Waldorf Education reflects the culmination of the three previous 10-year phases of Helfrich’s career: Music, Science Exhibits & Programs, and Integral Psychology.

Put another way, it is through his experience with Waldorf Education that he was able to fully integrate his artistic, scientific, and spiritual interests into a holistic lifestyle. The result was that he was able to express his authentic self daily through art, science, and spirituality. It was liberting to say the least!

He began his study of Rudolf Steiner’s work (called Anthroposophy) in 2009. He became a Waldorf Class teacher in part because he had never had the experience of raising his own children. Since he always enjoyed working with children, teaching provided an opportunity to help raise a group of his own, so to speak. So he began his training in 2010 and was hired at the Westside Waldorf School in Pacific Palisades, CA in April 2012. He took that Class from first through eighth grade. While the COVID19 pandemic through a curve into the last 12 weeks of the school year, he witnessed firsthand the amazing transformative potential of the Waldorf curriculum to nurture young hearts, hands, and minds as the Class graduated in June 2020!

Westside Waldorf Class of 2020

And the Beat Goes On…

After taking a year-long sabbatical in 2020-2021 during the height of the COVID pandemic, Paul returned to take the 4th grade Class with a commitment to graduate them in 2026! Unfortunately, the pandemic severely impacted the enrollment at Westside Waldorf and during the 5th grade school year it was decided to close the Middle School and refocus the school on Grades 1-4 for the 2023-24 school year. This meant that he would have to say a bittersweet “goodbye” at the end of the year to the six wonderful children who remained in his Class. Still, his parents sent the following testimonial at year’s end:
July 12, 2023

Dear Mr. Helfrich,

We are all deeply saddened that our journey together was cut short. We, fellow parents, will cherish you as one of life’s greatest blessings to our children (and to us!). You shared your proficiency and expertise as a master Waldorf teacher, allowing our children to experience the true beauty of this education (which lives within them and sets them apart).

You have gone above and beyond to hold them and nurture them academically, socially & spiritually. Your unwavering support has profoundly impacted our children’s lives. Thank you for your exceptional dedication and for being an irreplaceable guardian of our child’s future. You helped our children navigate through an unprecedented and difficult situation and kept them inspired to work hard and finish strong!

We love you (and Ms. Jo) & you will FOREVER have a special place in our hearts. Your impact will stay with our children for a lifetime, and for that, we cannot thank you enough. And as you say, this is not “good-bye” but “until we meet again”.

With Deep Gratitude and Love,

Grade 4/5 Parents

During the 2023-24 school year, Paul served as Music teacher, Pedagogical Coordinator, and Faculty Board Rep. He taught several Main Lesson blocks for Grades 1-4 to help rejuvenate the lower school program, mentored Grades teachers, and brought the amazing Waldorf music curriculum to Grades 1-4.

During the autumn of 2023, after his wife (of 34 years Joanne) successfully endured major abdominal surgery and they attended their niece’s (Celia) wedding in Lewes, Delaware, he realized that it was time to retire from teaching full-time to pursue his interests in music composition, channeling, and spiritual science (Integral Anthroposophy).

He was honored by his students, parents, and colleagues in June of 2024 and is planning to relocate from Topanga, CA to Lewes, Delaware to be closer to family and friends. Stay tuned for new adventures…!

Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Anthroposophy

The following Podcast is available in MP3 Audio:

Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Anthroposophy [2:06]
Parent Enrichment Lecture, Westside Waldorf School, April 9, 2016 (Updated PDF 6/25/20)
Download [PowerPoint Slides/PDF] to follow while you listen!

California Dreamin’

An amazing performance by the Westside Waldorf Middle School Orchestra and Choir at our annual Music Takes Flight! concert, April 12, 2018. Conducted by Jessica King & Janet McCandles. Video by Letitia Quinn.