Arts and Humanities

Ina Jaehnig – Humanities, Arts, Waldorf Teacher Training
Co-founded DWS – August 1974 and DWHS – August 1994

As the co-founder of the Denver Waldorf School and, 13 years ago—the High School, Ina has been teaching at DWS for thirty years. She received her Waldorf Teacher Training at the Munich Waldorf School and prior to that earned her certification as an arts teacher at the Academy for the Arts in Stuttgart. In addition to sharing her knowledge with the High School students and the entire faculty of DWS, Ina consults for Waldorf schools across the U.S. and spends her summers training Waldorf teachers.

Mike McHenry – Director of Student Services, History, College Advising
Joined DWHS – August 2002

Mike holds an MDiv and an MA in Theology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Counseling (Fuller Theological Seminary). He also has a BA in Speech Communications (Cal State Fresno). Mike is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has fifteen years experience as a school counselor, including five years at DWHS.

David Johnson – Humanities, Drama
Joined DWHS – August 2002

After working in professional theater and construction for 30 years, David completed his Waldorf High School Teacher Training in Wilton, NH. A Waldorf School graduate, David, along with his siblings, is now the fourth generation in the Johnson family to become a school teacher.

Jeff McClendon - Music Director
Joined DWHS - August 1994

Jeff leads chorus and orchestra instruction at DWS. He studied voice, bassoon and composition at West Georgia College and received scholarships for his graduate studies in vocal performance at the Julliard School and the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts. He has sung with many symphony orchestras and opera companies, including the Atlanta Symphony, the Birmingham Symphony, the Atlanta Ballet, the Atlanta Opera, and the American Symphony in New York City. He has toured Europe as a recitalist, he is a cantor and choir member at the St. Augustine Orthodox Church, and he plays bassoon in the Denver Philharmonic. In addition, he completed the two-year teacher training course in Waldorf Education at Sunbridge College in New York (SUNY).

Judy Lucas - Language Arts
Joined DWS - August 2001

Judy is currently the Administrative Director of The Denver Waldorf School. Judy has a BA from Middlebury College in Vermont and an ME in Education Policy from the University of Wollongong in Australia. She is also a graduate from the Rudolf Steiner High School Teacher Training. She is a member of the Anthroposophical Society and is The Denver Waldorf School's delegate to the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America. Judy dedicates part of her time to stay connected with the students by teaching Transcendentalism and Research Writing.

John Reinhart - Language Arts
Joined DWHS - August 2007

John is a graduate of The Denver Waldorf High School. He earned a BA in political science from Hampshire College, specializing in social and political movements. He completed his Waldorf teacher training at Antioch University in New England, where he is also a candidate to receive his Master's in Education in December 2007. His teaching experience includes assisting at the undergraduate level, one year in the kindergarten at the Albany Free School in Albany, NY, and various fiddle and knitting lessons. John is an accomplished fiddle and guitar player with a penchant for chess. He is also the 2004 Northeast Regional, 16 and Older, Beginner Division Yo-yo Champion.

Magally Rizo - Spanish
Joined DWS - August 2000

Magally is a native speaker whose family hails from Colombia and Mexico. She received her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She has had the privilege of sharing Latin dance and music in Asia and Europe. She continues to sing with the Afro-Caribbean band Kizumba and she acts occasionally in plays at El Centro Su Teatro, one of the few bilingual theaters in the United States.

Michael Baker - Woodworking
Joined DWS - August 1983

Michael has been teaching at DWS since 1983. In addition to teaching woodworking, he taught gym for nine years, and he founded the unicycle and archery clubs. He helped start a gym program in the Redwood City, California Waldorf school and he has helped several woodworking teachers start Waldorf woodworking programs. He has served on the College of Teachers and he was a member of the Board of Trustees for 17 years.

Tom Clark - Clay Modeling
Joined DWS - August 1985

Tom attended the Los Angeles Art Center College of Design. He is taking his third class from grade one through eight at DWS.

Marielle Levin - Painting and Collot Therapeutic Painting
Joined DWS - August 1983

Marielle developed the handwork program for 1st through 8th grades. She has served on nearly every committee, including 7 years on the Board of Trustees and 12 years on the College of Teachers. After teaching handwork as well as painting for the last six years in the middle school, she now exclusively teaches painting. Marielle offers educational support through Collot Therapeutic Painting sessions for individual students.

