Board of Directors

Rick Mitchell

Rick Mitchell has been involved with Waldorf Schools since 1986 when his oldest son became a student in the Waldorf School of Princeton (N.J.) He served on the board of the Princeton School and was a founder of the Waldorf Association of Greater Kansas City and the Waldorf Association of Lawrence. He served on the WAL/Prairie Moon Waldorf School board from 2001 to 2010 and returned in July, 2012 to serve as president. He is an artist, writer, gardener and professor having served on the faculties of Baker University, The University of Kansas and Rutgers University and as Executive Director of the Agricultural Museum of the State of New Jersey and Director of the Exhibition Program at the Lawrence Arts Center.

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.  Dana is a co-chair of the board, as well as chair of grants.

Kimberli Eddins

Kimberli Eddins is a native of Kansas City, Missouri and graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in 83′.  She has been an educator through out her adult life, teaching art in a volunteer capacity to youth in several organizations and as an art therapy assistant in a geriatric facility.  In 93′, Ms Kimberli made a slight transition in her teaching to became an early childhood teacher.  She has taught in a variety of early childhood settings both public and private education.

Ms Eddins came to Prairie Moon Waldorf School in 2009 as a substitute and then worked as a Summer Camp lead teacher. She accepted a mixed-age kindergarten lead teacher position for the 2009-10 school year and began the Waldorf early childhood teacher training summer of 2010.

As of summer 2012, Ms Kimberli is a graduate member and a certified Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher from Sunbridge Institute in Spring Valley, NY.

She writes: I love what I do so much!  The kindergarten daily rhythm feels like home: strong loving adults, purposeful tasks, songs and stories, as well as, creative arts. All this is balanced with good nutrition, rest, and lots of play!  We are a family!  I feel so blessed to have this school community and to serve as a “Kinder”-gardener.

Jeff Kennedy

Jeff joined the board in 2009. He is currently Treasurer and Vice President. 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. He attended the first three-week teacher preparation course hosted by Prairie Moon in the summer of 2012 and will complete his accounting degree this year. His current professional work is in television production.

Melissa Watson, Ex-officio member

Melissa Watson has served as administrator and ex-officio Board Member since 2009. Prior to that she served on the Board as Board Secretary and Chair of the Facilities and Environment Committee starting in 2008. In 2011 Melissa graduated from Rudolf Steiner College in Sacramento, California, where she received her certificate in Waldorf school administration. She also holds an MFA degree from Queen’s College, City University of New York, and a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, Missouri.

“I want this education not only for my child, but for the greater community of Lawrence, as well,” says Melissa. “I believe that Waldorf education is the answer to what our world requires of us as it’s stewards, and what we want from our world as its residents. Waldorf students enter the world as free human beings capable of self-direction and with a sense of purpose in their lives.”

Mark Voss

Kirk Heinz

Kirk Heinz has been involved in not-for-profit work for many years, working for 2 years at a national not-for-profit organization and for 5+ years at a local not-for-profit organization in various financial roles.  Kirk currently works for Swiss Re in Overland Park, KS.  Kirk is a parent of a 3rd grader and a 1st grader at Prairie Moon.

Marshall Maude

Marshall Maude is a ceramic artist and Assistant Professor of Ceramics at the University of Kansas. Before joining the faculty, Marshall was a Lecturer at the University of Kansas. He also headed the Ceramics program at Benedictine College and taught sculpture at Johnson County Community College.

Steve Malone

Steve has a B.A in History from UCLA and an MBA in Marketing & Finance from The University of Iowa’s Tippie School of Management.  He also has a teaching credential and taught in Los Angeles Unified School District for 3 years.  Steve is currently employed by Colgate-Palmolive, where he is Global Director for Prescription Diet Marketing. He has served on the Topeka Collegiate School board, and has been a member of the PMWS board since 2011.

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.