Board of Trustees

Dana Atwood-Blaine

Dana has been a teacher for 12 years, 10 in public school and 2 in a private school.  She has taught in Alaska, Nevada, and Missouri and for grades Pre-K through 9th.  Dana received a B.A. in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in Educational Technology from Pepperdine University.  She is currently a full-time student at KU working on a PhD in Curriculum and Teaching with an Emphasis on Science Education.  She is also getting a minor in Physical Geography, with emphasis on geoscience technology such as GIS, GPS, remote sensing, and the like.  Some of her interests include environmental sustainability and nature-based science education. She is pleased to have the opportunity to serve Prairie Moon School in this way.

David Eichler

David joined the board as a co-founder in 2001.  His current positions are President and Treasurer.  He brings to his work a sincere desire for Waldorf education for his children and the children in the broader community.   His professional work is in public special education.

Kris Carlson

See faculty bios

Jeff Kennedy

Jeff joined the board in 2009. He is currently Secretary. What brings Jeff to PMWS is the emphasis on imagination for the pre-school and kindergarten classes and the comprehensiveness of the curriculum for the grade school students. His professional work is in television production.

Rick Mitchell

Rick is president of the board and has served on three separate Waldorf school boards spanning 23 years. He was a co-founder of the Waldorf Association of Lawrence and Prairie Moon Waldorf School 2001. Rick was previously on the board of the Princeton (NJ) Waldorf School where his sons attended early childhood and grade school classes.  Rick was also a founder and first president of the Waldorf Association of Greater Kansas City which established a Waldorf early childhood program in Gardner, KS in 1993.  Rick has been a university professor for many years (Rutgers University, Baker University, Kansas University) and spent time as executive director of the Agricultural Museum of the State of New Jersey, publisher of a literary magazine– Cottonwood Review, professional photographer and gallery director of the Lawrence Arts Center. He currently teaches in the Art Department of the University of Kansas.

Scott Trettel

(on leave)

Melissa Watson, Ex-officio member

Melissa joined the board in 2008.  She is currently Office Manager (ex-officio member of the board), Secretary (pro-tem), and Chair of F & E.  What brings Melissa to Waldorf education and Prairie Moon is beauty, art, respect for the children, and reverence for where they are developmentally.   Melissa’s background is in art– she earned an MFA degree and has experience with commercial design, layout and publishing. She assists Prairie Moon with publications (flyers, ads, etc.). Melissa is detail-oriented, a good listener, a right-brained thinker and enjoys problem solving. She “doesn’t run with scissors…much” – and has a great sense of humor.  Oh…and she always welcomes finding chocolate on her desk.

Becoming a Board Member

Prairie Moon Waldorf School has a process in place by which new members join the Board of Trustees, as outlined in the bylaws here.