Mrs. Hayda Retires
Mrs. Dzvinka Hayda, a beloved teacher at Detroit Waldorf School for more than 20 years, is retiring. Born in Kosiv, Ukraine, at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, Mrs. Hayda’s ability to connect with children and create a magical classroom environment is rooted in her own happy childhood spent playing outdoors, surrounded by nature.
Mrs. Hayda’s legacy shines bright: she is a mentor of dozens of ECC teachers, an internationally-recognized lecturer on the welfare of children, the founder of a Waldorf Early Childhood Center in her home country of Ukraine, and the author and illustrator of two award-winning books, Little Angel's Journey and Natalia’s Journey to the Land of the Fairies. Two of her sons graduated from DWS.
During her first visit to DWS, Mrs. Hayda sat on the auditorium steps and listened to the school. She heard singing and laughter; she heard the sounds of home. Through Mrs. Hayda’s idyllic classroom and nurturing demeanor, she has given countless children the opportunity for a joyful childhood.
Mrs. Hayda will be deeply missed by the Detroit Waldorf School community.