Home

High School &
Junior High Faculty

oak-grove-school-HS-JH-faculty

	Willem Zwart Secondary School Director and Social Studies Teacher BA Study of Religion, UCLA MA Religious Studies, University of Colorado at Boulder Now in his fourth year teaching at Oak Grove High School, Willem enjoys running or walking on trails around Ojai--and the world. He is Director of the Secondary School, which includes the Junior High and High School Programs.
	Jennifer Thompson High School Math Teacher BS Applied Mathematics, UCLA M. Ed, UCLA Jennifer is also the 12th Grade Advisor and College Counselor. She has been with Oak Grove four years. "My daughter, Grace, is in 4th grade this year and has attended Oak Grove since Kindergarten. Something I love to do in the summer is foster motherless litters of kittens with my daughter. We have done this twice and it is a joyful, exhausting, fulfilling experience... I believe in the school, its intent and the way the school values the development of the whole student."
	Jennifer Jesu-Anter High School Science Teacher BS Biology, Humboldt State University MS Biology, CSUN Jenn has taught at the High School for the past eight years. She is currently the Freshman Advisory Teacher and runs the StudentCouncil. "I am a constant learner who likes to balance the sterility of the lab with the riotous abundance of nature. I like to find treasures like fungus and geo caches. I’m at Oak Grove because I love the land and the people."
	Paul Herder High School English Teacher & ESL Teacher BA, Philosophy, Connecticut College MA International Education, School for International Training Advanced Certificate in TESL “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” –Robert Frost Why Oak Grove? To ask impossible questions…
	Elizabeth Del Negro High School Spanish Teacher BA Psychology, UC Santa Cruz EAP, University of Granada, Spain Elizabeth taught Spanish for 6 years prior to joining Oak Grove School, first at Ojai Valley Upper School and then at Crane Country Day. She is also the 10th grade Advisor. "An Ojai native, I have roamed far and wide. As a college student, I spent an academic year in Granada, Spain. I have also lived and traveled extensively throughout Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Western Europe. Being a part of Oak Grove School’s community feels like a continuous celebration of daily life with friends and family."
	Nick Blake Physics & Computer Science BA, Chemistry, University of East Angla (UEA) Natural Sciences/Education, Homeston College PhD Quantum Electrodynamics, UEA Nick has worked with Oak Grove High School students teaching Physics and Computing for the past three years. He has also conducted 15 years Post Doctorate Research at UCSB in Physics and Chemistry. "I am learning to overcome my English conditioning and to become a healthy, happy, presence."
	Megan Bybee 7th Grade Homeroom Teacher & Junior High Humanities Teacher BA, Elementary Education, University of Utah MS, Education Leadership, Western Governors Univ. Entering her third year at Oak Grove School, Megan brings a passion for children, learning and the outdoors. She comes to Oak Grove from the Hawaiian islands and is happy that her favorite extracurriculars-- snow skiing and outrigger canoeing are each a short drive. "I’m so excited about what I’ve learned. I want to share it all with others and learn more in return." Megan is also the Elementary School Director.
	Ron Schindel 8th Grade Homeroom Teacher & Junior High Math, Science, and PE Teacher BA, Liberal Studies, CSUN Teaching Credential, CSUCI Now in his third year teaching at Oak Grove, Ron has two children attending Oak Grove. When he is not teaching or playing sports with his students he enjoys playing soccer with the big kids and spending time outdoors.
	Raquel Martin Castilla Spanish Teacher BA Psychology, University UNED of Madrid MA Educational Psychology, University of UNED, Madrid English School of Languages of Madrid, Spain Raquel teaches Spanish to elementary and 7th grade students and is admired for her hands-on approach that helps children learn to live the language. "I enjoy being outdoors and in nature. You can find me swimming the Masters at the local athletic club or running on any of the beautiful trails in Ojai. This school feels like home. I love the community and Krishnamurti’s philosophy on education."
	Karen Hesli Junior High Advisory Teacher BS, Education, University of Minnesota Karen has played many key roles at Oak Grove for the past 29 years, as a homeroom teacher and most notably the Elementary/Junior High School Director. In her present role she supports junior high students as they transition from children to young adults. "I’ve been trying to live off the grid in Matilija Canyon since 1985, loving the Los Padres as my backyard. I also do wreath-making and massage at home. At Oak Grove I love to participate in learning together about varieties of things, but mostly about how to live together peacefully."
	Debra Rose Library Teacher BA Zoology, UC Berkeley MA Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UC Irvine MA Counseling Psychology, Pacifica Graduate Institute Debra has been the Library Teacher for the past five years. Her background includes lots of pottery and drawing classes as well as computer modeling and geography Information Systems classes. Debra and her husband have one daughter who is currently enrolled in our junior high program. "I’ve been lucky and/or foolish enough to have many careers: zoology, computer programming, accounting, psychological counseling and a lot of teaching. Teaching is the best with my favorite moments doing HS ceramics and teaching poetry in our Owl's Nest Library. Oak Grove is my dream school because the teachers are so dedicated to excellence and community that working with them is a joy."

