her. She felt that one day she would combine the magic of nature with the wonders of the young child as a profession. That day arrived when she visited a Waldorf kindergarten in New Paltz, New York. Shortly thereafter, she found her way to the Lake Champlain Waldorf School and was hired as a kindergarten assistant. Seventeen years later, Ms. Campbell continues to teach one of the four kindergarten classes at our school. She received her Waldorf teacher training at the Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, California. She and her partner Scot have two boys, Forest and Parker.

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JoAnne Dennee

Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. Dennee has been involved with LCWS since its inception in 1984, as a parent, and since 1992 as a kindergarten teacher. She previously taught preschool, kindergarten, and elementary science for seventeen years. During the summers, she has led… more »

JoAnne Dennee

Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. Dennee has been involved with LCWS since its inception in 1984, as a parent, and since 1992 as a kindergarten teacher. She previously taught preschool, kindergarten, and elementary science for seventeen years. During the summers, she has led backpacking trips for youth, and her own “Summer Magic” ecology, theatre and arts camps. Her teaching career began at SUNY-New Paltz, where she helped develop, and then served as administrator and head teacher for, an early childhood care center after completing her B.A. in Psychology and Education. Ms. Dennee has a special interest in nurturing young families and working out of indigenous agricultural traditions, foraging for medicinal herbs and natural dyes, biodynamic gardening, nutrition and cooking, wildlife tracking, and handwork of many kinds. She has published three books pertaining to these subjects. For the past seven years she has mentored the Q’ewar Project, traveling to Peru to support a doll-making initiative for women that provides a Waldorf education for their young children. Ms. Dennee was born in Manhattan but grew up on Long Island where she was inspired by the beauty of the ocean and natural environment. She loves to share this with her husband Larry and daughter Brooke.

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James Hillier

Kindergarten Teacher

Mr. Hillier, who has worked in Waldorf kindergartens for almost two decades, came to LCWS in September 2000. A graduate of the Grassroots program at Sterling College, he earned a B.A. from Norwich University, and attended both the Waldorf Institute… more »

James Hillier

Kindergarten Teacher

Mr. Hillier, who has worked in Waldorf kindergartens for almost two decades, came to LCWS in September 2000. A graduate of the Grassroots program at Sterling College, he earned a B.A. from Norwich University, and attended both the Waldorf Institute and Rudolf Steiner College to get his Waldorf certification. Mr. Hillier’s many passions include woodworking, instrument making, gardening, model aviation, and ultra-light aviation. He is married to Shari Carlson, and they have three children: Willem, Julia, and Kai.

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Karen White

Kindergarten Teacher

After living in Europe for several years, Ms. White found herself at Emerson College in England where she spent two years doing a full time class teacher training. While there, she also met her husband, Christopher. After her training, Ms. White… more »

Karen White

Kindergarten Teacher

After living in Europe for several years, Ms. White found herself at Emerson College in England where she spent two years doing a full time class teacher training. While there, she also met her husband, Christopher. After her training, Ms. White returned to her home country of Canada and spent one year as a kindergarten at the Ottawa Waldorf School, and then another year as a kindergarten assistant at the Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School. Ms. White and her husband moved to Vermont in 1989 and began teaching at LCWS. After working for five years, she became a stay at home mother and spent several years at home with her three daughters. When her youngest entered first grade, Ms. White returned to the kindergarten.

When asked about the work she does in the kindergarten, Ms. White says:"I love the honesty and openness of the young child. How many jobs get to begin the day with hugs?? I also love the parent work, supporting parents in their striving to be the best they can for their own children."

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Susan Sassaman

Infant/Toddler Program Teacher

Susan has been teaching the Parent-Child Playgroups at LCWS since she moved here with her family in 2005. She has also assisted in the Kindergarten and taught in the Extended Day Program. Her passion for work with the very young child began at the… more »

Susan Sassaman

Infant/Toddler Program Teacher

Susan has been teaching the Parent-Child Playgroups at LCWS since she moved here with her family in 2005. She has also assisted in the Kindergarten and taught in the Extended Day Program. Her passion for work with the very young child began at the Acadia Waldorf School in Maine in 2000. Susan is a Certified LifeWays Waldorf Training Graduate, has RIE Training (Resources for Infant Educarers), studied Puppetry for the Very Young Child with Suzanne Down, and attended a Rudolf Steiner Institute course. Outside of her work at the school her other passions include Dance and Art. She is a certified Kripalu Yoga Dance Teacher and a Painter.

