Chicago Waldorf School

Our Business Office Manager Linda Abrams is a Chicago native who grew up as the youngest of two in West Rogers Park.  After mastering Boone Elementary and Mather High School, she headed south to the University of Miami where she majored in finance (one of only 3 women in the Business School) and received her BBA.  She returned to Chicago after 4 years, working as an internal auditor with the Federal Reserve Bank, where she remained for 10 years. She then began a 20-year stint with the Bank of Commerce & Industry.  Linda joined CWS in 2003 and finally found her career home.

Elena Baba trained and graduated from the London School of Eurythmy. Her fields of study included Singing, Poetry, the Art of Declamation, Painting, Anthroposophy and the Waldorf Curriculum as well as Eurythmy.  She has pioneered Eurythmy for 18 years, performing and teaching in many institutions in  and outside the  Waldorf  Community on the West Coast and in  the Mid-West.

Nathaniel Braddock is a faculty member of the Chicago Waldorf School and the Old Town School of Folk Music whose specialties include Jazz, Indie-Rock, British and American Folk, African and International Fingerstyle guitar, Ensemble music, and Music Theory as well as working extensively with teens.  He performs regularly and tours in North America, Asia, and Europe with multiple groups, most currently the Occidental Brothers Dance Band International--a multi-ethnic group performing African popular dance music.  He is a three-time grantee and two-time review panelist for the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs CAAP grant.

Susan Bruck grew up in Detroit, Michigan and Rock Island, Illinois. She received a BS in Chemistry and JD (Jurist Doctorate) from the University of Illinois. Susan also attended the Art Institute of Chicago.  After discovering Waldorf education, Susan completed her teacher training at the Arcturus Rudolf Steiner Education Center and began teaching in the Early Childhood program at CWS. This year she will be splitting her teaching duties between Early Childhood and the Parent-Child program. In addition to her CWS teaching, Susan taught Hebrew for 6 years and plays clarinet with the 100% Kosher Ham It Up Band at her synagogue, as well as with clarinet group the Licorice Sticks. She also conducts trainings on the art of puppetry.

Christine Culbert holds a BSN from Northwestern University and worked in the area of maternal-child health in hospital settings for 10 years. Now an RN, she completed her Waldorf teacher training and B.A. at the Waldorf Institute of Mercy College in Detroit. After serving as a lead teacher in the Parent-Child program at the Chicago Waldorf School from 1995-2001, Christine began her work as an Early Childhood teacher, also serving as Early Childhood Level Chair. She is a member of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America. She is also the proud mother of two Waldorf students and personally enjoys playing piano, lyre and recorder as well as handwork arts including spinning, knitting, felting and dyeing.

Laura Donkel has taught in the Early Childhood program for 8 years. She holds a BA in International Business and Spanish from St. Norbert College as well as an MS in Advertising from the School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She received her Waldorf teacher training certification from the Arcturus Rudolf Steiner Education Program in Chicago. She currently serves on the CWS College of Teachers, the Buildings and Grounds Committee, the Reaccreditation Steering Committee and the PTO Education Committee. Laura is the proud parent of 2 children, one of whom graduated from CWS last year and the other of whom is a freshman in the high school.

Claude was born in Paris, France and came to America at age 21. She had four years of experience as an early childhood assistant in the Chicago Waldorf School before becoming a full time early childhood teacher for one year at the Great Oaks School in Evanston. She joined the Chicago Waldorf School faculty as a handwork teacher while finishing her three years Waldorf teacher training at Sunbridge College. Claude has always been interested in the healing aspects of the arts and just finished a three years remedial program again at Sunbridge College. She has been with the Chicago Waldorf School for now 19 years and still thinks that she has the best job in the world.

High School Office Manager Melanie Elicker hails from Roaring Spring and Woodbury, Pennsylvania.  She earned her B.S. degree in education from California University of Pennsylvania where she was a Board of Governor’s Scholar. In 2006, Melanie began teaching as a high school theater instructor and artistic director, first at the Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte, NC, then with Hickory Ridge High School in Harrisburg. Moving to Chicago, she worked as a private instructor for children with special needs.  She also began improv training at iO Training Centers and Second City, where she is currently in the directing program. Her extensive vocal training includes study at Chicago School of Professional Singing, Loyola University and Pitt University among others. She also performs with sketch troupe Coalmine Canary.

