Handbook
School Organization
The Chicago Waldorf School is a self-administered, collaboratively led institution. This means that it is free to be administered as its key leadership bodies decide. The three key leadership bodies are the College of Teachers, the Board of Trustees and the Administrator.
The College of Teachers is responsible for the Cultural Realm of the school. It deepens the pedagogy and actualizes the mission of the school through curriculum development, teaching, teacher selection, teacher evaluation and mentoring, student selection, strategic planning and mission renewal.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the Rights Realm of the school. It keeps the mission of the school in focus and holds the College of Teachers and the Administrator responsible for accomplishing the Mission. The Board is responsible for the legal, strategic planning, budget approval, fundraising leadership and risk management oversight affairs of the school.
The Administrator is responsible for the Economic Realm of the school. The Administrator manages and develops resources in service of the mission of the school. He implements policies approved by the College and Board, plans and budgets, manages human resources implements strategic plans, facilitates and ensures the smooth
day-to-day operations of the school.
The College of Teachers, Board of Trustees and Administrator and Parent-Teacher Organization Chairs work together to refine the mission and vision of the Chicago Waldorf School.
Organizational Agreements
• Those who take up the responsibility of leadership roles in the Chicago Waldorf School do so in the spirit of servant leadership, guided by the principle of service to the whole.
• The Chicago Waldorf School exists by virtue of the support of a wide community of parents, alumni, friends and all who share our vision of Waldorf education. The health and growth of our school depends on the strength of these relationships.
• The Board of Trustees has the legal responsibility to provide oversight of the College of Teachers and the Administration in accomplishment of the Mission.
• The College of Teachers brings the cultural impulse of Waldorf education to the whole school and is responsible for the professional development of all teachers.
• The teachers strive to manifest Waldorf pedagogical principles in the education of students at the Chicago Waldorf School.
• Parents entrust teachers with the responsibility of bringing Waldorf education to the students. To accomplish this, teachers expect parents to support the principles of the education. The complementary viewpoints of parents and teachers are essential to understanding and guiding the development of each child.
• The organizational and operational affairs of the school are carried out by the Administrative Staff in service of the Mission of the school.
• The Administrator is the agent of the Board of Trustees in the day to day operations of the school and supervises the Administrative Staff.
• The collaborative relationship between the College of Teachers and the Administration is coordinated by the Management Team which facilitates policy and decision-making.
• The School Executive Committee facilitates effective governance and communication between the Board of Trustees, the College of Teachers and Administration.
• The College of Teachers relies on the Chair of the College of Teachers to keep the Level Chairs and the College of Teachers Committees and Task Forces Chairs aware of their responsibilities.
• The College of Teachers relies on the Level Chairs, Faculty and Administrator to keep the Level Faculty aware of their responsibilities.
• The College of Teachers decides matters of pedagogical principle.
• The Management Team brings all matters of principle to the College of Teachers.
• The Parent-Teacher Organization offers a formal social structure for all adults in the Chicago Waldorf School community. It provides a conscious framework for the school community and actively encourages each of us to participate in community life. It supports the parent teacher partnership and community development. The PTO Council is the planning and coordinating body of the PTO.
• The PTO Chair attends monthly meetings with the Management Team.
College of Teachers
The College of Teachers takes leadership and holds responsibility for making the Mission of the school a reality. The College of Teachers is responsible for ensuring the professional development of all teachers.
The College members are experienced faculty and staff who have made a long-term commitment to the Chicago Waldorf School and who are active students of anthroposophy. College members study together weekly to deepen their understanding of Waldorf education. The College meets each Wednesday afternoon and participates with the Board of Trustees, Administrator, PTO Chairs and key Administrative Staff in two scheduled leadership retreats each year.
College of Teachers 2008-2009
Michael Holdrege, College of Teachers Chair
773-465-2662 ext. 8308
Christine Culbert, Early Childhood Chair
773-465-2662 ext. 8470
David Dozier
773-465-2662 ext. 8302
Claude Driscoll
773-465-2662 ext. 8303
Colleen Everhart, High School Chair
773-828-8469
Barbara Huckabay
773-465-2662, ext. 8308
Jim Kotz
773-465-2662, ext. 8341
Margaret McGuire
773-465-2662, ext. 8460
Breanne Petersen
773-465-2662, ext. 8338
Andrea Shaffer
773-465-2662, ext. 8323
Nancy Szymanski
773-465-2662, ext. 8326
John Trevillion
773-465-2662, ext. 8329
Carol Triggiano, Grade School Chair
773-465-2662, ext. 8330
Ileana Valencia
773-465-2662, ext. 8333
Frances Vig
773-465-2662, ext. 8334
Board of Trustees, 2008-2009
The Chicago Waldorf School is a 501©3, nonprofit organization. The Board of Trustees has the legal responsibility to provide oversight of the College of Teachers and the Administration in accomplishment of the Mission.
