Meet Our Faculty

BWS relies upon an energetic and dynamic team of Waldorf-trained educators. Our teachers come from around the world to share the wonders of Waldorf education with our Brooklyn-based community. Together, we learn from one other’s range of experiences and delight in each of our individual gifts.

Collaboration among teachers, staff, and students is highly encouraged, and BWS faculty work together with enthusiasm to care for the entire community. Maintaining such a mutually-supportive working environment ultimately helps our students develop their own sense of social responsibility.

Early Childhood

  • Gun Blue, Lead Teacher
  • Monika Stanislawek, Lead Teacher
  • Monica Sibrizzi, Lead Teacher
  • Gillian Zagorski, Lead Teacher
  • Claire Christerson, Aftercare Lead Teacher
  • Jenny Lee, Assistant Teacher
  • Debbie Campbell, Assistant Teacher
  • Sara Cameron, Assistant Teacher
  • Chloe Engel, Aftercare Assistant Teacher
  • Dawn Warfield, Parent-Child Teacher

Lower School

 

  • Marieclaire Wyntreaux, Grade 1 Class Teacher
  • Elise Pizzonia, Grade 2 Class Teacher
  • Marlena Giraldo, Grade 2 Assistant Teacher
  • Elana Margolis, Grade 3 Class Teacher
  • Sojourner Walker Williams, Grade 4 Class Teacher
  • Kiana Ward, Grade 5 Class Teacher

Middle School

  • Laith Ayogu, Grade 6 Class Teacher
  • Casey Griffin, Grade 7 Class Teacher
  • Liam O’Brien, Grade 8 Class Teacher

Specialty Subjects

  • Jayanthi Bunyan, Music & Chorus Teacher
  • Steve Simonak, Middle School Math Teacher & Grades Mentor
  • Finn Bell, Athletic Director & Movement Teacher
  • Eder Curu Souza, Gr 1-4 Games & Movement Teacher
  • Sibylle Johner, Music Director & Orchestra Teacher
  • Aliya Khan, Spanish Teacher
  • Paul Gamble, Mandarin Teacher
  • Dorke Poelz, Handwork & Craft Teacher
  • Kannan Mahadevan, Test Prep Teacher
  • Sophie Streitweiser, Librarian & Substitute teacher

Learning Support Team

 

  • Naomi Nocera, Director of Learning Support
  • Aleah Black, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Teacher
  • Serena Ingram, Learning Support Associate
  • Dr. Keneca Boyce, Guidance Counselor

Parent Association Chairs

 

  • Adrienne Westwood
  • SeoKyeong Yoon

Board of Trustees

  • Nathaniel Landau
  • Tomas Maranhao
  • Joyce Engebretsen
  • John Egnatios-Beene
  • David-Michel Davies
  • Yvonne Perez Zarraga
  • Jelani Mashariki
  • Linda Ogden
  • Monika Stanislawek (faculty rep)
  • Christina Pantazis-Blades (ex-officio member)

Faculty Council

 

  • Monica Sibrizzi
  • Gun Blue
  • Naomi Nocera
  • Christina Pantazis-Blades
  • Sophie Streitweiser

Administrative Team

Administration
  • Christina Pantazis-Blades, Head of School
  • Sheila Shaw, Admissions Manager
  • Edward Holtby, Communications Coordinator
  • Morgan Bissett-Tessier, Advancement & Administrative Support Coordinator
  • Anna Duffy, Operations Manager
  • Carissa Alphonso, Morning Receptionist
  • Graham Paull, Afternoon Receptionist

 

Business Office
  • Lena Lvova, Business Office Associate
  • Annie Ng, Business Office Coordinator
  • Alex Exley, Business Manager
Facilities
  • Lollo Romanski, Facilities Manager
  • Luis Urueta, Custodian
  • Joseph Tsiporin, Building Superintendent
After School
  • Manny Vilmatelo, Grades After School Coordinator & Operations Associate
  • Stephen Ira, After School Care

Take a look at the Stories section of our website for articles about our faculty and their vast array of impressive talents and gifts! For instance, Brooklyn Waldorf School hosted in-person Waldorf teacher training for the first time in August 2022; take a look at what our cohort of ‘teachers in training’ learned!