Sylvia Nordoff - Eurythmy

Joined DWS - January 2008

Sylvia was born in New York. Her parents were Paul Nordoff, the famous composer and Sabina Zae, Broadway performer and choreographer. Sylvia showed an early interest for movement, performing eurythmy for the first time at age 12. She studied at the Theatre of Arts at New York University. She carried out her formal studies in eurythmy with Marjorie Spock, NY, and with Sabina Nordoff of the Zucholi School of Eurythmy in Switzerland. As well, she trained in modern dance at the Martha Graham Dance School in New York City and in flamenco with Margaret Flores in Woodstock, NY. Sylvia has spent over 25 years teaching movement to children at the kindergarten, elementary and high school levels, at the Ottowa and Parsifal Waldorf Schools, and the Santa Fe Waldorf School, to name a few.

Science and Mathematics

Caroline Heberton, Ph.D. - Math
Joined DWHS – August 1996

Caroline received a BA in Math (Grinnell College) and a Doctorate in Applied Math with an emphasis in computational math and the mathematics of science and engineering (University of Colorado, Denver). Her experience includes teaching at UCD, research work for USGS and programming for United Airlines . She began her work with children as coordinator and counselor for the Parzival Summer Camp from 1990 to 1994.

Kirk Mills - Physics

Worked with DWHS since 1994

Kirk is an Environmental Engineer with a background in Goethean Science. He currently works for the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. Kirk is returning this year to teach High School physics which he taught for a number of years at The Denver Waldorf High School in the 90’s.

Kate Johnson - Math
Joined DWHS - August 2007

Kate earned a BSc. in Applied Mathematics from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, followed by a Graduate Diploma in Education. She is part way through a Masters in Accounting at UCD. After teaching senior mathematics in High School Kate spent many years in the business sector as an instructional designer. She ran her own accounting business for over 10 years before making the move back to High School math teaching.

Dan Prendergast - Computer Science
Worked with DWHS since 2006

Dan received a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MS in Engineering from Stanford University. After ten years working as an engineer, Dan became a consultant and trainer in personal computers. He has worked as an independent consultant, providing a broad range of computer support including user training, database development, financial modeling, programming, and IT services for businesses throughout the Denver metro area since 1985.

Anouk Tompot - Biology
Joined DWHS - August 2007

Anouk holds a Master of Science in Biology with an emphasis in Ecotoxicology, from Vrije University of Amsterdam. She received preliminary training to become a High School Biology teacher. She has taught several courses at the Vrije University and mentored graduate students while holding a position as a junior research fellow. Currently she is in the process of completing her Waldorf High School teacher training.

Mark Shepard – Math
Joined DWHS – August 2003

Mark’s education includes an MA in Philosophy (University of Colorado, Boulder), Colorado Teacher Certification (UC, Denver), a BS in Math, magna cum laude, (UC, Denver), and a BA in Psychology (University of Central Florida). Mark has taught at Kearney Middle School in the “Gear Up” program, managed the GED/ABE program at Curtis Park Community Center, worked as a Chapter I Math Teacher at Denver Children’s Home and provided one-to-one tutoring on a wide range of subjects.

Dr. Adam Blanning - Embryology
Worked with DWHS since 2003

Adam Blanning MD is a graduate of The Denver Waldorf School and the CU School of Medicine, where he later taught as a clinical instructor in Family Medicine. He now privately practices Anthroposophic medicine, and enjoys teaching embryology to the High School students.

Sports and Community

Ashley Martinez - Head Women’s Volleyball Coach
Joined DWHS - August 2004

Ashley has been working with our High School Volleyball Team for the past 3 years and has taken our girls to Regionals 2 years in a row. She worked for Flatirons Club Volleyball Program and coached the Freshman and Sophomore teams at Boulder High School for 3 years. Ashley played herself for Colorado College where she graduated with a degree in Sociology.

Michael Quinn - Athletic Director, Head Men’s and Women’s Basketball Coach Joined DWS - August 2003

His recreational history includes eight years as a Recreational Instructor in Youth Sports and Arts at Harvard Gulch Recreation Center in Denver. He taught children ranging in age from 5 to 14. He attended Metropolitan State College.

Lily Kellogg – Arts, Tutoring, College Advising
Joined DWS – August 1983

Lily taught in public middle schools in New England for a number of years before she ventured to Scotland, where she lived at the Findhorn Community and eventually founded a Waldorf School. Moving to Denver, she continued her music training and joined DWS as a music teacher. When the High School opened, she served as the administrator and, eventually, decided to continue her education, receiving an MA in Educational Psychology with a focus on Special Education.

Community Service Learning Program

An important element of the High School curriculum is service learning. Students partake in 20 hours per year during their Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior years and 40 hours at the Senior level. The goal is for students to learn about giving of themselves to those in need and encourage them to include service as part of their lives. Kate Johnson serves as the Community Service Coordinator.