High School Administrative Staff

High School Director

Lisa Ayrault
206.522.2644  Email

Lisa taught math for 20 years before joining the staff of SWS in 2005. She holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Stanford University and has taught at a variety of public and independent schools in California, New Mexico, and Washington State—including a 15 year tenure at Seattle's Lakeside School. She and her husband served together as Peace Corps volunteers in Niger, West Africa, where they both taught for two years. Their two children led them to discover Waldorf education. For fun, Lisa enjoys adventuring in the outdoors with her family.

High School Director of Admissions & Dean of Students

Neil J. Weinberg
206.522.2644  Email

Neil Weinberg spent most of his life in New England in small towns with a town meeting form of government. A graduate of New York University where he majored in the history and literature of religion, Neil was trained in early childhood education in the masters program at the Bank Street College of Education, and then in counseling psychology at Antioch New England Graduate School and the Fielding Institute. Working many years as a clinician, Neil also taught undergraduates psychology, human development and comparative religion at Holyoke Community College. Father of two 14-year Waldorf graduates, Neil was a founding board member of the Hartsbrook Waldorf School in Hadley, M.A., and served on the Board of the San Francisco Waldorf School.

High School Office Manager

Brenda Baker
206.522.2644  Email

Brenda Baker was raised on the salt water shoreline of Eld Inlet in Olympia. She previously worked for nine years at Olympia Waldorf School, most recently as their Community Director. She attended Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri for one year before transferring to Washington State University in Pullman, where she obtained a B.A. and M.A. in Communication from the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication. Brenda brings to Seattle Waldorf High School a genuine love for and interest in the students, admiration for the far-reaching talents and dedication of her colleagues, and a deep devotion to the Waldorf movement. Brenda truly enjoys the best of both worlds; if living in lively and energizing downtown Seattle becomes too wearing, she can easily retreat to her rural 20+ acres on Snowberry Farm in Olympia. Never bored, she spends her free time on satisfying artistic endeavors such as papercrafting and artful blogging, as well as enjoying as much reading, music, opera, film and ballet, as possible.

Administrative staff below are located at our main administrative office at the Grade School.

Head of Pedagogy

Nettie Fabrie
206.524.5320, ext 6  Email

Nettie was born and raised in the Netherlands. She earned a masters degree in Education and worked two years as a public school teacher while training to become a Waldorf teacher. She took two classes from first through eighth grade in the Brabant Waldorf School in Eindhoven. During these years she took several courses related to Waldorf education in Stuttgart, Germany and Dornach, Switzerland. In 1992 she earned a B.A. in Art History from the University of Leyden, and in 1996 a B.A. in History from Fontys University in Tilburg, then taught art history and history at the high school level. In 1998 she completed a degree in Internal Pedagogical Management, and in 1993 and 1994 mentored grade school teachers at Seattle Waldorf School to increase the education quality. From 1994 to 2000 she worked as a remedial and high school teacher in the Brabant Waldorf School, traveling frequently to the United States and Canada to mentor teachers in several schools. In 1991, she founded the summer teacher training program in Pardubice, Czech Republic—a course still held yearly and now financially supported by the European Community Council. She is currently the Educational Support Teacher at SWS, and is on the core faculty of Sound Circle Center teacher training. She wrote a Waldorf school math resource book for grades one through five, along with her husband Wim Gottenbos. In her free time Nettie enjoys working in the garden, going to the theater, concerts and art museums.

Head of Administration

Tracy Bennett
206.524.5320, ext 4  Email

Originally from Wisconsin, Tracy has called Seattle home for over 25 years. She received her B.A. from Dartmouth College, pursued graduate studies at Georgetown University, and earned her M.Ed.  in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Washington. Tracy has worked in senior administrative positions at a number of independent schools in the area, including Overlake School, Bush School and Bertschi School. She also served for nine years as a trustee at Forest Ridge School, including two years as Board Chair. Tracy consults to schools across the country in her role as Director of Advancement Services for Ian Symmonds Associates, providing counsel in strategic planning, fundraising, communications and marketing. Tracy has five children, ages 9 to 24; when she is not working or spending time with her kids, she enjoys hiking, skiing, and running marathons.

