Staff

Kalen Wood, Director
(707) 575-7194 ext. 117

Kalen joined Summerfield in June 2023 as the Director of SWSF, bringing with her 14 years of administrative experience in Public Waldorf Charter Schools, and over 25 years of teaching experience. She holds a BA in Economics & Women’s Studies, state teaching credentials in K-12 Multiple Subjects and Social Sciences, and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership.

Kalen taught PS-G3 in public school settings in San Francisco, Cotati, and Rohnert Park. Courses at Rudolf Steiner College and Summerfield’s Center for Educational Renewal’s (CER) Waldorf Teacher Certification program prepared her to complete a class cycle at Summerfield, where she became a CER faculty member and taught “The Art of Teaching the Grades,” in addition to other courses. She served as Education Director for seven years with two local public Waldorf schools, specializing in mentoring, building collaborative governance, and parent education program development, and an additional 7 years as Director of SunRidge School in Sebastopol.

A long-time resident of Sebastopol, Kalen has a 32-year-old daughter who attended Summerfield for grades 7-12, and a 45-year-old stepson who is about to make her a grandmother. She loves to garden, appreciate & be in nature, dance socially, read books, learn, and explore new environments.

Kalen shares, “The opportunity to rejoin Summerfield’s inspiring faculty & staff, and provide new energy to envisioning the school’s future while continuing to innovate in an educational setting has my heart singing! I look forward to meeting and working, with warmth & imagination, in partnership with all of Summerfield’s community members.”

Cassandra McNally, Office Manager/Receptionist
(707) 575-7194, Ext. 100

After growing up in the East Bay, Cassandra attended UCSC and majored in Modern Society and Social Thought before starting her family and relocating to the South Bay. There, her children attended Waldorf School of the Peninsula and Cassandra spent seven years in the school’s administrative office serving in a variety of roles. In 2011, she and her family moved north to Sonoma County and Cassandra took a role at the front desk of Sonoma Academy where she spent the next ten years.

She greatly enjoys working in school settings and is thrilled to begin the next chapter at Summerfield reconnecting with the Waldorf community!

Lower School Staff

Sarah Hill, Lower School Secretary & HS Librarian
(707) 575-7194, Ext. 101

Born in Kansas City and raised in the East Bay, Sarah attended UC Berkeley and majored in Film. After graduating she lived in San Francisco before buying a 1969 Datsun B210 wagon for $200 and taking off across the country. She landed in Vermont and stayed for the next fifteen years working as a photo clerk, a film projectionist, and a documentary film editor with Ken Burns. She lived in the East Village in NYC for a few years, pursuing film editing and photography and then met her future husband Luke in Montpelier, Vermont. Together they moved to Austin, TX where Sarah studied architecture, travelling abroad to Chile and India, and worked as an archival assistant at the UT Visual Resources Center. After earning an MArch degree, she worked as a Design Associate before having twins. They moved to Berkeley to be closer to family and discovered Waldorf education. Her daughters began attending the Berkeley Rose nursery and Sarah began working in the Berkeley Rose office not long after. In Berkeley, Sarah began work on what some (her husband, for instance) might call her final degree – a Masters in Library and Information Science, which she completed in 2018, shortly after moving with her family to Cotati. Here in Sonoma County, they endeavor to put down roots at last and Sarah is grateful to be a part of the Summerfield community.

Adriana Livingston, Lower School Coordinator
(707) 575-7194, Ext. 132

Born and raised in Sonoma Valley, Adriana enriches Summerfield with her varied world-life experience. As a Waldorf alumna, competitive swimmer and water polo player, graduate of the United States Naval Academy, and veteran Naval Officer, she also holds a Waldorf Teaching Certificate from the Waldorf Institute of Southern California. Before joining SWSF, Adriana taught at the Marin Waldorf School and the Waldorf School of San Diego. She finds immense joy in singing, gardening, hiking, woodworking, engaging in artistic activities, and cherishing moments of synchronicity. Adriana is profoundly inspired by Rudolf Steiner’s words: “Receive the children with reverence, educate them with love, and let them go forth in freedom.”

