Teaching Staff

Christine Gehres

My name is Christine Gehres, and I have ”been part of” GSLW since 2003. I was glad to step in as principal when the need arose in 2016.I am a German native, and completed part of my university studies in Germany. I have also worked in Germany until I came to the US as an expatriate. I founded the Mommy & Me program with another mother in 2006. I have substitute taught most levels and have been the second grade teacher. More recently, I taught an adult beginner class.  I have had to learn the English language as a foreigner, and understand what GLSW students experience when learning German as a foreign language. I have also served on the GLSW board as Vice President before becoming involved as a teacher.

Irene Kafer

Vice Principal

Axel Walter

Adult Intermediate II and III classes

Elisa Cordero

Level 1 and Youth Beginner

My name is Elisa Cordero and I have been teaching at GLSW since the fall of 2018. I grew up in Germany and moved to the US after I completed my masters degree in education. My entire family still lives in Germany. I currently teach the Level 1, Youth Beginners and summer camp. I have taught Pre-K and Level 2 in the past. I like to incorporate a lot of hands on activities, fun projects and quizzes in my teaching.

Kirsten Fahrenbach

Mommy, Daddy, and Me classes

Melanie Karakoc

Pre-K & Substitute

Margarete Lorch-Denicola

Kindergarten classes

Anita Altinbas

Level 1

My name is Anita Altinbas and I have taught at GLSW since 2017. I was born and raised in Switzerland and am currently an aide in Level 3.. In the past I helped teach Level 1. I believe in a fostering playful learning and incorporate fun and creative activities in my teaching. I believe in creating a comfortable and safe learning environment so students can also build strong friendships with their classmates.

Beate Buchmann

Level 3/4 class

Gamze Altintas

Level 5/7

My name is Gamze Altintas and I have been teaching at the GLSW since fall 2019. I was born in Germany and lived there until I was 9 years old. In 1997, I received my bachelor’s degree “German Language Teacher Education” at “Istanbul University in “ Istanbul, Turkey . I worked for 15 years as a German Teacher in private schools in Turkey...And now currently teach Level 5 and Level 7. Last school year I taught Level 2.1 and Level 7 students at the GLSW. My motto is; “ Teachers who love teaching, teach children to love learning “

Judith Brauburger

High School and Adult classes

Antje Ballin

Iintermediate and advanced adult classes

Amy Kaeuper

Kindergarten

Petra Linnehan

Level 6

Gabriele Polacek

Substitute

My name is Gabriele Polacek and I have been teaching at GLSW since 2014. I am currently a substitute. I grew up in Düsseldorf, Germany, and moved to the US for business. After working for German business companies in NYC for many years, I received my Bachelor’s degree in Education at Montclair State University. In the past I taught the older children beginners and Level 6 at the GLSW. I like to incorporate games that use the German language, German videos like “Das Deutschlandlabor” and traditional German stories into my teaching.

Sarah Tüllmann

Substitute

Heidi Schmidt Vehmas

Substitute

My name is Heidi Schmidt Vehmas, and I started teaching at the GLSW since 2008. I am currently a substitute teacher. Both of my parents were immigrants from Niedersachsen, Germany and spoke German in our home. I still keep in touch with many relatives in Germany. I have taught levels 1.1 and 1.2 at the GLSW. I enjoy teaching hands on activities, conversational games, and songs to my students.

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