FAMILIAR FACES (20th edition)



Welcome to our 20th edition of Familiar Faces! With DWS alumni spanning the globe, we thought it would be fun for you to see what everyone is up to and to have the opportunity to re-connect with your DWS community.

^{*Note: class years listed are for graduation of the 8th grade and the names following the year are the class teacher at the time of graduation.}

Mary Milkovie, Kindergarten Teacher

1987 to 2020

I found Waldorf education through my children. After having taught grade school in a very traditional setting, I looked for something different for my children. I enrolled Theresa, my 4 year old, at the Kinder House which at the time was located near my home. I fell in love with the program as did my husband, Jim, who even had a crush on Theresa’s preschool teacher because she was so kind. The administrator, Lora Valsi, engaged wonderful speakers for our parent evenings. I heard lectures by Werner Glas and Hans Gebert as well as attending lectures and classes at the Waldorf institute, which at the time was in Detroit. I studied with kindergarten teachers Bronja Zahlinger and Joan Almond. This was the beginning of a life-long journey of attending lectures, conferences and classes, all the while deepening my understanding and appreciation of Waldorf education.



When our son Matthew was ready for first grade, we all came to the Detroit Waldorf School. Theresa was in the fourth grade with Mrs. Altwies and Matthew in the first grade with Mrs. Williams. Both children spent their middle school years with Mr. Trevillion as their class teacher. I could not have asked for a better school experience for my children. Mr. Trevillion would be proud of Theresa as she is great at Jeopardy, thanks to the lessons from his class!

My children graduated, but I remained at Detroit Waldorf for over thirty years where the children and families in the Moon Class became my second family. The faculty and staff were my supportive colleagues and friends. It was wonderful to have former students bring their children to the Moon Class, and then to have colleagues who had been my former students.



I recently retired and keep busy trying to keep my house in repair and my health as strong as possible. I am a home-body: I like to read and garden and visit with my friends and family. My family vacations together once a year up north, as I have always loved the water and the sun. My role now is grandmother. I have a season table for every season, and gnomes and fairies keep me company. Candles are always a part of our celebrations and our meals together. My children and family live in Southeastern Michigan and I visit with them as often as possible. The grandchildren are growing up fast (pictured above): my oldest will soon graduate from high school. If only they would stay young like the children who came each year to the Moon Class.

Remembering Sandra Owens

August 4, 1938 - November 13, 2008

Written by Mary Milkovie

Sandra was an assistant at the school when I arrived in 1987. Although she worked in the kindergarten, everyone - children, teachers and parents - knew her. They would often share their stories with Sandra because she was a great listener, without judgement. She seemed to know most of what was going on in the school. If someone needed something, they knew Sandra would help if she could. She never carried a purse, but she always had cash hidden away and did not hesitate to share. Sandra lived in the neighborhood on Bewick, and the children in the Moon Class all knew the name of her street. She would take a child home with her if a parent had an emergency; parents and children alike knew that she would take care of them and feed them. My son once asked me who was in charge at the school, and without hesitation I said “Mrs. Owens.” He never asked again.

After first being an assistant in the kindergarten, I became a lead teacher, and Sandra became my assistant. This relationship between us as Moon Class teachers lasted for close to twenty years until she retired in 2002. She taught me so much. When things went wrong, if our cookies turned to granola, she laughed and so did the children. When a child could not be still for anything, talking more than anyone we knew, she would tell me “not to worry”. She loved the children. Sandra was the best nap teacher ever. The children had to be as “still as a stone and as quiet as a rock.” She taught by imitation. No one dared move when she had her eyes closed because they knew she could see - even with her eyes closed - if anyone got out of their cot. If parents brought concerns to Sandra about the class she would tell them “I am not the teacher; you have to talk to the teacher”. I was always grateful that she made that happen.

When Sandra came into school, she was totally present, and she put her troubles at the door. She did not like to miss school. She told me it gave her a break! Sandra had a big family with siblings, children, grandchildren, neighbors and church members often depending on her. She was known by everyone in her family and in the neighborhood as “Sister.” Sister would go to the Eastern Market at the end of the day on Saturday and buy food to put on her porch for anyone who needed it. She prayed for everyone and attended her church several times during the week. If she celebrated holidays or birthdays, anyone could stop by and enjoy the food she was cooking. She was a great cook. She made the best macaroni and cheese I ever ate. Sandra loved to go to the casino with her friends. She liked to have fun, but she had her share of sadness and responsibilities. I don’t think she ever recovered from the death of her son and her husband Alquien. Her daughter had a disabling illness and she was her caregiver as well. After she retired, I tried to keep in touch, although I wish I had done better. When she died, she had a wonderful funeral celebrating a life well spent. Sandra taught us all about living.