Music instructor Christopher Fiore received his B.M. (Cello Performance) at Cleveland Institute of Music and is currently working on his M.M. at DePaul University. He has studied with Nancy Hair, Eric Dahlin, Pam Devenport, Tanya Carey and Stephen Geber with additional studies including work at the Hartt School, Meadowmount Music School, Wethersfield and Chamber Music Festival. He is a former member of the Connecticut Youth Symphony, Pioneer Valley Symphony, Manchester Symphony, New Britain Symphony, Anreao String Quartet and Opus 89 Orchestra. He is also former faculty of Rainbow Strings, (Cleveland, OH) and Bolton Elementary School. Chris also serves as faculty with the Ogontz Suzuki Institute (NH).

Born and raised in Wyoming on a sheep and cattle ranch homesteaded by Mormon pioneers, Front Office Manager Maureen Flannery guides our school through its daily needs including student care and providing the face of the school to students, families and guests.  Maureen majored in English lit with minors in philosophy, education, speech and drama at Creighton University in Omaha, where she also earned her Master’s in English Literature.   She and husband, Dan, discovered Waldorf education and Maureen became  involved in Chicago Waldorf School from its inception. As part of her involvement with CWS over the years, Maureen has made more than her share of baked goods, tree houses and dolls to contribute to decades of Holiday Fairs, Mayfairs and various other fundraisers.  She also served as Board Chair for 8 years. Another lifelong love has been teaching English as a Foreign Language to adult immigrants, which she has done for 35 years. In addition, Maureen is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated poet with works included in 200 anthologies and journals as well as having released 5 books of her own works.

Brian Gleichauf began his career teaching science in the public school system, first in Michigan, then in New York. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Physics from Michigan State University, a master’s degree in Theology from McCormick Theological Seminary and a Waldorf High School Teacher Training Certificate from the Center for Anthroposophy in Michigan. After his public school experience, Brian worked for 3 years as a church outreach and youth director, returning to teaching after discovering Waldorf methods in 2000. He has not looked back since. Brian currently teaches math and physics in the high school program. He also oversees the high school community service program as well as spearheading environmental projects including recycling, worm composting and beekeeping.

Administrative Director Leukos Goodwin BA in Art History from Davison College, an MA Ed. from Antioch University and an Ed.D (pending dissertation) from the University of Toledo.  His hands-on experience in Waldorf education has led him through teaching stints at Pine Hill Waldorf School in Wilton N.H., Ashwood Waldorf School in Rockport, MD, Cape Ann Waldorf School. Prior to his work with Waldorf education, Luke’s career included work with Beverly Farms, MA and the Sylvania Schools system in Sylvania, OH, where he also served as Executive Committee Chair, College of Teachers Chair, Faculty Chair, Pedagogical Chair, Evaluation Chair, and as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Barbara Huckabay began her teaching career after previously working as an editor, a childbirth instructor and raising four children (all of whom attended the Chicago Waldorf School.) She graduated from Wheaton College in 1971 with a double major in French and English literature and edited the Journal of the American Judicature Society until her oldest child was born in 1977. When she enrolled her children at CWS she had the reaction that many parents share, “I wish I could have gone to a Waldorf school.” So she did the next best thing by training to become a Waldorf teacher and earning her certification in 1994. She has taught history, literature and journalism in the high school ever since. Mrs. Huckabay enjoys traveling to unusual places and tending her flower garden.

Jim Kotz received his degree in Applied Math and Physics from the University of Michigan, receiving a graduate fellowship at Wayne State University. While in grad school, Jim wrote a thesis on the electrical and thermal properties of a type of conductive glass, which now has application in a type of computer memory chip. It was also during this time that Jim was first introduced to Waldorf education through the son of a lab associate. After completion of his PhD, he completed his Waldorf teacher training and began to teach part-time at Highland Hall Waldorf School. Jim’s stated goal is “to work with colleagues to strengthen an already well-integrated high school program to further meet the educational needs of 21st century adolescents, especially in regard to their relationship to science and technology.”

Nancy Matson has a long history of excellence with the Chicago Waldorf School including 6 years as an assistant with the Parent-Child program, primary teacher for the inaugural year of the Nursery program, 6 years as an assistant in the Kindergarten program and 5 years and counting as a lead teacher in the Kindergarten program. A graduate of the Arcturus Teacher Training Program, Nancy also attended SIU and received an Associate Degree in Fine Arts and Graphics from the American Academy of Art in Chicago. Nancy and her husband, Al, have four children, all of whom attended the Chicago Waldorf School. She enjoys doing anything with her family, working with children and their families, learning more about Anthroposophy, painting, gardening, and, of course, laughter.

