Governance

Dr. Tim Kershenstine, a native of New Orleans, has been a part of the Waldorf NOLA community since 2018, coinciding with his daughter's enrollment in the Early Childhood program. He has been working in the mental health field since 2003, and holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, CA. During his time in the San Francisco Bay Area he worked in community mental health treating underserved populations dealing with severe mental illness. Since finishing his Ph.D. work in 2009 and returning to New Orleans, he’s been serving clients locally and globally as a life coach specializing in OCD and anxiety. Dr. Kershenstine believes that both internal and external conflicts present opportunities for growth, echoing the unyielding sentiments of Rollo May that “no growth happens painlessly.” He is deeply passionate about guiding individuals through life's most challenging moments, helping them adapt and grow with courage and compassion. In his free time, he enjoys cooking and spending time with friends and family. He is honored to serve the Waldorf NOLA community with unwavering dedication and optimism.

Marius Commodore joins the Waldorf NOLA board as an enthusiastic parent dedicated to supporting the school’s mission of fostering holistic, creative, and compassionate learning for children. Dr. Commodore is a passionate physician providing quality health care and education to diverse populations, holding dual board certifications in internal medicine and psychiatry. Currently, he works as a primary care physician at AbsoluteCare and as an editor at MedStudy, where he reviews and updates psychiatry content for a leading educational product for medical professionals and students.

Marius is a proud University of Michigan alum (GO BLUE), a graduate of Emory University School of Medicine, and the Rush University Internal Medicine/Psychiatry Combined Program. He is also pursuing an executive MBA from Auburn University Harbert College of Business.

Liz Marcell Williams has 25 years of experience at the intersection of education and pediatric healthcare. Liz is a principal consultant with Health Management Associates, a national healthcare research and consulting firm. Previously, she served as the founding CEO of Center for Resilience, the only therapeutic day treatment/partial hospital program in Louisiana for children with significant behavioral health needs. Liz began her career as a special education teacher in Texas’s Rio Grande Valley as part of Teach For America and has since taught at the elementary, middle, undergraduate, and graduate school levels. Originally from Saratoga Springs, New York, Liz first came to New Orleans in 2002 as part of Teach For America’s program team and has since consulted with schools and districts around the country to develop high-quality special education programming, and served as the founding Executive Director of Intervention Services at a New Orleans charter school network. Liz serves on various educational governing and advisory boards and is deeply committed to ensuring all children receive access to a high-quality, holistic education. Liz received her BA in Italian Language & Literature from Smith College, and her M.ED. and Ed.D. in Culture, Communities, and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Liz is stepmother to Zoe and Graham and mother to Xavier, and she and her husband Jason enjoy live music, traveling, exercising, cooking, and unwieldy home improvement projects.

Christopher Windon joined Waldorf School of New Orleans Board of Directors in October 2022. Christopher Windon is the Chief Financial Officer at Sophie B. Wright. He is a native New Orleanian. and graduate of Louisiana State University, earning his undergraduate degree in Business Marketing in 2005 and a Master’s in Business Administration in 2008. He started his career at Deloitte and Touche as an internal auditor, in which he served a multitude of clients across various industries including, Oil & Gas, Gaming, Technology and Education. After five years at Deloitte, he decided to pursue his passion of working in the education system in New Orleans. having worked at Collegiate Academies and Lycee Francais de la Nouvelle-Orléans before joining the Sophie B. Wright High School team in September 2019. Christopher loves to spend time with his wife, Ericka and son, Christopher Jr., and love biking in their Mid-City Neighborhood.

Mr. Reginald Coleman began his career in education nearly eighteen years ago as a Physical Education teacher and Dean of Students at ACE Tech High School on the Southside of Chicago. Having grown up in an era with limited public-school options for low-income families like his own, Mr. Coleman has been a strong advocate for greater access and opportunities in school choice. As his career progressed, he pursued leadership roles to have a more significant impact. He joined the Noble Network in the spring of 2006, recognizing charter schools as a crucial step toward educational choice, and played a key role in opening Pritzker College Prep, a Noble Charter School.

In August 2010, Mr. Coleman moved to New Orleans to work with Firstline Schools, where he contributed to the transformation of J.S. Clark High School, then the lowest-performing high school in the state. As Principal, he achieved the highest gains in one year, a notable accomplishment. His eighteen years in school leadership include serving as the founding Dean of Students for Noble’s Pritzker College Prep, which was ranked #2 among Chicago Public High Schools by Chicago Magazine. Additionally, he has overseen the opening of two charter high schools, established a vocational program at Clark High School, and consulted with numerous other schools.

Throughout his career, Mr. Coleman has demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit, consistently conceptualizing and implementing schools and programs designed to offer greater access to top-tier educational opportunities for underserved communities. He holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and a B.A. in Psychology from Lewis University.