Walter Duncan

Class of '89 | Frances Altwies and John Trevillion

Walter O. Duncan IV: A Journey from Waldorf to Innovation

Greetings! I'm Walter O. Duncan IV, an alumnus of the Detroit Waldorf School, where my educational journey ignited a lifelong commitment to education and innovation. Graduating in 1989, I fondly recall the daily walks to school and the warm greetings from exceptional teachers like Christina Williams, Francis Altweis, and John Trevillion.

My Waldorf experience transcended conventionality, including an unforgettable moment in third grade. In an unexpected fusion of hip hop and Waldorf spirit, Vernard “Butch” Harris, Malcolm Hamilton, and I took the stage to perform a breakdancing routine to the beats of the Rapping Dukes' "Da Ha Da Ha." These moments epitomized the diverse and enriching experiences that Waldorf education offers.

Post-boarding school in Massachusetts, and after graduating from Earlham College in Indiana, my journey led me to become an educator in the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit in 1998. Over the years, I taught English Language Arts and Spanish in under served communities in South Los Angeles, Washington DC, and the Boston area. During my teaching career, the entrepreneurial spirit kindled by Waldorf found expression as I identified inefficiencies in assessment grading, prompting a mission to revolutionize the process using emerging technologies.

In 2011, the idea for Quick Key was born. As a teacher in under-resourced communities, I understood the challenges educators faced in manual assessment grading. The transformative potential of using a handheld device – my phone – to scan and grade papers became evident, giving rise to Quick Key.

The clincher for Quick Key's rapid rise to fame was a compelling video showcasing me, an excitable guy, holding my iPhone up to a Scantron page, seamlessly grading assessments with the app. The video went viral, amassing over 500,000 views on YouTube and landing on the front page of Reddit. The world resonated with us, recognizing the utility of our product and its impact on countless students.

The connections from my time at DWS have been present at all crucial moments in my life. Taking on my first job in Detroit's Brightmoor neighborhood was made possible by Candyce Sweda and Bart Eddy, who saw potential in me to add value to the school they had founded. Years later, during the inception of Quick Key, a Kickstarter campaign aimed to reach $20,000. A generous donation from our classmate Jon-Paul Sweda propelled us past the goal, an act for which I am forever grateful.

Our company thrived, raising well over a million dollars and gaining recognition. In 2018, our company earned the Visionary Award from the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce. Building the company with my partners for seven years, we contributed to the educational landscape, culminating in the successful sale of the company in 2019.

Having returned to teaching and learning, I am currently completing my Master's degree in educational leadership while teaching Spanish in the Boston area. My goal is to lead a school and integrate my Waldorf and entrepreneurial experiences into developing a curriculum that will prepare children for the rapidly approaching future. My journey from an innovative teacher to a successful entrepreneur and back to education is a testament to the transformative power of Waldorf education.

Walter Duncan currently has two children enrolled at the Waldorf School of Lexington, where he also serves as a board member. Beyond education, he enjoys savoring good coffee, spending quality time with his family, and indulging in his passion for collecting sneakers and watches.

Nick Tibera

Class of 93 | Paul Gierlach

Joy and I were married on August 28th, 2016 in Southgate, MI. 

My time at DWS was an invaluable learning experience that laid the foundation for my success in various professional roles. The strong emphasis on art appreciation during my education has proven to be a significant asset in my career as a web developer and design consultant in New York City. In my current position as a software developer at a Fortune 100 company, I find that my art-centric perspective provides a unique advantage. While my colleagues often approach code from a purely logical standpoint, my ability to consider user flow and function design adds a valuable dimension to my work.

Beyond the academic benefits, I cherished the musical and linguistic teachings at DWS. An interesting anecdote is that during my time playing hockey, I would hum the music we were learning on the bench, contributing to my focus and performance on the ice. Additionally, the linguistic foundation I gained from learning German, Spanish, and even a bit of French at DWS has been instrumental in my ability to pick up other languages.

Reflecting on my main lesson experiences, particularly those under the guidance of Mr. Gierlach, I appreciate the diverse knowledge encompassing science, art, culture, and history. This style of learning has been a constant source of inspiration, making it challenging to pinpoint a single best experience. Mr. Gierlach remains the most influential and, undoubtedly, the best teacher I've ever had.

