On Board with Anne

Membership Chair and Parent of Surfin’ Second Grader Hailey and Radical Rainbow Sean

 
Please tell us a little about yourself. What is your professional background? What are your interests?
I was born and raised in Cupertino and have lived in the Bay Area my entire life, aside from two years in Boston, while my husband (Matt) was in business school. We enjoyed our time in Boston very much, but both of our families live here, which makes it home for us!

Although I studied Criminal Justice in college and worked in law firms for years, I finally decided to get my teaching credential and follow my true passion of working with children. I taught Kindergarten for one year and 1st grade for five years before deciding to stay home with my kids. I am really excited to begin substitute teaching at Village soon!

I love working out, cooking, reading, and I especially enjoy any activities that involve my friends and family.

Tell us a little bit about your family. What are some things you and your family like to do for fun?
Our family enjoys anything that revolves around sports and swimming pools! We spend our weekends at the kids’ soccer games and swim meets, and we try to catch as many A’s, Niners, and Warriors games as possible. During school breaks, we enjoy visiting places like Hawaii, Palm Springs, and Lake Tahoe, and we spend as much time as we can in the water. We also love family movie nights, playing games, and getting together with our friends and family.

How many years has your family been at Village School?
This is our third year at Village. Hailey is a Surfin’ Second Grader, and Sean is a Radical Rainbow.

What originally attracted you to Village, and what keeps you excited about being here?
Having taught at a relatively small school after doing my internship at a much larger school, I really loved the strong community feel of being at a smaller school. I was also excited about the opportunity to work in the classroom, drive on field trips, and participate in all of the unique programs that Village has to offer. I always really appreciated the help I received from my parent volunteers when I was teaching, and I had hoped that I would be able to give back when my children started school.

Watching our kids grow and knowing that they are free to face challenges in a safe and supportive community has contributed to making our experience at Village a positive one so far. Children are encouraged to take risks and to think outside of the box in their learning, and I love the emphasis that is put on teaching the whole child.

What are some of your favorite and most rewarding moments on campus?
I really enjoy working with students during my classroom shifts, particularly in small groups where you can get to know them more personally. Being able to take part in their academic and social/emotional growth has been very rewarding.

How does your Board job (and those who report to you) work to serve the school community?
The Membership team at Village is responsible for helping new families transition smoothly into the community and making sure they understand the participation expectations at Village. Our team manages event support and volunteer hours. As Membership Chair, my goal is to make sure that all families feel welcomed into our community and have their questions answered or redirected in a timely manner. Starting at a new school can be overwhelming, so my hope is that families feel comfortable embarking on their journey at Village.

Village School has an active, vibrant community. How can moms, dads, grandparents, and helpers roll up their sleeves to support Village in the classroom and on campus?
Parents come to Village with a variety of skills and talents to offer our students. Every moment spent with these children helps to enrich their lives and it enriches ours as well. I think that it is important for parents to jump in and make sure to fulfill their volunteer duties. Village is unique because it is a school that offers things like STEAM Centers and so many great field trips, all thanks to an amazing and dedicated staff as well as eager and committed families. It certainly takes a village!