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Elementary School Faculty


Javier Alvarez, Grades Spanish Teacher: 
Danelle Aragon, Grades Handwork Teacher: Danelle’s teaching experience includes a stint in the Peace Corps; teaching in Japan; and teaching science, Spanish, and environmental education in Colorado, where she is a licensed teacher. Danelle has a BS from Colorado College and an MA in Education from the University of Colorado. She also has an MA in Waldorf Education from Antioch University New England. Her favorite aspect of being a Waldorf teacher: being with the students. Danelle Aragon - Santa Fe Waldorf Elementary School
Jennie Baudhuin, 1st Grade Class Teacher: Jennie was a founding parent and teacher of SFWS. She served for many years as College and Faculty Chair for the College of Teachers. Her experience includes class teacher for grades 1-8, kindergarten teacher, handwork, upper grades painting, and movement education. She spent her sabbatical year in Mexico, implementing a program for training teachers in Waldorf methods. She has been a representative to the Association of Waldorf School of North America for developing schools, served on the summer faculty of the Rudolf Steiner College, and continues to consult and mentor Waldorf educators. Jennie received a BS from Excelsior College, graduated from Stratford College, and attended the University of North Carolina, where her focus was education and religion. A graduate of the Waldorf Institute and the Spatial Dynamics Institute, she currently is in her second year of Remedial Training at Rudolf Steiner College. Jennie also served as co-director of PeaceJam New Mexico; served as a facilitator for OlymPeace/AllinPeace/ HandsinPeace projects in Greece, Ecuador, and China; and created the Global Friendship Project. Jennie Baudhuin - Santa Fe Waldorf School
Thomas Baudhuin, 8th Grade Class Teacher: Thomas began his journey as a Waldorf teacher more than 27 years ago in the kindergarten classroom. His 11 years’ experience teaching in the kindergarten include four at the London Waldorf School in Ontario, Canada, which he helped found in 1980. He is in his 17th year as a class teacher at SFWS. He studied Biology at the University of New Mexico and Engineering at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.  He has a Waldorf Teaching Certificate from Mercy College in Detroit. His favorite aspects of being a Waldorf teacher: working with the students, especially middle school students, in all aspects of the curriculum and the fascinating task of designing the yearly curriculum for different groups of students.
Thomas Baudhuin - Santa Fe Waldorf Elementary School
Carol Carnicom, Grades Cello Teacher: Carol began teaching the beginning 4th grade cello class and 6th grade orchestra cello sectionals at the Santa Fe Waldorf School in 1999.  As the number of cello students at Waldorf increased, she began teaching a cello choir made up of 6th through 8th graders, in addition to the beginning cello class of 4th and 5th graders.  For the last two years she has also assisted with the high school music program, directing the high school orchestra in the fall of 2008 until a high school orchestra director was hired, and working with a cello choir for the 2009-2010 school year. Carol Carnicom - Santa Fe Waldorf Elementary School
Raquel Castilla, 8th Grade and High School Spanish Teacher: Raquel was born and educated in Madrid, Spain where she earned her degree in Educational Psychology. She moved to Ojai, CA 11 years ago where she taught Spanish in Elementary, Junior High and High School. She has 15 years of experience teaching language. She loves working with students, establishing relationships and seeing them grow through the years. Raquel Castilla - Santa Fe Waldorf High School
Pablo Champion, Grades and High School Guitar: Pablo holds a Bachelors Degree in Guitar Performance from the University of Texas and a Masters Degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester New York. He is currently a Doctoral candidate at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where he studied Early Music Performance. Pablo has been teaching privately and at the Santa Fe Waldorf School for five years. He currently directs the high school guitar ensemble as well as the fifth and six grade orchestras. Pablo Champion - Santa Fe Waldorf Elementary School
