Educators

Kyle Walenga

Years of teaching experience? 11 years

What three things do you enjoy most in life? Skipping stones, super burritos and seeds.

What is one thing you will never do? Root for the Dodgers.

Favorite place you've traveled to? San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina

Lalla Carini

Years of teaching experience?

28 years

What three things do you most enjoy in life?

The three things I enjoy most, besides my family, are playing with watercolor paints, loudly singing while driving and conversations about things that matter.

What is one thing you'll never do?

I will never attempt skydiving, I mean not in this lifetime.

Favorite place you've traveled to?

India, because it was the most unfamiliarly familiar of the places I have visited.

Yana Meydbray

Years of teaching experience?

8 years

What three things do you enjoy most in life?

Morning coffee, a good sweat, and a sense of humor

What is one thing you will never do?

Say no to a cheesy bite.

Favorite place you've traveled to?

Utsjoki, Finland.

Sam Wilder

Years of teaching experience?

9 years

What three things do you most enjoy in life?

Growing, cooking, and eating.

What is one thing you'll never do?

Refuse a hot bowl of soup.

Favorite place you've traveled to?

Vietnam

Hisae Chako Tanaka

Years of teaching experience?

15 years

What three things do you most enjoy in life?

Using my hands, silence and Japanese festivals.

What is one thing you'll never do?

Touch a cockroach.

Favorite place you've traveled to?

To the top of a mountain, any mountain.

Beth Howard

Years of teaching experience?

Two years

What three things do you enjoy most in life?

Quality time with my family, good food and time spent in nature- whether it be hiking through mountain meadows, reading at a hot spring, or napping in the sun at a secluded river spot.

What is one thing you'll never do?

Eat meat.

Favorite place you've traveled to?

Sweden- with its long summer days, modest lifestyle, rich traditions and mossy forests with endless free camping!

Robin Barneby

Years of teaching experience?

20 years as both a Teacher and a Speech-Pathologist

What three things do you enjoy most in life?

Enjoying conversation over a home cooked meal, time with my family, simplifying

What is one thing you will never do?

Skydive....again

Favorite place you've traveled to?

Praia do Rosa, Brazil

Leny Gonzalez

Years of teaching experience?

7 years

What three things do you enjoy most in life?

• Listening to relaxing music and the chirping of birds
• passing the time with my family,
• walking in the forest

What is one thing you'll never do?

Surf

Favorite place you've traveled?  

Chichen Itza, Mexico - a place where the Mayas built ancient stone pyramids 

Beatrice Gonzalez

Years of teaching experience?

2 year at the new village school

What three things do you enjoy most in life?

Children, water, peace

What is one thing you will never do?

Fail to be surprised by life's mysteries

Favorite place you've traveled to?

Anywhere with a hot spring

Akemi Zoshi

Years of teaching experience?

34 years

What three things do you enjoy most in life?

Being a mother, Taking a nap, and Knitting

What is one thing you will never do?

Reading or watching horror tales

Favorite place you've traveled to?

Hot springs

Lucas DeGiulio

Years of teaching experience?

23 years

What three things do you most enjoy in life?

The three things I enjoy most, besides my family, Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens, Campfire Singalongs and Stories under a canopy of trees and stars, Being in the Ocean.

What is one thing you'll never do?

Appreciating the Mystery.

Favorite place you've traveled to?

A Secret Abalone Cove in Mendocino, CA

Amelia Meier

Years of teaching experience?

3 teaching experience and 10 working with kids.

What three things do you enjoy most in life?

Reading a book in the sun, spontaneous hangouts and adventures with friends, slow time with family.

What is one thing you will never do?

I’ll try most things at least once! 

Favorite place you've traveled to?

Monteverde, Costa Rica or Gili Air, Indonesia.

Shun Takahashi

Years of teaching experience:

Three years

The 3 things I enjoy most in life:

The feeling of accomplishment - especially when using my hands
Drag racing at Sonoma Raceway
Spending time with friends and family

One thing I will never do: 

Treat anyone negatively for their differences

Favorite place that I have traveled: 

This one's tough! Berlin, Tokyo, Yellowstone, Málaga, Venice, and more!

Stephany Flores

Years of teaching experience?

2 years of teaching experience

What three things do you enjoy most in life?

1. Nature - I love spending time in the forest, mountains, and by the ocean. Being in nature recharges me and inspires my photography and drawings.

2. Sunsets - I never tire of watching sunsets. Their colors and calm atmosphere remind me of home and the beautiful views from my parents' house in the mountains of La Paz.

3. Art & Illustration - Art is my form of meditation. Through illustration, I find focus and balance - art truly helps me stay grounded amid busy days.

What is one thing you'll never do?

Probably skateboarding. As a child, every time I've tried, it just terrifies me!

Favorite place you'd traveled to?

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Harpreet Sidhu

Years of teaching experience?

9 years

What three things do you enjoy most in life?

My favorite three things in life are spending precious moments with family, exploring new destinations through travel, and giving back to the community through selfless service (seva) to make a positive impact on others.

What is one thing you will never do?

I would never refuse a cup of masala chai.

Favorite place you've traveled to?

The Butchart Gardens, British Columbia

Amy Novesky

Years of teaching experience? 2 years

This is my second year teaching and I bring nearly 30 years of experience writing, editing and publishing children’s books

What three things do you enjoy most in life?

My home. My family. My son, Quinn. The ocean, here and in Kauai. Riding horses.

What is one thing you will never do?

Never say never! I will not likely ride on the back of Señor Salusso’s motorcycle again.

Favorite place you've traveled to?

Greece.

Emma Price

Years of teaching experience:

2 years. Before starting at New Village, I taught language arts to incarcerated men.

The 3 things I enjoy most in life:

My siblings, good conversation over a shared meal, and a road trip (the longer and more circuitous the better).

One thing I will never do: 

Eat gluten (again). Or own a pet snake.

Favorite place that I have traveled: 

The top of a Sedona Mesa at sunrise or Istanbul, Turkey.

Adele Maze

Years of teaching experience:

40 years

The 3 things I enjoy most in life:

My daughters, Azalee and Cerise
Sipping Yunnan tea in the garden with the hummingbirds
Long walks at Kehoe beach

One thing I will never do: 

Give up on a peaceful world

Favorite place that I have traveled: 

Trekked the Annapurnas, Nepal

Andrew Vickers

Years of teaching experience?

20 years

What three things do you most enjoy in life?

Music, Family, and Gardening

What is one thing you'll never do?

Fly in a helicopter

Favorite place you've traveled to?

Rishikesh, India

Ondine Young

Years of teaching experience:

Over three decades

The 3 things I enjoy most in life:

Music, my kids and cats ;)

One thing I will never do: 

Will never vote for hate …

Favorite place that I have traveled: 

Loved studying music in Abbaye-Aux-Dames near Saintes and Cognac, in France!

Mitchell Danielson

What three things do you most enjoy in life?

Reading novels, exploring new environs and pitching in on projects.

What is one thing you'll never do?

Buy a lawn mower.

Favorite place you've traveled to?

Bathsheba, Barbados

Kiki Wykstra

Years of teaching experience?

6 years at the New Village School

What three things do you most enjoy in life?

Time outside with people I love. Staring up at the stars on a crisp, cool night, from the comfort of my sleeping bag. Exploring new places.

What is one thing you'll never do?

Stop learning.

Favorite place you've traveled to?

It’s impossible to name one. The differences are what make each so great. However my favorite trips are consistently long trips outside (often on rivers), disconnected from phones, computers and what feels like the outside world.