top of page
MARY COLVIG
Board President
Mary grew up in Mendocino County and has worked in education for the past twenty years. She received a master’s in education from Harvard University where she focused on teacher quality and the impact high-performing teachers have on student learning. Mary found that at WSMC these relationships are emphasized and supported throughout a child's educational experience. Mary joined the board to learn and serve the WSMC community because she fully supports its mission and values.
JOSEPH HAGGARD
Vice President
Joseph is a WSMC alumnus and holds much enthusiasm for supporting the school he attended in the late 1990s. Joseph brings experience in environmental education, biodynamic farming, and public speaking to help strengthen the school board and the Waldorf community. He joined the board to direct his passion for Waldorf education to serve the school which helped create the foundation of his education.
WENDY HARRIS
Secretary of the Board
Wendy Harris is the Secretary of the Board of WSMC. After receiving a BA in Business Administration from Georgia Southern University in 1996, she resided in Savannah, Georgia, and worked at several financial institutions and also became a Certified Residential Appraiser. In 2008, she and her husband moved to Mendocino County where they built their home together. Mrs. Harris has been a WSMC parent since 2015, served as a Class Parent from 2016-2018, and is an active Board member since 2019. She participated as a team member in the Accreditation process in 2022. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and working in the garden.
JAMI O'CONNOR
Jami’s family started their WSMC journey in 2007. Both of her daughters attended WSMC throughout the grades. Jami has served many years on the Board, worked on many events, and worked in the office until 2022. She now works at Ukiah Unified School District in Human Resources. After being away for a year, Jami wanted to give back and be connected to this community again.. Her goal in re-joining the Board is to bring development help with events, and whatever else is needed to keep this mighty school going.
CLIFF PAULIN
.
Cliff Paulin serves on the Board of Directors for WSMC. He was born and raised in Flagstaff, Arizona, and has lived in Mendocino County since 2004. Mr. Paulin is an attorney working with groups purchasing land or homes together (i.e. intentional communities). In addition to his legal work, he serves on the Mendocino County Planning Commission and is active in the land stewardship of the Oak Granary, a land-based non-profit in Potter Valley. He engages in water and snow sports in their respective seasons, enjoys live music, and spends time tending a garden with landmates.
RANNA SHAMIYA
.
Ranna Shamiya is a WSMC parent and Board member. Having grown up in Ukiah, she loves the small-town life. After majoring in genetics at UC Davis, and then achieving her Doctorate in Pharmacy, she lived and worked in the Bay Area for several years before feeling a calling back to her hometown. Today, her biggest inspiration comes from being with her four children.
RENATA ABBADE
.
Renata Abbade was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, and grew up exploring various art forms which led her to become a multidisciplinary artist. Her career has been centered around creative collaboration, working with people to enhance communication and amplify awareness. After graduating in design, Renata spent over a decade in New York City working as a stylist in the fashion industry, fueled by the anthropological and communicative potential of fashion and its connection to desire, culture, identity, and adornment. Renata has had the pleasure of working with many brands, organizations, and individuals, making a positive impact through aesthetics, ethics, and community building. After living a nomadic lifestyle, Renata and her partner settled in Mendocino County and built a home using natural, locally available, and repurposed materials. They chose the Waldorf School for their child's education due to its commitment to fostering independent and creative thinking, hosting an atmosphere of stewardship and service, prioritizing the well-being of the children, and working together toward a brighter future.
MICHELLE SOTELO
.
I grew up in Leggett, California. I was homeschooled until fourth grade, and eventually graduated as class Valedictorian from Leggett Valley High School. I moved to Southern California to attend UCR, but would ultimately return to Leggett in 2010 to take full time care of my father. This experience led me to find the nursing program in Ukiah, where I graduated and became a licensed nurse in California in 2014. I absolutely love Mendocino County and WSMC embodies a community of caring adults that respect the individuality of each child. My son has been attending since Early Childhood Roots & Shoots program. Through my own experiences with WSMC I have come to learn a respect for Waldorf education and the Steiner philosophy. In turn I joined the Board to help develop this commitment to enable the children to become their true selves to the best of my ability, and further achieve Waldorf's mission to strive to create a model of educational excellence for future generations to come.
OUR BOARD
Guidance and Support
bottom of page