Pam Colgate, High School and Middle School English Teacher, Class of 2010 Co-Sponsor: Pam has taught English at SFWHS since its inception in 2001. She  completed the Waldorf High School Teacher Training in 2004. Pam has a passion for great grammar, exquisite writing, and dynamic discussions. Before she started teaching, Pam worked for 20 years in corporate marketing and new product development. She has a BA in English from Colorado College and an MBA in Marketing and Finance from Columbia University. Her two favorite aspects of being a Waldorf English teacher: helping guide students through the classics in a way that makes those works vibrant in the context of today's world, and forming partnerships with students through the exploration of language, literature, and life. Pam Colgate - Santa Fe Waldorf Elementary School
Eric Ebert, 6th Grade Class Teacher:
Lee Harvey, Grades and High School Orchestra Teacher: Lee hails from the New England area. She has studied at the New England Conservatory, Lawrence University and University of Colorado at Boulder. She performs locally, teaches at Acequia Madre, El Dorado, Santa Fe Waldorf and has a private studio. She loves to share the wonder, joys, and challenges of music with the younger generation of Santa Fe. Long live music! Lee Harvey - Santa Fe Waldorf Elementary School
Judith Ivy, 4th Grade Class Teacher: Judith, who began full-time teaching in 1984, has taught as a class and music teacher at several Waldorf schools. Judith received a BA in Humanities and the Fine and Performing Arts from Southern Oregon University, an MA in Music Therapy and Transpersonal Counseling from Naropa University, and her Waldorf Teacher Certificate from Rudolf Steiner College. Her favorite aspects of being a Waldorf teacher: the way the arts are integrated into every aspect of learning and the fact that education and an artistic life are not just for the students—the faculty sings at meetings and the parents sing at events! Judith Ivy - Santa Fe Waldorf Elementary School
Karl David Johnson, Educational Support Specialist, High School Jazz Ensemble Conductor, and High School Wilderness Experience Coordinator: Karl has been a Waldorf Educator since 1986 and has been with SFWS since 1990. He was class teacher for two classes that graduated from 8th grade. Currently he is the educational support specialist in the lower school. Karl holds a Masters degree in Guidance and Counseling and is a certified Therapeutic Educator. Active in adult education throughout the Waldorf movement, Karl has mentored schools and given workshops and talks in New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, and the Southwestern United States. His favorite aspect of being a Waldorf teacher: watching the students grow through the years—from young childhood to adulthood.
Karl David Johnson - Santa Fe Waldorf Elementary School
Fletcher Lathrop, Grades 5-8 and High School Woodwork Teacher: Fletcher is a founding member of SFWS and the father of three SFWS graduates. He was class teacher for two classes, one from 3rd through 8th grade and the other from 5th through 8th grade. Along with Thomas Baudhuin, Fletcher founded the school’s woodwork program and has taught woodworking for 15 years. His favorite aspect of being a Waldorf teacher: the opportunity to establish strong and fruitful working relationships with students as he guides them through the four-year woodwork curriculum. Fletcher Lathrop - Santa Fe Waldorf Elementary School
Michael Oellig, 3rd Grade Class Teacher and Faculty Chair: Michael has 23 years of teaching experience, 16 as a Waldorf teacher. Michael has taken two classes through grade 8.  After taking a sabbatical for 2007-2008, Michael began his third adventure teaching grades 1-8. Michael has a BA in English Education and a Waldorf Teaching Certificate. He also has done post-graduate work in educational psychology. His favorite aspect of being a Waldorf teacher: growing with the children year by year, meeting the challenges of a new curriculum each year, and following students’ lives as they grow into adulthood.
