Specialists
At the high school level, students may specialize in an area or explore a different art form each year. Electives offered include: drama, creative writing, art, music ensemble, and filmmaking. In addition, the wellness seminar is built into the weekly schedule, and trips to the farm occur with science classes for special study.
Barbara Ayers
Barbara has managed the farm for more than a decade, first as a volunteer. Barbara loves to collaborate with her colleagues to create farm curriculum that is meaningful to the students. In the short-term, Barbara wants “our children to spend a little time connecting with the natural world and the seasons.” In the long-term, her goal “is that they remember the idea that you can grow your own food, and that it tastes better, looks better, smells better, and it’s fun, too!” Barbara has two children at Waverly, Joe and Katie, both in 12th grade.
Caitlin Dube
Caitlin teaches wellness. Caitlin received a B.A. in English from Harvard College and an M.F.A. in creative writing from Columbia University. A lifelong learner, Caitlin completed a post-baccalaureate premedical program before her work as an educator with Planned Parenthood inspired her to forgo medical school and return to her first love: teaching. Caitlin has been an educator for over a decade. She is an avid yogi, published poet, and an advisor for Change The Talk, a peer-to-peer social justice workshop. She incorporates themes of tolerance, mindfulness and empowerment into her lessons for all ages. Caitlin’s daughter, Ramona, is in Kindergarten.
Jim Reynolds
Jim teaches the music elective. Jim studied jazz guitar, vocal performance, and philosophy in college at Oberlin, Ohio. He also has a background in sound engineering, working in the Los Angeles studio scene for over 10 years. A working musician today, he has had experience touring in bands, working in sound studios, managing live concert sound events, and songwriting. His music has been licensed for film and television, most notably on the television show Sons of Anarchy. Currently, you can see Jim locally and on tour as The Jim Reynolds Band. During his time at Waverly, students have formed rock bands, woodwind quintets, string quartets, and several incarnations of a jazz band. Focused primarily on participation, Waverly students have a chance to explore all aspects of music and have many opportunities to get on stage and perform.
Amy Sedivy
Amy teaches English and creative writing at the high school. She received a B.A. and M.A. in English, with an emphasis in writing from California State University, Northridge. Amy taught for over six years at the college level. Her fiction has been published in several literary journals, including Calyx and The Louisville Review. Amy’s son, Rylan, graduated from Waverly in 2010.
Alyssa Sherwood
Alyssa teaches art in the upper elementary, middle, and high schools. Alyssa has a B.F.A. in painting and sculpture from Syracuse University School of Visual and Performing Arts and an M.F.A. in animation from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. Alyssa’s animated films have screened and won awards at festivals in the U.S. and internationally. Prior to coming to Waverly, Alyssa taught video art, drawing and painting, and photography for almost eight years at Harvard-Westlake’s Middle and Upper Schools.
Amy Sloboda
Amy teaches filmmaking and is the middle school dean. Amy has an M.F.A. in film and video from California Institute of the Arts and a B.A. from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she studied English and film. She spent seven years at Wildwood School in West Los Angeles, where she was the administrative director and taught the film elective. Prior to working at Waverly, Amy was a consultant for Cal/West Educators, guiding independent school board members through the process of hiring heads of school. Amy has two children, Nola and Kanaan, and two lovable rescue dogs, Josie and Katie.
Sydney Walsh
Sydney teaches drama at all divisions. Syd graduated from Williams College with a B.A. in theatre and English. An experienced actor, director, and educator, Syd says, “I am constantly inspired by the group work ethic I see and feel in every class at Waverly. Students are interested in creativity and kindness, and they work from a place of loving support for each other’s creative processes.” Syd’s son, Harry ‘19, graduated from Waverly.