High School Staff

Amelia Miller, High School Secretary
(707) 575-7194, Ext. 108

Amelia is a Northern California native who relocated back to Sonoma County in 2007, after living on the island of Maui for 30 years, where she served as Administrative Assistant at Haleakala Waldorf School. She also served as Assistant to the Director at Sebastopol Independent Charter School prior to joining the high school team here at Summerfield in 2011. In her spare time Amelia enjoys kayaking, swimming, gardening, camping, hiking, dancing and cooking. She is thrilled to continue to be a part of the Summerfield community.

Kate MacKillop, High School Counselor
(707) 575-7194, Ext. 109

Kate is a bilingual (Spanish) licensed clinical social worker (LSCW) serving as the Academic and Social-Emotional High School Counselor at Summerfield. She is also on Summerfield’s DEI Committee, Community Enrichment Committee and a liaison to high school admissions, college and career guidance, and the international exchange program. Kate’s journey to Waldorf education, and ultimately to Summerfield, came through her children Cecelia (G8) and Isabel (G5). Kate assisted Farmer Dan Kranstover and Farmer Gabriel Markel from 2018-2023 while simultaneously continuing her Waldorf Education. She graduated from the Center for Educational Renewal in 2020, and Robyn Brown’s Curative Education Program in 2024. In addition, Kate has continued her work with Child Welfare supporting children, youth, and families involved in the foster care system. While Kate holds many interests, she values most the time spent with her husband and children and visiting the world–from Uspantan, Guatemala to San Sebastian, Spain, to her hometown of Bakersfield, California. Above all things, she savors most the gift of time with those whom she holds dear. Kate also loves to cook and is known to try to sneak kale into dishes but has yet to be successful due to her family’s ever discerning palate.

Admissions/Enrollment

Annalyse Jorgensen, Admissions Director
(707) 575-7194, Ext. 102

Annalyse is a passionate educator, meditator, kitchen-dancer, fairy house hunter, and lover of life who has worked with children professionally for the last decade. From the moment she could hold a pen she was gathering the other kids on the block to play school. Annalyse pursued her lifelong goal of teaching as lead teacher of kindergarten through 3rd grade for over a decade in San Francisco and Oakland. As a Bay Area native, Annalyse has found many of her most joyful moments outside of the classroom hiking in the Sierra Nevadas and swimming in the Bay. She was a long-time camper, counselor and supervisor at a Jewish Summer Camp in Yosemite that instilled a deep reverence of nature, gathering in community, and connection to self and others. She has been on meditation retreats to deepen her inner world and hiked 220 miles alone through the Sierra Nevadas on the JMT as a walking meditation. She loves being able to share the unique depth and magic of Waldorf education with students and families in Sonoma County. Annalyse lives with her husband and their flock of furry/feathered friends in Sebastopol.

Andrea Trinei, Registrar & Database Manager
(707) 575-7194, Ext. 124

Andrea was born in San Francisco and has since been a lifelong resident of Sebastopol, where she lives full-time with her husband, cats and chickens, and sometimes with her daughters, Lily (SWSF Class of 2018) and Ella (SWSF Class of 2021). Andrea received a BA degree in Political Science from Sonoma State University and went on to work in the U.S. Capitol and the California State Legislature. These experiences in part led her to Waldorf education, as she quickly learned that she did not want to raise a family who were influenced by media. Andrea began working in the Summerfield office in 2005, first as HR Coordinator, and then, since 2017, as the Registrar and Database Manager. When she’s not working at SWSF she enjoys mile-long swim workouts, traveling to Hawaii and Belgium, and speeding around the Bay Area in her convertible.

Aftercare Program

Acacia Brisbois, Lower School Aftercare Director & Farm Camp Registrar
(707) 575-7194, Ext. 161

Acacia joined the SWSF staff in fall 2018 as a Handwork Assistant in the Lower Grades, and blesses the classroom with her life-long passion for handwork. Her skills have been honed through years of experience professionally sewing custom children’s clothing, stuffed animals, and other crafts. Acacia attended Summerfield as a student, graduating with the first high school class! She is also a Waldorf parent whose youngest daughter is at Summerfield.

