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Our Alumni

At Green Meadow Waldorf School, we speak about families joining our community as much as we do about students enrolling in our school.

When students enter the school, their families also typically find a home here, developing strong relationships over the years with other parents. Long after graduation, alumni and alumni parents remain a part of the Green Meadow family, often for decades beyond their time at the school.

Our community offers many ways for alumni families to stay connected, from attending the annual Alumni Families reunion at our Fall Fair to participating in alumni panels and taking advantage of GMWS Connect, a private social networking site (just for our school) that connects GMWS students seeking jobs, internships, and advice to alumni who offer mentorship, introduce students to their own professional networks, and share updates about their lives.

We invite you to meet some of our amazing alumni by watching the video and reading the profiles below.


FILMMAKER, CLASS OF 1989

Stefan Schaefer

Stefan’s films have premiered and won awards at festivals such as Berlin and SXSW, and have been successfully released theatrically and on TV channels like PBS, HBO, and Sundance Channel.

He has over 15 feature film credits to his name, including “My Last Day Without You” and “Arranged.” In April 2016, his feature documentary on poet laureate and environmental activist W.S. Merwin, entitled “Even Though The Whole World is Burning,” was broadcast nationally on PBS. He currently has film and TV projects in development with Big Beach Films/AMC and Abominable Pictures. His most recent film, Aloha Surf Hotel, premiered at the Hawai’i International Film Festival in 2020.

Stefan graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Wesleyan University, and studied as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Kiel in Germany. He and his family live on Maui, Hawaii, where he serves on the Board of the Haleakala Waldorf School.

“As a Waldorf lifer, I ventured out into ‘the real world’ with some trepidation. The feeling didn’t last long. I soon learned I was able to tackle college and graduate work with ease. More importantly, the breadth of curriculum I’d been exposed to gave me a sense of curiosity and willingness to take risks in my learning that many of my peers lacked. These are traits that have served me well in my career and private life.

Perhaps the strongest endorsement I can provide for Waldorf Education is that my wife and I now elect to send our two children to a Waldorf school. It’s wonderful to experience the curriculum again through their eyes.”

Stefan.

DIRECTOR, VERIZON, CLASS OF 1989

Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman attended Alfred University, starting in Engineering and then switching to the Business school in his sophomore year. He graduated with a BA in Business in 1993.

After graduation, Dan worked in the small retail/wholesale and mail order  business, mortgage sales in Westchester, and then for Enterprise Rent-A Car in Bardonia, NY. In 1995, he joined NYNEX Mobile as an inside sales  representative in Orangeburg, NY, selling a new product to the market: the handheld cellular phone. The business grew quickly, and NYNEX  evolved through several acquisitions into the Fortune-ranked #15 company Verizon, where Dan works today, 15 positions and 25 years later.

A few years ago, Dan was tasked with building a new product development team within Verizon, with a focus on developing IoT (Internet of Things) Smart Cities solutions. He was responsible for developing and delivering innovative IOT products for cities that leveraged Verizon’s wireless/wireline networks and various platforms, including telematics, cloud, security, professional services and media.  Dan helped build Verizon’s portfolio to include energy saving and sustainable interconnected solutions in the areas of smart lighting, congestion management and public safety.  The “Smart Communities” team grew quickly from just 7 employees to an organization of over 200 which included additional vendor contractors, engineering and manufacturing resources.

Dan’s current role is in Verizon’s Global Network and Technology organization where Dan’s team engages with cities to accelerate Verizon’s deployment of the wireless (small cells) and wireline (fiber) infrastructure to support the advanced technology communications needs of citizens, businesses and IoT.  Dan has traveled throughout the world working  with city leaders on projects that help communities become more resilient, sustainable, and livable.

“In Waldorf Education, we were guided to solve problems creatively vs. memorizing facts in order to pass specific tests. I can see reflections of the education in my sons: how curious they are about life, and creative in sharing perspectives on philosophies and world issues. They question, digest, and come  up with their own views about anything teachers, parents, or the media present to them. With well rounded backgrounds in multiple subjects, and allowed to have an individual voice, they have been  encouraged to trust themselves.

 It is this curiosity, creativity, confidence,  and awakeness that allows Waldorf students to excel at just about anything they choose to take on.”

Dan feldman.

CEO, REPOWERING, CLASS OF 1995

Agamemnon Otero

Agamemnon is the CEO of Repowering, co-founder of Brixton Energy, Clean Marine, Energy Garden, and Community Energy England. He has been awarded an Honorary Member of the British Empire (MBE) by the Queen for his service to community energy and has been made a “London Leader” by the city for his work with sustainable low-carbon economies. He sits on the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Community Energy Contact Group and Engineering Exchange Board of University College London.  He has previously been Director of Renewable Energy Project Finance and Social Responsibility at a financial institution and Chief Financial Officer of a renewable energy trading company. Agamemnon has a master’s degree in Architecture in Advanced Environment & Energy and a bachelor’s degree in pre-medicine, Literature and Fine Arts.

