NVS Alumni Spotlight: Shun Takahashi – From Founding Student to Fun Teacher
Nov 24, 2025 | by Yuliya Patsay (NVS Parent)
Few people have a history with The New Village School as deep as Shun’s. As one of our founding students, he remembers the days when classes were held in the Price family living room before helping to build the campus we know today. Now, he has returned to help us out and guide a new generation as a Classroom Without Walls teacher. After his early years with us, Shun attended San Francisco Waldorf for high school, returned to NVS to finish his senior year, and went on to study Music at the College of Marin. We chatted with him about how his NVS experience shaped his journey and what it’s like to be back.
Q: When you reflect on your time at NVS, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? What made the community feel so special?
A: When I think back on my time at New Village School, adaptability and fun come to mind first. My class was actually one of the founding groups — we started in the living room of the Price family, moved to a church, and finally helped build the campus we have now.
I’ll never forget when we were located at the church near the skate park. There was a giant puddle and after it rained, all 16 of us just ran and slid through it over and over again during lunch! I even had to wear my puffy jacket as pants during Taiko drumming class afterward because I was so muddy.
Q: Mud is certainly a core value at New Village! Do you have a favorite travel story that also captures that NVS spirit of adventure?
A: Absolutely. Years ago, I was traveling through Europe with my class, flying from London to Rome. I had a soccer ball with me and was just passing time, kicking it around in the airport. Suddenly, four security guards began walking straight toward me. I froze, picked up the ball, and thought, Uh-oh, I’m in trouble. But when they reached me, all four smiled and said, “Pass the ball!” in Italian. So I did. For the next fifteen minutes, we played an impromptu soccer match right there in the airport. Travelers stopped to watch, people laughed, and it felt like the whole terminal loosened up and joined the moment.
After that, I brought the ball everywhere on that trip and ended up meeting so many people all over Rome. Now, as the older guy, whenever I see a kid with a soccer ball, I always ask if they want to play. Moments like that remind me of what we value at New Village: connection, spontaneity, and the kind of adventure that happens when you’re open to the world.
Q: What’s a skill you learned at NVS that you find yourself still using today?
A: Looking back, NVS gave me a huge jumpstart in my career. Before coming back to teach, I worked as an industrial designer for five years. During my interview, they asked if I knew the difference between knits and wovens, or if I could use a sewing machine. I could say "yes" to everything because I had been doing it since first grade at NVS.
But beyond the hands-on skills, the most valuable thing I learned was perspective. Traveling to places like Europe, Mexico, and Japan taught me to see people as people first, regardless of where they are from. Now, as an adult, I realize that if everyone treated people the way they want to be treated, the world would be a much better place.
Q: Finally, what piece of advice would you give to current NVS parents and students?
A: My advice is centered on resilience. I want to be the kind of teacher who reminds students that life is full of scratches and bruises. You might fall, and something embarrassing might happen, but that is fine. It’s about how you pick yourself up and keep going.
When he isn’t leading the off-campus programs, Shun loves playing guitar, rebuilding cars, and drag racing at Sonoma Raceway. His career aspiration is to combine his mechanical skills with his design background by becoming a Master Auto Technician.
