Alumni Magazine Spring 2010 - Green Meadow Waldorf School

Teacher Feature: Changing of the GuardLeah Henderson: Guiding LightKay Hoffman, AdministratorLeah Henderson was alreadya Green Meadow facultywife and mother when,in 1984, the school prevailedupon her to step into the role ofguidance counselor two days aweek. Over the years, as Leah’stwo daughters (Ariel ’99 andNaomi ‘01) grew, it becamepossible for her to work threedays, then four, and, starting in1990, a full five-day work week.She then took on high schoolEnglish teaching and classadvising.From the very beginning, Leahbrought energy, enthusiasm anda firm point of view to her workat Green Meadow with studentsand colleaguesalike. She did nothesitate to set upand take down forclass-sponsoredactivities, to engagein backbreakingwork alongside thestudents to fundraisefor a Waldorf schoolin China, to meetwith parents inevenings and onweekends to orientthem toward thecollege preparationprocess, to work withstudents interestedin maintaininga healthy socialatmosphere and toact as the longestserving member ofthe school’s CareGroup.Leah has ledcountless studentsthrough thecollege admissionsprocess with frank engagement,listening compassionately totheir worries and concerns. HerEnglish students can attest toher love of a good story and herability to relate experiences andthoughts so that the listeners aretransported out of the classroom.They respect her as a voraciousreader who wants to transmit herenthusiasm to her students.Those of us who have known Leahover the years also know her as adedicated mother, a master in thekitchen and in the garden, a worldtraveler and a poet. She expressesher love of life through doing.We will miss her energy, her styleand her spirit; perhaps most of all,we will miss her laughter whichhas cascaded beyond the wallsof her office all these years. Shewill certainly make retirement afulfilling and satisfying experiencebecause she always finds waysto be creative, productive andhelpful. Godspeed, dear Leah. q(Above, right) Leah as a new Spring Valley arrivee, 1979;(at left, top) Leah on an outing with her daughters, Naomi andAriel, 1991; (near left) Leah with a “Green Guerilla,” making acommunity garden with high school students in the 1990s.6 | Alumni Magazine