I now reside in Cleveland, Ohio, with my wife Joy and our pets, I hold a B.S. in Computer Science from Eastern Michigan University. My interests span 3D printing, robotics, painting, linguistics, weather, and hockey. Currently, I'm actively involved in developing a game set to launch on the Steam platform soon and am dedicated to learning Japanese.

Jared Cantor

Class of '98 | Francina Graef

In spirit I consider myself a member of the class of 1998, though I regrettably did not attend after seventh grade because my family moved too far away for the daily commute. That said, to this day some of my warmest memories involve my seven years as a DWS student: visits from St. Nicholas and mischievous Ruprecht; performing in our class plays—my favorite line being from my part as King Louis in our play about Eleanor of Aquitaine, “God save the man from a prize such as Eleanor… why was I never warned of that!?”; chanting “non nobis domine non nobis” in the corner stairwell; nighttime sledding during trips to the Hands’ cabin; visiting the amazing North Star shop; the walk-a-thons on Belle Isle; participating in the pentathlon during sixth grade (pictured below); and on and on.

My wonderful memories are supplemented by cherished objects still in my possession, including a sailing ship made in woodwork and handwork classes and geometric string artwork from our study of geometry (pictured here). When considering all of my subsequent accomplishments, I always credit my Waldorf education and especially Mrs. Graef, who epitomizes the caring teacher that plays a life-shaping role in their students’ lives.

After attending DWS, I completed eighth grade at Abbott Middle School in West Bloomfield, MI, and I went on to graduate from West Bloomfield High School. I then attended the University of Michigan (class of 2006), where I majored in history and minored in German (another legacy from my time at DWS). Interested in a career with the US Department of State, I attended the University of Connecticut School of Law (class of 2009) and initially focused on international law and human rights. However, I eventually discovered that my true passion was labor (i.e. union) law and that my favorite style of advocacy was appellate work. After graduating law school, I briefly worked at a law firm in Hartford, CT, and I also clerked at the Connecticut Supreme Court. In 2012 I landed my dream job as an appellate attorney with the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, D.C. There, I defend agency decisions by drafting briefs and presenting oral arguments in the various federal circuit courts of appeals. I now live in Virginia with my wife (who I met in law school) and two children, ages 8 and 2.

Alumni Visits

An Afternoon at the Museum

On Saturday, March 2nd, DWS Alum Teacher, Francina Graef, and Rachel Ornstein, DWS Development Director, attended the panel, Never in Exile: Detroit's Leroy Foster at Cranbrook Art Museum and saw a sneak peak of DWS Alum Jerome Watson's (Class of '90) new short film that he directed, Seeing Foster. This event commemorated the artist exhibition, LeRoy Foster: Solo Show.

Photo: Francina Graef and Jerome Watson. 

Ann Arbor Gathering

On Friday, March 29th, several DWS Alumni gathered in Ann Arbor for a wonderful afternoon of connection and laughter.

Photo: Cristina Stamatin (HS Class of ‘79), Jennifer Morris (Class of ‘83), Jennifer Olmstead (Class of ‘85), Barbara Remboski (Class of '76) and Rachel Ornstein. Also in attendance, but not pictured, were Eric Macks (Class of ‘77), Kirk Williams and Cyril White (Class of ‘80).

Make a gift to Detroit Waldorf School's

Inaugural Alumni Giving Day

On Wednesday, May 1st, DWS will celebrate Alumni Giving Day and the 50th anniversary of the first 8th grade graduating class with Theo Buergin. Our goal for Giving Day is to encourage all of our incredible Alumni (students, parents, grandparents, and teachers) to make a gift in honor of their time spent at DWS and to have 100% participation. No matter the size, every gift makes a difference for our school.

A special thanks to our Alumni Resource Panel who collectively donated $2,250 to launch this campaign! Thank you to Kristine Altwies, Michelle Duncan, Jumah Hamilton, Renita Nesby LiVolsi, Jennifer Morris, Neal Newman, David Olmstead, Maureen McNulty Saxton, Claudia Valsi, and Chris Vaneman.

Join your fellow classmates, parents and teachers by making a gift today!

WANT TO SEE MORE FAMILIAR FACES?

Do you know other alums who might like to join this group?

Can we feature you in an upcoming edition?

Contact: Claudia Valsi, DWS Alumni Outreach Volunteer