Anna Sarah Russell - Lead Charter Petitioner

Anna Sarah Russell has been living and working as a public school teacher in the Highland and Cypress Park areas of L.A. for the last twelve years. More recently, she has been enrolled in the Waldorf teacher training program (Waldorf Institute of Southern California) at Highland Hall Waldorf School in Northridge. Anna Sarah has 2 children; a daughter, 10 and a son, 6 1/2.
She is dismayed in this day and age of NCLB, the focus of much public education in Los Angeles has narrowed to instruction in test-taking (vs. teaching and educating children), and hopes to bring the benefits of a broader and richer education inspired by Waldorf to a wider population of children, families, and teachers in the Los Angeles area.

Joan Jaeckel - Lead Charter Developer

Joan Jaeckel coordinated the charter writing process for the founding development team of Ocean Charter School in Mar Vista, CA, the first public charter school in LAUSD to offer a “whole child curriculum” based on the Waldorf educational model. She is currently on the board of Rudolf Steiner College. Most recently she guest-edited with Eric Utne the Winter 08/09 Green Money Journal called “Whole Mind Education: 15 Not-So-Childish Ideas”. She co-produced the CINE Golden Eagle Award winning documentary, “The Waldorf Promise: Children Who Love to Learn Become Students Who Achieve”, with Landfall Productions. Joan graduated from the Waldorf Teacher Training Course at Highland Hall Waldorf School, parented three Waldorf graduates and formerly served the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) as director of development.
Joan believes that as human beings, if we really are to transition from a simply unsustainable growth model of people, cities and planet to a developmental, collaborative model we begin with transforming the way we raise and educate children.

Julia Schachter - Founding Parent

Julia Schachter is a documentary film maker who has worked on two projects exploring the issues of urban education and youth. She produced the Peabody Award winning PBS documentary, The First Year, and Color Straight Up which was nominated for an Academy Award.
Julia has experience in non-profit organization and an interest in the arts and education.
A long time Los Angeles resident, she lives in Highland Park and is the mother of two children.

Molly Griffin Sadeghi - Founding Parent

Molly Griffin Sadeghi has been living in the Los Angeles area for almost 9 years, working in advertising filming commercials.  Projects she has worked on include Apple iPod, Nike, U.S. Army Reserve, Taco Bell, Lexus, Hyundai, and Starbucks just to name a few.  She has taken a hiatus in her career as a Production Manager/Producer to raise her son, who is now 18 months old.
She believes with the power of parents and educators, we are able to provide a nurturing educational environment which will create a love for learning and a zest for life!

Julia Posey - Founding Parent

Julia Posey is a writer, journalist, independent radio producer and gardener.  For over six years, while working at NPR affiliate KPCC, she produced stories ranging from grunion runs to the escape of a young woman and her family from Vietnam. She has taught English in Guatemala and worked in an orphanage. In March 2008, she and her husband launched Ramshackle Solid, a blog that chronicles their family’s journey to create a more rewarding lifestyle by growing more of what they eat, making more of what they use and focusing on the simple pleasures.  She lives with her husband and their two boys in Highland Park.

Jennifer Patton - Founding Parent

Jennifer Patton is a graphic designer living in the beautiful Highland Park area of Los Angeles. She has been painting digital background illustrations for children’s television animation for 13 years and designing graphics for the web for the past 3 years. Cartoons that Jennifer has worked on include The X’s and The Mighty B! for Nickelodeon, Hi Hi Puffy Amiyumi for Cartoon Network, and The Batman for Warner Brothers.
She’s our friendly el Rio Charter School web administrator and designer, so please direct website questions and comments her way! Jennifer is thrilled to be a part of a movement to expand the possibilities for public education in Northeast Los Angeles.
Jennifer is the proud mother of a brilliant 2 year old daughter.

Vivian Miller - Founding Parent

Vivian Miller is a full-time mother, living in Highland Park with her husband David and 3 ½ year old daughter, Miranda. She is an artist and art teacher. Vivian is a second generation native of Los Angeles. She attended public school in Silver Lake and Los Feliz. She has a BFA from Art Center Design in Pasadena.