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GRADE SCHOOL CLASS TEACHERS

Malisa Garlieb

1st Grade Class Teacher

Ms. Garlieb joined the LCWS faculty in 2003, after teaching at the Urban Waldorf School in Milwaukee, the nation’s first public Waldorf school, for four years. It was her interest in social justice and a desire to provide balance to… more »

Malisa Garlieb

1st Grade Class Teacher

Ms. Garlieb joined the LCWS faculty in 2003, after teaching at the Urban Waldorf School in Milwaukee, the nation’s first public Waldorf school, for four years. It was her interest in social justice and a desire to provide balance to inequalities, as well as a sense of responsibility to the earth, that led her to a career in education. Waldorf education appealed to her because of the empathy she saw in the community among students, faculty and parents, as well as its emphasis on arts and movement and the sense of health and vitality she noticed in students.

A native of West Allis, Wisconsin (a working class suburb of Milwaukee), Ms. Garlieb majored in elementary education and English at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and then received her masters in Waldorf education from Antioch New England Graduate School. Ms. Garlieb lives with her partner, Ita, and their son, Keenan. She just completed her first 1-8 cycle at LCWS and has a new 1st grade class this year!

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Meredith Markow

2nd Grade Class Teacher

Ms. Markow joined the LCWS faculty in 1993, and recently completed her second cycle of being a Class Teacher. Ms. Markow previously taught English as a foreign language at a Waldorf school in Nurnberg, Germany and at a university in Slovakia. She was… more »

Meredith Markow

2nd Grade Class Teacher

Ms. Markow joined the LCWS faculty in 1993, and recently completed her second cycle of being a Class Teacher. Ms. Markow previously taught English as a foreign language at a Waldorf school in Nurnberg, Germany and at a university in Slovakia. She was also a first grade teacher at a public school in her native St. Louis. She became involved in education because she wanted to make a positive difference in the world, and was attracted to the Waldorf approach because it serves the whole child. She loves witnessing the children unfolding and is nourished by the partnerships that form in the school community with colleagues and parents. Ms. Markow received her B.A. in psychology from the University of Michigan and M.A. in education from Washington University in St. Louis. She received Waldorf training while in Nurnberg, Germany. She is married to LCWS teacher Stephan Vdoviak and they have two children, Emma and Madeline.

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Colleen Culhane

3rd Grade Class Teacher

Colleen has been a class teacher at the Lake Champlain Waldorf School since 2010. She fell in love with LCWS and Waldorf Education shortly after moving to Vermont from New York City in 2007 while researching graduate programs in education. Colleen… more »

Colleen Culhane

3rd Grade Class Teacher

Colleen has been a class teacher at the Lake Champlain Waldorf School since 2010. She fell in love with LCWS and Waldorf Education shortly after moving to Vermont from New York City in 2007 while researching graduate programs in education. Colleen completed her Waldorf teacher training and Master's degree at Antioch University in 2009. Colleen received a Bachelor's degree in Classical Guitar Performance and Sound Recording Technology from the State University of New York at Fredonia in 2002. Colleen was born and raised in Rochester, NY with her seven siblings. Colleen has always been around young children and loves teaching. She especially appreciates the freedom and inspiration that the Waldorf curriculum offers.

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Katherine Verman

4th Grade Class Teacher

Governance Council Member

Ms. Verman came to LCWS in 1990, after teaching in a public elementary school and YMCA preschool. She always wanted to be a teacher, like her mother, and in addition to her classroom experience she was an early… more »

Katherine Verman

4th Grade Class Teacher

Governance Council Member

Ms. Verman came to LCWS in 1990, after teaching in a public elementary school and YMCA preschool. She always wanted to be a teacher, like her mother, and in addition to her classroom experience she was an early childhood developmentalist for a few years. Because Waldorf education embraces beauty, reverence, community, and love, Ms. Verman felt she did not have to split her career and spiritual life. She grew up in Larchmont, New York, attended George Washington University, and received degrees in Arts & Sciences, elementary education and human development and family studies from UVM. She is married to Howard Verman, who is also an educator and has two sons, Stephen and William, as well as a cat and chickens.

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Lorien Barlow

5th Grade Class Teacher

Lorien Barlow joined the faculty in 2011 after earning her M.Ed. in Waldorf Education and Integrated Learning from Antioch University New England. A former Waldorf student herself, Lorien now brings the fruits of her unique education and… more »

Lorien Barlow

5th Grade Class Teacher

Lorien Barlow joined the faculty in 2011 after earning her M.Ed. in Waldorf Education and Integrated Learning from Antioch University New England. A former Waldorf student herself, Lorien now brings the fruits of her unique education and interdisciplinary passions to her role as teacher. Upon completing her B.A. in American Studies at Mills College in 2007, Lorien wondered how to be a Renaissance woman in the workforce--how to unite instead of divide her passions for art and music, science and geography, history and literature, diverse cultural and religious traditions--while at the same time engaging in compassionate and socially meaningful work. From her own memories of school she realized that Waldorf teachers must be students of nearly everything, and are uniquely empowered to bring this enthusiasm and love for the world to their students. Lorien finds the quality of relationship between teacher and student at the Waldorf school to be deeply rewarding, and she is inspired every day by the children who are her students.