Margaret and her husband Tom have been connected to CWS since 1974 when they and a few other families helped start the first Waldorf kindergarten in Chicago. Their oldest son Max attended that kindergarten, daughter Jessica attended K through 8, son Jeremy: K through 8 and son John: K through HS. Margaret has a BA in Philosophy from UIC and an MA in Learning Disabilities from NEIU. She worked on and off (between children) at Esperanza Schoo , a day school for children and adults with developmental disabilities. She has worked at the Chicago Waldorf School since 1997 as an Educational Support teacher. Margaret participated in the 3 year Association of Healing Education training, is a member of the International Dyslexia Association, Learning Disabilities Association and the Association of Educational Therapists.

Admissions Director Lisa Payton is nothing if not well-rounded.  The 2nd of 6 children born to a French-Canadian mother and a Detroit military man, Lisa was born in France, living in many countries and states during her formative years. She attended an international high school in the Netherlands for grades 9-11 before graduating from Highland Park High School just north of Chicago. She received her degree in Psychology from Eastern Michigan University and went to work for the University of Michigan. There she worked in program development, conflict resolution assistance with students & faculty and creation of integrative frameworks for student learning around social issues.  She also worked as the Critical Incident Response Coordinator for U of M and Program Director for the College of Engineering.  Lisa joined the CWS staff in 2007.

Originally from Rogers Park, Breanne Petersen travelled the world before returning to teach at CWS. She received the Congress Bundestag Scholarship and spent her senior year in Herne, Germany. She continued her study of languages, returning to attend the Residential College at the University of Michigan for immersion study in Spanish. She spent her junior year of college in Freiburg, Germany, and graduated with a double major in German and Organizational Studies. She was accepted into the University of Michigan social work master’s program, but discovered the Chicago Waldorf School and her true career path. Breanne taught German at CWS for 5 years while completing her Waldorf teaching certification. She took her first regular class in 2006 and is currently in the 3rd grade with her class.

World Languages teacher Margaret Rose is a native German speaker, born in Chicago and raised in Hamburg, Germany where she attended the Rudolf Steiner School Hamburg – Altona and the Chicago Waldorf School as an exchange student. After studying violin making and relocating to Chicago in 2004 she has been teaching German privately to children and adults of all levels.  She joined the DANK School and Language Loop School in 2006 and teaches the after school program at Pilgrim Lutheran and German in the High School. She is currently pursuing a certificate teaching German as a foreign language from the Goethe Institute. When she is not teaching she enjoys playing the violin in an orchestra, building and repairing violins and learning a new language.

Assane Seck hails from Senegal, West Africa and is a Wolof Griot (musical storyteller by way of 100s of years of family heritage and tradition). He has travelled the world over teaching and exposing people to the culture of Senegal, West Africa. Mr. Seck’s artistic life experience is composed of the sharing of various talents: Aside from his drumming talents, he is also a traditional African dancer, a stilt walker, a carpenter and a tailor. Mr. Seck’s first mission when coming to the states was to work with the world-renowned Muntu Dance Theater of Chicago. Assane is a key Chicago artist in infiltrating the legacy of the great dance matriarch – Katherine Dunham through youth programming and working with professional adult artists. We are fortunate and happy to have him instructing our students in African drumming techniques.

Lara Shortridge was born in Winona, MN. She received her BFA in Theatre from Millikin University in Decatur, IL, working in the summers as a teacher. She graduated in 2003 and after a year as an Actor Educator in public and private schools across MN and WI, she moved to Chicago to pursue an acting career. Even with all the fun she had living the bohemian life, Lara truly missed teaching and the joy it brought her. Luckily she came across the Chicago Waldorf School, and enrolled in the Arcturus Teacher Training program. After a year she moved to New York and attended Sunbridge College where she received her MSEd in Elementary Education with a specialization in Waldorf methods. She is very happy to be at CWS and is currently the Class Teacher for the Class of 2020.

Jeffrey Spade is Director of Music at the Chicago Waldorf School and has been active in the Waldorf movement for 20 years. He served as the vocal music director at the Kimberton Waldorf School form 1988-1996 and director of vocal music, instrumental music and drama for the Rudolf Steiner Upper School in Manhattan from 1996-2002.  Jeffrey’s formal training includes a B.S. in Music Education and an M.M. in Vocal Performance from Westchester University in Pennsylvania. A frequent workshop leader for AWSNA and Waldorf conferences, Jeffrey also is a stage director for professional opera, guest artist and conductor. He also maintains a private voice studio and teaches courses for the Arcturus Rudolf Steiner Education Program. Jeffrey continues to perform in a number of musical settings.

