High School Faculty
2024-25 Class Advisors
G9: Maria Morales and Rose McDonald
G10: Isabel Wundsam and Molly Sierra
G11: America Worden and Lorian Shick & Caleb Straus-Peretz
G12: Ry Ulmer-Strack and America Worden
Humanities
Bob Flagg, Humanities
Bob received a B.A. in History from the University of San Francisco and an M.A. and junior college teaching credential in humanities from San Francisco State University. He received his Waldorf teacher training through the Rudolf Steiner College San Francisco extension program, and has been teaching in the High School since 1997. Bob also looks after the high school campus cats.
Phone: (707) 575-7194 Ext: 110
Molly Sierra, Humanities
Molly taught Language Arts and Creative Writing for twelve years in both Spanish and English before coming to Summerfield. She also has taught Creative Writing at SFSU and literacy skills to adults in Sonoma County. Molly received a B.A. in English from Sonoma State and both an M.A. in English and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from SFSU. She completed her Waldorf training at the Center for Educational Renewal.
Molly and her husband, Uriel, have two daughters, Nayeli and Chloe. They are very happy to be part of the Summerfield community. Phone: (707) 575-7194 Ext: 154
Science & Mathematics
Jered Hazlett-Karr, Physics and Math
Jered Hazlett-Karr was born and raised in Santa Rosa, CA. He received his Bachelor’s of Science and Master’s of Science in both Biology and Earth and Planetary Sciences from U.C. Santa Cruz, and later his teaching credential from Sonoma State University. Jered is passionate about fostering students’ creativity and curiosity, allowing them to develop their desire for learning. As a true scientist, he models the importance of using powers of observation and oscillating between observation and interpretation. Before coming to Summerfield, Jered taught high school chemistry, biology and earth science. He loves spending time in nature with his wife and three children. You can also frequently find him on a sand volleyball court or in a battle of wits with a good board game. Jered is very excited to be joining the Summerfield community as a teacher after being a Summerfield parent for many years.
Maria Morales, Chemistry, Biology, Earth Sciences & Astronomy
Maria is a lifelong learner who is fascinated by transformation in the natural world. She holds an M.A. in Waldorf Education, from Rudolf Steiner College and an M.S. in Wildland Resource Science, from the University of California, Berkeley. She has been teaching since 1995 at several educational institutions such as the Cal Academy and Merritt Community College. Her fields of study have included forest ecology, fire science, hazardous waste mitigation, paleontology, and astronomy. In 2011 she answered the call to support the first graduating high school class at the Waldorf School of San Diego. She is active in the Natural Science Section of North America and recently participated in the 2024 Sensitive Fluidity conference which explored water phenomena and Flowform design.
She is also an avid student and practitioner of Star Wisdom and holds workshops to support the study of Astrosophy. Her three children are Waldorf graduates and are off having their adventures. She is happy to return to northern California and is grateful to be part of an anthroposophical community.
Phone: (707) 575-7194, Ext: 128
Caleb Peretz, HS Chemistry & Math
Caleb graduated with honors from Maria Carrillo High School before receiving a BS in Plant Science from UC Davis, and then spent years working in the agriculture industry with dairy farms, regenerative ranches, diverse vegetable farms, diverse fruit orchards, nurseries, and school gardens. After spending three years establishing a community farm in Washington State with his partner, Chelsey Kolbeck, they moved back to Sonoma County this year with their toddler, Noah Ray (now attending the 2-day Seedlings class with Ms. Kate), as well their three beloved dairy cows. Caleb is teaching the 9th and 10th grade math track classes (Algebra I and Geometry), the 9th and 10th grade chemistry main lesson classes (Organic Chemistry and Acid/Base Chemistry), High School Physical Education, the Farming & Cooking class for 9th and 12th grades, Herbal Studies for 9th grade, and the Cooking Elective class for 11th and 12th grades. He is also a co-mentor with Ry, and a co-advisor for the 11th grade along with Lorian and America. Caleb is passionate about food, health and wellness, ecology, community development, agriculture, and mentoring the youth. He feels honored to be a faculty member in this special community.
America Worden, HS Biology, Native American Studies, Architecture Project and Permaculture Garden
America teaches High School Biology, Native American Studies, and Architecture Project and co-teaches Senior project. She also teaches classes in the permaculture garden. America is a Waldorf alum herself, first of the San Francisco Waldorf school (preschool-8th) and then Summerfield (9th-11th). America holds a BA from UC Berkeley in Native American Studies, an MSc in Holistic Science from Schumacher College and an MA in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She loves gardening, exploring, celebrating, writing and fiber arts. America is married to Adam Shemper and Mama to Avi (in Mr. B’s class) and Nia.
