ADMINISTRATION
Megan Neale, School Director
Megan Neale has been an active member of the Marin Waldorf School community for over 20 years, first as a parent, then as a teacher and an administrator. Before taking the role of school director in 2019, she served as a block teacher and later the pedagogical administrator at MWS. Additionally, she was the administrative director of the Marin Independent High School, located on the Marin Waldorf School campus, for five years. Ms. Neale graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a bachelor’s degree in history, and she received a masters in education and a secondary teaching credential from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Ms. Neale completed her Waldorf teacher training at the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training (BACWTT). Ms. Neale currently serves on the BACWTT Board of Directors and is co-director of the Tinkuy Project, a cultural exchange and mentorship program, with the Kusi Kawsay school in Peru. She loves horses, animals, swimming in rivers, reading, camping, and she has two daughters, both graduates of Marin Waldorf School.
Dawn Anderson, Finance & Operations Director
Dawn Anderson has extensive experience managing business operations for education institutions and organizations. She has worked to promote educational equity, cultural exchanges for youth from around the globe and leadership development for high school students. Dawn has also served as an officer to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and worked in the district office of the Cambridge Public Schools in Massachusetts. Outside of work, Dawn has competed in triathlons and national championships in sailing. She holds an undergraduate degree from Boston University. She enjoys travel, volunteering in the community and creating delicious meals for family and friends.
Rochelle Chayette, Pedagogical Chair
Rochelle brings a rich background in Waldorf education to our school, including former positions as a grades class teacher, kindergarten teacher, social skills teacher, leadership consultant, and faculty mentor at Waldorf schools across the Western United States. Rochelle’s professional experience has focused extensively on relationships, community building, and fostering healthy communication. She holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and elementary school education from Boston University and master’s degree in education from the University of Colorado Denver, with a special education endorsement, and she has completed a wide range of Waldorf trainings and certifications, including a Waldorf teacher training certificate from Sunbridge College. She loves to hike and dance.
Julia McIlroy, Middle School Director & Middle School Math Chair
Julia McIlroy joined the MWS faculty after 14 years as a public defender and appellate attorney in Sonoma County. Prior to law school, she taught math to struggling upper grades and high school student at Summerfield Waldorf School. After becoming an attorney, she stayed connected to teaching as an adjunct professor for advanced legal writing at Empire College and as head coach for Mock Trial at San Rafael High School. She holds a BA with honors from Mills College in Oakland and graduated magna cum laude with a juris doctor from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, with a certificate in law and social justice. Ms. McIlroy is a graduate of Summerfield Waldorf School, which she attended from kindergarten to 12th grade, and her two children currently attend MWS. She loves cooking, hiking, swimming, and travel.
Kate Dolkas, Admissions Director
Kate joined the Marin Waldorf School administrative team with years of experience in nonprofit organizations. As an experienced fundraiser and development professional, she is a skilled at building relationships and stewarding people through a decision-making process—skills she will bring to the role of Admissions Director. Kate joins our school after more than 5 years in her current role as Development Director at Grassroots Ecology, where she led fundraising strategy. She holds a bachelors of science in Community and Regional Development from the University of California, and a master of science in Bioregional Planning and Community Design from the University of Idaho, with an emphasis in Community Food Systems Planning. She currently teaches yoga in Marin County and enjoys trail running, gardening, and camping with her family. As admissions director, Kate brings "a deep commitment to bolstering diversity, growing community and sharing the impact of a Waldorf education on young people as both current students and upon graduation when they go out into the world as kind, creative, capable young adults."
Mike Belcher, Marketing and Communications Director
In fall 2025, Mike and his family joined the Marin Waldorf School community from Pasadena Waldorf School, where Mike chaired the Parent Council, facilitating communication between parents and faculty/administrators, in addition to chairing monthly school-wide meetings and smaller group discussions with administrators. A professional producer, writer, director, and cinematographer/photographer, Mike brings extensive experience in event planning, fundraising, public speaking, volunteer organizing, and community engagement to the role.
Wing Choi, Front Office Manager
Wing Choi joined MWS in 2023 after relocating from Hong Kong to the Bay Area with her family in 2022. Her son began 1st grade at our school the same year. With over 15 years of executive experience in the financial services industry, including roles at Banco Santander S.A. and J.P. Morgan, Wing brings a wealth of knowledge to our community. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting at Hong Kong Baptist University. In 2023, she began her Waldorf Teacher Training at the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training, further deepening her connection to our educational philosophy.
Cyrus Thelin, Registrar
Born and raised in Woodacre, Cyrus Thelin attended the Waldorf-Inspired program at Lagunitas School from kindergarten through fourth grade. He is a graduate of Archie Williams High School and Oberlin College, where he received a bachelor's degree in environmental studies. He enjoys singing, stargazing, beach bonfires, the Transcendentalists, film, photography, acting, Magic: The Gathering, and friendship.
Suzanne Hudson, Bookkeeper & Special Projects Manager
Suzanne Hudson joined the staff at Marin Waldorf School in 2019 as a project manager, but her history with the school began when her children were students in the class of 2012 and the class of 2015. Before joining the team at MWS, Suzanne held diverse professional roles, from advertising account executive to high school swim coach. She received an undergraduate degree in English literature at the University of Colorado. In her free time, Suzanne loves skiing, hiking, reading, and—most of all—spending time with her family.