Staff

Staff Members at Zena Democratic School fill administrative roles, serve as models of effective and regenerative adult behavior, act as cultural leaders within the school, and live alongside students as fellows, mentors, and friends.

Chester Elliott IV

This is Chet, some call him Cheddar Cheese. He's the tech guy, the graphics guy... Read More

Jamie Keller

This is Jamie, aka Lumberjames, a rugged tree worker and an amateur exterminator of noxious anthropods with a bad reading problem; Read More

Katie Rose Hillegass

This is Katie Rose, a Fire Keeper with a dazzling array of experience and an incorrigible curiosity and excitement about education. Her primary role at school is managing our organized activities as our Programming Clerk. She’s a good fit for the job, having participated in a lot of diverse programming herself over the years, from graduate work at the Sorbonne (mostly eating croissants) to studying research biology at Stanford, to becoming a certified NY wildlife rehabilitator, to running the volunteer program at Jim and Lisa’s Circle Home (hospice) in Kingston, as well as organizing and facilitating a lot of programming, from nature-based preschool programs to tutoring middle school students, to teaching French and philosophy at NYU and in high school, to creating the very popular and sweet Community Fire Circles. Whew! KR also loves to split wood (like, large amounts) and dance jigs when she finds cool mushrooms in the woods. KR came to ZDS seeking a community working towards authenticity, care, and self-expression, and to manifest her deep belief in self-directed education. She is dialed in, well-organized, and deeply excited be a member of the ZDS Staff! Read More

Matthew Gioia

This is Matthew, but I like to call him Matty, here he is found in his natural habitat Read More

Paul Agne

This is Paul, a STEM guy with a beard and a new-found passion for Self-Directed Education. Read More

Vanessa Van Burek

This is Vanessa, Van, V. Vanny Pants, Vanoosa, Vanoogie. We call a spade a spade; this is our Matriarch, and our Lodestar. Read More

Supplemental Staff

Supplemental Staff fill needs of the community within a specific domain, such as support for art, music, cooking, invention and building, etc; They are enthusiastic and talented in their speciait(ies) and will work to improve their corner(s) of the school regardless of student involvement. They are happy and capable to help students pursue projects and keep their domain in order with high expectations of student capabilities.

Iliana Arocho

This is Iliana, our generously approachable, warmly present, and keenly observant Supplemental Staff focused on Arts Read More

Mariah Hoffman

Mariah Hoffman is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who brings eclectic experience and a deep sense of compassion to her work. Read More

Staff

Chester Elliott IV

Chester Elliott IV

Jamie Keller

Jamie Keller

Katie Rose Hillegass

Katie Rose Hillegass

Matthew Gioia

Matthew Gioia

Paul Agne

Paul Agne

Vanessa Van Burek

Vanessa Van Burek

Supplemental Staff

Iliana Arocho

Iliana Arocho

Mariah Hoffman

Mariah Hoffman

Parents’ experience of the school is a crucial factor in determining their childrens’ experience of the school. Children of parents who work hard to understand our philosophy, communicate with staff, attend events, and connect with the community usually get the most out of our program.

At Zena Democratic School, rule infractions and interpersonal conflicts are resolved using sophisticated restorative justice tools.

Age-mixing is one of the most potent developmental experiences at Zena Democratic School.

Each student aged 14+ is automatically enrolled in our High School Advisor Program;

Screens are allowed at school, with restrictions.

At Zena Democratic School, a Cooperative (coop) is a group of like-minded students and staff who organize around a common interest, like music, art, or sports.

At Zena Democratic School, the jobs of administration and maintenance are divided into roles called Clerkships;

Every student and staff at Zena Democratic School is assigned a cleaning job by the Physical Plant Clerk.

Students may receive a diploma if they elect to undergo our internal diploma process.

Zena Democratic School is located on a parcel of 67 wooded acres in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains in the Hudson Valley region of New York State.

Zena Democratic School is a direct democracy; each student and member of the staff has an equal vote in managing all aspects of the school’s operation.