Jim Pedroja jointed the staff in 1993 as Business Manager and, starting in mid-2008, is the Administrative Director. Jim received an accounting degree from the University of Denver and practiced for many years as a CPA. His three children, all Highland Hall alumni, graduated from various colleges are living in various parts of the country. Jim especially enjoys to unending variety of challenges facing a small, independent school and is grateful to work in a community with dedicated, talented and creative individuals.
Liis Edwards has been a Highland Hall faculty member for fifteen years. She teaches in the Kindergarten and has also taught in the Nursery and Parent/Child programs. Liis has a degree in Theatre from the University of Illinois and prior to pursuing Waldorf education she spent many years in New York creating original theatre productions for children. Liis' two sons are Highland Hall graduates, having attended from kindergarten through high school. She and her husband are currently enjoying the wonders of an "empty nest".
Christine Meyer has been a Waldorf teacher at Highland Hall Waldorf School since 1983. After graduating the second of her classes as a class teacher in 1998, she began teaching English in the middle school and high school. She also is a member of the faculty for the Waldorf Institute of Southern California, teaching singing and upper grades English. Over the years Christine has served as faculty chair, college chair, high school sponsor, a member of committees such as personnel, hiring, accreditation, and professional development, and as a member of the Advisory Council. She has served on three WASC/AWSNA accreditation teams for other Waldorf schools and three Waldorf school evaluation teams for Templar Associates.
Janet Vrudny has been a Highland Hall faculty member for twenty-nine years. She is the current 11th grade co-sponsor. She teaches the handbell choir and golf in high school, and recorder and singing in some elementary and junior high grades. Janet also serves as the Musical Director for the musical productions in the high school. She has a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance and a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from Cal State Northridge. She has served the school tirelessly for these many years, and been on numerous committees: marketing and outreach, safety, and accreditation. Additionally Janet is often the MC for school assemblies and festivals, and is currently the high school facilitator.
Elizabeth Seward is currently the 4th grade class teacher. She spent around 17 years as handwork teacher, including 6 or 7 years as part time High School German teacher (and 6 weeks in the Kindergarten!). Her three children spent a total of 36 years at Highland Hall. Elizabeth co-directed the WISC teacher preparation institute for three years, then earned her PhD in Education in 2005. She is dedicated to building bridges between Waldorf education and mainstream education. She is currently serving as adjunct faculty advising Masters students at Sunbridge College, and writes a regular column for Living Crafts magazine. Elizabeth was instrumental in bringing both the council process and consensus decision making to Highland Hall.
| The Board of Trustees Contact: boardoftrustees@highlandhall.org |
Abraham Entin was a parent at Highland Hall for 28 years. All three of his children began in Kindergarten and graduated from our High School. During that time he served on several committees, and was the founding Chair of the committee on Marketing and Outreach.
Abraham grew up in Chicago, graduated from the University of Chicago and holds a masters in history from UCLA. He has been active in social justice and environmental activities since the 1960's, and has been an active member of the Anthroposophical Society since 1978. He and his wife, Rachael Flug (a former board president of Highland Hall) founded and still operate Diaperaps Natural Diapering, Inc.
Hasib has over 24 years of experience as an I.T. professional and is founder of Entoactive, an IT services company, specializing in custom applications and database development for insurance and financial industry clients.
Andrew Sapin, CPA started his service to the school as an officer of the Parent Association in 1995 and 1996. He became a member of the Board of Trustees in 1996 and served as an officer for most of the last 14 years, including four terms as President. His service included leadership on many important committees and projects that have helped the school to gain maturity and financial stability. Andrew and Denise Sapin have two children who attended Highland Hall from preschool through high school.
Their son Adam graduated UC Davis in 2008 and their son Thomas is a sophomore at the University of Colorado. Andrew is a graduate of UCLA, holding a degree in Economics. A senior partner in a local CPA firm for the last 32 years, Mr. Sapin has provided high quality accounting and tax services to a wide range of clients in Los Angeles and across the country.
My wife Kim and I are deeply grateful for the wonderful education, great values, and warm sense of community that our family has enjoyed for over 8 years now at Highland Hall. Hard for us to believe, but our daughters Heather and Allie are now in the 11th and 9th grades. All four of us have a desire to give back to the community that has given us so much.
Highland Hall Waldorf School Board of Trustees Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Since we have no headmaster or principal—who’s in charge of the school?
