Early Childhood Teacher Biographies - The Denver Waldorf School

Our School
Admissions
Events
Donate
My DWS
- My DWS Hub
  Convenient links for DWS families
  School CalendarParent PortalShop
  Forms & HandbooksScholarshipsFinancial AidCamps

Our School
Admissions
Events
Donate
My DWS
- My DWS Hub
  Convenient links for DWS families
  School CalendarParent PortalShop
  Forms & HandbooksScholarshipsFinancial AidCamps

Meet Our Early Childhood Teachers

Brooke Huffman, Larkspur

Pam Kauffman, Morning Glory

Krisztina Van’t Veer, Woodrose

The first class play of the year is happening this week! Our 10th grade class will be taking the stage with their performance of “A Secret Garden,” and all are welcome to join us in the festival hall this Thursday at 6pm.

The performing arts has long been a powerful medium for getting us into our bodies, whether it’s through dancing, plays, or musical concerts. Theater is the physical embodiment of story that literally and figuratively moves us as human beings. It is a key component of our Waldorf education with its integration of thinking, feeling, and willing. We all practice theater together, with every student in each grade participating in a class play. It gives each class the chance to collaborate together, developing not only the individual skill set of the individual student, but also the overall skill set of the class. There is a home and opportunity for every student to contribute - whether it’s on the stage or behind the scenes, we all come together for the unitive art form of theater.

The first class play of the year is happening this week! Our 10th grade class will be taking the stage with their performance of “A Secret Garden,” and all are welcome to join us in the festival hall this Thursday at 6pm.

The performing arts has long been a powerful medium for getting us into our bodies, whether it’s through dancing, plays, or musical concerts. Theater is the physical embodiment of story that literally and figuratively moves us as human beings. It is a key component of our Waldorf education with its integration of thinking, feeling, and willing. We all practice theater together, with every student in each grade participating in a class play. It gives each class the chance to collaborate together, developing not only the individual skill set of the individual student, but also the overall skill set of the class. There is a home and opportunity for every student to contribute - whether it’s on the stage or behind the scenes, we all come together for the unitive art form of theater.

Festival time is always an abundant time! It was with great joy that our kindergarteners were able to celebrate the season with their families, classmates, and teachers during our annual harvest festival. Over the weeks prior, they worked diligently to craft harvest crowns, bake bread, churn butter, make jam, and bake apple crisp. On the morning of their harvest festival, they pressed apple cider and shared in good food, good company, and gratitude for nature’s many gifts- nourishing both our community spirit and our sense of the seasonal rhythms🍁

Festival time is always an abundant time! It was with great joy that our kindergarteners were able to celebrate the season with their families, classmates, and teachers during our annual harvest festival. Over the weeks prior, they worked diligently to craft harvest crowns, bake bread, churn butter, make jam, and bake apple crisp. On the morning of their harvest festival, they pressed apple cider and shared in good food, good company, and gratitude for nature’s many gifts- nourishing both our community spirit and our sense of the seasonal rhythms🍁

This is what an early start to the school day looks like for our seniors - an observation of the sunrise as part of their studies in optics, combined with a lesson in plein air painting (painting outdoors)! Their morning spent at Red Rocks is a perfect example of our interdisciplinary curriculum, which intentionally weaves lessons in the sciences, humanities, social studies, and the arts. An adventure at dawn to immerse ourselves in the wonders of nature becomes a meaningful lesson of the principles of light - inspiring an appreciation and understanding of both the beauty and science behind the daily transformation of the sunrise.

This is what an early start to the school day looks like for our seniors - an observation of the sunrise as part of their studies in optics, combined with a lesson in plein air painting (painting outdoors)! Their morning spent at Red Rocks is a perfect example of our interdisciplinary curriculum, which intentionally weaves lessons in the sciences, humanities, social studies, and the arts. An adventure at dawn to immerse ourselves in the wonders of nature becomes a meaningful lesson of the principles of light - inspiring an appreciation and understanding of both the beauty and science behind the daily transformation of the sunrise.

