Executive Director | Operations Manager | Office Manager | Bilingual Office Assistant Curriculum Coordinator
Caroline Hopewell | Executive Director
Caroline’s first teaching experience was at a state residential school in MA at the age of 23 where she taught in a self-contained classroom and later ran the farm program. After the birth of her first child, she took over a decade off from teaching to raise and educate her children. With her youngest in second grade, she returned to full-time teaching at the Waldorf School of Cape Cod. There she completed an 8-year loop with the same class. In addition to class teaching, she served as the sole handwork teacher, Faculty Chair and as a member of the College of Teachers. She began her journey as a reading teacher on Cape Cod after graduating her class.
Having survived her own chaotic Elementary years of whole language reading instruction, she became deeply interested in the pedagogy of teaching reading and since then, Structured Literacy has become her passion. She is a LETRS’ facilitator and trained in the Orton Gillingham approach to teaching reading.
In 2016 she moved to Salt Lake City as a founding faculty member of the Wasatch Waldorf Charter School where she continued to influence reading outcomes. She ran the intervention program, taught struggling readers, and coached teachers in the area of Literacy. In addition to her work in Literacy, she established and led a vibrant Handwork program and team.
She obtained her Waldorf teaching credential from Antioch University and her Masters of Education from the University of Utah in Administration and Policy with a principal license. Her belief in the importance of Structured Literacy spurred her into school leadership, which ultimately brought her to Sonoma and Woodland Star Charter School.
Becky Traum | Business Operations Manager
Ms. Traum studied English and Business Administration at the University of Oregon. She also has a culinary degree from CCA! In her early career, she worked at the SF Chronicle in the HR Department. Becky has worn many hats at Woodland Star since her son Merle was in kindergarten. She served on the WS Ed Foundation Board for 5 years. In the classroom, she began as a handwork assistant, and then moved to aftercare before becoming a classroom assistant. In 2019 payroll technician while assisting the school business manager. In 2020, Becky replaced our longtime retiring business manager stepping into a revision of the position as operations manager.
Evelin Sanchez | Office Manager
Evelin Sanchez is Woodland Star’s Bilingual Office Manager. She has two Woodland Star graduates and one current student. Prior to accepting the position of Office Manager, she manned the front desk as our Bilingual Office Assistant for four years. Ms. Evelin came to Woodland Star after working at various schools within the Sonoma Valley Unified School District as a Bilingual Community Liaison, Camp Supervisor and as an RSP class assistant. Evelin immigrated to the United States in 2001 and received her US citizenship in 2022. She is a certified Spanish translator and is passionate about assisting our Spanish speaking families connect with the community. Evelin enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.
Silvanna Aguirre | Bilingual Office Assistant
Silvanna Aguirre is Woodland Star’s Bilingual Office Assistant. Ms. Silvanna began working at Woodland Star in 2016 as an Aftercare Assistant and substitute Kindergarten Aid. Silvanna has also filled the roles as distance learning class assistant and Spanish Tutor and as a First Grade Assistant. She is the mother of a Woodland Star middle school student and is a Sonoma native.
Antje Bojarsky | Curriculum Coordinator
Antje’s first career was in business administration and marketing. She loves to organize, create helpful professional systems, and especially steer school accreditations. While teaching, she completed her master’s in Educational Leadership: Curriculum and Instruction, and a California Administrative Credential at Sonoma State University. Since 2000 she has trained Waldorf teachers in various programs, including as core faculty of teacher training at Rudolf Steiner College, and has directed The Art of Teaching the Grades professional development sessions. She was in administrative positions and on executive committees, as an administrator, high school director, and pedagogical chair, as well as an educational support coordinator at independent Waldorf schools.