A: Highland Hall Waldorf School is a non-profit organization incorporated in the state of California. The school’s bylaws designate the Board of Trustees as the body that is “in charge” in the sense that the Board has responsibility for the school’s programs, students, faculty and its overall well being. Of course, the Board cannot possibly attend to even a fraction of the day-to-day operations of a school, so it delegates authority to the administration and the faculty of the school. The Board gives administrative authority to the Administrative Director (AD), who is hired by the Board of Trustees. The Board gives the Leadership Team (LT) the authority to act on behalf of the faculty and the pedagogical program of the school. The faculty and staff choose the members of the Leadership Team.
Q: So, exactly what does the Board of Trustees do?
A: The Board of Trustees establishes policies and provides oversight to the Administrative Director (AD) and Leadership Team (LT), to whom it has delegated the actual day-to-day running of the school. The Board governs through policies which set limits in various areas, such as school finances, contracting of services, hiring/employment policies, conduct, programs, etc., within which the AD and LT have flexibility in how they manage every area of the school and its programs. In its oversight role, the Board monitors overall performance, refining or creating policies as necessary, and intervening directly only when circumstances require immediate action to safeguard the school legally, financially, and with regard to its overall mission.
Other responsibilities of the Board include the Ends or “mission” of the school, strategic planning, and long-term initiatives such as the building projects.
Q: How does the Board tell if their policies are being followed?
A: The governance structure the Board has adopted is based on the Carver Policy Governance Model, and adapted for Highland Hall’s needs. Policy Governance includes a requirement for scheduled reporting by the Administrative Director (AD) and Leadership Team (LT). The AD and LT use these monthly monitoring and key indicator reports to inform the Board whether the activities of the school are in compliance with the established policies. If activities are not in compliance, the AD and/or LT also provide plans for corrective measures.
Q: How often does the Board meet?
A: Scheduled Board meetings are held monthly, year-round. Additional meetings are common, and held as necessary, either by the whole Board or smaller work groups tasked with specific projects.
Q: That sounds like it could be a lot of work. How much are Board members paid?
A: Board members are volunteers and are not paid for their service. The school operating budget does provide for a take-out dinner for each meeting as a convenience to Board members.
Q: How do people get on to the Board?
A: The Board elects its members according to the corporate bylaws, the ultimate legal document defining the “constitution” of Highland Hall. Board members may be current or alumni parents, members of the faculty, or individuals outside the school community. A majority of members must not be employed by the school. Prospective members are vetted after being brought to the attention of the Board in a number of ways:
· By their service to the school community through their participation as an officer on the Parent Association or other working groups, such as Annual Giving or the Development Committee, among others.
· Recommendations by teachers, the Leadership Team, or parents.
· Having professional expertise or other experience that aligns with the school’s needs.
Q: How do I recommend someone to be considered as a Board member?
A: You may send your recommendation via email to boardoftrustees@highlandhall.org and include the following information:
· The name of the person
· If a parent, in which class(es)
· Brief statement explaining why you are recommending them
· Your own name and contact information
The Board will contact you for further details about your recommendation.
Q: How are Board members vetted?
A: The Board strives to insure that it elects members who are committed to supporting Waldorf education, the success of Highland Hall in providing an excellent education to its students, and the health of the school community, while bringing their unique abilities to the Board. The Board is also mindful to insure that prospective (and current) members have the capacity to take on the demands of board work in addition to their careers and family life. Some of the areas considered include:
· Standing in the community in regard to relations with parents and teachers and/or colleagues
· Standing in regard to business dealings with the school
· Participation in the school community, including leadership bodies (P.A.), committees, events
· Willingness to serve in accordance with Board Code of Conduct
· Willingness to put the school’s interests before one’s own
· Overall balance of the Board membership
It sometimes happens that not all the stars align, and perfectly wonderful, capable individuals are not invited to the Board. It also happens occasionally that a prospective board member declines an invitation to join.
Q: Why are elections for board members not based on a community vote?
A: Highland Hall’s founders incorporated the school as a non-profit with a “board-only” structure, which mandates, through the bylaws, that the Board appoint its own members/successors.
Q: Are the bylaws and other governance documents available to parents?
A: Yes, a copy of the bylaws and Policy Governance Manual are available for review in the school office.
Q: Can I communicate directly with the Board if I have a problem at the school?
A: The Board recommends that you contact the Administrative Director for administrative and school business issues, and the Leadership Team for pedagogical issues, which includes all programs and classroom issues. The Board may be contacted if your issue involves the Administrative Director or Leadership Team. You can write to the Board via email to boardoftrustees@highlandhall.org or mail to the school to the attention of the Board of Trustees.
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