Susannah Moghbel (Eurythmy Teacher) Susannah joined DWS in August 2016 after moving to Denver from Mt. Shasta in northern California where she lived for 11 years. She grew up primarily on the West Coast and says the best part of her childhood was spent on Orcas Island in Washington. The daughter of a Waldorf teacher, Susannah graduated from with the first 8th grade class at San Francisco Waldorf and feels she has been teaching her whole life. Her vision for the DWS Eurythmy program is to make it a strong and vital part of the school with adult classes, annual performances and perhaps a future high school performing group. During personal time, Susannah loves to garden, bake and work on art and crafts projects. Her husband Bobak Moghbel also loves to bake bread and has a small bread business. Their 14-year old daughter Tara is a high school freshman. You may contact Susannah at susannahmoghbel@denverwaldorf.org.
Jeff McClendon (Music Teacher) leads chorus and orchestra instruction at DWS, along with teaching Recorder and Vocal Music in 3rd through 5th Grade. He studied voice, bassoon and composition at West Georgia College where he received his bachelor of arts degree. Next, Jeff earned his master’s degree 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. Jeff 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. You may contact Jeff at jeffmcclendon@denverwaldorf.org.
Kevin Gwinn – High School Chorus Teacher
Joined DWHS – October 2016
An active music educator and singer, Kevin Gwinn has a passion for music that he loves to share and instill in students of all ages. Along with teaching at The Denver Waldorf School, Kevin teaches at the The Colorado Springs Conservatory while maintaining a private voice studio. As a singer, Kevin regularly appears in the Denver area in operas, musicals and concerts. National highlights include Cosi fan tutte in York, Pennsylvania and Don Giovanni in Yakima, Washington. Local engagements include the role of Parpignol in Colorado Symphony’s production of Puccini’s La Boheme and as Uriel in the Lakewood Chorale’s production of Haydn’s Creation. He has twice been named a finalist in the Denver Lyric Opera Guild’s Competition for Young Singers. When Kevin is not singing or teaching, he enjoys watching Ole Miss sports (Hotty Toddy!) and traveling to warm places. You may contact Kevin at kevingwinn@denverwaldorf.org.
Sara Fierer – Strings Teacher
Joined DWS – August 2000
Sara has been teaching at The Denver Waldorf School since 2000 and in the high school since 2014. She is thrilled to work with the strings students in the high school orchestra as well as with students in our lower grades – she loves sharing her joy of music with children, inspiring them to have a great time playing instruments. She maintains a private studio and plays with her string trio as well as with the Boulder Philharmonic. Prior to moving to Colorado, Sara taught as an orchestra director for three years near New York City. Sara earned a Bachelor of Music in cello performance from Oberlin along with a Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin in Environmental Studies. Additionally, Sara earned a master’s degree in cello performance and completed coursework in music education from The University of Texas at Austin. You may contact Sara at sarafierer@denverwaldorf.org.
Lucas Alexander – Winds Teacher
Joined DWS – August 2016
You may contact Lucas at lucasalexander@denverwaldorf.org.
Mary Spotts (Reading Specialist) has been teaching at DWS since 1997. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in education from Rhode Island College. She is certified in the F.A.S.T. remedial program from Denver Academy and has her reading and writing certification from the Cherry Creek School district. Wilson Barbara Wise, Language! and Orton Gillingham are among the many remedial reading courses she has completed. Mary regularly attends Reading in the Rockies, Courage to Risk and Colorado International Reading Association conferences to remain current in her field. She serves on the educational committee of the Rocky Mountain International Dyslexia Association. Mary is constantly amazed by the creativity and warmth of the students she teaches. She feels a deep sense of gratitude for the parents that share their children with her. You may contact Mary at ext. 186.
Deborah Wolf (Handwork) has been teaching at DWS since 1990. She was born in New Orleans and moved to Colorado to attend Colorado College and the University of Denver School of Social Work, where she earned her Master’s degree. She taught in the DWS Preschool Kindergarten for three years, and then studied class teaching at Rudolf Steiner College in Sacramento, California. In 2005 she graduated her second 8th Grade class, and since then has held the handwork program. Deb completed the Handwork Training at Sunbridge College in 2010. You may contact Deb at ext. 174.
Magally Luna (Spanish Program Director)
Magally joined The Denver Waldorf School in August 2000. She 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. You may contact Magally at magallyluna@denverwaldorf.org.
McKenna Day (High School Spanish Teacher) Mckenna joined DWS in August 2016 as our second High School Spanish Teacher and also teaches 6th grade math. Having attended The Denver Waldorf School from pre-K through eighth grade, Mckenna went on to graduate as valedictorian from Smoky Hill High School and later earned a degree in Spanish from the University of Colorado, Denver. She taught at Bruce Randolph Middle School before finding her way back to DWS. Her loves include taekwondo, volleyball and travel – she has studied abroad in the Dominican Republic and has visited Costa Rica multiple times. During the summer of 2016, Mckenna is spent time in Thailand working at the Elephant Refuge and Education Center.
David Dunn (Woodworking)
David came to The Denver Waldorf School as a full-time teacher in 2017 after having taught blacksmith classes at the school since 2010. He also worked with at-risk youth in the Denver area as a teacher and counselor at Denver Children’s Home for eight years and enjoyed being a wilderness counselor with Alternative Homes for youth for four years. David began blacksmithing on a whim back in 2002 and loves spending time in nature – bring on the skiing, biking, hiking and fly fishing. David can be reached at daviddunn@denverwaldorf.org or x160.
Michael Quinn (Athletic Director, Head Boys and Girls Basketball Coach) joined DWS in August of 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 is a graduate of South High School and attended Metropolitan State College. You may contact Michael at ext. 112.
Nancy Blanning (Therapeutic Support) has been teaching in Waldorf settings since 1982. After 17 years in the Waldorf Preschool Kindergarten, she began to offer therapeutic support lessons for children in our school. Her education includes a BA degree from CU Boulder in English, with teaching credentials, and a four-year therapeutic education training. She also serves as a board member with the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN). You may contact Nancy at ext. 164.
Anamaria Leighton (Therapeutic Support) offers therapeutic support lessons for children in our school. She has a Master of Science degree in Education from Sunbridge College in New York. Anamaria may be reached x161.