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Gregory Foster

6th Grade Class Teacher

Band Teacher

Mr. Foster joined the LCWS faculty in 1995 and is currently in his second cycle of being a Class Teacher. Previously he taught fourth grade at the Highgate, Vermont, Elementary School and was also a special education teacher and… more »

Gregory Foster

6th Grade Class Teacher

Band Teacher

Mr. Foster joined the LCWS faculty in 1995 and is currently in his second cycle of being a Class Teacher. Previously he taught fourth grade at the Highgate, Vermont, Elementary School and was also a special education teacher and substitute at several schools in northwestern Vermont. He says that for him teaching is a vocation, not a job. He loves the anthroposophical light on the developing human being, working with children, and cultivating the art of teaching. Originally from Rochester, New Hampshire, Mr. Foster moved to the Burlington area when he was eight and has never left. He studied arts and crafts, as well as education, at Trinity College and graduated Magna Cum Laude. He holds certificates in elementary and special education. He enjoys sports, racquetball, playing guitar, writing music, and most of all, fathering—he is the father of LCWS students Emily and Sophia.

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Anne Shapiro

7th Grade Class Teacher

Anne Shapiro has been a Waldorf teacher since 1999. She taught previously at Green Meadow Waldorf School in Chestnut Ridge, New York, and has taught at LCWS since 2003. She became involved in the Waldorf movement in 1986, and studied Waldorf… more »

Anne Shapiro

7th Grade Class Teacher

Anne Shapiro has been a Waldorf teacher since 1999. She taught previously at Green Meadow Waldorf School in Chestnut Ridge, New York, and has taught at LCWS since 2003. She became involved in the Waldorf movement in 1986, and studied Waldorf Education at Sunbridge College. Anne and her husband have three daughters who all attended Waldorf Schools.

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Christopher Diehl-Noble

8th Grade Class Teacher

Orchestra Director

Mr. Diehl-Noble joined the LCWS faculty in 1995, after teaching music at a public elementary school in Maine and at Michael Hall Rudolf Steiner School in England. His parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles were teachers,… more »

Christopher Diehl-Noble

8th Grade Class Teacher

Orchestra Director

Mr. Diehl-Noble joined the LCWS faculty in 1995, after teaching music at a public elementary school in Maine and at Michael Hall Rudolf Steiner School in England. His parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles were teachers, and he too felt called to this vocation. He was initially drawn to Waldorf education by the high value placed on the arts and the deep dedication he experienced in the teachers he first observed. Mr. Diehl-Noble grew up in Castleton, Vermont, the oldest in a close-knit family of five children. His parents are professional musicians as well as teachers, and played in the Vermont Symphony, taking their children around the state on weekends. Mr. Diehl-Noble received a Bachelor of Music degree from Boston University, then received elementary education certification from the University of Southern Maine. While in England he completed Waldorf teacher training at Emerson College. Mr. Diehl-Noble also actively performs as a cellist in the area. He and his wife, LCWS teacher Abigail Diehl-Noble, have three children, Benedict, Flora and Simon

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HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS

Mary Louise Collins

Humanities

Ms. Collins joines the LCWS high school faculty in 2001. She received her B.A. in English with minors in history and philosophy from Marquette University and her M.A. in Literature from the University of Virginia. She continued to pursue her interest… more »

Mary Louise Collins

Humanities

Ms. Collins joines the LCWS high school faculty in 2001. She received her B.A. in English with minors in history and philosophy from Marquette University and her M.A. in Literature from the University of Virginia. She continued to pursue her interest in 18th and 20th century literature towards a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa focusing on mothering and feminism. Prior to teaching at LCWS she taught at the high school level at the Edinburgh Rudolph Steiner School in Edinburgh, Scotland as well as nine years at the University of Iowa. Although Ms. Collins was born in Dublin, Ireland, she grew up in a small town in northern Wisconsin, among the bluffs and valleys surrounding the Mississippi River. She enjoys nature immensely, noting Wales as her favorite destination. Mary lives with husband Dan, sons Brendan and Aidan, and daughter Mairead Ann.

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Steve Crimy

Humanities

Mr. Crimy joined the faculty in 2006; previously he taught high school history and English at the Summerfield Waldorf School for seven years. Mr. Crimy enjoys ancient history, baseball (“I still collect baseball cards”), books and… more »

Steve Crimy

Humanities

Mr. Crimy joined the faculty in 2006; previously he taught high school history and English at the Summerfield Waldorf School for seven years. Mr. Crimy enjoys ancient history, baseball (“I still collect baseball cards”), books and reading (“British murder mysteries”), English grammar, and “useless trivia.”

