Staff

vkohlhaas@seattlewaldorf.org

Vanessa joined SWS in 2019 as the Early Childhood Director and has served as Head of School since 2022. Prior to becoming a member of the SWS community, Vanessa spent many years as an early childhood teacher at Whidbey Island Waldorf School. Vanessa has been very involved in the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN) organization, representing the northwest region from 2010–2018 and she served on the planning committee for the 2021 national conference. Vanessa received an undergraduate degree in Music from the University of Texas, Austin and a Masters of Education from Antioch University.

jchivo@seattlewaldorf.org

Julie Chivo joins SWS as our new Development Manager overseeing fundraising and events. Born and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, she graduated from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and earned her Masters Degree from Brandeis University near Boston. After leaving the world of retail management, Julie’s career has focused on non-profit organizations that support youth. Since moving to Seattle from Boston in 2011, these have included the Jewish Day School of Seattle, Camp Solomon Schechter, and most recently the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue. Working in Development gives her the opportunity to do two things she loves: building relationships and organizing data. Julie is excited to be working again at an independent school with a strong community. Julie enjoys baking, gardening, embroidery, hiking and cycling when she is not at work and was excited to learn that SWS students are introduced to some of these activities as part of the curriculum.

adeney@seattlewaldorf.org

Aimee joins SWS as our new Early Childhood Director, bringing decades of experience as a Waldorf early childhood educator, school leader, and mentor. She has supported SWS as a mentor in recent years and is deeply familiar with the school’s early childhood classrooms and community. Aimee has taught at several regional Waldorf schools, founded and ran a small early childhood program in Olympia, and served as an interim director at another local Waldorf school. She is a regional representative for the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN), where she also contributes as a mentor, site visitor, and teacher educator. Aimee’s work is grounded in a love for land-centered pedagogy, the focus of her current doctoral research.

financedirector@seattlewaldorf.org

Mike grew up on a Dairy Farm in New York’s Hudson Valley. Agriculture has remained a passion for his entire life, and he grows over 100 different species of edible plants at his Seattle residence. He received his bachelor’s from Marist College, and an MBA from the University of Texas. He has also received post-graduate certificates in Environmental Management, Fundraising Management, and Strategic Marketing, all at the University of Washington, and he has over 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience. He is a Board member of several local nonprofit organizations and is a student of Steady-State Economics and Organizational Efficiency, as well as Taxonomy and Phylogeny. He likes to discover and support unknown musicians who should be more widely known and enjoys offbeat museums and historical sites.

hguo@seattlewaldorf.org

Haolei moved from New York to Seattle in 2024, the same year she joined SWS to work with the Business Office. She has HR experience across industries including education and finance and is passionate about organizational development and people analytics. Her focus is on creating workplaces that balance efficiency, innovation, and human-centered growth. Outside of work, Haolei enjoys music, hiking, and exploring new activities.

techsupport@seattlewaldorf.org

A Pacific Northwest native, Jim was born in Vancouver, BC and grew up in Los Angeles. He has been moving steadily northwards towards his birthplace, not unlike a salmon. After a 17-year career at Microsoft, Jim joined SWS in 2015, implementing a student information system. He is almost finished with that task. His four children attended SWS starting in 2006 and all graduated from our high school. Their colleges include Vassar, Mount Holyoke, Stevens Institute of Technology, and UC Colorado Springs. They are all smarter than their father.

facilitiesmanager@seattlewaldorf.org

Will Schlegel joins SWS as our Facilities Manager. For eleven years, he pioneered a humanitarian project in Turkey, working with many different nationalities, cultures, and people of economic disparity, and found great joy in such work. In Seattle, he has overseen Facilities Management in both Public and Private Schools provided him with experience in operations, management, planning, and maintenance. Will believes strongly in contributing positively to make this world a better place.

sshapiro@seattlewaldorf.org

Samantha (she/her) started her journey at SWS when her family joined the Parent and Tot program in 2016. She established deeper connections and community through volunteer opportunities at SWS over the years. Her love for the school, community, and growing/learning experiences catapulted her into craving more involvement. Prior to being a stay-at-home caregiver, her background was in medical administration and office management for several years. In 2019, she joined Seattle Waldorf School as a staff member working at both the high school and grade school as needed. Over the years she has floated around in different positions until she landed in her ideal position – Office Manager at the grade school. She also enjoys hikes and adventures with her family, cooking/baking, farmer’s markets, and watching her child thrive at SWS.

dsmithcrain@seattlewaldorf.org

Dru Smith-Crain comes to Seattle Waldorf School from the Desert Southwest. She completed Waldorf Teacher Training at Rudolf Steiner College in 2009, and has spent over 17 years as a Public Waldorf teacher. Dru has recently served as Curriculum Administrator for Desert Star Community School and co-directs the Saguaro Center for Teacher Renewal, where she has contributed to the development of an innovative teacher training program tailored to the needs of Waldorf educators in the Southwest. Dru holds a BA in Sustainability from Prescott College, and an MEd in Administrative Leadership and Principalship, and is finishing an MA in Environmental Education focused on Goethean Science. Her holistic educational background and experience reflects her commitment to nurturing the development of the whole child and fostering a deep connection between students, teachers, and the natural world. She is looking forward to spending time with her family in the ocean and forest – camping, running, surfing, rockhounding and gardening.

dtrapalis@seattlewaldorf.org

Dina has been in Waldorf schools for many years as a parent, teacher, and administrator and loves being a member of a creative and soulful community.

lwerbel@seattlewaldorf.org

Lea has been part of the Seattle Waldorf School administrative team since 2017. She brings to SWS an expertise in nonprofit management, fundraising, marketing, and communications. She previously worked in the international development realm, bringing new business ideas to microfinance institutions throughout Africa. Lea graduated from Vassar College with a BA in Sociology and pursued graduate work in Communications and International Development at the University of Washington. Outside of work she loves to travel, go on walks and hikes with her family, and play competitive tennis. 

tvo@seattlewaldorf.org

Thu Vo is a recent graduate of Central Washington University with a Bachelor’s degree in accounting. She has 3 years of hands-on experience in managing accounts payable and assisting with the audits and is enthusiastic about leveraging her experiences and skills to make meaningful contributions to the Business Office team. Outside of work, she likes to explore new destinations, aligning with her passion for travel.