Faculty & Staff
Scroll down or search to browse faculty and staff listed alphabetically by first name. Click on the photo to read our staff and teachers’ answers to a few questions about their experiences and inspirations.
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Parents can contact faculty and staff directly via Parent Square. For all other inquiries, refer to our Contact Page for more information on how to get in touch.
All Members
HR & Accounts
Sales & Marketing
IT Support
Aaron Gardner
Middle School Humanities Teacher
Credentials:
B.A., English, University of California, Berkeley • CSU East Bay (single subject
Adrienne Hoskins
Child Development Specialist & Copy Editor
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
I began as a
Aileen Konz
Business Office Staff
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
Since 2021.
Why do you
Ali Danch
Pastoral Care Coordinator
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
Since 2021.
Why do you
Alison Frey Andersson
High School Ceramics Teacher
Credentials:
B.A., University of Oregon • M.F.A., Studio Art, Post Baccalaureate, The School
Angela Daugherty
Bookkeeper
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
Since 2015.
Why do you
Aron Van Alstine
Chair of the Music Department
Credentials:
B.A., Music, University of Wisconsin, Madison • Teacher since 2003
How many years
Bettina Hohner
Kindergarten Teacher
Credentials:
B.A., Educational Studies with a concentration in Social Education • University of
Bo Qalandar
Athletic Director & Camping Coordinator
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
Since 2006.
Why do you
Brian Thornhill
Art Teacher
Credentials
BFA, Pictorial Art, San Jose State • Teaching Credential in Art, San
Bridget Matson
First Grade Teacher
Credentials:
B.S., in Liberal Studies, Multiple Subject Credential • M.A., Education • California
Brittany Borowitz
High School Science Teacher & Admissions Associate
Credentials:
B.A, Environmental Science • M.A., Urban Education • University of California, Santa
Camille Holly
High School Spanish IV Teacher
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
I originally taught 1st-8th
Carrie Rubalcava
Preschool Teacher
Credentials:
Early Childhood Credits, Montessori Trained, Brain Gym Certified • Ventura College •
Cassidy Linder
Dance Teacher
Credentials:
B.A., Communication • Columbia College Chicago • CSUCI, Ventura Community College •
Christine Elmore
Reading Specialist
Credentials:
B.A., Elementary, English and Social Science • M.A., Teaching English as a
Chrystalla Cruz
Preschool Teacher
Credentials
B.A., Early Childhood Studies (Child and Family), The University of Western Sydney,
Daniel Wright
High School Woodworking Teacher
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
On and off since
Dave Solis
Facilities Manager
Dave retired in 2018 from a 30-year career at UCLA as a
Debra Rose
Database Administrator, High School Psychology Teacher, & Librarian
Credentials:
B.A., Zoology; University of California, Berkeley, CA • M.A., Counseling Psychology; Pacifica
Emma Larkan
Preschool Teacher
Credentials:
Early Childhood Credentials • Ventura College • Teacher since 2015
How many years
Eric Cowen
Associate First and Second Grade Teacher
Credentials:
B.A., Liberal Studies, Multiple Subject Teaching Credential • California State University, Channel
Eric Sullivan
High School Music Teacher
Credentials:
Attended, Musician’s Institute, Berklee School of Music, New England Conservatory • Teacher
Erin Bennett
High School English Teacher
Credentials:
B.A., French, International Studies, Languages and Cultures of Asia, University of Wisconsin
Eva Iacomini
Elementary & Middle School Spanish Teacher
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
Since 2018.
Why do you
Gianni Garubo
Fall Semester High School English Substitute
How many years at Oak Grove?
14 years as a student. Teacher’s Aide
Jaime Flores
IT Coordinator & Communications Associate
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
2020 was my first
Jacqueline Valle
Director of Operations
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
I started in 2012.
Why
Jaymie Arquilevitch
PK–8 Registrar & Admissions Administrative Assistant
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
I joined the Oak
Jeremiah Lyon
Front Office & High School Registrar
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
Since 2015.