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Danielle Drogalis

Math and Science

Ms. Drogalis came to LCWS after teaching for three years at St. Johnsbury Academy, in her home town, and one year at Spaulding High School. She earned a B.S. from McGill University in Montreal, having majored in anatomy and cell biology. Ms. Drogalis… more »

Danielle Drogalis

Math and Science

Ms. Drogalis came to LCWS after teaching for three years at St. Johnsbury Academy, in her home town, and one year at Spaulding High School. She earned a B.S. from McGill University in Montreal, having majored in anatomy and cell biology. Ms. Drogalis lives with her husband Tom, son Dominic, daughter Taylor and step-daughter Trinity

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Elizabeth (Bet) Dews

Math and Science

Elizabeth Dews has taught blocks of math and science at LCWS for many years, but joined the faculty full-time in 2009. Before that she worked for 30 years at IBM at a variety of jobs ranging from systems analyst to management. Ms. Dews has a B.S. in… more »

Elizabeth (Bet) Dews

Math and Science

Elizabeth Dews has taught blocks of math and science at LCWS for many years, but joined the faculty full-time in 2009. Before that she worked for 30 years at IBM at a variety of jobs ranging from systems analyst to management. Ms. Dews has a B.S. in Computer Science and Zoology from University of Maine, Orono, an M.S. in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon, and received her Waldorf teacher training from the Centre for Anthroposophy. She has three children, including an LCWS graduate, a high school and grade school child. When not thinking about her lessons she loves to be outdoors, hiking, biking and snowshoeing.

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Donald Griswold

Physics

Mr. Griswald joined the high school faculty in the Fall of 2009. He has a Ph.D. in physics and is licensed for secondary teaching by the state of Vermont. Mr. Griswald spent the first phase of his career designing nuclear weapons, and then spent many… more »

Donald Griswold

Physics

Mr. Griswald joined the high school faculty in the Fall of 2009. He has a Ph.D. in physics and is licensed for secondary teaching by the state of Vermont. Mr. Griswald spent the first phase of his career designing nuclear weapons, and then spent many years designing ways to disarm them in the second phase of his career at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. Mr. Griswold enjoys the give and take between students and teacher and the look on the face of a student when they begin to glimpse the deep mysteries inherent in both mathematics and science.

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Emily Bissell Laird

Fine Arts

Emily Bissell Laird is a practicing artist and founder of Dreaming Star Studio. She graduated from UVM with a degree in Art Education, taught art in public schools for many years, and came to LCWS through her first child’s experience of… more »

Emily Bissell Laird

Fine Arts

Emily Bissell Laird is a practicing artist and founder of Dreaming Star Studio. She graduated from UVM with a degree in Art Education, taught art in public schools for many years, and came to LCWS through her first child’s experience of Morning Garden (then grade school and high school!) Ms. Laird has completed Foundation Studies and art intensives at the Centre for Anthroposphy and The Alkion Center, and taught visual arts at the Lake Champlain Waldorf High School for the last seven years. When not teaching or painting she can be found hiking, skiing, gardening and dreaming with her family in the Champlain Valley.

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Alice Lissarrague

French and College Guidance

Born and raised in Shelburne, Alice graduated from Smith College where she minored in French literature. She then spent several years in Manhattan working as a commercial actor, before graduating from Columbia University with a Masters in Education.… more »

Alice Lissarrague

French and College Guidance

Born and raised in Shelburne, Alice graduated from Smith College where she minored in French literature. She then spent several years in Manhattan working as a commercial actor, before graduating from Columbia University with a Masters in Education. Alice and her French husband Christophe then moved to Japan, where Alice taught English for two years at Konan Women's University in Kobe. Following their return to Vermont, Alice and Christophe opened a French restaurant which they ran for 13 years. Alice and Christophe live in Shelburne with their three bilingual children, all students at LCWS.

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Merrily Lovell

Biology and Math

Ms. Lovell came to LCWHS in 2010 after many years of teaching Biology at Highland Hall Waldorf High School in Northridge, California. She completed a Waldorf High School Science teacher training in England in 1996. Before that was a class teacher… more »

Merrily Lovell

Biology and Math

Ms. Lovell came to LCWHS in 2010 after many years of teaching Biology at Highland Hall Waldorf High School in Northridge, California. She completed a Waldorf High School Science teacher training in England in 1996. Before that was a class teacher at Pine Hill Waldorf School in Wilton, NH, completed her Waldorf Teaching Certificate at Antioch/New England graduate school, and completed a Masters of Science in Teaching Biology from Antioch/New England. She is thrilled to be living in Vermont again, to be living near her grandchildren (who go to LCWS) and other relatives, and to be teaching part time at the high school. She enjoys the refreshing, earthy atmosphere and the environmental consciousness of this school, and warmth, interest and engagement in learning of the students in the high school.

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Tim Sampson

Woodworking

coming soon...

Tim Sampson

Woodworking

coming soon...