“I remember painting, drawing, sculpting, book-binding, eurythmy, acting, and poetry with fondness, and math, biology, history, and orchestra with fits of frustration. But my teachers, including David Petit and John Wulsin, supported my development by finding the bits of me that glowed. They helped me to kindle those parts, knowing full well that once a passion for learning is lit, it will burn for a lifetime.” 

Agamemnon.

MUSICIANS, CLASSES OF 1998 & 1999

The Chapin Sisters

Raised in New York’s Hudson Valley, Abigail and Lily Chapin are third-generation musicians: their grandfather was the jazz drummer Jim Chapin, their uncle the late folk icon/humanitarian Harry Chapin, and their father is three-time Grammy Award-winner Tom Chapin. They started singing professionally at ages 6 and 8.

They formed a band, initially with their third sister, Jessica, in Los Angeles right out of college. A friend passed their demo onto KCRW, and almost instantly their dark, moody cover of Britney Spears’s “Toxic” became one of the most requested songs at the station.

They have been featured in Rolling Stone, Nylon, Spin, Paper, The New York Times Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, and The Washington Post and have toured the world multiple times on their own and twice with the band She & Him. Their most recent album, “Today’s Not Yesterday,” came out in October 2015.

“Of all the many things that Waldorf Education gave us, maybe the most important to us both is the community of passionate, engaged people that we are still part of today. Many of our closest friends are people we met in elementary and high school at Green Meadow, and while they may have diverse careers (in the arts, in sciences, academia, business, and even the military) the common thread among our Waldorf schoolmates is a genuine love and interest in their work, and a passionate and compelling life.”

Chapin Sisters.

DDS, CLASS OF 1999

Kirstin Wolfe

Kirstin attended Green Meadow (in Jane Wulsin’s class) from 1986-1999. Her mother, Jill Wolfe, was the high school crafts teacher from 1981-2008. Kirstin majored in Sculpture and Pre-dentistry at New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study and then got her dental degree at SUNY Stony Brook in 2008. Following dental school, she attended a four-year residency to become a prosthodontist, specializing in restorative, implant, and esthetic dentistry, as well as treatment of complex dental cases. She lives in Brooklyn and has her own practice in Brooklyn Heights. Her website is brooklyndentalstudio.com.

“Waldorf Education taught me to solve problems. I attribute that to my ability to be both analytical and compassionate. I also am so grateful for the lifelong connections I have with friends and members of the Waldorf community.”

Kirstin.

ARTIST, CLASS OF 2001

Zaria Forman

Zaria Forman documents climate change with pastel drawings. She travels to remote regions of the world to collect images and inspiration for her work, which is exhibited worldwide. She has flown with NASA on several Operation IceBridge missions over Antarctica, Greenland, and Arctic Canada. She was featured on CBS Sunday Morning, CNN, PBS, and BBC. She delivered a TEDTalk, and spoke at Amazon, Google, and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, exhibited in Banksy’s Dismaland, and was the artist-in-residence aboard the National Geographic Explorer in Antarctica. Her works have appeared in publications such as The New York Times, National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, and the Smithsonian Magazine. Forman currently works and resides in upstate New York, and is represented by Winston Wächter Fine Art in New York, NY and Seattle, WA.

“I value so much about my Waldorf Education, it’s difficult to chose one thing! The enduring friendships I made, how art was woven through every subject, the attention and care given by the teachers. I will be forever thankful for those very formative years of my life.”

Zaria Forman.

DJ HARDWERK, CLASS OF 2005

Phil Constable

Grammy-nominated DJ/producer Hardwerk was born Philip Constable in Bronx, New York. The son of a classical pianist from Jamaica, he followed in his mother’s footsteps when he developed an interest in the arts. Hardwerk’s mother recognized his budding potential and enrolled him at Green Meadow Waldorf School to study music theory.

Today, Hardwerk plays several instruments, including the piano, bass guitar, and cello. He has produced records for platinum-selling and Grammy award-winning recording artists such as Fergie, Sean Paul, Monica, Damian Marley, Stephen Marley, Prince Royce, Estelle, and Akon. Hardwerk also created the musical composition for “Gerber Graduates,” one of the most successful Gerber commercials to date. He is also the co-founder of clean energy solutions initiative DJs Against Darkness.

Hardwerk is one of the music industry’s hottest new performing DJs. His unique style of fusing EDM, reggae, hip-hop, and many other genres of music is groundbreaking. Hardwerk’s inventive techniques have been compared to that of innovative DJs like Diplo, Skrillex, and David Guetta. Similar to David Guetta’s path to success, he has paired up with an international superstar on his debut single. Hardwerk’s single “Tell Me We’re Ok,” featuring Akon, dropped in Spring 2016.

