Meet the Board | Waldorf School of San Diego

Since 1981, offering a superior education in San Diego.
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Meet the Board

Katie Bowles

Bio Unavailable

Tony Cirone, Ex-Officio

Tony, WSSD's Development Director, 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.

Jon Detra, Board Co-Chair

Jon and his wife, Niko, are parents of three WSSD children, Oliver (3rd), Jasmin (2nd) and Lucille (K-Perriwinkle). Jon has been working at Qualcomm for 19 years, leading up technical teams to integrate, test and deploy wireless/cellphone technologies and products. He grew up in Madison, WI, not leaving until after he graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Master’s Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Jon was involved with the WSSD High School Initiative in 2007 and also attended Rudolf Steiner College’s Summer High School Teacher Training program in Sacramento in 2008, planning to some day transform from a High Tech Engineering lead to a Physics/Math High School teacher.

Kathleen Fox

Bio Unavailable

Bonnie Holden

Bonnie, WSSD's Director of Pedagogy, has a B.A. in English from Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences in Akron, Ohio. She has her Waldorf Certificate from Rudolf Steiner College, Fair Oaks, California. She taught for four years in the Spring Garden Waldorf School in Akron where she carried a class from grade 3 through grade 6. Bonnie joined The Waldorf School of San Diego in 1986 as a kindergarten teacher. In 1996, she took a first grade class. The class was combined the following year. Her first 8th grade graduated in 2003; her second 8th grade graduated in 2004 and her third grade 8 graduated in 2009. Her fourth grade 8 graduated in 2010. Bonnie is also member of the Pedagogical Group.

Tom Kray

After 18 years in Santa Cruz, Tom moved to South Oceanside with his wife, Gina, and son John in August of 2008. He was a class teacher at the Santa Cruz Waldorf School for 14 years, a member of the College of Teachers, and participated on several management and administrative committees as well as serving on the school’s Board of Trustees. He graduated from St. Bonaventure University with a major in English and a minor in Philosophy and received his Waldorf teacher training at Steiner College and has taught some main lessons at WSSD and the Sanderling Waldorf School. He has three daughters in their 40s, a step-son and daughter in their 20s, and son, John, who is in his teens. All his children have attended Waldorf Schools. Tom is also an Anthroposophist, and a member of the 1st Class of Spiritual Science. In his free time he enjoys camping in the Sierras, woodworking, taking long walks, gardening and reading.

Johannes Lasthaus, Ex-Officio

Johannes, WSSD's Administrative Chair, was born in Köln (Cologne), Germany. He 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.

Thea Norman, Ex-Officio

Thea is married to former WSSD high school teacher, Eric Gelfand and is the mother of three young children: Zavdi, Chagall and Zsa-Zsa. Thea grew up in Southern California and has a PhD in Chemistry from UC Berkeley. The family moved to San Diego in 2004. Thea has been working at a start-up Biotechnology company (Ambrx), and Eric has been a stay-at-home dad. In 2007, Thea joined the WSSD High School Initiative’s curriculum group and helped to craft the High School Mission Statement. In her meager spare time, Thea enjoys outdoor adventures with her children and reading Rudolf Steiner. She has previously taught chemistry in our high school as a visiting faculty member.

Lorena Romero-Cabra, Treasurer

Lorena and her husband, Ricardo, are the parents of Manny (2nd Grade) and Joaquin (1st Grade). She was born and raised in South Bay San Diego, and holds a B.A. and M.S. in Mathematics from Wellesley College and the Claremont Graduate School, respectively. Her career route has included 8 years as an analytic consultant in market research, 5 years leading a statewide sales unit in retail cosmetics, and 8 years as a financial manager and controller. Her family has been part of the WSSD community since 2005, beginning with Parent-Infant and -Tot classes. Lorena has volunteered in many capacities at our school, including general housekeeping and errands for the Rosemary Kindergarten classroom, room parent, coordinating weekly soup for 1st grade, serving on the Finance Committee for the last 2 years, and chairing the Marketing/Advertising/Promotion (MAP) Committee. This is her first year on the Board.

David Sciarretta, Board Co-Chair

A native of New York and graduate of Green Meadow Waldorf School, David earned a BA in History and Government (Cum Laude) from Bowdoin College, a Masters of Education from National University, and a California Preliminary Administrative Services Credential from San Diego State University's Department of Educational Leadership. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in Educational Leadership at San Diego State University, with a dissertation focus on leadership storytelling. The recipient of a prestigious Thomas J. Watson fellowship, David has worked in Central America and Mexico. He has over fifteen years of experience in California public charter schools as a teacher and leader and is currently in his fifth year as Principal of Albert Einstein Academy Charter Middle School, a high-performing International Baccalaureate public charter school located in urban San Diego.

Karen Sulger

Below is a summary of my experience and qualifications:

• Have served on the WSSD Board of Trustees since May 2008.
• Current Chair of Nominating Committee.
• Current Chair of MAP Committee
• Current Chair of Alumni Committee.
• Previously Chair of the Development Committee.
• A High School Parent Circle Chair, working on development, marketing and social events.
• One of four parents who visioned and planned for our High School 4 ½ years prior to its commencement.
• One of a committee of four, The Leadership Council, which worked hand in hand with our High School Administrator for 3 years to create our high school.
• Helped the 11th grade of 2010/2011 raise $21,000 for the class service trip to Guatemala.
• Started the WSSD After School Sports Committee in 2007, who as a group planned the first After School Sports Program. Helped maintain the program for 2 years.
• One of the founders of the Sanderling School, a Waldorf school in Cardiff, California. Also helped start Sanderling’s grades program.
• Worked in many capacities with The Sanderling School, including marketing and advertising, enrollment, human resources, special events, development for over 8 years.

I hold a Masters in Oriental Medicine, and have run my own successful acupuncture practice for the last 16 years in Encinitas. I have been involved in every aspect of my business, from helping patients achieve good health to marketing and human resources.

I have also previously worked as both a legal secretary and paralegal for over 20 years. I was also involved in the fashion business in sales for many years.

I have two daughters who both attend WSSD -- Stephanie who is 18 and who will graduate in WSSD’s first senior high school class this June 2012, and Cassady, who is 13 and will graduate from 8th grade this year.

Christine Summers

Bio Unavailable

Nathan Wilcox

In addition to his high school teaching duties in Humanities, Nathan serves as the High School Chair and is a member of the Pedagogical Group. Nathan earned his B.A. in English from Pomona College in Claremont, California, and Jesus College in Cambridge, England. He completed his Waldorf High School teacher training in literature at Rudolf Steiner College. Nathan spent eight years teaching disabled adults and directing programs for United Cerebral Palsy prior to joining the school in the summer of 2006 as the Director of High School Development. He is a founding teacher of our high school. Nathan and his wife Megan have three children: Magnolia, in 4th grade, Donovan, in 1st grade and Pippa, age three, at home with mom.