Join us for our new parent education series, Adventures in Anthroposophic Education! We will kick it off next week on Wednesday, October 9th at 5:30 PM as we explore how the unique approach of Waldorf Early Education fosters the development of key executive functioning skills in young children.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Executive functioning is a set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. These skills are essential for academic success, healthy relationships, adapting to unexpected situations, and managing life. They develop from early childhood into the mid-20s. One of the critical components to promote this development is providing a supportive environment that enables children to naturally learn these skills. In this presentation, we are grateful to have longtime Waldorf educator Laurie Clark demonstrate how the Waldorf Early Childhood program invites children to practice and form these abilities through enriching activities and a warm, calming atmosphere. We will also explore how learning is most efficient when it coincides with neurological development.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
A spaghetti dinner and childcare will be provided, RSVP by 10/7! Link in stories.

Join us for our new parent education series, Adventures in Anthroposophic Education! We will kick it off next week on Wednesday, October 9th at 5:30 PM as we explore how the unique approach of Waldorf Early Education fosters the development of key executive functioning skills in young children.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Executive functioning is a set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. These skills are essential for academic success, healthy relationships, adapting to unexpected situations, and managing life. They develop from early childhood into the mid-20s. One of the critical components to promote this development is providing a supportive environment that enables children to naturally learn these skills. In this presentation, we are grateful to have longtime Waldorf educator Laurie Clark demonstrate how the Waldorf Early Childhood program invites children to practice and form these abilities through enriching activities and a warm, calming atmosphere. We will also explore how learning is most efficient when it coincides with neurological development.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
A spaghetti dinner and childcare will be provided, RSVP by 10/7! Link in stories.

Happy 50th anniversary to The Denver Waldorf School!! For five decades, we have come together to inspire, nurture, and celebrate our students in becoming lifelong learners, transformative leaders, and creative change-makers. We are incredibly grateful for all of the courageous leaders, our intentional community, and the shared steadfast commitment to educating the whole child.

This past weekend we were able to celebrate during our Wonders of Waldorf festivities. We gathered to enjoy a showcase of our rich and meaningful K-12 curriculum as well much community merriment. Thanks to all of our families for joining us as well as our hardworking staff and volunteers for pulling it all together!

It’s not a coincidence that our anniversary also marks the first major festival of the year, Michaelmas. Michaelmas is a traditional Waldorf festival that reminds us to find our own strength and courage to overcome the darkness we face in our lives. It is a season that calls for us to acknowledge our worries yet move forward to affirm the goodness of life. And so, with this spirit of Michaelmas, we look forward to all the wonder to come in the next 50 years!

Happy 50th anniversary to The Denver Waldorf School!! For five decades, we have come together to inspire, nurture, and celebrate our students in becoming lifelong learners, transformative leaders, and creative change-makers. We are incredibly grateful for all of the courageous leaders, our intentional community, and the shared steadfast commitment to educating the whole child.

This past weekend we were able to celebrate during our Wonders of Waldorf festivities. We gathered to enjoy a showcase of our rich and meaningful K-12 curriculum as well much community merriment. Thanks to all of our families for joining us as well as our hardworking staff and volunteers for pulling it all together!

It’s not a coincidence that our anniversary also marks the first major festival of the year, Michaelmas. Michaelmas is a traditional Waldorf festival that reminds us to find our own strength and courage to overcome the darkness we face in our lives. It is a season that calls for us to acknowledge our worries yet move forward to affirm the goodness of life. And so, with this spirit of Michaelmas, we look forward to all the wonder to come in the next 50 years!

