A healthy social life is found only when, in the mirror of each soul, the whole community finds its reflection, and when, in the whole community, the virtue of each one is living.
- Rudolf Steiner
Organization Structure & Governance
The goals and objectives of the Eugene Waldorf School are accomplished through the coordinated efforts of the College, Board of Trustees, Administrative Team and Parent Council. Each of these bodies meet regularly to discuss issues and decide on policy within its given realm. These bodies are supported in their tasks by various committees, which work under the auspices of each body.
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The College of Teachers consists of those faculty members who, out of a sense of service to the students, the community, and each other, are committed to deepening their spiritual connection to Waldorf education through studying and working together. They are responsible for administering the pedagogical affairs of the school.
The College is responsible for holding the greater well-being of the school as its principal task. It is responsible for the hiring, mentoring, and evaluation of teachers, as well as ensuring the quality of the curriculum. The College typically meets weekly.
The Admissions Committee, the Care Group, and the Teacher Search Committee are under the auspices of the College. Ideally, between three to five College members serve on the Board of Trustees.
Email contact: ewscollege@eugenewaldorf.org
Membership 2024-2025
Atta Turck, College Chair
Carolina Plowman, Early Childhood Teacher
Jelena Jaehnig, Grades Teacher
Ian Stearns, Grades Teacher
Marina Taylor, Grades Teacher
Sarah Sams, Grades Teacher
Karen Tyler, Handwork Teacher
Sara Spahn, Office & Communications Manager
Nicole Morrison, Business Manager
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The Eugene Waldorf School Board is responsible for the legal and financial aspects of the school and consists of seven to twelve members. Of those members, three to five are college members selected by the College. The rest of the seats are held by community members elected for two-year terms by a two-thirds majority at the Annual General Meeting held each spring. Board members serve in this capacity on a voluntary basis. Ideally, the Parent Council has a representative who is a board liaison. The operations of the Board are governed by the school’s official bylaws, a copy of which is available in the business office.
Strategic in its scope, The Board of Trustees upholds and promotes the mission of the Eugene Waldorf School, holding fiduciary responsibility for the school’s long-term health. Key areas of Board activity include:
Determining, in collaboration with the College of Teachers, the school’s vision, mission, values, and purpose and staying true to them
Selecting, supporting, and evaluating the Head of School who has the responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the school
Creating strategic plans and partnerships
Ensuring legal and ethical integrity and maintaining accountability
Exercising fiduciary responsibility and oversight
Fearless fundraising!
Ensuring adequate human and financial resources
Enhancing the school’s public standing
Supporting, funding, and monitoring the school’s programs and services
To meet these challenges, the Board and its committees are always looking for energetic and creative people who have expertise in one or more of the following areas:
Communication Legal
Waldorf Education
Finance and Investments Real Estate
Marketing
Networking and fundraising
Non-profit board experience
Strategic Planning
Human Resources
Site development or construction
Event Planning
Board members represent past, present, and future generations, not specific constituencies. The Board is composed of current parents, alumnae parents, faculty/staff, and members from outside the Eugene Waldorf community. To express an interest in serving on the Board of Trustees, or on one of its committees, please schedule a conversation: ewsboard@eugenewaldorf.org
The EWS Board meets once a month, and notice of the meeting dates and times are posted in the weekly school calendar. Board meetings are generally open to the school community and interested parents are most welcome to attend. Board meetings may include sessions during which personnel and other confidential matters are discussed and so are closed to the public. Please contact the Business Manager to attend. Nicole.morrison@eugenewaldorf.org
Parents should feel free to contact any board member to make suggestions, report problems, or seek clarification on board business.
Email contact: board@eugenewaldorf.org
The Board Members
James Holzgraf: President
Kelli Williamson: Vice-President
Nicole Morrison: Secretary
Cameron Stearns: Treasurer
Andrew Smith III: Board Member
Kara Huntermoon: Board Member
Rebecca Huot: Board Member
Sarah Sams: College Representative
Peter Sistrom: Board Member
Ian Stearns: College Representative
Atta Turck: College Representative
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Each member of the Administrative Team holds a key role in the life of the school and is entrusted to create a supportive environment for teaching and related activities. A positive and professional attitude toward the children, parents, faculty, and the board is the basis of the team’s work. Each carries an attitude of grateful service, love for the school, grounded and mature receptivity, and compassionate objectivity through all responsibilities and interactions with the school community and with colleagues.
Administrative Team members share the responsibility to maintain a consistent presence on the board, college, and parent council as well as serve on board and administrative committees. While the Administrative Team is a working group of peers where none have the unilateral responsibility for hiring or dismissal, the business manager carries out responsibilities in the area of her/his expertise and acts as an administrative coordinator for the team.
The Administrative Team meets weekly to confer and to craft, propose and implement policies pertaining to the day-to-day administration of the school.
Current Administrative Team
-Nicole Morrison: Business Manager
nicole.morrison@eugenewaldorf.org
-Sara Spahn: Office & Communications Manager
-Jill Keller: Accountant
-Atta Turck: Site Coordinator
-Theresa Bergman: Enrollment Coordinator
theresa.bergman@eugenewaldorf.org
-Desirea Stott Rodgers: Administrative Assistant
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The Parent Collective is the third organizational body of the school (the other two being the Faculty/College of Teachers and the Board of Directors). The Parent Collective’s central sphere of influence is in the social (community) realm, while the College’s central sphere is the pedagogical realm, and the Board is mainly responsible for financial and legal matters. The Parent Collective serves as a venue for parents to actively participate, serve, and contribute to the functioning and organization of the school. By providing a solid and cohesive parent body, the Parent Collective supports the teacher/student relationship and the school's work, and its mission. As the third organizational body of the school, the Parent Collective offers the parent perspective in relation to school governance.
Additionally, the Parent Collective:
Seeks to strengthen social bonds and build community.
Supports community education
Inspires parents to volunteerism
Supports the student/teacher relationship
It serves as a forum for parents’ ideas, inspirations, initiatives, and concerns can be discussed.
Strives to facilitate and encourage parents’ active and positive communication with the Faculty/College of Teachers, Administration, and Board, while promoting transparency between all three bodies.
All school parents are members of the Parent Collective and are encouraged to participate. PC consists of a chairperson or two co-chairpersons and one to two parent representatives from each class. However, all parents are entitled and welcome to attend any Parent Collective meeting or sponsored event. Decisions are made by current members, using a consensus process when appropriate or necessary.
Email contact: parentcollective@eugenewaldorf.org