Board Officers
Larry Skowronek, President has been involved in Waldorf education for ten years at The Waldorf School of Atlanta (WSA) and the Linden Waldorf School. Larry's background in the philosophy of science and his career in the technology industry have informed and strengthened his commitment to Waldorf education. His work in the enterprise software field includes experience helping companies develop from youthful start-ups into mature organizations. Currently Larry serves as Vice President of Product Management for Nexidia, where he is responsible for the research and development of the overall market strategy, product strategy, and development roadmap for Nexidia's speech analytics solutions. This varied experience has produced a keen understanding of the best practices for managing the evolving contact center, which contributes directly to a company's achievement of strategic and operational objectives. Larry holds a degree in Philosophy, with a minor in Science and Technology Studies, from Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts. Larry and his wife, Cyndi, have three children; all of them have attended or still attend WSA.
As a WSA parent for more than a decade,
Jackie Conley, Vice-President has volunteered in many areas of her children's school, including service as a class parent, PTA representative and Annual Fund co-chair. Prior to having her three children, she was a public school teacher at I.S. 183, in the Bronx, New York. Jackie holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Georgia and a master's degree in English Education from Adelphi University, in Garden City, New York. A proud homemaker, she also works as hospital manager in the practice of her husband, Dr. Michael Conley.
Nick Owen, Treasurer
Having proven experience as a founder of new-concept, self-funded business ventures and the present CEO and co-founder of WiKID Systems, Nick joined the Board as a member of the Finance Committee. He has an MBA in Real Estate and Finance (University of Georgia) and has worked as a commercial real estate agent, mortgage banker, and COO before founding his own businesses. Nick and his wife Alison Mayer, a long time volunteer leader, are the parents of three children; one is a WSA graduate and the other two are currently enrolled at WSA.
Board Members
Meg Boswell, CPA, joined the Board in 2012 after serving on the Finance Committee. In a professional capacity, Meg serves as Vice President of Accounting Policy for Automobile Protection Corporation in Norcross, GA, where she has held a leadership role in the accounting function for eight years. In a volunteer capacity, Meg serves as Treasurer of the Wylde Center, formerly the Oakhurst Community Garden Project, and is the past Treasurer of the Dunwoody Nature Center. Meg holds degrees from Hofstra University, Boston University and Montana State University, Bozeman. Meg is currently studying with the Atlanta cluster of Foundation Studies through the Center for Anthroposophy. Her interests include biodynamic gardening, music, cooking, yoga and knitting. Meg and her husband, John, have a daughter who attends WSA.
John Cradock has had an interest in Waldorf education since first hearing of it about twenty years ago. By the time their first child came along he and his wife, Elaine McCall, had already decided to pursue Waldorf for their family. Since moving from Boston to Atlanta in 1998, John has been a technology consultant working primarily with the local advertising and design community, and was Director of Operations at The RetroTechs before leaving to become co-founder of Complete Technology Partners in 2003. John has worked with WSA in the past on technology solutions. John and his wife, Elaine, are the parents of two WSA students.
Ashley du Pont has been a passionate supporter and advocate of Waldorf education for many years, initially learning about the history, philosophy and practice eleven years ago. She and her husband, Chris, are the parents of two WSA students. Prior to her current role as Community Chair, Ashley has been an innovative and committed teacher in early childhood education in Connecticut and California, and an instructor in infant massage with the International Association of Infant Massage, working in a number of hospitals as well as in private practice. Ashley has also been a director at a long-term care facility, providing high-quality support for elderly residents and their families in dealing with Alzheimer's, Dementia, and Multiple Sclerosis. She lived in Japan for two years teaching English for a major Japanese corporation. Ashley holds a BA degree in History from Mills College. She loves being outside with family and friends, gardening, traveling and writing children's stories. She relocated to the Atlanta area in 2008 from North Carolina.
Nicole Forde has been a WSA parent for many years, during which time she has been engaged in different volunteer aspects of the school – including service as a class parent, as a class PTA representative, and as a member of both the Auction and Development Committees. Before moving to Atlanta, Nicole was an Associate Attorney in the Mergers & Acquisitions (MSA) practice at Dewey Ballantine LLP in New York City. Nicole's M&A work included corporate acquisitions and dispositions, debt offerings, initial public offerings, and corporate governance advice for clients in the financial services, insurance, healthcare and advertising industries. Nicole and her husband, Brandon, are the parents of three WSA students.