Come make your own Waldorf window star, plant some tulips, try your luck at our faculty dunk tank (!), enjoy complimentary snacks and cake 🎂, and celebrate 50 years of The Denver Waldorf School - TOMORROW it’s all happening at our Wonders of Waldorf celebration from 2 - 5pm! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The celebratory event will include offerings from each of our grades to highlight the richness and beauty of Waldorf, from our youngest ECE students all the way through our high school grades!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Our anniversary also marks the first major festival of the year, Michaelmas. Michaelmas is a traditional Waldorf festival that reminds us to find our own strength and courage to overcome the darkness we face in our lives. It is a season that calls for us to acknowledge our worries yet move forward to affirm the goodness of life. And so, with this spirit of Michaelmas, we look forward to celebrating the beginnings of our school and community.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The event is open and free to our school community and all those interested in learning more about our Waldorf education. 🌟

Come make your own Waldorf window star, plant some tulips, try your luck at our faculty dunk tank (!), enjoy complimentary snacks and cake 🎂, and celebrate 50 years of The Denver Waldorf School - TOMORROW it’s all happening at our Wonders of Waldorf celebration from 2 - 5pm! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The celebratory event will include offerings from each of our grades to highlight the richness and beauty of Waldorf, from our youngest ECE students all the way through our high school grades!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Our anniversary also marks the first major festival of the year, Michaelmas. Michaelmas is a traditional Waldorf festival that reminds us to find our own strength and courage to overcome the darkness we face in our lives. It is a season that calls for us to acknowledge our worries yet move forward to affirm the goodness of life. And so, with this spirit of Michaelmas, we look forward to celebrating the beginnings of our school and community.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The event is open and free to our school community and all those interested in learning more about our Waldorf education. 🌟

Our 8th grade classroom for the week is SEACAMP in San Diego! They’ve enjoyed days full of kayaking, snorkeling, boogie boarding, lab work, and learning all about marine life 🐬. Our annual class trips are a beloved aspect of our education - giving much opportunity for growth individually and collectively as a class community. We look forward to hearing their stories and adventures!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Our 8th grade classroom for the week is SEACAMP in San Diego! They’ve enjoyed days full of kayaking, snorkeling, boogie boarding, lab work, and learning all about marine life 🐬. Our annual class trips are a beloved aspect of our education - giving much opportunity for growth individually and collectively as a class community. We look forward to hearing their stories and adventures!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Time for that Spartan spirit! We have home volleyball games on THREE days this week, starting this afternoon! Our middle school B squad will hit the court at 4:15 and our high school varsity team will play at 5:15. We will also have games Thursday and Friday, so mark your calendars to join us in the stands! We are always so proud of our teams for displaying growth, teamwork, and athletic joy at each and every practice and game.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And save the date to cheer on our staff vs student volleyball game happening on 10/4! Go Spartans! 🏐🌟

Time for that Spartan spirit! We have home volleyball games on THREE days this week, starting this afternoon! Our middle school B squad will hit the court at 4:15 and our high school varsity team will play at 5:15. We will also have games Thursday and Friday, so mark your calendars to join us in the stands! We are always so proud of our teams for displaying growth, teamwork, and athletic joy at each and every practice and game.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And save the date to cheer on our staff vs student volleyball game happening on 10/4! Go Spartans! 🏐🌟

If you wander our hallways on bread day, your nose will surely guide you to our early childhood classrooms for the warming and delicious smell of fresh baked bread. Bread baking is part of our weekly rhythm in our early childhood classrooms. It is a time for our little ones to understand how our food is made, to participate in purposeful work, to appreciate the entire process and all of the smells and tastes that go with it, and to celebrate the importance of gathering around the table. There is much gratitude in it all. Nourishment in every way! 🍞
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

If you wander our hallways on bread day, your nose will surely guide you to our early childhood classrooms for the warming and delicious smell of fresh baked bread. Bread baking is part of our weekly rhythm in our early childhood classrooms. It is a time for our little ones to understand how our food is made, to participate in purposeful work, to appreciate the entire process and all of the smells and tastes that go with it, and to celebrate the importance of gathering around the table. There is much gratitude in it all. Nourishment in every way! 🍞
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Stone carving requires a lot of hard work from our hands, but also grit, perseverance, and a lot of sand paper too 😊. In our high school, in addition to integrating the arts into our academic lessons, our students also have a period of art each day - a breath out full of creativity and beauty. From printmaking, to black and white drawing, to sculpture, to stone carving - each medium and technique is taught at an intentional stage when it can best support development. By the time our students are in their senior year, they are ready for the opportunity to work with the hard material of stone. It is hard work, andcannot be mastered with physical exertion alone- it requires both precision and flexibility, patience and perseverance, observation and imagination- shaping the stone as much as the artist along the way.