Lorian Shick, HS Mathematics & Practical Arts
Lorian was born and raised in South Lake Tahoe, CA where she developed a love for nature and a deep interest in the world around her. After attending University of California at Santa Cruz, where she graduated with honors receiving her BA in Business and Economics, she followed her creative passions enrolling at the Academy of Art in San Francisco to earn a MFA Degree in Fashion Design.
After working in both large and small companies in clothing design, she discovered Waldorf Education, and with it, a new perspective on the ways to contribute her gifts to the world. She completed her Waldorf Teacher Training with the Center for Educational Renewal, joining the Faculty at the Summerfield High School in 2019 to teach Economics, Math, and Crafts. She embraces that love of learning and is continually striving to pursue new opportunities to bring into her teaching. She has pursued mentorships with several accomplished Waldorf Math teachers and most recently completed her certificate in Advanced BioGeometry. She is currently in the middle of a Bookbinding Core Certificate program at the Center for the Book in San Francisco. Lorian is deeply committed to Anthroposophical studies and is the treasure for our local Anthroposophical Branch, The Language of the Heart. Lorian, and her husband Ben, have two children, Sovana, and Skyler, who both attend Summerfield Waldorf. Lorian is grateful for the many ways in which the Summerfield Community colors her life, and is constantly inspired to further develop and share her individual gifts.
Phone: (707) 575-7194, Ext: 127
Ry Ulmer-Strack, Physics & Mathematics
Born and raised in Sonoma County, Ry attended Summerfield Waldorf from 9th-12th grade, graduating in 2014. After completing his B.A. in Pure Mathematics from Sonoma State University, Ry returned to Summerfield in 2019 where he primarily teaches in the areas of math, science, and the practical arts. Ry has a broad set of interests, and greatly values the variety of subjects he is able to immerse himself in as a teacher at Summerfield such as interesting math problems, metalworking projects in the blacksmith shop, and more. Beyond school, Ry enjoys sailing, skiing, tinkering, and working to protect our ever changing natural world. Ry is also a recently rated commercial helicopter pilot, currently working toward becoming a certified flight instructor.
Phone: (707) 575-7194, Ext: 130
PE/Movement
Rose MacDonald, LS/HS Movement & PE, Circus Coordinator, HS Safe Space Leader
Rose MacDonald has a passion for circus and education through movement. She first became familiar with Summerfield as a student in the White Rose kindergarten and graduated from Summerfield in 2014. After attending the Peredure Center for the Arts in England to study Eurythmy, she returned to Sonoma county and rejoined the Circus Program as a teacher in 2017. Rose is currently a student in the Center for Educational Renewal’s Teacher training program and frequently attends Circus Educator Conferences to help grow and expand the circus program at Summerfield. She is a practicing circus artist and occasional performer.
In 2022 Rose started a Safe Space group at Summerfield to help support LGBTQ+ students and their allies. As a queer woman and a Summerfield Alum, this project is very close to her heart.
Phone: (707) 575-7194 Ext: 160
Renate Lundberg, HS Eurythmy
Renate was born in Holland as the fifth child of a family physician, and went through two years of kindergarten and 12 years of Waldorf School. Ten years of working as a nurse in different hospitals taught her a lot about people and herself, and after that she traveled through Europe, doing massage courses and working in different health clinics. As the climate in hospitals became ever less what she was looking for, she decided to do the eurythmy training in Holland. The 5 1/2 years of training brought great joy to Renate, and also taught her a lot about herself and human interactions. Since that time she has been teaching in Waldorf Schools in Holland, Canada (Vancouver BC), Minneapolis, East Bay (California) and Seattle.
Her love of the outdoors has been greatly satisfied by meeting ever new surroundings and climates, as she explored them with her husband and their two big Malamutes in kayaks, on bicycles, with backpacks or on skis. She hopes to find a way to continue to inspire and be inspired by middle and high school students again, and find a way to make eurythmy accessible and helpful as a support to the curriculum.
Angela Pryor-Garat, HS Spanish, International Student Program Coordinator
Angela went to school in Buenos Aires/Argentina, the home country of her family’s roots, where she studied Visual Fine Arts, Culinary Arts, and Psychology. While in Argentina, she married Ignacio Garat, started a family, then moved back to the states with their children in 2001. She earned a BFA and MFA in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute. In 2007, Angela came aboard at Summerfield to teach Spanish. She also taught Latin American and Spanish Art electives, became a Mentor, and graduated the class of 2009 and 2014 as their advisor. After a hiatus in teaching from 2018-2023, Angela returned to Summerfield Waldorf in the fall of 2024 to lead the International Student Program and teach Spanish. She is also a member of the High School Core Group. When Angela is not teaching, she loves to spend time with Ignacio, their two dogs, and their two granddaughters. She also makes time to read non-fiction, work on her art, and loves to cook. For questions about our International Student Program, please email Angela at angela@summerfieldwaldorf.org
Hannah Jane Dakin, HS Drama
Hannah attended Summerfield from Kindergarten through 12th Grade; graduating in 2010. Hannah is excited to be back in teaching capacity and to bring her extensive theatre background, knowledge and passion to current students. She has a BA in Stage Management and Technical Theatre from The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and a MA in Shakespeare & Education from The Shakespeare Institute through the University of Birmingham. Hannah has also trained at Cal Shakes and The Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Hannah teaches Stage and Production Management at Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley and has taught and mentored students at The College of Marin and Sonoma State University.