Why do you
Jodi Grass
Head of School
Brief Bio
Jodi Grass has worked at Oak Grove School and the Krishnamurti
Joe Manfredi
Maintenance Team
Credentials
Several years of experience maintaining grounds and buildings for the Ojai Valley
Joel Keeler
Director of Marketing & Admissions
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
I started in 2022
Why
Joy Maguire-Parsons
Besant House Staff
Julia San Bartolome
Head Chef
Credentials:
Santa Barbara City College’s Culinary Arts Program • Baking and Pastry Arts
Kaitlyn Hornblower
Resource Teacher
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
2021 was my first
Kalli Gedwed
Middle School Math Teacher
Credentials:
M.A., Educational Leadership • Multiple subject and administrative teaching credential • Fort
Karen Mercer
Second Grade Teacher
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
I started in 2022
Why
Laila Muller
Kindergarten Teacher
Credentials:
B.A., Psychology, M.A., Elementary Education • Swarthmore College, The College of New
Laurie Cornell
Director of Early Childhood Program & Early Elementary
Credentials:
B.A., English, 24 Units in Early Childhood Development
Hawaii Pacific University, Cal State
Lindsey Yeager
HS Learning Resource Teacher & Coding Teacher
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
I began my current
Louise Everett
Fourth Grade Teacher
Credentials:
B.A., Hons American and Commonwealth Arts – University of Exeter, England •
Lucy Pacheco
Administrative Assistant to the Head of School
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
Since 2021.
Why do you
Marga Kasper
Grounds & Campus Security Manager
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
I started working at
Marie Samson
High School Math Teacher
Credentials:
B.S., Engineering Physics, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada • M. Ed., California
Mary Kelly
Sixth Grade Classroom Teacher
Credentials:
B.S., Psychology • M.S., Elementary Education • Quinnipiac University, Southern State Connecticut
Meredith Thomas
Middle School Science Teacher & Service Learning Coordinator
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
I started in 2022
Why
Meredy Benson Rice
Director of Teaching & Learning
Credentials
B.A. English Literature, University of Sussex, England
B.Ed & Teaching Credential, York University,
Nate Voellm
Marketing & Design Associate
Credentials:
B.A., Pratt Institute
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
2021 was
Nile Sherman
Sous Chef
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
Since 2020.
Why do you
Nina Mecagni
Third Grade Teaching Aide
Why do you work at Oak Grove?
I have been part of the
Richa Badami
High School Theater Teacher and Coach & School Musical Production Director
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
Since 2019.
Why do you
Ron Schindel
Director of Upper Elementary & Middle School
Credentials:
B.A., Liberal Studies, California State University, Northridge
Teacher since 2000
How many years have
Rosita Tower
Business Office Staff
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
Since 2015.
Why do you
Russ Bowen
Director of High School & High School Spanish Teacher
Credentials:
B.A., International Management, Florida Southern College
M.A., Spanish, Middlebury College
Teacher since 2008
How many
Sage Danch
Fifth Grade Teacher
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
2020 was my first
Sandra Torres
Business Manager
Serra Benson
Third Grade Teacher
Credentials:
B.A., Human Ecology, Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
College of the Atlantic & Antioch
Stevie Sweet
After Care Program Teacher
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
2021 was my first
Sydney Robertson
High School Registrar, Learning Resource Teacher, ESL Teacher, & Director of Residential Life
Credentials:
B.A., History • Stanford University • Wesleyan University • Teacher since 1992
How
Terra Solecki
Preschool Teacher
Credentials:
B.A., in Psychology • University of California, Santa Cruz • Ventura College
Warren Petersen
Senior Outreach Associate
How many years have you worked at Oak Grove?
I started working at
Will Hornblower
High School History Teacher & Parent Education Coordinator
Credentials:
B.A., History and Latin American Studies, University of Chicago • M.Ed., UC
