Ben Kim - Grade 9 Advisor, Math, Biology and Chemistry Teacher - High School
Ben completed an Honours Bachelor of Science in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology from the University of Toronto. He went on to complete the Master of Teaching teacher education program also at the University of Toronto with OISE. Prior to joining TWS, Ben worked as a shift supervisor with the Starbucks Coffee Company. He is a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Teachers. Ben enjoys playing the piano and spending time with family and friends.
Andrew Starzynski - Grade 9 Advisor, Math Teacher - Middle School and High School
Andrew was born to two Waldorf teachers and raised in Chicago, Illinois. After majoring in Mathematics and Philosophy and minoring in Computer Science for his undergraduate degree at Beloit College, Andrew went on to work in IT in Austin, Texas. He later completed a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics from the University of Houston and then went back to Chicago to teach high school mathematics. Three years later he was married and living in Honolulu, Hawaii this time teaching both middle and high school math and computer science.
In 2013, Andrew moved to Toronto where he taught middle school math at Waldorf Academy in downtown Toronto. Andrew, his partner Erika and their children joined TWS in 2017.
Shubnum Vijan - Grade 9 Advisor, Biology and Chemistry Teacher - High School
Shubnum holds an honours Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto. Prior to joining the teaching profession, she worked as a research assistant at Lawson Research Institute in London, Ontario and subsequently at Toronto General Hospital. Shubnum is a member in good standing of the Ontario College of Teachers.
Rachel Aide - Grade 10 Advisor, English, Civics and Geography Teacher - High School
Rachel has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from Victoria University in the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Education (After Degree) from the University of Alberta. She has held teaching certification for both Alberta and Ontario, and is a graduate of Waldorf Teacher Training at the Center for Anthroposophy in Wilton, New Hampshire.
Susan Digby - Grade 10 Advisor, Handwork, Clay and Pottery Teacher - Lower School and High School
Susan has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph, a Bachelor of Education from York University, and is a member of the Ontario College of Teachers. She has taught part-time at the Toronto Waldorf School since 1991 and full-time since 2004.
Susan has four sons, all of whom are TWS graduates.
Alexander Scalzi - Grade 10 Advisor, History, English and ESL Teacher – High School
Alexander is a graduate of TWS (Class of 09) and has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Michaels College in the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa, and is a member in good standing of the Ontario College of Teachers.
Alexander has also been working as an English and Humanities tutor at Seneca College for several years, as well as at TWS.
Nabila Halani - High School Faculty Chair, Grade 11 Advisor, Math Teacher
Nabila is a Toronto Waldorf School alumna with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Philosophy as well as a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Science from McMaster University. She received her Bachelor of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and is a member in good standing of the Ontario College of Teachers.
Henry Liptay - Grade 11 Advisor, Math, Biology and Chemistry Teacher - High School
Profile coming soon!
Robyn Stevan - Grade 11 Advisor, Drama and English Teacher - High School
Leed Jackson - Grade 12 Advisor, Physics, Metalwork, Woodwork Teacher - High School
Leed has a Bachelor of Science from McMaster University and a sculpture diploma from Emerson College in England; He has apprenticed with Alfred Kolber, a master goldsmith and has also attended Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, California for continued teaching development. He has taught at TWS since 1992, and enjoys camping, hockey, basketball, sculpting and hobby farming in his spare time. His two children attended TWS.
Sheila Anderson-Massé - Grade 12 Advisor, English and French Teacher - High School
Sheila has studied in Toronto, Québec, and Paris. She has an Honours BA from the University of Toronto and an Ontario teaching certificate. In Paris, she studied comparative literature.
Before moving to France, Sheila taught at both Etienne Brûlé and Collège Français, Toronto high schools in the French public school system. While living in France with her family in the 1990s, she was an active parent at the Waldorf school in Chatou and took part in a Waldorf initiative near Bordeaux.
Sheila was a teacher at Waldorf Academy for thirteen years and her three boys are graduates.
Alexander Scalzi - Grade 10 Advisor, History, English and ESL Teacher – High School
Alexander is a graduate of TWS (Class of 09) and has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Michaels College in the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa, and is a member in good standing of the Ontario College of Teachers.
Alexander has also been working as an English and Humanities tutor at Seneca College for several years, as well as at TWS.
Andrew Starzynski - Grade 9 Advisor, Math Teacher - Middle School and High School
Andrew was born to two Waldorf teachers and raised in Chicago, Illinois. After majoring in Mathematics and Philosophy and minoring in Computer Science for his undergraduate degree at Beloit College, Andrew went on to work in IT in Austin, Texas. He later completed a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics from the University of Houston and then went back to Chicago to teach high school mathematics. Three years later he was married and living in Honolulu, Hawaii this time teaching both middle and high school math and computer science.
In 2013, Andrew moved to Toronto where he taught middle school math at Waldorf Academy in downtown Toronto. Andrew, his partner Erika and their children joined TWS in 2017.
Ben Kim - Grade 9 Advisor, Math, Biology and Chemistry Teacher - High School
Ben completed an Honours Bachelor of Science in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology from the University of Toronto. He went on to complete the Master of Teaching teacher education program also at the University of Toronto with OISE. Prior to joining TWS, Ben worked as a shift supervisor with the Starbucks Coffee Company. He is a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Teachers. Ben enjoys playing the piano and spending time with family and friends.
