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Our Teachers

Get to know The Wonderful teachers at The Academy

Jamie York

Math Missionary, Lead Author, and Academy Director

Jamie York is an internationally respected Waldorf math consultant, and lead author of Making Math Meaningful books.  Jamie was born in Maine, went to public school in Connecticut, received two computer science degrees, and then began teaching math in 1985 at a boarding school in New Hampshire.  In 1994, after spending two years in Nepal serving as a Peace Corps volunteer, Jamie’s search for meaningful education led him to Shining Mountain Waldorf School (in Boulder, Colorado), where he taught middle school and high school math for 21 years.  Now, as a math missionary, he travels across the U.S. and internationally offering workshops for teachers so they can re-imagine mathematics and inspire their students.  Making Math Meaningful™ books are the manifestation of his vision for a comprehensive mathematics curriculum that spans grades one through twelve.  Jamie’s website, online math workshops, and books are resources for Waldorf teachers around the world.

MATTHEW MESSNER

Science Academy Physics Teacher and Math Academy Teacher

Born a dozen miles from the Appalachian Trail, these days it is the Rocky Mountains of Colorado which Matthew Messner calls home.  Along the path that brought him here, Carnegie Mellon University awarded him a degree in Cognitive Science, with a minor in Computer Science, and a concentration in Theatrical Lighting Design.  A request to design and implement college coursework led Matthew to discover his great love in life: teaching.  He has taught pre-school children and adults, but his focus since 2003 has been on bringing meaningful mathematics and science to adolescents.  Matthew completed a math and physical sciences Waldorf teacher training through the Center for Anthroposophy in 2009.  In 2011, he traveled to India to complete a Sivananda Yoga teacher training in the land from which it arose.  He has also assisted children in martial arts classes of the Cheng Ming lineage, and aspires to one day have internalized its t’ai chi form in entirety.

 

Maria Cabeza

Math and Science

Maria Cabeza was born in Southern California and raised in Boulder Colorado, Maria attended Waldorf schools throughout the grades. She met Jamie as his student in 6th grade and had the privilege of studying with him through twelfth grade. She earned a degree in environmental engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder and developed an infectious curiosity about the natural world. Maria is especially interested in how studying the sciences can support our understanding of life on planet Earth and optimal living. In her free time, she has conducted extensive research into nutrition, as well as the practice of breath work and meditation.

Maria has been with Jamie York academy since its inception.

 
Maria Cabeza headshot

Juan Pablo Barillas

Humanities and Spanish

Juan Pablo Barillas is a pioneering Waldorf teacher in Guatemala. He was a founding teacher at Colegio Waldorf Guatemala (a K-12 school of more than 500 students), teaching there for seven years, and serving on leadership. Born and raised in Guatemala, Juan Pablo went to a bilingual school (English and Spanish) and then helped to create a bilingual program for Colegio Waldorf.  He sees language as a window into a culture. At the Universidad Del Valle de Guatemala, Juan Pablo studied civil engineering, and in true renaissance fashion graduated with a qualification as a high school history teacher.  He has taught a wide variety of subjects to students in middle school and high school, including history, philosophy, mathematics, and physics.  Juan Pablo is currently part of the faculty for the Great Lakes Waldorf Institute (based in Minnesota), which offers professional development and Waldorf teacher education programs.  Juan Pablo is also the author of a Parenting and Teaching blog called “Waldorf en Español”, you can check it out at: https://waldorfenespanol.com/

 
Juan Pablo Barillas

SEAN ARONSON

Math Academy Tutor and Summer Camp Instructor

Sean Aronson originally studied engineering but discovered the joy of teaching after tutoring math as an undergraduate student and teaching in Mexico. Sean taught elementary and high school math in Denver Public Schools for seven years and then taught math at Red Rocks Community College for three years before embarking on less traditional teaching endeavors that include homeschooling his own children, designing and teaching math-art classes, and teaching with Jamie York. Working with Jamie York and using the Making Math Meaningful™ curriculum has proven to be a perfect fit for Sean’s approach to math education.