Development Coordinator

Gabi McCarthy
206.524.5320, ext 3  Email

Gabi hails from Germany, where she grew up on homegrown food and fabulous bread from the bakery down the street. After earning her German teaching certificate, she ventured to the Puget Sound area where she quickly fell in love with Seattle, the mountains, and Michael. Since then, Gabi has taught herself to make German bread, designed a myriad of craft kits for Chinaberry, discovered the wonders of Waldorf education, and developed a passion for philanthropy. She has worked and volunteered for non-profits for twenty-some years, and most recently earned a certificate in Fundraising Management from the UW. She feels very fortunate and grateful that her two children attended SWS, where their artistic impulses were able to emerge and flourish. It is a pleasure for Gabi to see a new generation of students blossom at SWS, and she loves coming to work every day.

Grade School Admissions Director

Meg Petty
206.524.5320, ext 1  Email

Meg grew up in a small community in Wyoming. She attended Cottey College in Missouri, where she received her AA degree before transferring to the University of Washington, where her studies focused on international business. Meg then worked for a steamship company for two years. She discovered Waldorf education during her 18-month travels through Europe and Asia. Returning to Seattle, Meg worked at PCC Natural Markets for almost ten years, where her interests in natural foods cooking and sustainability were further developed. She discovered Seattle Waldorf School during those years, and joined the staff as the Enrollment Coordinator in 2001. Meg delights in meeting families as they discover Waldorf education for their children.

Business Manager

Bev Yonge
206.524.5320, ext 5  Email

With a background in corporate business, Bev joined the school in 1986 as an office volunteer and was soon involved in its financial life as well as reception and secretarial duties. As the school grew, responsibilities shifted to the financial realm, to evolve into her current position. Bev has also worked with a variety of other businesses providing financial setup and consulting. When not crunching numbers, she likes t≠o spend time with family and friends, take long walks, read, and explore new restaurants and faraway places. A Washington native, Bev spent her early years living on a houseboat, skiing off her front porch, and exploring a passion for ballet. Her college studies focused on liberal arts and business.

Office Manager

Diana Wolfe
206.524.5320, ext 2  Email

Diana grew up on the Florida coast enjoying many outdoor sports in the sun at the beach and nearby lakes. She studied nursing at Brevard Community College and attended the University of Central Florida. She worked for many years for Walt Disney World in several divisions before moving to Seattle. She worked for PCC before joining SWS as a receptionist in 1998. Her daughter is a student at SWS High School.

Morning Receptionist

Shelly McSweyn
206.524.5320, ext 0  Email

Shelly McSweyn was born and raised in Eastern Washington, and moved to Seattle in 1976, where she managed and became the president of a large flooring company. In 1990 she started her own construction company and ran it until she decided it was time to spend more time with her family. Since closing her business in 2005, she has enjoyed working part time for a naturopathic physician, and volunteering at her daughter's school, SWS. Besides spending time with her family, she loves to keep busy by being creative, mostly with gardening and various kinds of hand work – painting, knitting, crocheting and sewing.

Afternoon Receptionist

Elaine Schmidt
206.524.5320, ext 0  Email

Elaine Schmidt grew up in New York State and moved to Seattle while pursuing graduate studies in art history. Although she ultimately left academia for full-time family life, she never went far from the classroom. Elaine has been an active volunteer for Seattle Public Schools, with projects ranging from building playgrounds to advocating for alternative education. She most enjoys spending time with her family (including cats and dogs), crafting, reading, hiking and snowboarding. She is happy to be a part of the Seattle Waldorf School community.

Facilities Manager

Tim Love
206.524.5320  Email

Tim grew up near the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and has worked in agricultural and horticultural fields for over twenty years. He received his Waldorf teaching certificate from Sound Circle Center teacher training in Seattle. While market gardening and beekeeping in Oregon on his five acre homestead, he was active with the Oregon Bio-Dynamic Group serving a term as vice-president. In 2000, Tim trained with Gunther Hauk at Sunbridge College prior to teaching gardening, woodworking and beekeeping classes at two other regional Waldorf schools. Tim enjoys working with students at each grade level and spent one year as a kindergarten assistant. He and his wife are raising a new baby of their own!