Lila Campbell received her BA and M.Ed. from the University of Maryland. Lila subsequently received a Level I Certificate in Spacial Dynamics from the Spacial Dynamics Institute. Lila’s three children are all students at WSNO. Lila has been in Waldorf Education since childhood and has served on the WSNO Faculty for the past 8 years as the Movement Teacher. Lila has had the privilege of teaching at both WSNO Campuses and in both Grades and Early Childhood classrooms. In addition, Lila has served in administrative roles, both in the Front Office and as WSNO’s current Athletic Director. For the last three years Lila has served on WSNO Leadership as the Student Support Chair. In her new role as Pedagogical Director, Lila is most looking forward to establishing opportunities for progressive dialogue and problem solving in service to the families of WSNO, supporting her colleagues of the Faculty by facilitating open communication with Administrators and Parents, contributing to constructive developments in Pedagogical policy and working more closely with the Board. Lila is looking forward to a wonderful and engaging school year wherein the WSNO community can continue to progress and thrive.

Heidi has been with Waldorf School of New Orleans since 2002. She was honored to be offered the task of creating the school’s Kindergarten, which began welcoming children in August of 2003. Heidi received her Waldorf Teacher Training from Rudolf Steiner College. Before becoming a Waldorf teacher, Heidi taught in New York, and for seven years in Orleans Parish Public Schools. She was awarded several grants to support her innovative work in the classroom with language development and young children. After becoming a mother, Heidi left the classroom for a few years. She ran a small program in her home for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. She also created and taught a dance class for toddlers and parents. Heidi’s son attended WSNO for nine years. Heidi's role as Kindergarten teacher provides the perfect opportunity to indulge in her love of storytelling, child development, sewing, gardening, singing, dancing, community building, and working with parents.

Andrew grew up in Arizona and moved to New Orleans in the mid-90s to attend Loyola University. A longtime employee of Dickie Brennan’s restaurant group, as well as a veteran volunteer DJ for WWOZ–New Orleans' premiere radio station–since 1999, Andrew transitioned to a real estate career and joined the FQR Realtors team in 2011. As a homeowner & board member of the Historic Faubourg Tremé Association, Andrew stays involved with all issues relevant to his neighborhood & city. Andrew is a proud Waldorf parent, plus he serves on our Board of Directors as the Parent Council Representative. He can also be found participating in Krewe du Vieux’s Krewe of Underwear each Carnival season!

Ram is a computer scientist who moved to New Orleans to help restart the Tulane Department of Computer Science in 2011. He holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from UT-Austin, and has held academic positions at Dartmouth College and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Ram is married to Kimberlee Mix, and they have have two children at WSNO. As scientists they are excited about the practice of Waldorf Education providing an experiential basis for critical thinking skills.

Dr. Allisyn Swift, a licensed psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with children and families, has held various roles throughout her career, including Early Childhood Educator, Administrator, and Independent Professional Development facilitator. She has served as a Fellow with Zero-to-Three, Chair of the NYC Association for the Education of Young Children Policy Circle, Infant Toddler Specialist at the Day Care Council of New York, and Lead Psychologist and Racial Equity Coordinator for FirstLine Schools. Dr. Swift’s research focuses on race-based stress, child development, and community mental health, and she is passionate about promoting healing through inclusive school environments. Currently, she is the Associate Director of Equity in Schools for Beloved Community in New Orleans. Since 2015, Dr. Swift has been a Waldorf parent and has served on the Board of Directors since 2017, drawn to Waldorf education for its holistic approach to child development.

Erica Durouseau is an accomplished nonprofit leader and Executive Director of The Foundation For Science and Mathematics Education. With over 18 years of expertise in fundraising, grant writing, and nonprofit management, Erica has built her career in fundraising, spearheading innovative fundraising initiatives and forging strategic partnerships throughout the Greater New Orleans area, regionally and nationally. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications from Grambling State University and earned her MBA in Entrepreneurship and Finance from Loyola University New Orleans in 2016. As a veteran nonprofit professional, she has successfully led numerous fundraising campaigns, secured substantial grants for various organizations, and implemented effective nonprofit management strategies while developing and nurturing partnerships with key stakeholders. Erica is dedicated to improving opportunities for underserved communities and students, funding educational access for underrepresented populations, and advancing philanthropic initiatives that create lasting impact. Deeply rooted in the New Orleans community, she is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and engages in various local initiatives as an advocate for social equity and educational advancement. Erica's daughter, Evie, is a Waldorf student, and they enjoy "festing" in NOLA, bike riding, swimming, and traveling together.

Lauren Michel, a native of New Orleans, has over 11 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising. She is the Senior Director of Development in Gift Planning at Tulane University. Lauren holds a J.D. from Tulane Law School, an M.S. in Nonprofit Administration from LSU Shreveport, and a B.A. in Liberal Arts from the Louisiana Scholars’ College at Northwestern State University. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive and a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy.

Lauren actively serves on various boards in New Orleans, including her current role as President of the New Orleans Planned Giving Council and as a board member of the Young Leadership Council. She is married to Dan Willeman, and they are proud dog parents to two rescue dogs, Haydel and Zoey.