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Pamela Sonn

Math and Geology

Ms. Sonn joined the LCWS faculty in 2008; previously she taught Geology, Geography, photography, painting, and drawing at the Summerfield Waldorf School in California, and worked in Educational Support at South Burlington High School. Ms. Sonn… more »

Pamela Sonn

Math and Geology

Ms. Sonn joined the LCWS faculty in 2008; previously she taught Geology, Geography, photography, painting, and drawing at the Summerfield Waldorf School in California, and worked in Educational Support at South Burlington High School. Ms. Sonn teaches Geology and math, and is the Learning Needs Coordinator at the High School. Ms. Sonn enjoys spinning, knitting, painting, frequenting library book sales, and hiking up mountains.

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Judy Ververs

German

Judy grew up in northern New Jersey. She earned an MA in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, with post-graduate work in German and instruction at Penn State and a fellowship in Bremen, Germany through Dickinson College. Mid-career, after… more »

Judy Ververs

German

Judy grew up in northern New Jersey. She earned an MA in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, with post-graduate work in German and instruction at Penn State and a fellowship in Bremen, Germany through Dickinson College. Mid-career, after teaching in western Pennsylvania schools, she fulfilled a dream of moving to Vermont, teaching English and German in public schools here. After several years in the private sector as a technical translator with a German firm, she returned to teaching for the chance to experience the atmosphere of the Waldorf tradition.

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SUBJECT AND SPECIALTY TEACHERS

Felicia Far

Educational Support

Ms. Far came to LCWS in 2002, after 13 years of prior experience as a public school elementary school teacher, most recently at the Shelburne Community School. Her roles at LCWS have included tutor, substitute teacher, kindergarten aftercare teacher,… more »

Felicia Far

Educational Support

Ms. Far came to LCWS in 2002, after 13 years of prior experience as a public school elementary school teacher, most recently at the Shelburne Community School. Her roles at LCWS have included tutor, substitute teacher, kindergarten aftercare teacher, and third grade reading teacher. It is Waldorf education’s fundamental understanding and honoring of the growing child that has drawn Ms. Far to our school.

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Abigail Diehl-Noble

Abigail Diehl-Noble has taught middle school and high school humanities at LCWS for seven years. She has a B.A. in English from Macalester College and an M.A. in English literature from Oxford University; she received her Waldorf teacher training… more »

Abigail Diehl-Noble

Abigail Diehl-Noble has taught middle school and high school humanities at LCWS for seven years. She has a B.A. in English from Macalester College and an M.A. in English literature from Oxford University; she received her Waldorf teacher training from Antioch New England and the Centre for Anthroposophy. Ms. Diehl-Noble loves to be outdoors and has directed Waldorf-inspired after-school programs and summer camps at LCWS. She lives in the smallest city in Vermont with her husband and three children.

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Melendy Comey

Handwork

Grade School and High School

After working for sixteen years in the restaurant business, Ms. Comey turned her lifelong interest in textile arts into a new career in teaching. She has been at LCWS since 2002, after teaching handwork at the Green… more »

Melendy Comey

Handwork

Grade School and High School

After working for sixteen years in the restaurant business, Ms. Comey turned her lifelong interest in textile arts into a new career in teaching. She has been at LCWS since 2002, after teaching handwork at the Green Mountain Waldorf School for four years. She is also a potter and as a once-professional chef, she still loves cooking for pleasure. Though her family roots are in the Boston area, Ms. Comey’s father was a Naval officer and the family moved from coast to coast every two years. She has been through 42 states and has many wonderful memories from traveling across country. She studied fine arts and art history at the University of Southern Connecticut and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Ms. Comey and her husband, Joe Unser, live with their son, Adrian '08 (LCWS graduate). She has two daughters living in Texas, Nicole and Leandra.

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Wendy Coughlan

Handwork

Grade School

Wendy grew up in Montreal and skied at Stowe on the weekends. She attended Middlebury College and studied Northern Studies and Studio Art. She travelled and backpacked extensively in New Zealand where she learned about Waldorf… more »

Wendy Coughlan

Handwork

Grade School

Wendy grew up in Montreal and skied at Stowe on the weekends. She attended Middlebury College and studied Northern Studies and Studio Art. She travelled and backpacked extensively in New Zealand where she learned about Waldorf Education from graduates of the Vancouver School and High Mowing.

Attended Antioch NE for her Masters in Waldorf Education. She decided to be a Waldorf teacher because it seemed like a way to incorporate her varied interests into her work. Wendy taught 1st grade at LCWS in 1989 - 1990 and graduated that class at 8th grade. Pam Graham's daughter, Lindsay was in the class! After a sabbatical, she began teaching handwork and occasional Mail Lesson blocks to all grades.

Wendy has always loved to knit, sew & do projects. She loves to garden and grow organic food for her family. They have eggs and chicken too. She love dogs, (especially Labradors), likes to hike, snowshoe and camp, and likes to bake bread, (currently working on sourdough). Her family includes three children, Sarah 18 now at Smith (LCWS grad), and Rosa in 9th grade and Nicholas in 4th grade.

