Meet our Faculty

 

William Gentner

William was raised in San Antonio, Texas. He received a B.A. in Theater Arts at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. William spent the first thirty years of his post graduate life supporting his acting habit by coordinating and managing businesses in the natural food and sustainable agriculture industry. He was introduced to Waldorf education by his partner’s son and he completed his Waldorf teaching certificate in June 2004. Instead of having to support his acting habit by managing businesses, he supports his managing habit by acting out in the classroom. William has taught as a Grades teacher for several years and is currently the Grades Eight teacher at Honolulu Waldorf School, where he will graduate a class of wonderful children he has been with since Grade One. William teaches Kula Makua’s Child Development and Anthroposophical classes both in Honolulu and on the Big Island of Hawai’i. He also teaches the Grades Curriculum Seminars as well as some artistic courses. William serves on the Executive Committee of Kula Makua. 

Genie Sakaguchi

Genie teaches various Literature classes for Kula Makua. She was educated at U.C. Berkley. Upon completion of her Waldorf training at Rudolf Steiner College in California, Genie has been a long-time class teacher at the Honolulu Waldorf School, and has also worked as Administrator and College Chair in the high school. Genie also serves as the Board President and is on the Executive Committee of Kula Makua.

Frances Altwies

Frances teaches Grades Curriculum Seminars and Painting and Drawing classes for Kula Makua. After completing her Waldorf training in Detroit, she remained there to teach for many years. She then became a class teacher in the Honolulu Waldorf School. Currently, Frances teaches handwork classes in the lower grades.

 

 

Van James - Teaches Painting, Drawing, Art History, and History of Architecture

Ulrike Scherer - Teaches Recorder classes, Handwork, and History of Music.

Yoshiko Scion - Doll Making and Handwork Instructor.

Daniel Stokes - Teaches Speech, Drama, and Story Telling.

Connie Starzynski - Waldorf School Administration Instructor.

Bonnie Ozaki-James  - Classroom Management Skills Instructor

Greg Stock - Teaches Literature, Ancient History, and “Threefold Social Organism”.

Robert Hartley  - Singing Instructor.

Carl Busse - Teaches Movement Classes.

Cindy Sydow, Bibiana Potter, and Geri Ihara lead seminars and classroom teaching practice for students in their teacher training year who plan to become Kindergarten teachers.

Various other instructors teach additional Foundation Year academic and artistic classes.

The curriculum offered by Kula Makua is regularly augmented by special workshops and lectures. Several times a year, visitors from the continental United States and from abroad come to share expertise in their various specialties.