“One day I told our beloved class teacher and friend, David Blair, I didn’t want to attend GMWS anymore because I didn’t feel the school was diverse enough. (I was the only African-American student at the school at the time.) David sat me down and talked to me about the value of never giving up on something because it gets difficult or because you don’t like it, or just because it’s an inconvenience. He taught me that seeing your goals come to fruition after you have faced obstacle after obstacle makes the victory that much sweeter. Mr. Blair returned for our high school graduation in 2005, after our class had not seen him since Eighth Grade.

Shortly before the graduation ceremony began, he pulled me aside to have a word with me. ‘I’m surprised you’re here,’ he said, with his unmistakable laugh. He then began to tear up as he told me how important it was and how proud he was that I didn’t quit and saw my education through at GMWS. Then we probably talked about sports or the Phillies. That was the last time I saw Mr. Blair [who passed away in 2013]. His words of encouragement that day have resonated with me throughout the years. I can testify to their truth.”

Phil.

CLASS OF 2012

Alex Chin

Green Meadow fosters great relationships between teachers and students. Some of my favorite memories of Green Meadow are my private tuba lessons with Mr. Prisco, the pentathlon with Mr. Crane, and doing maintenance with Mr. Hoffman.

Green Meadow also allows students to participate in so many different topics, lessons, and activities. I was able to get my first job in college building sets for the theater department because of the work we did on the 10th and 12th grade plays. It is rare to have competitive athletic programs with no try-outs, where anyone can join a team and be a productive team member. Lastly, Green Meadow has significantly more recess time than other schools. I never realized until college that a snack break was not a common occurrence.”

Alex Chin.

Voices of Young Alumni

Class of 2019

Abida Khan

What do you appreciate most about your Waldorf education?

My ability to be objective in situations where it is hard to be objective, in situations where people are usually very closed minded.

What would you tell a prospective student about coming to Green Meadow?

I would tell them that Green Meadow is a community. Also, as Green Meadow is a liberal arts school, they will take classes that involve both arts and sciences. Here, they will not be pressured into a career that they do not enjoy but are “good at.”

Abida Khan.

Class of 2019

Henry Olson

What do you appreciate most about your Waldorf education?

I like that I didn’t have to focus on just one thing. My education let me develop my whole body; while I took honors physics, I also loved metalwork, clay, and musicals. People often ask me how I “know so many things,” like how to fix things, or troubleshoot. I think it’s just how we learn here.

What would you tell a prospective student about coming to Green Meadow?

I’d tell them that at Green Meadow there is a unique opportunity to find your niche. The teachers really care about you and help you find, and follow, your passions. You leave feeling like you can do whatever you want.

Henry Olson.

Class of 2019

Mariah Thron

What do you appreciate most about your Waldorf education?

I appreciate how Waldorf Education made me feel safe to be completely myself. The way we learned is unique and really helps you reach deep and have some fun at the same time.

What would you tell a prospective student about coming to Green Meadow?

To a prospective student I’d say: you’re going to meet so many wonderful people at Green Meadow and make many lasting friendships. You will learn so much in the classroom and through some great hands-on experiences. Get ready to answer the question, “What is eurythmy?”

Mariah.

CLASS OF 2018

Tasnim Hussain

What do you appreciate most about your Waldorf education?

One of the aspects I appreciated the most about Waldorf Education was the learning environment. In class, every single student interacts and is included in all discussions; also, every student gets the individual attention they need from a teacher. Also, no matter what class I took, there was always a way it was connected to the Earth and the environment around us.

What would you tell a prospective student about coming to Green Meadow?

All I can say is that you’ll look at the world differently the minute you start school here, and that you’ll find a new appreciation for learning and the Earth.

Tasnim Hussain.

CLASS OF 2018

Nicolai Tadeushuk

What do you appreciate most about your Waldorf Education?

The dress code kept me on the straight and narrow…but Green Meadow offered me an opportunity to discover myself in all my abilities, as a creative, cognitive and social student.

What would you tell a prospective student about coming to Green Meadow?

The Lower School was like growing up in a wonderland, and as a child it gave me a holistic base in education and a strong connection with nature. The high school was a far more intense experience, but the broad curriculum is both fascinating and formative. If you can persevere, it’s well worth it.

Nicolai.

CLASS OF 2018

Sam Wheeler

What do you appreciate most about your Waldorf education?

I enjoyed the diversity of subjects that are taught. I liked the fact that we went from math class to hammering metals or creating a floor mat within a short time period. Also, all of the teachers were very approachable and willing to help.

What would you tell a prospective student about coming to Green Meadow?

I would tell the person to enjoy the student body (everyone is incredibly friendly) and to enjoy classes, because they’re both instructive and interactive.

Sam.

Survey of Waldorf Graduates

Recently, the Research Institute for Waldorf Education conducted an extensive survey of graduates from Waldorf high schools throughout North America and found the following:

Three key findings about Waldorf graduates were revealed through this survey:

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