Apart from teaching theatre Hannah is also a freelance stage manager in Sonoma and Marin counties and currently on staff at Spreckels Performing Arts Center.
Molly Sierra, HS Spanish
Molly taught Language Arts and Creative Writing for twelve years in both Spanish and English before coming to Summerfield. She also has taught Creative Writing at SFSU and literacy skills to adults in Sonoma County. Molly received a B.A. in English from Sonoma State and both an M.A. in English and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from SFSU. She completed her Waldorf training at the Center for Educational Renewal. Molly and her husband, Uriel, have two daughters, Nayeli and Chloe. They are very happy to be part of the Summerfield community.
Phone: (707) 575-7194 Ext: 154
Isabel Vallejo, LS/HS Spanish
Isabel was born and raised in a small village in Valladolid, Spain. She received her Masters degree in Law at the University of Valladolid, then worked with the Spanish Tax Agency for more than ten years in Barcelona, Madrid, Toledo and Athens. She moved to the USA twelve years ago following her husband, with whom she has two children. She taught Spanish as a substitute at Sonoma Academy before joining the Summerfield faculty.
Isabel Wundsam, HS German, LS/HS Music & Fine Arts
Isabel was invited to join the faculty at SWS in 1996, through her professional experience in the Fine Arts and Music. Originally from Germany, she received her formal training from the Robert Schumann institute, the School for Visual Communication, the Kunstakademie and the Universität Düsseldorf. Before moving to the US, Isabel performed as a classical pianist, taught piano at a music school, and worked as a freelance graphic designer. In her private practice she painted and photographed and her work has been exhibited and sold throughout Germany and Italy. Naturally, living in Germany and working in the world of art, music and education, she was exposed from an early age to the Waldorf Movement and Anthroposophy.
Isabel studied, within the circle of Joseph Beuys, whose work impacted and changed the Fine Arts through the anthroposophical view, worldwide.
Currently, Isabel is our Lower School and High School Arts, Music and Language Chair. She is also a Class Advisor, Student and Teacher Mentor, serves on the Board of Trustees, is a senior member of The College of Teachers, and served for over 10 years on Lower School and High School Core Groups, teaches courses at the Waldorf Teacher Training, and accompanies Eurythmy classes as a pianist. Isabel teaches German through all levels in the High School. For the Summerfields Fine Arts Program, she teaches Acrylic Painting, Drawing, Linoleum Print, and Watercolor. In her music teaching, she has directed the Middle School Class orchestras and presently leads the High School Chamber Music.
Fine Arts, Practical Arts & Music
Angie Brown, LS/HS Practical Arts
Angie is a practicing professional artist. She earned a BFA from the California College of the Arts. Angie began teaching at Summerfield in 2019, teaching clay and other art classes with grades 7-12. Having focused for many years on portraiture, Angie loves working with the 12th grade on their self-portrait oil paintings. As a working potter, she shares her love of the pottery wheel with the 10th grade. Angie is grateful to be part of the Summerfield community, and to share her passion for creative self-expression with her students.
Olivia Gallagher, HS American Music
Olivia was born in Chico, California but spent her younger years in Costa Rica, Central America. Having attended Willow Wood Waldorf School, now SunRidge Charter, from 5th-8th grade once back in the states,, the seeds of Waldorf Education had been firmly planted. After traveling and exploring after high school, Olivia graduated Sonoma State University in 2022 with a B.A. in Psychology, and a minor in English. Deeply connected to the creative and performing arts as a musician and vocalist, she recently finished recording her first album. This summer Olivia also completed an aerial silks teacher training and is looking forward to teaching silks here in the future. Olivia joined Summerfield in 2023 as program faculty with a 7th Grade Creative Writing block, 8th Grade History block, and accompanied the 8th grade in their production of Hadestown last spring. She is thrilled to be teaching Acoustic Guitar & Singing to our high school students and sharing her lifelong passion for musical expression with them.
