Faculty and Staff


Donna Brooks – Early Childhood Teacher

Missy Byrne – Grade 1

Elizabeth English – Music and Orchestra Teacher

Christine Grafft – Spanish Teacher

Nicole Griffith – Handwork; Early Childhood Assistant

Lynda Julian – Grades 4-5

Kathy Matlin – Grade 8

Kathy Paczynski – Grade 2-3

Ieva Scoggin -  Early Childhood Teacher

Sarah Westlund – Parent Child Teacher

Debbie Dudeck – Grade 6-7


Donna Brooks – Early Childhood Teacher

Teaching Experience:
• Began teaching at DVWS in 2000
• Taught 14 years in public school system in grades 3-6

Education/Certifications/Degrees:
• Waldorf Early Childhood Training at Lifeways in East Troy, WI
• Masters in Clinical Social Work
• Bachelor’s in Education

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Missy Byrne – Grade 1

Teaching Experience:

• Early Childhood Assistant Teacher, Chicago Waldorf School 2003-2010
• Nanny/Teacher: Waldorf-inspired childcare 2000-2011
• Early Childhood Assistant Teacher, Da Vinci Waldorf School 2011-2012

 

Education/Certifications/Degrees:
•  Waldorf teacher training – Arcturus, Chicago
• Attended University of Oklahoma in Communication Studies

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Elizabeth English – Music and Orchestra Teacher

Teaching Experience:
• Began teaching at DVWS in 2003
• YMCA, Grand Haven MI – Piano & Dance Lessons
• Professional Seamstress 25 yrs.
• Pattern maker 12 yrs.
• Private piano teacher – Mt. Prospect 3 yrs.
• Private flute, violin, cello teacher 5 yrs.

Education/Certifications/Degrees:
• Waldorf Teacher training certificate – Sunbridge College
• Classroom music/handwork teacher – 5 yrs.
• 10 yrs. dance training
• 5 yrs. flute training
• 4 yrs. voice training
• 15 yrs. formal piano training

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Christine Grafft – Spanish Teacher

Teaching Experience:
• Cesar Chavez Multicultural Academic Center, Chicago – PreK teacher, Dual Language Program 2000 – 2001; First Grade Teacher, Dual Language Program, 1999 – 2000; 1996 – 1997
• Jardin Infantil Pudu, Valparaiso, Chili – ESL Preschool Teacher 1997 -1999
• Independent English Teacher, Vina de Mar, Chile.

Education/Certifications/Degrees:
• Chicago State University, Chicago, IL Master of Science in Bilingual Education, 2002
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education with concentration in Spanish

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Nicole Griffith – Handwork Teacher; Early Childhood Assistant

Teaching Experience:
• Began teaching at WEWS in 2004
• WEWS Extended Day Director since 2005
• Volunteer Early Childhood Assistant at WEWS
• Volunteer Parent/Child Assistant at WEWS

Education/Certifications/Degrees:
• Ongoing conference attendance of AWSNA-sponsored events
• BA in German Language & Literature and History of Art

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Lynda Julian – Grade 4-5 Teacher

Teaching Experience:
• High School Spanish Teacher, Cloverdale H.S., Chesterfield County, VA 3 years
• Bilingual Teacher, Sunny Hill School, Carpentersville, IL 8 years
• District Translator, Barrington CUSD220, Barrington, IL 5 years
• Preschool Teacher, Barrington Park District, Barrington, IL 1 year
• Spanish teacher, Hough Street School, Barrington, IL 4 years
• Spanish Teacher, Discovery Language, 4 years

Education/Certifications/Degrees:
• BA Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
• MAT University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
• Bilingual Endorsement, National Louise University

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Kathy Matlin – Grade 8 Teacher

Teaching Experience:
• Faculty Chair WEWS
• Began teaching at WEWS in 2003
• Class Teacher Grades 4-8 – Chicago Waldorf School
• Tutor – Grades 1-Adult
• Parent/Child Assistant – Baltimore Waldorf School

Education/Certifications/Degrees:
• Waldorf Remedial Training – Completed 1st year
• Waldorf Teacher Certificate – Emerson College
• State of Illinois Teaching Certificate – K-9
• BA Elementary Education – Northeastern Illinois University

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Kathy Paczynski – Grades 2-3

Teaching Experience:
• Began teaching movement education at WEWS in 2007
• 1st Grade teacher at WEWS 2006-2007
• Movement Education Teacher WEWS 2007-2010
• Afterschool care for Early Childhood at Front Range Waldorf School
• Employed in day care in Colorado
• 14 years teaching experience in public and private schools

Education/Certifications/Degrees:
• Continuing student at Great Lakes Waldorf Teacher Training Institute
• MEd Education, Curriculum and Instruction National-Louis University
• Illinois Teaching Certificate K-9
• BS Biology

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Ieva Scoggin – Early Childhood Teacher

Teaching Experience:
• Volunteer Parent/Child Assistant at WEWS, 2006-2007
• Parent/Child Assistant at WEWS 2007-2008
• Parent/Child Teacher at WEWS 2008-2011
• Robin’s Nest Preschool Teacher 2009-2011
• Language and Geography Teacher at Latvian School of Chicago, 2005-2006

Education/Certifications/Degrees:
• Certificate in Waldorf  Teacher Training – Arcturus Chicago
• BA in Theory and Administration of Culture, Latvian Academy of Culture

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Sarah Westlund – Parent Child Teacher

Teaching Experience:
• Assisted and substituted for Early Childhood teachers and assistants at Water’s Edge, 2010-2011

Education/Certifications/Degrees:
• Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, BA in French Translation and Business

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