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Nicandra Galper

Handwork Assistant

Grade School

Ms. Galper joined the faculty in 2000. She has taught handwork to adults as well, and is fond of sharing the excitement and love she has for handwork and seeing the children’s joy when they master the skills. She came to… more »

Nicandra Galper

Handwork Assistant

Grade School

Ms. Galper joined the faculty in 2000. She has taught handwork to adults as well, and is fond of sharing the excitement and love she has for handwork and seeing the children’s joy when they master the skills. She came to Waldorf education because it values the arts as a part of all areas of life. Ms. Galper grew up in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey. She attended Wilson College and received an M.S.W. from Temple University. Nicandra is a textile conservator, works on contract at the Shelburne Museum, and has a private studio. She is in her final year of the 4 year Applied Arts Waldorf Teacher training at The Threefold Education Center in Chestnut Ridge, NY. Nicandra has also studied art history and chemistry for art conservation at UVM and Trinity College. Her daughter, Sarah '07, is a LCWS graduate and a counselor at our summer camp.

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Mashobane Moruthane

Gym & Competitive Sports

Grade School and High School

Mr. Moruthane joined the LCWS faculty in 2001, after working at Waldorf schools in Denver and Buffalo. Growing up under apartheid in South Africa, he chose a career in education because he wanted to have a positive… more »

Mashobane Moruthane

Gym & Competitive Sports

Grade School and High School

Mr. Moruthane joined the LCWS faculty in 2001, after working at Waldorf schools in Denver and Buffalo. Growing up under apartheid in South Africa, he chose a career in education because he wanted to have a positive influence on youth by providing them a healthy, meaningful education. He came to Waldorf education because of its inherent belief in spirituality and flexible style of teaching; he also appreciates the philosophy of Anthroposophy. Mr. Moruthane is from Phaahla, in the countryside in the northern section of South Africa. He lived with his grandmother and many cousins in a mud hut with no electricity, running water, or paved roads. He attended Baobob College and, after coming to the United States, received Waldorf teacher training at Sunbridge College. He practices African drumming and is interested in acting, sports, and travel. Mr. Moruthane lives with his daughter, Thabitha.

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Aaron Heyerdahl

Woodwork

Grade School

Mr. Heyerdahl moved with his family to Vermont from Bar Harbor, Maine in 2005 after having lived there for 20 years. He graduated from College of the Atlantic in 1987, and then worked as a carpenter, furniture maker, and wooden… more »

Aaron Heyerdahl

Woodwork

Grade School

Mr. Heyerdahl moved with his family to Vermont from Bar Harbor, Maine in 2005 after having lived there for 20 years. He graduated from College of the Atlantic in 1987, and then worked as a carpenter, furniture maker, and wooden canoe builder. After completing the Applied Arts program at Sunbridge College in 2000, Aaron began teaching at the Acadia Waldorf School in Bar Harbor as a handwork and woodwork teacher. While enrolled in the training in Spacial Dynamics, he also became the movement teacher there. When the AWS closed its doors in 2004, Mr. Heyerdahl and his wife Barbarina began the process of finding a place to live that included a healthy K-12 Waldorf school, and chose LCWS because of its small town base, active parent body, enthusiastic faculty, and its proximity to Lake Champlain and Burlington. "It felt like a wonderful environment in which to raise our children", all four of whom attended LCWS. Aaron completed the Spacial Dynamics training in 2004 and currently teaches movement and physics in the upper grades, and woodwork in grades 5-8. Through his love of the outdoors and practical skills, he is also able to bring some outdoor education to the upper grades. Aaron enjoys all things outdoors, especially boating, fly-fishing, hiking, and skiing. He is a passionate photographer and naturalist, an avid golfer, and counts having touched a whale as one of his peak experiences.

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Steve Olson

Music Director

Coming soon...

Steve Olson

Music Director

Coming soon...

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Stephan Vdoviak

Eurythmy

Mr. Vdoviak began teaching at LCWS in 1985. He founded the school's Eurythmy program and helped to found the school's German and High School programs. Currently the Grade School Branch Coordinator, Mr. Vdoviak also serves on our Association of… more »

Stephan Vdoviak

Eurythmy

Mr. Vdoviak began teaching at LCWS in 1985. He founded the school's Eurythmy program and helped to found the school's German and High School programs. Currently the Grade School Branch Coordinator, Mr. Vdoviak also serves on our Association of Waldorf Schools of North America's Board of Trustees and takes an active interest in the work of the other three Vermont Waldorf Schools, Orchard Valley, Wellspring and Upper Valley, as well as the Lakeside School, a Waldorf initiative in Essex, NY.

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Victor Gould

Accompanist

Coming soon...

Victor Gould

Accompanist

Coming soon...

