Tony Cirone, Development Director

Tony began work here in January 2008. He spent 24 years working at the Green Meadow Waldorf School in NY, where he was a class teacher for 16 years. In his last eight years there, he was their Development Director and managed their capital campaign. Prior to his work in the Waldorf schools, he received a B.A. in philosophy from Iona College. Two years later he graduated from the Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, CA. He has also completed trainings in Spacial Dynamics, Bio-dynamic Farming and Waldorf School Administration and Development. Tony was a NY State EMT for over 20 years. He and his wife, fourth grade teacher Sherina Walker-Cirone, welcomed their daughter Cheyenne in 2009.

Kathy Frost, Finance Coordinator

Kathy and her husband, Chris, are parents of Tea (7th grade). They moved to San Diego in 2006 from the Austin Waldorf School where Tea attended kindergarten and first grade. Tea also attended Gradinita Waldorf in Bucharest, Romania during 2004-05. Kathy has a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin and has taught psychology for over 15 years at various universities. Three of those years were spent teaching graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Bucharest under the auspices of the Fulbright Scholar grant program. She has published numerous articles in the fields of cross-cultural and social psychology.  Kathy has also worked as consultant to various organizations including the Ministry of National Education in Romania, Cendant Intercultural Group (London), and the Civic Education Project (Yale University). She has an undergraduate degree in Business Finance and worked in the banking industry as well as at Lotus Development Corporation in the mid-80s. This is Kathy’s third year in the position of Finance Coordinator. Her prior work at WSSD includes administrative support (part-time), grant writing (part-time), Parent Association President (2007-08), and parent representative to the Social Inclusion group (2007-08).

Diane Garratt, High School Administrative Assistant

Diane holds a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, and is also a qualified Aromatherapist. She has had a varied working life, including working for an international scientific organization in water pollution research, and in scientific publishing. After several years as a stay-at-home mom with her children (Jenny, recently graduated from university in the UK, and Matthew, in Grade 10 at WSSD) she worked at a UK school, where she managed their Nature Reserve, organized nature studies, and worked as a science technician. Diane moved to the USA from the UK with her family in 2007, and started work at WSSD in 2009.

Julie Joinson, Director of Admissions

Julie was born and raised in Liverpool, England, and moved to Southern California in 1982. She has worked in fields as varied as retail sales and management, marketing/advertising, as a 911 telephone operator, and in independent consulting. After 16 years in holistic healthcare practice management, Julie was asked to join the WSSD admin team as the part-time Admissions Director in 2003 and transitioned to full time in 2006. Julie has one daughter, Milan, who started here in Kindergarten and is currently a student in our high school.

Johannes Lasthaus, Administrative Chair

Born in Köln (Cologne), Germany Johannes found his way to San Diego via the hotel business. After completing his Abitur Diploma (double major Math/History) from the Birklehof Boarding School in the Black Forest, Hinterzarten Germany, he went on to get his MBA in Hotel Management from the Perlengraben Trade School in Köln. He continued in the hotel business with Hyatt for 9 years in the U.S. He managed a thriving medical practice in San Diego for 5 years and is an active Rotarian. He served on the WSSD Board of Trustees for 5 years as Treasurer and following that has worked on the new Governance structure for the school. Over the past years he has taken great joy in being involved in humanitarian missions to Peru with his father-in-law as well as being the Grade 8 Class Trip Chaperone. Johannes loves all things computers, reading, travelling, being out in nature, and cooking. His daughter, Angelica, is currently a student in our high school.

Melissa Marino, Receptionist

Melissa received her B.A. in Media Communication from Keene State College in New Hampshire and joined WSSD with a varied background in journalism and the California wine industry. Since she became a mom in 2004, her passion has become Waldorf education.  In 2008, the Marino family was host to a home-based Waldorf preschool and have belonged to the Waldorf Community ever since.  Her son is in Second Grade with Ms. Stewart.

Connie M. Pelletier, Maintenance Technician

Born and raised in northern Maine (Madawaska), Connie moved to San Diego in 1999 and started a career in the construction trade. Connie brings her expert customer service skills along with her attention to detail to WSSD. Connie continues to build her painting and home repair business. In her spare time she enjoys volunteering at a community center here in San Diego. Connie is pleased to continue working at WSSD as the maintenance technician.

Anja Helene Sanchez-Lasthaus, Administrative Coordinator

Anja’s daughter, Angelica, is currently a freshman in our high school and came to WSSD in 2003 when she attended kindergarten with Ms. Christy Klincewicz, Grades 1-7 with Mrs. Laura Ford and Grade 8 with Mrs. Bonnie Holden. Anja has an M.A. in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from the Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS) in Monterey, CA. and has taught adults in Germany, San Diego, and Salinas, CA. She also holds a BA in Anthropology and Third World Studies from the University of California at San Diego. In her free time she enjoys riding her Peruvian Paso horses, practicing yoga, reading, and being outdoors with family and friends. Anja comes from an international household with a Norwegian/Finnish mother and a Peruvian father. She has lived in Germany, Norway, and California. This is Anja’s ninth year working in Administration.

Lori Williamson, Registrar

Lori is the mother of Jason Hurlbut, now a 7th Grader who started here in Morning Glory. Lori holds a B.A. in Biology from U.C. Santa Cruz, followed by two years of doctoral graduate study at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. As a hospital Medical Staff Services Coordinator she tracked and processed physician credentials, applications, and reappointments.  Lori gained Access database development experience as the Hate Crimes Registry Coordinator at the Anti-Defamation League. Having owned a word-processing business, performed software training, and worked in a variety of office environments, she brings extensive computer and office skills to our school. This is Lori’s ninth year working in Administration.

Meet the Snake & Lily Store Representatives

Gabriela Moreno, Sales Assistant

Gabriela Moreno is the mother of Rubee and Zedd, who joined WSSD in 4th grade, and are now both in 6th grade with Mr. Kilcollins. Born and raised in San Diego, California she has worked in the legal field for 14 years before assisting part-time in the Snake & Lily store and also providing occasional office support at the Altadena Campus.

Deborah Tweit-Hull, Store Manager & Development (Grant Writing)

Deborah has a B.S. from the University of Maryland in Special and Elementary Education, an M.S. from San Diego State University in Special Education and has completed additional graduate work at The Claremont Graduate University in the area of Multicultural Education. She taught in the public schools in Montgomery County, Maryland, for four years and taught at the university level for 17 years in the area of teacher education at San Diego State University and the University of San Diego. Deborah has also been involved in writing, coordinating and directing numerous grants in the areas of education and human development while teaching and working at San Diego State University. She has been a parent at The Waldorf School of San Diego for over ten years, starting in the parent-tot program. Deborah is looking forward to her fourth year of managing the Snake and Lily and supporting the Development office with grant writing. She is the mother of Nathan (6th grade) and Marin (4th grade).