After college, Lauri served as an officer in the U.S. Navy stationed in Edzell, Scotland. During her 4-year tenure as a Supply Corps officer she was responsible for conducting numerous leadership and management training seminars. After resigning her commission she attended Loyola University Chicago where she received a Masters Degree in Human Resources and co-taught a class on the economics of risk management.  Lauri then worked as the Director of Human Resources at Midwestern University for several years before leaving the workforce to care for her young children. In May, 2007 Lauri received her Waldorf Teaching Certificate from the Arcturus Rudolf Steiner Teacher Training Program and is currently a class teacher at CWS. Lauri is also the very proud mother of four children attending the Chicago Waldorf School.

Math teacher Katy Sullivan earned her B.A. from Hamilton College and an M.S.Ed. from Northwestern University. She has used her teaching talents in a variety of academic settings including a residential high school for students with learning disabilities, a Jewish Orthodox high school, summer programs for English language learners (both adults and children), at-risk middle school students, and children with a variety of special needs (physical, emotional, and cognitive).   Katy joined the CWS faculty in 2008.

John Trevillion teaches the 6th grade of his 1-8 grade class as well as teaching humanities in the high school and providing middle school class teacher support in all blocks and academic skills. He received his BA in English from the University of  Mercy College in Detroit. He went on to receive his Master of Liberal Studies degree from the University of Detroit before completing his Waldorf teacher Certification from the Waldorf Institute of Mercy College. An avid gardener and landscaper, John has been a Waldorf teacher since 1982.

Carol has been a teacher for 30 years. She is a graduate of National Louis University and holds a degree in Education and English. She received her certification in Waldorf education at the Arcturus Waldorf Teacher Training Program, where she has continued to teach courses. Beginning her Chicago Waldorf School career as an Early Childhood teacher, Carol has taken one class from 1st through 8th grade and is currently in the 5th grade of a second class. While on sabbatical between her classes, Carol worked at the Te Ra Waldorf School in New Zealand. Carol has served as the Grade School Chair and on the Teacher Development Committee. She is the AWSNA delegate for the Chicago Waldorf School and is the current Chair of the College of Teachers. She is the proud parent of two Waldorf 12-year graduates.

Sculptural arts and metalwork teacher Frances Vig was born and raised in Britain where she attended Christ Church College, Canterbury (Dip. Ed.) and Emerson College, Forest Row, London (Foundation Studies and Arts Training). Frances has been very actively involved in Waldorf education for years, taking two classes from grades 1-8 as a class teacher at CWS while also working as a subject teacher specializing in clay modeling. In addition to her current high school arts classes, she serves as a student advisor and is actively involved in Teacher Training through Arcturus. She has taught at Rudolf Steiner College in Sacramento, Sunbridge College in New York, Antioch, the Center for Anthroposophy in New Hampshire, Novalis in Minneapolis and The Rudolf Steiner Center in Toronto.

Born in Brooklyn and raised in southern California, Ilene Warfield graduated early from the very high school featured in the teen drama The OC.  From there she continued her education with several years of college (including UC Berkeley) and a year abroad in Bordeaux, France. Before finding her home here at CWS, Ilene blazed her trail through the world as a fact-checker for a movie-in-video release magazine, the first database manager at Kellogg Graduate School of Business and, in the coolest job ever category, as a free-lance puzzle tester.  Beginning her 11 years with CWS as a parent-child assistant in Ms. Culbert’s class, Ilene has gone on to hold positions as the Front Office Manager, Board Recording Secretary, CWS Database Manager (where she developed the first database for the school) and Grade School Registrar. Currently she serves as Bulletin editor, Grade School Office Manager and Human Resources Manager.

Eurythmy teacher Susanne Zipperlen is a Native of Sweden, where she attended college and received her degree in Economics. After working at an anthroposophically-based school for children with special needs outside Stockholm, she has lived mostly in the United States. Susanne finished her Eurythmy training in Spring Valley, NY in 1994, continuing her study through the Pedagogical Teacher Training at Antioch and Therapeutic Eurythmy training in England. Her teaching experiences since arriving in Chicago includes the Esperanza Community, Great Oaks School, Singing Winds Waldorf School and the Chicago Waldorf School. She also teaches in the Arcturus Rudolf Steiner Teacher Training Program. Susanne performs together with other eurythmists in the Mid-West Eurythmy Group.