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Carol Reed

French

Grade School

Being a teacher allows Madame Reed to share her love of languages and cultures, knowing how these studies can enrich lives. After teaching French in grades four to eight for six years in public schools, she came to LCWS in 1996.… more »

Carol Reed

French

Grade School

Being a teacher allows Madame Reed to share her love of languages and cultures, knowing how these studies can enrich lives. After teaching French in grades four to eight for six years in public schools, she came to LCWS in 1996. “I enjoy the enthusiasm of the children in my classes here,” she says, “and the dedication of our school community.” She earned a B.A. in French from Middlebury College, an M.Ed. from Castleton State College, and Waldorf certification from Antioch New England. While growing up in Stamford, Connecticut, Mme. Reed spent her sixth-grade year in Lausanne, Switzerland. Her family includes husband Richard, children Louis and Sonia, stepchildren Julia and John, grandsons Jordan and Liam, and Daisy the cat. She performs traditional French and Québecois music with her band Va-et-Vient. She is very active in theater, ballet and tango, and travels whenever possible. During the summer she likes to visit family in Michigan and work in her garden.

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Michele Starr

Upper Grades Support

Michele Starr is currently a support teacher for grades 7 through 10 at the Lake Champlain Waldorf School in Shelburne, Vermont. She lives in her childhood neighborhood on Lake Champlain. After attending UVM as an education major, she graduated from… more »

Michele Starr

Upper Grades Support

Michele Starr is currently a support teacher for grades 7 through 10 at the Lake Champlain Waldorf School in Shelburne, Vermont. She lives in her childhood neighborhood on Lake Champlain. After attending UVM as an education major, she graduated from Rudolf Steiner College in 1982. She began her Waldorf teaching career in the kindergarten. After six years with young children, she became the pioneering class teacher at LCWS. She was a class teacher for twenty-one years before her new role supporting the upper grades.

Michele serves on the leadership council for the Association of Waldorf Schools, representing the Northeast/Quebec region. When she isn’t gardening, stone carving, hiking, biking or paddle boarding, her current interests include rethinking our understanding of Waldorf Education in order to meet the needs of today’s children.

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ADMINISTRATION

Andrea Bayer

Administrative Director

Andrea Bayer was a practicing litigation attorney when she joined the LCWS Board of Trustees in 1998. She served on the Board for six years and was the Board Chair the last three of those years. During that time, she was also a member of the Finance,… more »

Andrea Bayer

Administrative Director

Andrea Bayer was a practicing litigation attorney when she joined the LCWS Board of Trustees in 1998. She served on the Board for six years and was the Board Chair the last three of those years. During that time, she was also a member of the Finance, Tuition Scholarship and Enrollment committees. Andrea's three children, currently ages 24, 20 and 15, all attended LCWS. Andrea and husband were parents at the school from 1988 through 2008. She was delighted to join the LCWS Faculty Staff as Administrator in 2006. This position offers the opportunity for her to use her skills and training to support the outstanding education that LCWS offers.

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Brenda Baker

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Brenda moved to Vermont from Colorado in 2010 with her husband and three young children. With a degree in English from The University of Michigan, and a professional background in design, writing, and marketing, Brenda has been our Marketing &… more »

Brenda Baker

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Brenda moved to Vermont from Colorado in 2010 with her husband and three young children. With a degree in English from The University of Michigan, and a professional background in design, writing, and marketing, Brenda has been our Marketing & Communications Coordinator since she moved here. She enjoys hot yoga, running, painting, knitting, baking and reading. In Colorado, her son attended Pre-K at Shepherd Valley Waldorf School. The decision to move to Vermont was made easier because of the LCWS! Adjusting to the weather has been a challenge, but overall she loves Vermont.

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Terri Borden

Finance Director & Athletics Director

Coming soon...

Terri Borden

Finance Director & Athletics Director

Coming soon...

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Mike Doran

Maintenance

Mike lives in Vergennes with his wife Rachel, a pediatric nurse. They have two adult sons, Nathaniel and Jonathan who live, respectively, in Washington State and the Washington DC area. Mike began as a parent volunteer in the late summer-fall of… more »

Mike Doran

Maintenance

Mike lives in Vergennes with his wife Rachel, a pediatric nurse. They have two adult sons, Nathaniel and Jonathan who live, respectively, in Washington State and the Washington DC area. Mike began as a parent volunteer in the late summer-fall of 1990, helping finish the third grade room for his son Jonathan's class, which was Michele Starr's lead class. Hired in 1997 as a maintenance person, he has: 33+ years experience in building maintenance/cleaning/repairs; aviation maintenance certification; has studied electronics. He writes poetry, sermons & loves cookies (hint!).