 
Sean Arronson

DAVID SLOAN

High School Humanities Teacher

David Sloan has been teaching humanities in Waldorf schools for over four decades.  After graduating from Harvard College, he received his Waldorf teacher training at Emerson College in England, and an MFA in Poetry from the University of Southern Maine’s Stonecoast Program.  A long-time faculty member at Green Meadow Waldorf School in New York, he also helped to found two other high schools: Shining Mountain Waldorf School in Boulder, CO, and Maine Coast Waldorf School (then Merriconeag) in Freeport, ME.  He has written two books on Waldorf pedagogy: Stages of Imagination: Working Dramatically with Adolescents, and Life Lessons: Reaching Teenagers through Literature, as well as two collections of poetry: The Irresistible In-Between, and A Rising and Other Poems.  He currently lives in Brunswick, Maine with his wife Christine, sharing their appreciation of the ever-changing seasons and the joys of grandparenting.  He continues to teach in the Center for Anthroposophy’s High School Teacher Training Program, as he has for over twenty years.

David Sloan

David Barham

Math & Humanities teacher

David Barham began his Waldorf career as a subject teacher in math and games at the Pine Hill Waldorf School. He then took two classes at Pine Hill, both from grades 4-8. David then taught high school humanities at High Mowing and then at Maine Coast. David has taught blocks and track classes in history, civics, US government, economics, literature, drama, and English. At the schools where he has worked, he has also served as Middle School Chair, High School Faculty Chair, College Chair, Board member, and AWSNA delegate. Currently, David is the Director of the Waldorf High School Teacher Education Program (WHiSTEP) at Center for Anthroposophy (CfA). 
picture of David Barham

Niek A.H. Slooter, MEd. MSc.

Biology & Chemistry teacher

Niek was born and raised in The Netherlands and was always passionate about biology. From childhood on he was always in and around water and also started scuba diving very early. After high school he followed his passion and studied biology at the Wageningen University and Radboud University Nijmegen. First he started his teacher education degree and after receiving this (MEd.) he did his Master of Science (MSc.). Then Niek worked for a few years as a marine researcher and published several articles. After some time doing scientific research, he discovered a new career as a Waldorf teacher and that really changed his life in a very positive way. For 15 years, he has been teaching 7th to 12th class biology, chemistry and physics at a Waldorf school in The Netherlands. Every year he gave 13 main lesson blocks, he was responsible for exam classes and was a class teacher for many years. He also went each year to the full week Waldorf teachers conference in Kassel (Germany) where he contributed by giving lessons as a teacher for teachers but also hosted daily excursions and discussion groups. At the moment he focuses more and more on homeschool teaching abroad, Waldorf student projects and online teaching to different students and classes worldwide.

Niek A.H. Slooter

Beth Moger

Science Academy Astronomy Teacher

Beth Moger. A waldorf graduate and former student of Jamie York, Beth holds a degree in astronomy from the University of Colorado with a focus in planetary dynamics and minors in theater and geology. She worked in the Astrophysical and Planetary Science department as a Learning Assistant under seven professors during her time at CU Boulder, leading recitations and labs for courses such as Introductory Astronomy, Planetary Systems, Stars and Galaxies, and Ancient Astronomies of the World. Beth spent five years at Fiske Planetarium running the public lecture series, Colorado Skies, and teaching astronomy in the planetarium dome. Beth went on to serve as the head of Science Development at Sky-Skan, where she worked as an astronomer creating software visualizations of the universe for researchers, educators, and science centers in 38 countries. Her background in science, education, performance, and management serves Beth today as the founding consultant of Astra Ventures, serving both informal and formal education communities to promote astronomy and a connection with the awesome environment above us.

Beth Moger

Mick Follari

High School Physics & Math Teacher
Co-author of Making Math Meaningful™: Fun with Puzzles, Games and More!