Stone carving requires a lot of hard work from our hands, but also grit, perseverance, and a lot of sand paper too 😊. In our high school, in addition to integrating the arts into our academic lessons, our students also have a period of art each day - a breath out full of creativity and beauty. From printmaking, to black and white drawing, to sculpture, to stone carving - each medium and technique is taught at an intentional stage when it can best support development. By the time our students are in their senior year, they are ready for the opportunity to work with the hard material of stone. It is hard work, andcannot be mastered with physical exertion alone- it requires both precision and flexibility, patience and perseverance, observation and imagination- shaping the stone as much as the artist along the way.

The Denver Waldorf School’s 50th anniversary is less than two weeks away. For five decades, we have come together to inspire, nurture, and celebrate our students in becoming lifelong learners, transformative leaders, and creative change-makers. We are incredibly grateful for all of the courageous leaders, our intentional community, and the shared steadfast commitment to educating the whole child.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Please join us in celebrating our journey as well as the first major festival of the year, Michaelmas. On September 28th from 2 - 5pm, we will come together to share in the Wonders of Waldorf - a celebration and showcase of our curriculum and community.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The celebratory event will include offerings from each of our grades to highlight the richness and beauty of Waldorf, complimentary catered snacks (plus Kona Ice for purchase), children’s activities (including Waldorf window star making, tulip bulb planting, and everyone’s favorite faculty dunk tank), and much community merriment. The event is open and free to our school community and all those interested in learning more about our Waldorf education. 🌟

The Denver Waldorf School’s 50th anniversary is less than two weeks away. For five decades, we have come together to inspire, nurture, and celebrate our students in becoming lifelong learners, transformative leaders, and creative change-makers. We are incredibly grateful for all of the courageous leaders, our intentional community, and the shared steadfast commitment to educating the whole child.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Please join us in celebrating our journey as well as the first major festival of the year, Michaelmas. On September 28th from 2 - 5pm, we will come together to share in the Wonders of Waldorf - a celebration and showcase of our curriculum and community.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The celebratory event will include offerings from each of our grades to highlight the richness and beauty of Waldorf, complimentary catered snacks (plus Kona Ice for purchase), children’s activities (including Waldorf window star making, tulip bulb planting, and everyone’s favorite faculty dunk tank), and much community merriment. The event is open and free to our school community and all those interested in learning more about our Waldorf education. 🌟

The 7th grade physics block unfolding with careful observation, illustration, and writing. In our curriculum, content is delivered through a block teaching approach. Students are immersed into a subject for typically four weeks as their “main lesson” for the day, which is about two hours long in the morning. This approach allows for deep engagement and exploration of the material, making way for sustained concentration and lasting learning.

The 7th grade physics block unfolding with careful observation, illustration, and writing. In our curriculum, content is delivered through a block teaching approach. Students are immersed into a subject for typically four weeks as their “main lesson” for the day, which is about two hours long in the morning. This approach allows for deep engagement and exploration of the material, making way for sustained concentration and lasting learning.

Load More Follow on Instagram

PreK-12th Grade

Preschool and Kindergarten
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
Arts
Athletics
World Languages

Join Us

Want to learn more about our DWS community? We’d love to meet you!

How to Apply
Ways to Give
Careers
Events
Summer Camps

Connect with us

The Denver Waldorf School

2100 S. Pennsylvania St.
Denver, CO 80210
p) 303-777-0531
f) 303-744-1216
admissions@denverwaldorf.org

© 2024 The Denver Waldorf School. All rights reserved

Privacy Preference Center

Privacy Preferences

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.Ok