The Board of Trustees meets at least five times per fiscal year and participates with the College of Teachers, the Administrator, PTO Chairs and key administrative staff in two leadership retreats each year.
Board Executive Committee
Mary Spalding, President and Chair
Susan Snyder, Vice President
Joseph Ferguson, Treasurer
TBD, Secretary
Board Members
Leukos Goodwin, College and Administrator
Avery Heavenrich
Michael Holdrege, Chair of the College of Teachers
Damian Jones
Amy Kahn
Judy Lubin
John Trevillion, College of Teachers Representative
Frances Vig, College of Teachers Representative
Marcy Walczak, Past Board of Trustees Chair
Renee Wright, PTO Liaison
Meghan Zefran
Administration
The Administrator is the agent of the Board of Trustees in the day to day operations of the school. He supervises the Administrative Staff. The organizational and operational affairs of the school are carried out by the administrative staff in service of the mission of the school.
Administrative Staff, 2008-09
Luekos Goodwin, Administrator
773-828-1327
Lisa Payton, Admissions Director
773-465-2371
Eliza Bivins, Admissions Associate
773-828-8468
Mary Laura Jones, Development Director
773-828-8458
Kelly Wagner, Development Associate
773-828-8457
Cathey Stamps, Marketing and Communications Director
773-828-8461
Amanda Kuzak, Operations Manager and Registrar
773-828-8467
Maureen Flannery, Main Office Manager
773-828-8450
Linda Abrams, Business Manager
773-828-8453
Carly Garcia, Assistant Business Manager
773-828-8454
Tahirih Klass, Special Programs Coordinator
773-828-8451
Amanda Liljewall, High School Office Manager
773-828-8464
Ilene Warfield, Grade School Office Manager
773-465-2372
Diane Meinke, College Counselor
773-828-8456
Faculty
The faculty has a wide range of school responsibilities. In addition to normal classroom duties, the faculty also helps to create and review level policies and procedures, forms the weekly schedule, and plans festival life. At weekly faculty meetings, held each Thursday from 3:30-6:00pm, teachers study together, conduct business, develop insights and share the successes and challenges of working with the children.
Faculty Contact Information
Parent-Child Program Classroom
773-828-8459
Early Childhood Program
773-465-2662, ext. 8470
Christine Culbert, Chair
cculbert@chicagowaldorf.org
Nancy Matson – EC1
nmatsom@chicagowaldorf.org
Laura Donkel – EC2
ldonkel@chicagowaldorf.org
Sophia Mendoza- EC3
smendoza@chicagowaldorf.org
Susan Bruck – EC4
sbruck@chicagowaldorf.org
Christine Culbert – EC5
cculbert@chicagowaldorf.org
Grade School Program
773-465-2372
Carol Triggiano, Chair
ctriggiano@chicagowaldorf.org
Grade 1 – Lara Shortridge
lshortridge@chicagowaldorf.org
Grade 2 – Breanne Petersen
bpetersen@chicagowaldorf.org
Grade 3 – Lauri Sullivan
lsullivan@chicagowaldorg.org
Grade 4 – Carol Triggiano
ctriggiano@chicagowaldorf.org
Grade 5 – John Trevillion
jtrevillion@chicagowaldorf.org
Grade 6 – Mary Ann Vaca
mvaca@chicagowaldorf.org
Grade 7 – Rebecca Moskowitz
bmoskowitz@chicagowaldorf.org
Grade 8 – Nancy Syzmanski
nsyzmanski@chicagowaldorf.org
High School Program
773-828-8464
Colleen Everhart, Chair
ceverhart@chicagowaldorf.org
High School Office
773-828-8464
High School Office Fax
773-828-8474
High School Class Advisors
773-828-8464
Grade 9
Michael Holdrege
mholdrege@chicagowaldorf.org
Frances Vig
fvig@chicagowaldorf.org
Grade 10
David Massie
dmassie@chicagowaldorf.org
Christian Schnell
cschnell@chicagowaldorf.org
Kate Sullivan
ksullivan@chicagowaldorf.org
Grade 11
Brian Gleichauf
bgleichauf@chicagowaldorf.org
Jim Kotz
jkotz@chicagowaldorf.org
Grade 12
David Dozier
ddozier@chicagowaldorf.org
Barbara Huckabay
bhuckabay@chicagowaldorf.org
*Additional faculty contact information is available in the CWS Directory