Mick Follari is a Waldorf graduate, Brown University Engineering graduate, and Waldorf math and science teacher. He is a renaissance man with diversity of interests but a special love of problem-solving, scientific and spiritual philosophy, and outdoor adventure. He has taught in Waldorf Schools around the country, developed courses in mathematics and physics, co-authored a math book, and consulted with developing schools. He is an entrepreneur and business development consultant with a history in web development and design, CPG product development, and visual arts. An avid alpinist and climber, Mick lives in Boulder, Colorado but spends a lot of time hanging on cliffs and mountains of rock and ice around the world

Mick Portrait

WIM GOTTENBOS AND NETTIE FABRIE

Co-authors of Making Math Meaningful™: A Source Book for Teaching Math in Grades One – Five

Nettie Fabrie began her 40-year teaching career in the Netherlands – first in the public schools, and then as a Waldorf class teacher, taking two classes from first through eighth grade. From 2001-2018 Nettie served as a teacher and then the pedagogical director at the Seattle Waldorf School. She founded a Waldorf teacher training program in the Czech Republic and directs the Grade School Teacher Training at Sound Circle Center in Seattle. Additionally, she is part of the Teacher Education Delegates Circle (TEDC) and plays a leadership role in AWSNA. In her free time Nettie enjoys working in the garden, going to the theater, concerts and art museums.

Wim Gottenbos taught in Dutch public schools for 12 years before training and becoming a Waldorf teacher. He then carried three classes at the Seattle Waldorf school.  In 2017, he retired from class teaching and started working as a mentor and evaluator in various schools in the Pacific Northwest.  He is also part of the Mentorship Seminar and teacher training program at Sound Circle Center.  Wim’s passions include beekeeping, gardening and reading.

 
Wim and Nettien

Randy Evans

Co-author of Making Math Meaningful™: Fun with Puzzles, Games and More!

Randy Evans’ love affair with games started early in childhood and grew into a lifetime passion. He graduated from Duke University with a BA in Philosophy in 1988 and also received a J.D. from the University of Denver, College of Law in 1992. Randy has retired from teaching full-time but still can be found teaching the occasional main lesson in Richmond, VA and trying to turn the local community into rabid gaming geeks.

Randy Evans

Julia E. Diggins

Author of String, Straightedge, and Shadow

Julia E. Diggins taught mathematics for many years in Washington, DC and completed her undergraduate work in mathematics at Trinity College in Washington. She then attended the Catholic University of America where she received an MA in psychology.  While teaching mathematics in junior high school, she was awarded grants by the National Science Foundation to attend courses at Rutgers University, Boston College, and the University of Maryland where she worked with members of the Maryland University Mathematics Project on the preparation of a new curriculum.  Subsequently, she began to devote herself entirely to teaching “modern” mathematics for elementary school teachers at the University of Maryland.  Julia Diggins died in 1987.

 
Julia DIggins

Andrew Starzynski

Co-author of Making Math Meaningful™: High School Workbooks

Andrew Starzynski grew up steeped in Waldorf education as the son of two Waldorf teachers, and as a student at the Chicago Waldorf School, which he attended through high school.  Andrew went on to attend Beloit College, graduating in 2001 with a double major in mathematics and philosophy, and a minor in computer science. He taught part-time at the Chicago Waldorf School before spending two years in the computer industry. In 2004, his love of math led him to graduate school where he acquired his master’s degree in applied mathematics. His enthusiasm for Waldorf education and Waldorf math prompted his return to the Chicago Waldorf School where he taught for three years. In 2008, Andrew completed his Waldorf teacher training under the tutelage of Jamie York. Andrew has taught math and computer science at Honolulu Waldorf School and Waldorf Academy in downtown Toronto. He currently lives with his wife and two sons in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada where he teaches at the Toronto Waldorf School.

Staff

Karen van Vuuren

In 2011, Karen van Vuuren took over as publisher of Jamie’s math curriculum books when his former publisher retired. What began as a small publishing company, Jamie York Press, transformed into a much more comprehensive educational offering, including online teacher workshops (filmed, produced, and edited by Karen), and now Jamie York Academy.

Karen’s other work in life, part of her life’s mission, is as a natural death care educator. Over a twenty year career in the field, she has run an educational end-of-life non-profit, Natural Transitions, co-owned a holistic funeral home, and has directed two hospice documentaries.

Karen van Vuuren
Sunflower geometric drawing

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