WELLSPRINGS FRIENDS - Key Persons
Anna serves a vital and universally-appreciated role as our Kitchen Coordinator. Although Anna started in the fall, 2015, she is the parent of a 2003 graduate and has been somewhat associated with the school since 2001! Anna retired after 26 years of work in many phases of community social work and children's programs. She loves working in the kitchen and serving students, and is delighted to be able to give back to the school in this special way.
Bill is recently retired after over 50 years in various administrative roles, most recently twelve years as business manager and athletic director at Oak Hill School. His daughter Rachel Wolfe-Goldsmith, a successful activist mural artist, found a welcoming and supportive educational home at Wellsprings and graduated in 2008. Currently Bill finds pleasure in playing petanque, coaching girls basketball and growing tomatoes.
Bob has a B.S. in Special Education K-12 and Secondary Psychology with a minor in Sociology/Anthropology. For four-plus years he worked at Aerie Academy as headmaster, counselor, and instructor. Prior to that, Bob worked in Lewiston, Idaho, at Northwest Children's Home as a Special Education instructor dealing with socially and emotionally disturbed children. Bob has been teaching Math, Psychology, Human Sexuality, Music History, and other classes at Wellsprings since the fall of 2001.
Brad first came to Wellsprings in 2013 to assist in Math and Writing classes. A University of Oregon graduate with a degree in English, Brad taught a popular Literature class throughout the 2014/15 school year. He began teaching full-time in the fall, 2015, offering a wide range of language arts classes.
Dawn took on the challenging position as our Operations Manager in mid-September, 2014. She has over 15 years of experience in administration and customer service. Dawn has worked in both the health industry and the veterinary industry, and has volunteered for several years in programs that serve youth.
Job Titles:
- Special Education Coordinator
- Wellsprings in 2018 As Our Special Education Coordinator
Deborah joined Wellsprings in 2018 as our Special Education Coordinator. She holds a Bachelor of Education degree with a minor in Special Education. Deborah has worked 31 years as a special educator, in California and locally. She retired in 2017 from the Bethel School District after serving there for 23 years. Her desire to continue to work with youth and provide support in special education is an area she is excited to return to.
Dr. Wright (Kris) is a parent of a 2021 Wellsprings graduate. Kris works with incoming families on navigating the referral process. As a board member, she focuses on research, community outreach, recruitment, and assessment. She is thrilled to still be a part of the Wellsprings Friends community, and eternally grateful to the staff and board at Wellsprings for embracing her child and reinvigorating their love of learning. Kris holds a PhD in Communication and Media. She is particularly interested in identifying barriers for marginalized groups and activating initiatives to break down obstacles, embrace differences, practice active listening, and appreciate diverse perspectives and experiences. .
India eagerly joined the Wellsprings community as Dean of Students in fall 2020. Born and raised in Nashville, TN, India traveled to Wisconsin to earn a BS in Environmental Geology and a minor in Journalism. Since college, her path has largely centered around Outdoor/Environmental Education of one sort or another, from leading summer camp trips and working as an Environmental Educator on both coasts, to teaching middle and high school math here in Eugene. During her free time India can be found hiking, reading Sci-Fi/Fantasy books, or playing Ultimate Frisbee when there isn't a global pandemic. In addition to her role as Dean of Students, India is excited to offer additional individualized math support, as well as teach the occasional improv or Cryptozoology elective.
John of Portland, Oregon is a very devoted member of the Eugene Friends Meeting. He attended Scattergood Friends School in Iowa, which he considers as having yielded experiences that continue to direct his life in positive ways. To help other high school students gain similar benefits, John has been an enthusiastic supporter of Wellsprings since its founding in 1994. His younger daughter, Angela, was in the first graduating class in 1996. John is a retired landscape architect, having spent many years with the city of Eugene planning and designing parks, planning bike paths, and consulting on urban beautification.
John joined the Board in October 2017. A retired California public school educator of thirty-nine years, he has served as a teacher, school principal, director of instruction and assistant-superintendent for instructional services. John has had diverse experience developing and supporting high-quality alternative programs for students. He is very committed to the mission of Wellsprings and in helping all students reach their intended personal, graduation and/or post-secondary training goals. John is a team player and enjoys working positively and collaboratively with all members of this unique school community to ensure student success.
Kate grew up in a small mountain town in Colorado. She has a B.S. in Geography and Environmental Science as well as a B.A. in Education from the University of Colorado. She moved to Oregon 5 years ago and has worked with youth in a variety of settings including teaching at Northwest Youth Corps, Looking Glass Family Services and other youth mentor programs. Kate joined the Wellsprings family in 2020 as a part time science teacher, where she is already making waves for her engaging classes. Kate is often exploring the outdoors and seeking adventure.
Job Titles:
- Special Education Teacher
Lisette has been a Special Education teacher since 1984. She has taught in Illinois, Idaho, S. Carolina and Oregon, headed a professional organization, and been part of state working groups in her field. Lisette has published articles and lectured internationally about art for blind and visually impaired students. A profile in the newsletter of the Eugene Friends Meeting, which she attends, noted that "those who know her can't miss her passion and pizzazz!" The individualized curriculum for alternative learners at Wellsprings fits Lisette's educational philosophy very well. She joined the Board in September 2011.
Paul has a B.A. in History and Political Science, a M.A. in Secondary Social Studies, and a J.D. While practicing law, he worked as a prosecutor as well as a workers' compensation attorney. He has an Oregon teaching license, and has taught World Geography and History. He also taught test preparation courses for Kaplan. Paul has been teaching at Wellsprings since the fall of 2001.
Sam grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, finding her way to the Pacific Northwest to attend college. She has a B.S. in Psychology with focuses in child development and cultural psychology from the University of Oregon. Previously, she worked on various psychological research studies on child development and cultural psychology. As well she has worked in nonprofit fundraising for over five years. Sam joined Wellsprings as the Director of Advancement in 2020. In her free time she enjoys working out, being outside, cooking, and working on various art projects.
Susan has worked in the Arts all her life. She was a pre-school teacher for 20 years, and also taught teachers how to teach art. Back in the day Susan was a climbing guide as well as a member of Portland Mountain Rescue, and also worked with Portland Juvenile Services helping kids develop leadership skills through outdoor programs. Currently she is doing a lot of work on environmental and justice issues. Susan joined the Board of Trustees in February, 2017. She looks forward to bringing her art and all the parts of her life to share with the Wellsprings community.