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Lisa Espenshade

Director of Development

Lisa joined our parent community when her daughter, Eva, started kindergarten, and has worked at LCWS since 2001 as as the school’s Development Director. Lisa brought over 15 years of non-profit management experience to her job. She feels… more »

Lisa Espenshade

Director of Development

Lisa joined our parent community when her daughter, Eva, started kindergarten, and has worked at LCWS since 2001 as as the school’s Development Director. Lisa brought over 15 years of non-profit management experience to her job. She feels that Waldorf is the perfect education for her two daughters, Eva and Lily. “I will never forget when I was a prospective parent and first observed a kindergarten class; I was so moved I started to cry.”
A third generation New Yorker, Lisa was born in Brooklyn and went to summer camps in Vermont and knew that one day she would settle in the Burlington area. Her Brooklyn accent rarely can be heard, except for words such as “worder (water)” or “dala (dollar).” She graduated from Vassar College with a degree in Medieval History and did post graduate work at the Centre for Medieval Studies in Toronto. Lisa loves to knit and design knitwear and is a fiber enthusiast. She likes to explore Lake Champlain with her daughters and her husband, Peter, and go to Montreal for dim sum.

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Pam Graham

Admissions Director

Pam has been part of the LCWS community for over 20 years, since her oldest daughter Lindsay entered kindergarten in 1987. “Completely inspired” by Waldorf education, she began working for the school as a part-time bookkeeper, and in… more »

Pam Graham

Admissions Director

Pam has been part of the LCWS community for over 20 years, since her oldest daughter Lindsay entered kindergarten in 1987. “Completely inspired” by Waldorf education, she began working for the school as a part-time bookkeeper, and in subsequent years, in addition to bookkeeping, has handled general administration, public relations, and admissions. Pam is moved by the soul and spiritual components of Waldorf education, its sense of reverence and wonder in the classroom, and she enjoys introducing it to prospective families — especially those who end up becoming similarly inspired.
Pam grew up in Connecticut, and earned a B.S. degree from the University of Bridgeport. She spent many summers attending camps in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts. She enjoys knitting, cross-country and downhill skiing, gardening, jogging, yoga, and travel.
Contact Pam Graham.

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Karen Duguay

Development Coordinator

Karen began working in the Development Office in the fall of 2010, after a career spent in marketing and event planning. In her position, Karen coordinates with teams of volunteers on several fundraising and enrollment events during the school year,… more »

Karen Duguay

Development Coordinator

Karen began working in the Development Office in the fall of 2010, after a career spent in marketing and event planning. In her position, Karen coordinates with teams of volunteers on several fundraising and enrollment events during the school year, including the Holiday Product Sale, the Holiday Fair and the Spring Benefit, and assists with the school's marketing and communication. She has two young children, who keep her busy! Karen loves a good book, spending time outside with her family and testing her culinary skills with new recipes.

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Addie Hall

Front Office, Shelburne Campus

Addie and her family were drawn to Waldorf Education because of the year to year continuity offered by having the teacher remain with the class, and the emphasis on cultivating a balance of intellectual, artistic, and physical capacities in children.… more »

Addie Hall

Front Office, Shelburne Campus

Addie and her family were drawn to Waldorf Education because of the year to year continuity offered by having the teacher remain with the class, and the emphasis on cultivating a balance of intellectual, artistic, and physical capacities in children. Since 2000 she has run the busy front office of the Shelburne campus. “I wear many hats and love them all (well, maybe not the plumber’s cap!). I work with a brilliant faculty and I have a view of the grade school that allows me to see the children both when they are at their best (birthday celebrations, class plays, singing in the foyer, festivals, etc.) and when they are below par for some reason.” Addie appreciates how the hectic pace of the front office is balanced by those quieter moments when a sick child needs tending or a child needs to be guided back to being his or her best. Prior to working at LCWS, she spent 15 “high corporate” years in new product development and marketing research at Fingerhut Corp. and General Mills, both in Minneapolis. She also worked at Action Research here in Vermont. Along with her husband Harry, she has three Waldorf educated children: Emily ('05), David and Eric. Other than parenting, Ms. Hall’s hobbies include scrap-booking, gardening, home improvement projects, reading and skiing. She feels that working in the front office is a great fit for this self-described “organized and extroverted” Waldorf mom!

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Laura Slesar

Front Office, Charlotte Campus

Laura came to Vermont to attend the University of Vermont, where she received a BA in French. She worked and lived for 10 years at Rock Point School in Burlington, where she was the director of the residential program. There she learned to juggle… more »

Laura Slesar

Front Office, Charlotte Campus

Laura came to Vermont to attend the University of Vermont, where she received a BA in French. She worked and lived for 10 years at Rock Point School in Burlington, where she was the director of the residential program. There she learned to juggle many tasks at once in the midst of chaos! Laura joined our school community in 2003, when her daughter entered the kindergarten. She began working in our Development Office the following year and has put her task-juggling to good use here ever since. She is now the Front Office Administrator at our high school on the Charlotte campus. Laura is also the director of Kidpower Vermont, teaching "people safety" skills to children, teens, and adults. Laura lives in Monkton with her husband, Chris, their children, LCWS students Clara and Julian, and their cats, Jimmy and Timmy.

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