Barb Kobabe, LS/HS Practical Arts & LS Handwork
Barb joined the Summerfield Community as a parent in 2003. She began volunteering on the farm with the farm guild the following year. In 2006, she began assisting in lower school handwork classes, and over the years has assisted, volunteered and taught in lower school and high school handwork classes. Barb completed her Waldorf Teacher Training with the Center for Educational Renewal in 2012. Barb loves sharing her life long passion of all things handwork with the students.
Rose MacDonald, LS/HS Movement/Handiwork, Circus Coordinator & HS Safe Space Leader
Rose MacDonald has a passion for circus and education through movement. She first became familiar with Summerfield as a student in the White Rose kindergarten and graduated from Summerfield in 2014. After attending the Peredure Center for the Arts in England to study Eurythmy, she returned to Sonoma county and rejoined the Circus Program as a teacher in 2017. Rose is currently a student in the Center for Educational Renewal’s Teacher training program and frequently attends Circus Educator Conferences to help grow and expand the circus program at Summerfield. She is a practicing circus artist and occasional performer.
In 2022 Rose started a Safe Space group at Summerfield to help support LGBTQ+ students and their allies. As a queer woman and a Summerfield Alum, this project is very close to her heart.
Phone: (707) 575-7194 Ext: 160
Molly Sierra; Art, Humanities, Foreign Languages
Molly taught Language Arts and Creative Writing for twelve years in both Spanish and English before coming to Summerfield. She also has taught Creative Writing at SFSU and literacy skills to adults in Sonoma County. Molly received a B.A. in English from Sonoma State and both an M.A. in English and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from SFSU. She completed her Waldorf training at the Center for Educational Renewal.
Molly and her husband, Uriel, have two daughters, Nayeli and Chloe. They are very happy to be part of the Summerfield community. Phone: (707) 575-7194 Ext: 154
Isabel Wundsam, Fine Arts, LS/HS Music & German
Isabel was invited to join the faculty at SWS in 1996, through her professional experience in the Fine Arts and Music. Originally from Germany, she received her formal training from the Robert Schumann institute, the School for Visual Communication, the Kunstakademie and the Universität Düsseldorf. Before moving to the US, Isabel performed as a classical pianist, taught piano at a music school, and worked as a freelance graphic designer. In her private practice she painted and photographed and her work has been exhibited and sold throughout Germany and Italy. Naturally, living in Germany and working in the world of art, music and education, she was exposed from an early age to the Waldorf Movement and Anthroposophy.
Isabel studied, within the circle of Joseph Beuys, whose work impacted and changed the Fine Arts through the anthroposophical view, worldwide.
Currently, Isabel is our Lower School and High School Arts, Music and Language Chair. She is also a Class Advisor, Student and Teacher Mentor, serves on the Board of Trustees, is a senior member of The College of Teachers, and served for over 10 years on Lower School and High School Core Groups, teaches courses at the Waldorf Teacher Training, and accompanies Eurythmy classes as a pianist. Isabel teaches German through all levels in the High School. For the Summerfields Fine Arts Program, she teaches Acrylic Painting, Drawing, Linoleum Print, and Watercolor. In her music teaching, she has directed the Middle School Class orchestras and presently leads the High School Chamber Music.
Paige Whiteside, High School Guidance Counselor
Paige is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has worked as a High School Counselor since 2010. Always interested in psychology, Paige began her pursuit in high school, developing her school’s first peer mentoring program. Following undergrad, Paige received a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies. During this time, Paige interned with the Program for Counseling in Schools where her interests coalesced – counseling psychology and work with youth in the community setting.
Working with kindergarten – eighth grades led to work as a therapist in day treatment classrooms with adolescents. Paige worked as the High School Counselor at San Francisco Waldorf High School for five years. In that role she offered Social/Emotional Counseling, facilitated the Health Education program for grades nine – eleven, and a Peer Mentoring program for grade twelve.
At Summerfield, Paige develops and implements Health and Wellness classes for grades nine – eleven. She facilitates peer mentoring, a program for grade twelve students interested in learning about and bringing peer to peer support to their school community. Paige has two exquisitely cared for children at Summerfield.
Jun Kong, High School Educational Support Coordinator
Jun (pronounced “June”) joined Summerfield as a high school Science and Math teacher in fall 2018, and became an Educational Support Coordinator in fall 2023. She’s taught for two years at Highland Hall Waldorf School in L.A. before coming to Summerfield. Jun holds a BA in Science and an MA in Education. She has taught public high school science for 9 years and IB biology for 6 years in Nanjing before completing a 3-year Waldorf High School Teacher Training in Chengdu, China.
Since then she has completed an Early Childhood Waldorf Teacher Education diploma, a Remedial (Extra Lesson) Educational Support certification at Rudolf Steiner College. Jun attended a two-year program in Goethean Science with the Nature Institute in New York in 2018 and 2019. She also completed a 30-hour Orton-Gillingham course.