Arika Schumacher, Kindergarten Aftercare Coordinator

Arika was raised in North Platte Nebraska, and has been in Sonoma County for 16 years. Arika is currently the Lead Aftercare Teacher in the ECE kindergarten. Arika brings with her a deep love for food, and an appreciation of its role in maintaining a healthy life. After receiving her personal chef certification at Bauman College (while simultaneously working herself as a Chef, helping others reach their health goals through implementing food as medicine) she acquired a Permaculture Design Certification, as well as a Certification in KIVo (Kinetic Voice and movement). She attended Naropa University in Boulder Colorado, double majoring in Psychology and Visual Arts. Arika is highly interested in the human heart space and Anthroposophy. She completed the ECE Waldorf Teacher training certification in Marin through LifeWays at the end of 2020. She is heart driven to gain wisdom through working with the young child and the earth. Arika’s deep love for children and desire in helping others see their true beauty and inner potential continues to inspire her. She dreams of what this world could become with a little more love and authenticity.

Takako Rasmussen, 5-Day Rosebud Aftercare Coordinator

Takako grew up in Japan and moved to Sonoma county during the summer of 2015 for her son’s second year of his kindergarten at Summerfield. As she started to learn more about Waldorf education through her son, she became aware of the importance of early childhood education for all of our children. She strives to bring the children the simple pleasures of a home-like environment through the rhythms of everyday life. Takako has over twenty years of experience working at various businesses, having graduated from Sugiyama women’s college in Japan. Currently, she has been taking Child Development classes at Santa Rosa Junior College and hopes to add Waldorf teacher education in the near future.

Athletics

Mike Carroll, Athletic Director
(707) 575-7194, Ext. 309

Mike has coached for over 25 years in Sonoma County, including a five-year tenure at Santa Rosa Junior College with Caren Franci. Mike lives in Sebastopol with his bride, Katie Ketchum.

Business Office

Lisa Hensley, Business Manager
(707) 575-7194, Ext. 113

Lisa grew up just outside of Seattle, Washington. She moved to Southern California to attend the University of California, Irvine where she earned a degree in teaching dance before moving to Sonoma County in 1995. Lisa has worked as Principal’s Secretary at Redwood High School as well as Customer Service Manager for Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates building her strong administrative background. Lisa’s family joined the Summerfield community in 2005 when her oldest child joined the preschool class. Lisa was hired in the Finance Office in 2011 and is now currently serving as Summerfield’s Finance and Facilities Manager and Safety Officer, overseeing the school’s emergency preparedness plan. 

Berenice Hernandez, Finance Associate
(707) 575-7194, Ext. 103

Berenice has lived in Sonoma County since 2003, having moved to Santa Rosa with her family from Modesto. In 2013 as newlyweds, she moved with her husband to Healdsburg where they currently live with their son. Berenice worked in the bank industry for 6 years before joining SWSF, and worked for a vineyard management company in the finance department for 4 years prior to that. She is excited to be part of the Summerfield Waldorf School & Farm community as the Finance Associate. When not at work she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling to new places.

Development

Hayden Terstegge, Development Director
(707) 575-7194, Ext. 105

Hayden has been a resident of Sonoma County since 2007, after moving from Marin County where she built a background in bookkeeping and finance. As a long-time volunteer at SWSF, she developed a deep connection to the community and now finds meaningful work in the Development department. Hayden enjoys reading, writing, cooking, practicing Pilates, and spending quality time with her two children, who are also SWSF students.

Camille Hedges, Development Associate
(707) 575-7194, Ext. 106

Having lived most of her life in Sonoma County, Camille has a broad understanding and appreciation for the landscape and richness that permeates throughout our community. She spent two decades in the corporate world developing and honing her skills as a lead sales and marketing professional. She then followed her passion by earning a certification as an Herbalist from the California School of Herbal Studies. She has represented health and wellness companies from around the world by creating key accounts with retailers throughout the greater Bay Area. Joining the Development Team at SWSF was a natural career progression and a role she cherishes deeply. Building on the foundation formed by past families, staff and faculty, it is her goal to play an integral role in strengthening SWSF so that it can continue to enrich the lives of children for generations to come. Her greatest love, however, is raising her two children who have been deeply rooted in Summerfield’s education since kindergarten. For Camille and her husband, Timothy, there is no greater sense of joy than knowing they are 100% in the best place on earth for their continued growth and development. Each day at Summerfield is a gift to her and her family.