	Onah Helgesson High School Art Teacher & Horticulture Coordinator BA Sculpture, Accademia dei Belle Arti Permaculture Design Studies Onah has been teaching at Oak Grove for the past eight years. Her two daughters attend the Elementary and High School programs. "Most nights I stay up late and write songs. I am halfway done with recording my first professionally produced CD. Oak Grove combines a wonderful job with a supportive school community for me and my children."
	Rory Stalwick High School Music Teacher AA, Early Childhood Education, Ventura College; Degree in Guitar, Musician’s Institute UCLA Recording Engineering Program Rory runs the popular Rock Academy at Oak Grove School, teaches High School music classes and manages the Oak Grove Recording Studio. He has been with the school for six years. "I have my own recording studio and record label – Yellow Magic Studio and Pure fun Records. I love the ocean – surfing, sailing and diving. My car runs on vegetable oil. . . In a world where societies are developed with greed and war and corporate blindness, Oak Grove offers a chance to change that outcome."
	Aron Van Alstine Elementary and Junior High Music Teacher BA Education, University of Wisconsin Certification in Music and Movement Education, American Orff Schulwek Association Aron has taught music to our elementary and junior high students for the past seven years. "I worked with the Peace Corps in Bolivia on community development and health education. I am at oak Grove because of the relationships I’ve developed with teachers, students, parents and administrators."
	Christy Sylvester Art Teacher Brooks Institute of Photography Ventura College San Miguel de Allende, Mexico Christy has taught art and ceramics at Oak Grove for 18 years and her two sons each attended the school. In addition to her role as the much-loved Elementary Art Teacher, Christy teaches Junior High Art and High School Ceramics. "My whole family usually hangs out in the kitchen creating delicious colorful food, each one an artist. I am a granny to 3 boys and I love the fact that my students become my dear friends as they grow with me and often they end up in the kitchen too. Oak Grove is like a family, everyone is special and dear to my heart!"
	Kristy Lee High School Registrar and Communications Teacher BA Liberal Studies/History, New University Eugene Lang College Kristy is a graduate of Oak Grove High School and just joined the staff this year. In addition to managing the High School office, she is teaching the Communications/Yearbook Class. "I have a keen interest in bookbinding. In the actual creating of and sharing of this skill. The style I usually like to use is known as Japanese stab-binding. I am glad to be back at Oak Grove so I can contribute to a place that is very special to me."
	Bo Ainsworth Athletic Director BA History, UCSB Bo graduated from Oak Grove in 1998 and has worked here for the past four years. He comes from an Oak Grove familiy. His son attends Oak Grove Preschool and his father, Jake, teaches Physical Education at the Elementary School. Bo is also the Boys' Soccer Coach. "I love traveling, backpacking and all sports. My wife, Kamala, is a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering at UCSB and we have a three-year-old son. I think OGS creates well rounded, educated, confident kids."
	Jake Ainsworth Volleyball Coach BA Psychology, UCLA ESL Certificate, UCSB A 25-year Oak Grove staff member, Jake is the Elementary P.E. Teacher, All-School Camping Coordinator and High School Girls' Volleyball Coach. He is the oldest of three Oak Grove generations. His son, Bo, an Oak Grove alumnus is the High School Athletic Director and his grandson attends the Early Childhood Program. While not teaching, Jake enjoys spending time alone in the wilderness.
	Sunsong Susan Clark Besant House Parent BA Psychology, Antioch University ECE Teachers Certificate, Orange Coast College Sunsong has worked with Oak Grove School for 10 years. In her current role she is part of the trio of Besant Houseparents. Her daughter attended the junior high and high school. "I was first introduced to Krishnamurti’s teachings by an 11 year old as we were walking one day in the forest near our homes. She asked me, 'When you look at a tree, are you really seeing the tree or are you just seeing your idea of a tree?' I later found out that her father was a great reader of Krishnamurti and that he discussed life in this manner with his children. I came to Oak Grove School for an educational environment animated by the educational philosophy of J. Krishnamurti and a community of people interested in engaging in a deep and ongoing inquiry into what it is to teach, to learn, and to be human."
	Gopal Krishnamurthy Besant House Parent BA Physics, The Open University, England MA Philosophy, Colorado State University PhD in progress, UCSB Gopal has worked with Oak Grove for three years, teaching in the High School, and most recently as one of the three Besant Houseparents.
	Jeff Otterbein Besant House Parent MA French Language and Culture, UC Santa Barbara Jeff has worked at Oak Grove for fifteen years in various capacities: teaching French, physical education, coaching and for the past ? years he has been part of the Besant Houseparent team. His daughter Jennifer attended Oak Grove from Kindergarten through the twelfth grade. "I chopped down chestnut trees to build a cabin in the French countryside. I am here at Oak Grove to share in the inquiry to this mystery."
	Liz Otterbein Besant House Parent AA, Registered Nurse Non Violent Communication Trainer Liz works with her husband, Jeff, as a Besant Houseparent. Their daughter attended Oak Grove from Kindergarten through High School. Liz is a French speaker, photographer and skier who believes in the power of education.