Born and raised in Atlanta,
Patrick Foster holds an MBA in Management of Technology from Georgia Tech and a BA in Computer Information Systems from Georgia State University. He has managed technology, strategy and operations for Turner Broadcasting for 18 years with expertise in Internet systems and analytics. Patrick enjoys volunteering around Atlanta and is currently serving as Board Chair for Decatur's Wylde Center,
formerly the Oakhurst Community Garden Project. He also enjoys playing guitar, raising backyard chickens and is learning to play golf. He is currently enrolled in the Atlanta cluster of the Center for Anthroposophy's Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy and the Arts. Patrick and his wife, Angela, are raising their two daughters in the City of Decatur. Both girls attend The Waldorf School of Atlanta.
Joshua Gartland, Class Teacher, was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and was raised in the suburbs of New York City. He began tap dancing at the age of six, competing occasionally at the national level. He began acting in high school and received a BFA in Theater Performance from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Joshua then moved to New York City where he worked on a number of productions with the Present Company Theatorium as well as a national children's tour with the Chamber Theater. He became a mime for a brief while and studied under Paul J. Curtis in the American Mime Theater. It was September 11th, 2001, however, that gave Joshua perspective. Soon after, he shifted focus and began working at OM Yoga where he eventually became the senior manager of one of the largest yoga facilities in the country. Joshua received a degree in Waldorf Education from Sunbridge College before eventually taking a first grade through four years at the Waldorf School of Garden City in Long Island, NY. Joshua now lives in Decatur with his wife, Sara, and his two daughters, both of whom are WSA students. Joshua enjoys books, athletics, singing, dancing, and of course, performing.
Not only does
Laura Keys, Class Teacher, spend her days with an amazing group of seventh graders singing, dancing, and playing with fractions, she is a local storyteller and currently serving as the Vice President of The Southern Order of Storytellers. Laura earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas A&M University, and her Masters of Arts in Teaching from Texas Woman's University. She completed her Waldorf Certification at Sunbridge Institute. She has previously taught students from preschool through high school, and has taught a variety of subjects, including creative movement, ESL, reading and math enrichment, American literature, and theater arts. Laura loves her class, folk dancing, and pie - in that order. Laura has an adult daughter who graduated from Academe of the Oaks, the Waldorf high school.
Francisco Moreno, Specialty Teacher, was born in Colombia, South America and moved to the United States as a child. He grew up in New York City where he studied at the High School of Art and Design.
He continued his studies at the Columbus College of Art and Design in Ohio and the Atlanta College of Art. Francisco was one of the founding parents at WSA. In 1996, he became the first woodworking teacher at WSA, later joining the faculty full-time in 2000 when he also became the Games Teacher.
Francisco teaches Games to all grade school students and Woodworking to students in Grades Five to Eight. Francisco completed the Spatial Dynamics program at Sunbridge College in 2006.
Francisco has three adult sons, all of whom reside in Atlanta. They all participated in WSA's beginning playgroups and kindergarten programs. His youngest son was a member of WSA's first graduating class in 2000. Francisco has been involved with the Boy Scouts for more than ten years and has shared his love of nature and survival skills with countless boys.
After teaching and traveling extensively in Asia,
Peter Michelson returned to the USA to earn his Masters degree in Waldorf education. Immediately upon graduation, he was hired as a Class teacher at the Waldorf School of Atlanta, where he taught for five years and graduated the second eighth grade in the school's history in 2001. During his tenure as a class teacher, he also served as Faculty Chair and Board Member. Peter's wife, Sara, continues to teach at the school, both in the Morning Garden parent/toddler program, in the Parent Enrichment Class, as well as running a home based preschool. Upon graduating his class, Peter decided to return to his construction roots. As a fourth generation construction professional, he grew up helping out with the family business in the Boston area, and later worked as a carpenter for various remodeling companies in San Francisco and the Hudson Valley region. In 2001, he rolled his family background, Waldorf education and work experience into a new endeavor, Renewal Design-Build. As a business owner, he has built Renewal Design-Build into one of Atlanta's premier home renovation companies. Peter is delighted to bring his deep understanding of Waldorf education, his direct experience as a Waldorf Class Teacher, and his success of developing and running a multi-million dollar company to his work on the WSA Board. Peter and Sara are the parents of two boys, both students at WSA.
Elizabeth Roosevelt, Class Teacher, grew up in Selma, Alabama and attended boarding school in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She received her B.A. in German from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee and her Waldorf teaching certificate from the Irish Steiner Waldorf Association in County Clare, Ireland. After teaching kindergarten for two years in Ireland, she moved to Atlanta with her husband, Ben, who is a Waldorf high school teacher at Academe of the Oaks. Elizabeth has also taught Grade Four at Linden Corner Waldorf School in Nashville, Tennessee. She has directed an extended day program, taught theatrical games and movement, and volunteered in public schools and community programs for elementary school children. Before taking this class in the first grade, Elizabeth spent a year assisting in the school's 5-day kindergarten. Elizabeth enjoys reading, writing, music, travel, and the arts.
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