Human Resources

Michelle Bovard, HR Manager
(707) 575-7194, Ext. 126

Michelle was born and raised in Oakland, CA. She earned a B.A. in International Relations, World Trade and Development, from UC Davis, followed by postgraduate Environmental Science studies at the University of Queensland, Australia. Both personal interests and professional opportunities resulted in moves to Seattle, Australia, New Zealand, Berkeley, Lake Tahoe, Santa Barbara and Marin. When deciding where to settle, Michelle and her husband choose Sebastopol so that their three children could continue their Waldorf Education in Sonoma County and attend Summerfield. Michelle began volunteering, enrolled in the Waldorf Teacher Training program through the Center for Educational Renewal, and finally joined staff at Summerfield in 2014.

Marketing

Tanya Seibold, Marketing Director
(707) 575-7194, Ext. 107

Tanya is a seasoned marketing strategist and photojournalist with over 35 years of helping for-profit and non-profit organizations promote and grow their brand awareness. She thrives on storytelling through words and images. She grew up outside the Seattle area and received her degrees in Marketing Management and Business Management. Her professional background includes Nordstrom, the California and Australia wine industry, and running her own creative and branding agency. Her journey has led her to Summerfield Waldorf where she is excited to share her experience in digital/social marketing, website development, and innovative marketing concepts to engage the community near and far by introducing them to Waldorf Education and Summerfield’s rich history. When not behind the lens, you’ll find Tanya making artisan jams on her family’s farm, soaking up good desert vibes in Palm Springs, down in Adelaide/Australia lunching with friends on a winery veranda, or watching her Chiweenie, “Ace”, splash around the beaches of South Coast Oregon.

Facilities and Grounds

Lisa Hensley, Business Manager
(707) 575-7194, Ext. 113

Lisa grew up just outside of Seattle, Washington. She moved to Southern California to attend the University of California, Irvine where she earned a degree in teaching dance before moving to Sonoma County in 1995. Lisa has worked as Principal’s Secretary at Redwood High School as well as Customer Service Manager for Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates building her strong administrative background. Lisa’s family joined the Summerfield community in 2005 when her oldest child joined the preschool class. Lisa was hired in the Finance Office in 2011 and is now currently serving as Summerfield’s Finance and Facilities Manager and Safety Officer, overseeing the school’s emergency preparedness plan. 

Kitchen

Allen Lifson, Chef

Chef Allen was born in Brooklyn, New York. After his family moved to Long Island he was hired by a catering company as a busboy. It wasn’t long before he found himself helping the cooking staff with prep work. He had found his path. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, Allen honed his culinary skills in an upscale restaurant and a yacht club. In 1993, he accepted the position of Chef/Manager at the Buckley School in NYC. Along with running the lunch program he began a rooftop top garden and cooking club. Allen is happy to be back at school, where he can feed students fresh organic food that they love.

Caitlin Lewis Guevara, Assistant Chef

A native east-coaster, Chef Caitlin attended Johnson & Wales University where she earned her Associate’s degree in Food Service Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Nutrition and Dietetics. An exciting opportunity to intern as a Sushi Chef at celebrity Chef Guy Fieri’s restaurant in Santa Rosa brought Caitlin to the West Coast, where she fell in love with Northern California. For the past five years, she worked for a family with two children as a Personal Chef using her knowledge of nutrition to create healthy meals and snacks. When the Assistant Chef position at Summerfield Waldorf opened, she jumped at the opportunity to be in an environment which emphasizes fresh, local, and organic food for the students. In Caitlin’s free time, she endlessly reads, bakes, and plays with her three dogs.

Juan Rivas, Kitchen Assistant

Juan Rivas was born in Mexico, and came to America when he was two years old. He grew up in Santa Rosa and truly loves calling this city ‘home’. Juan has dabbled in a little bit of everything, from landscaping to tending farms, but has spent most of his life in kitchens. When he was eighteen years old, he began working at a Santa Rosa hotspot called Sweet River as a dishwasher/busboy. He worked his way through the kitchen, and eventually became the Kitchen Manager. After the owner closed down Sweet River, Juan found himself working as a prep cook at celebrity Chef Guy Fieri’s restaurant in Santa Rosa where he met Chef Caitlin. Juan is always laughing, has a true allegiance to the Warriors, and loves eating food…especially any sort of dessert.