The Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is responsible for oversight of the financial and legal matters of the school. The Board is comprised of a Faculty Representative and community members, with each member serving a three-year term. Board members are elected by vote as the terms of their predecessors expire.

Meetings are open to the community, though parts of meetings may require confidentiality and may be closed to non-Trustees. The Board holds monthly meetings and also convenes All-School Meetings twice a year, in October and May.

OWS BYLAWS

TRUSTEE JOB DESCRIPTION

CONTACT THE BOARD

Approved Minutes

Strategic Plan

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Board Officers

Meaghan Anderson - Board President
[email protected]​

Meaghan grew up in Maine, and fell in love with the west coast and its trees as a freshman at Pomona College. She studied French and Spanish at Pomona and abroad, met her husband, and then traveled north to Santa Barbara, where she completed a masters and doctorate in French and Comparative Literature. As she finished her graduate work and realized the only component of academia she found enjoyable was teaching, she made a pivot into Teach For America, and taught elementary school in San Francisco for two years. Meaghan continued to inch her way up the coast, stopping in Seattle for four years to teach upper elementary school at an independent school in Bellevue, and middle school English at a charter school in Southeast Seattle. Her family moved to Olympia at the beginning of the pandemic, and she let her kids paint her face with chalk and all kinds of other weird things for a year and a half of “homeschool.” When Meaghan re-entered the paid workforce to manage the formal education department at Hands On Children’s Museum in 2021, she knew that her two children would need something very different from the educational settings she had taught in. Ruby is a first grader at OWS who lives for main lesson (seriously, and it doesn’t matter which block they are in) and jump roping, and Ada is in her second year as a Little Violet in the Kinderhaus, although she may believe herself to be a teacher. Meaghan is also a member of the Parent Association, and is hoping to institute a consistent and ongoing research project into grant funding for the school’s various projects and goals. 
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JJ Olson - Vice President, Board of Trustees
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I’m JJ Olson, and my family has been part of the Olympia Waldorf School community for five years. With four children—Freya, Tova, Oslo, and baby Valo—we’re deeply invested in the school’s future. Our journey began with Freya in preschool and has grown into a deep appreciation for Waldorf education and its holistic approach.

​Professionally, I serve as an Administrator for the Thurston County Assessor’s Office, managing appraisal and tax software systems. I hold a degree in Business Management with a focus in Finance and bring a systems-thinking mindset to the board.

I joined the Board of Trustees because I believe in the transformative power of this school—not just academically, but as a nurturing community. I’m passionate about building a strong, sustainable foundation and envision expanding our offerings, perhaps even toward a Waldorf high school.

Having attended a small private boarding school, I value the strength of close-knit communities. I stay active through skiing, soccer, and volunteering I believe movement and connection are vital to education.
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As a trustee, I’m committed to broadening our reach and supporting every member of our school. As Rudolf Steiner said: “Receive the children in reverence, educate them in love, and send them forth in freedom.”

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Jackie Walsh - Faculty Representative
​[email protected]

Jackie was born and raised in Colorado. Growing up she loved hiking and skiing with her family. She graduated with a B.A. in Education and Behavioral Science from Metropolitan State University of Denver. After several years of teaching, Jackie, her husband, and son moved to Spokane where they welcomed their daughter into the world. Two years ago they moved to Olympia. Shortly after, her children started attending Olympia Waldorf School and they all loved the Waldorf pedagogy and the amazing faculty. Jackie then began subbing for OWS. She now is thrilled to be the teacher for the class of 2029. 
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Shannon Kapp - Faculty Representative
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Shannon was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. A dreamy child, she grew up wandering and wondering about the world around her. In 2008, Shannon began working with children as a nanny and spent her off hours composing music and traveling the United States. In 2012, Shannon moved to the Pacific Northwest where she would meet her husband, a fellow musician and teacher. Ever deepening her knowledge in various early childhood pedagogies, she found Waldorf and felt an instant kinship. With over 11 years worth of early childhood experience, Shannon came to OWS in the spring of 2022 as the Hearthcare program coordinator and for the past two years she worked as an assistant in the Sunflower kindergarten led by Susan Palmer. Shannon is over the moon to lead the Dandelion kindergarten class, nurturing their sense of wonder through music, story, movement and reverence for the world around us.

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Shanna Taylor - Board Member
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Shanna grew up just outside the North Cascade mountains. Her love for all things mountainous and green eventually led her to Olympia, where her family has lived for ten years.  She is a proud parent of an alumni student, Summer (class of 2021), Noah (7th grader) , and Sequoia (Sunflower). Aside from serving as board secretary, Shanna helps run the school's facilities committee, as well as serving on the PA and Festivals and Fundraising Committee and our recently formed Anthroposophy study group. Outside of OWS life, Shanna is a real estate agent, yoga teacher, and professional tarot reader. 

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Mindy Schaefer - Board Member
[email protected]
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I was born and raised in the suburbs of Seattle and have spent most of my life in the Pacific Northwest, apart from my college years in London, where I earned a B.A. in Communications and Art, Design & Media. After returning to Seattle, I completed a Certificate of Accountancy and started my first business, providing full-service bookkeeping and IRS representation for small businesses. That work eventually led me to co-steward two small organic bedding manufacturers.
I’m the mom of OWS students Teddy (11) and Freddy (9). Before serving as treasurer, I was chair of the Parent Association. In my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my kids, attending local performing arts events, and learning to do new things. 

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Karl Beall - Board Member
[email protected]

As a parent and community member, the Olympia Waldorf School holds a special place in my heart. I’m inspired by our mission to nurture curious, capable, and compassionate learners, and I’m honored to support that work through service on the school board.
My journey in community and education began in high school, leading recreational activities for adults with developmental disabilities—an experience that taught me the power of empathy, inclusion, and shared joy.
Professionally, I’ve worked in community mental health and therapeutic education, focusing on collaboration, creative problem-solving, and organizational growth. I hold a Master of Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Recreational Therapy, and I’m passionate about helping mission-driven organizations thrive while staying true to their values.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back to a community that has given so much to my family and look forward to supporting the continued growth of our school.

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