Carolina Madeira Soares - Grade 3 Class Teacher, Circus Teacher - Lower School and High School
Carolina has a Bachelors and a Masters degrees in Social Communications from her home country, Brazil. In 2018, she graduated from the Rudolf Steiner Centre Toronto and completed a Spacial Dynamics core studies program.
Carolina has worked at TWS since 2018 as an Assistant Teacher, Movement and Games Teacher as well as High School Circus Teacher.
Before dedicating herself full-time to Waldorf Education, Carolina was touring the world performing as a trapeze artist.
Henry Liptay - Grade 11 Advisor, Math, Biology and Chemistry Teacher - High School
Profile coming soon!
Karanvir Singh - Athletic Director - Lower School and High School
Profile coming soon!
Keren Dorfman - School Counsellor – High School
Before dedicating herself full-time to Waldorf Education, Keren worked as a therapist in the ‘Amcha’ organization supporting Holocaust survivors and families for ten years, where she worked in group and individual settings. Keren has a B.A. and a M.A. specializing in Creative Art Therapies – Bibliotherapy. In 2016, she graduated and completed the Post Graduate Program of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at the University of Haifa, Israel. Keren has worked at TWS as a School Counsellor since 2020, and both of her children attend TWS.
Leed Jackson - Grade 12 Advisor, Physics, Metalwork, Woodwork Teacher - High School
Leed has a Bachelor of Science from McMaster University and a sculpture diploma from Emerson College in England; He has apprenticed with Alfred Kolber, a master goldsmith and has also attended Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, California for continued teaching development. He has taught at TWS since 1992, and enjoys camping, hockey, basketball, sculpting and hobby farming in his spare time. His two children attended TWS.
Lynn Featherstone - Music and Choir Teacher - Lower School and High School
Lynn was raised in Cambridge, Ontario, where she started piano lessons at age 6, beginning a life-long pursuit in musicianship – as a choral singer, soloist and conductor. At the University of Toronto she completed both her Bachelor of Music in Music Education in Voice Studies and her Masters in Music Education. Lynn is an alto with the Elmer Iseler Singers, a 20-voice fully professional choral ensemble that performs across North America, and for over a decade Lynn has been an alto soloist at Fairlawn Avenue United Church. Lynn was formerly Associate Conductor for the Bach Children’s Chorus, under conductor Linda Beaupré, as well as a music teacher at Crescent School in North Toronto.
Marc Funkenhauser - Orchestra - Lower School and High School
Marc earned his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Windsor, and his Master of Music Performance from the University of Toronto. In addition to being a passionate music educator, Marc is an active freelance performer who works with an eclectic variety of artists, orchestras, and musical groups throughout Toronto and Ontario. In his free time, Marc loves to cook, and play volleyball.
Mary-Lu Spinney - Gardening, Movement and Circus Teacher - Lower School and High School
After studying biology at the University of Western Ontario, Mary-lu moved to Toronto to complete a three year intensive training program in contemporary dance at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre. She then worked as a choreographer, director and performer for over ten years. In 2002 she completed her yoga teaching certification in Ashtanga yoga. In 2010 she completed her Foundations in Anthroposophy and in 2011 her Waldorf Teacher Training certification at the Rudolf Steiner Centre Toronto. Mary-lu enjoys the circus arts, growing her own food, and yoga. Her son currently attends TWS.
Nabila Halani - High School Faculty Chair, Grade 11 Advisor, Math Teacher
Nabila is a Toronto Waldorf School alumna with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Philosophy as well as a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Science from McMaster University. She received her Bachelor of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and is a member in good standing of the Ontario College of Teachers.
Rachel Aide - Grade 10 Advisor, English, Civics and Geography Teacher - High School
Rachel has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from Victoria University in the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Education (After Degree) from the University of Alberta. She has held teaching certification for both Alberta and Ontario, and is a graduate of Waldorf Teacher Training at the Center for Anthroposophy in Wilton, New Hampshire.
Robyn Stevan - Grade 11 Advisor, Drama and English Teacher - High School
Sheila Anderson-Massé - Grade 12 Advisor, English and French Teacher - High School
Sheila has studied in Toronto, Québec, and Paris. She has an Honours BA from the University of Toronto and an Ontario teaching certificate. In Paris, she studied comparative literature.
Before moving to France, Sheila taught at both Etienne Brûlé and Collège Français, Toronto high schools in the French public school system. While living in France with her family in the 1990s, she was an active parent at the Waldorf school in Chatou and took part in a Waldorf initiative near Bordeaux.
Sheila was a teacher at Waldorf Academy for thirteen years and her three boys are graduates.
Shubnum Vijan - Grade 9 Advisor, Biology and Chemistry Teacher - High School
Shubnum holds an honours Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto. Prior to joining the teaching profession, she worked as a research assistant at Lawson Research Institute in London, Ontario and subsequently at Toronto General Hospital. Shubnum is a member in good standing of the Ontario College of Teachers.
Susan Digby - Grade 10 Advisor, Handwork, Clay and Pottery Teacher - Lower School and High School
Susan has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph, a Bachelor of Education from York University, and is a member of the Ontario College of Teachers. She has taught part-time at the Toronto Waldorf School since 1991 and full-time since 2004.
Susan has four sons, all of whom are TWS graduates.
Heather Lee - Grade 1 Assistant, High School Art
Profile coming soon!
Riley Boadway - Lower and High School Gym
Profile coming soon!