Michael Oellig - Santa Fe Waldorf Elementary School
Yelena Petrova, Middle and High School Chorus Teacher: Yelena was educated in Russia, where she attended music school and earned a BA from the College of Art and an MA from the State Institute of Art and Culture. She has taught and performed around the world, including in Russia, Morocco, Kuwait, Turkey, and the United States. She currently teaches at SFWS, Kearny Elementary School in Santa Fe, and Santa Fe Community College. Yelena’s favorite aspect of being a Waldorf teacher: “the students!” Yelena Petrova - Santa Fe Waldorf Elementary School
Chris Sciarretta, Gardening & Nature Studies: Chris is a biologist and educator who has more than a decade of experience in ecological research, youth leadership, education, carpentry, gardening and landscaping, and facilities maintenance. Before coming to SFWS in 2005, Chris worked in Colorado, Arizona, New York, California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Osaka, Japan, where he taught English to Japanese students of all ages. He also studied and traveled in Venezuela, Guatemala, and Honduras. Chris received his BA in Biology from Bowdoin College in Maine and his MS in Environmental Studies from Antioch New England University. Chris Sciaretta - Santa Fe Waldorf Elementary School
Uli Stuerznickel, Grades 6-8 Math Teacher: Uli taught for three years at the Tucson Waldorf School and has been at SFWS for the past eight years. She has a BA in Elementary Education from Prescott College, a diploma in Acupuncture and Chinese medicine, and a Waldorf Teacher Certificate from Antioch University New England. Her favorite aspects of being a Waldorf teacher: the strong relationships developed with the students and the curriculum, which integrates music, arts, and academics. UliStuerznickel
Peter Swing, Grades & High School Marimba Teacher: Peter Swing has taught the marimba music of Zimbabwe, as well as performing and building marimbas full time, since 1996.  He studied with Zimbabwean master musician Dr. Dumisani Maraire and other Zimbabwean masters since 1988 in Portland, Oregon.   He continues to transmit the tr aditional music, as well as composing original music for his band, Jakatu, for which he also plays accoustic guitar.
Peter Swing - Santa Fe Waldorf Elementary School
Vicki Vessier, 7th Grade Class Teacher: Before coming to SFWS (where she has taught for 5 years), Vicki worked as a handwork teacher in Hawaii and a class teacher in Hawaii and New Orleans. Vicki has a BA in Transformational Education and Counseling, a Masters in Education from Touro University, CA, and Waldorf Certification from Rudolf Steiner College. Her favorite aspects of being Waldorf teacher: “…being witness to the amazing Waldorf curriculum come alive in the students; watching the spark of ‘AHA!’ take hold when they see something anew; and being committed to lifelong learning.”
Vicki Vessier - Santa Fe Waldorf Elementary School
Hans Von Moritz, 5th Grade Class Teacher: Mr. von Moritz studied theology at the Universitaet Muenchen, Germany. He received the Waldorf Teacher Diploma from Rudolf Steiner College in Sacramento, CA, in 1980. Since then he has worked as a language teacher for German, English, and Latin in grades 1-12, and as a class teacher in German, American, and Canadian Waldorf Schools. Hans Von Moritz - Santa Fe Waldorf Elementary School
Daniel Wendland, Grades 5-12 Movement Teacher; Athletic Director; Coach (Volleyball, Girls’ Varsity Basketball, and Track & Field); and Class of 2011 Co-Sponsor: Daniel joined the SFWS faculty in 2004. He began teaching in California in 2001 as Eureka High School’s physical education teacher, coaching JV baseball and football. He spent two years in Ifrane, Morocco, as a K-12 movement teacher, athletic director, and coach. Daniel has a BS in Kinesiology from Humboldt State University and is in the fourth of a five-year Spacial Dynamics training program. His favorite aspect of being a Waldorf teacher: working with the amazing students who love to learn and play. Daniel Wendland - Santa Fe Waldorf Elementary School
Bonnie Wilner, 2nd Grade Class Teacher: Bonnie graduated from the Waldorf Institute of Southern California and has been a class teacher for 16 years. She has also taught at Rudolf Steiner College, a training center for Waldorf teachers. Bonnie's previous careers as a professional touring musician and a practitioner of the healing arts add to thr special gifts she can bring to her classroom. Bonnie Wilner - Santa Fe Waldorf Elementary School