Kieran Connolly
Executive Director
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I was born and raised in Troy, NY across the Hudson River from the state capitol of Albany. After completing a journalism degree in college I moved out west to try something different, experimenting with good-government lobbying, environmental restoration work and a few other things, eventually resulting in an opportunity to run the Youth Tree Corps program for Friends of Trees. Up until that point I had always avoided working with youth, I knew I didn’t want to be part of an authoritarian system, and hadn’t realized that there were other ways of teaching. When I approached teaching from a collaborative standpoint on my first day, the adjudicated youth responded in an amazing way.
What followed was an incredible, fun and powerful summer that helped me to understand what I wanted to do with my life. Over the next four years I learned more my education philosophy through working as an instructional assistant in the Reynolds School District, an environmental educator in Maine, a Youth Conservation Corps crew leader on Mount Hood, a ropes course facilitator on Orcas Island and a garden program coordinator and in Guatemala. Though these were all dramatically different experiences they helped continue to inform my perspective on the power of collaboration and democracy when working with people.
My travels eventually led to an alternative school in Hood River where I set out to bring a Democratic Education model to a school that served adjudicated youth. In five years at the school I moved from teacher to administrator and incorporated a school-wide program that embraced democracy and real world experiences including a magazine written, edited and published by our students (www.voxjuvenis.com/wp), a garden program that actually fed our students and foster parents, and a collaborative council of staff and students that made important school-wide decisions and policy.
I completed my Master’s Thesis through Prescott College documenting my work at the Klahre House. I concluded my thesis by asking what Democratic Education would look like in a larger school model? Now, at Trillium, I am thrilled at the opportunity to collaborate with the Trillium community to find the answer to that question.
During my education journey I’ve come to love and respect the work of Paolo Freire, Myles Horton, Debra Meier, Nanci Atwell, Michael Apple and Alfie Kohn. I believe to educate Democratically is always to emphasize working with people, rather than simply doing something to them. This approach has guided and continues to guide my actions and belief in my career in education.
When I am not working I love to get back out to the Gorge for long hikes, ride my bike around Portland, cook and eat great food and fiddle around on my bass guitar.
Sarah Cramer
Assistant Director
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Education and dance have been passions of mine for as long as I can remember. Growing up as an only child with a huge imagination along with my desire to be a teacher, I would teach my stuffed animals and my dog (the teacher’s pet) what I was learning in school. I studied dance for 13 years and my first teaching job was teaching tap, jazz, and ballet to three-eight year olds. Oregon State University is where I received my BS degree in Human Development and Family Science with an emphasis in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Continuing on with my education I receive my Master of Arts in Education.
Upon graduation, teaching positions were few and far between. I knew I wanted to stay in education and was lucky to find a job which allowed me to supervise before and after school programs in Portland and Hillsboro. My next opportunity led me in overseeing the Education Service Area for a Head Start program serving over 800 children a year. This position taught me so much and helped me gain stronger skills in mentoring and guiding other educators and children.
I am thrilled to now be a part of the Trillium community where education is collective and collaborative. A place where voices are heard and youth are actively involved learners. My goal is to help create a comfortable and inspiring learning environment for all. When I’m not at work you can find me playing on the coast, hiking, cooking, reading, practicing yoga, and visiting friends and family in and out of town.
Debra Lazzaretti
Operations Manager
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I am a native Portlander. I attended Portland State University, majoring in business and psychology. I received an AS in paralegal studies at PCC in 2011. I lived in Lake Charles, LA for two years and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea for two years. In PNG I worked for the YWCA buying and selling artifacts and handcrafts in the country’s only two gift stores that funded a vocational school for young women.My earlier career was in political campaign and nonprofit management and fundraising. My campaign work included governor races, senatorial fundraising, statewide ballot measures and presidential visits for Oregon candidates. I managed thirteen annual events for the March of Dimes at one point and was a member of the committee that raised the $35,000 seed money for the PPS Foundation. As a single mom, I purchased homes to rent, then live in and refurbish. I kept my hand in fundraising through nonprofit work and school auctions, chairing advertising and raffle committees. My daughter is going off to college soon and I am reclaiming my life. I love working with the staff and families at Trillium, watching us evolve into a sustainable model of democratic education.
Sharon Mabet
Receptionist
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I am originally from North Carolina, a real Southern Belle! I moved to Portland in 1993 with my husband Virgilio, who is from the Philippines. I have one child a daughter named Cipriana and a Lhasa Apso Dog named Charlie. I have worked in many service positions through the years, with my most recent being the Receptionist, Office Assistant with the Multnomah Education Service District here in Portland. I have also acquired my Associates Degree of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies and i worked for a Bankruptcy Firm in Portland for about 4 years. I was fortunate to work at Freightliner for a couple of years when my daughter was little and they provided the opportunity for me to return to school to obtain that Associates Degree. In my spare time i enjoy spending time with my family, camping, reading and volunteering with my church and the Thespians at Milwaukie High School. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve the families in this environment
Blake Swensen
IT Systems Administrator
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Shortly after graduating college with a degree in theater (acting/directing), it became obvious that I needed to have a fall-back career. I tried my hand at landscape irrigation design and maintenance, but everything kept pushing me toward the computer industry. After starting a nationally acclaimed computer bulletin board system as a hobby (pre-Internet), I moved to Portland to take advantage of the opportunities in the Silicon Forest. My computer career has spanned almost three decades, having done everything from selling some of the first PC XT’s in Portland to a directorship of a college computer program to running my own consulting company. I have offered support for virtually every type of computer and network including VAX, CP/M, DOS, Prime/OS, Solaris, Sun/OS, Macintosh System Software, several flavors of Unix and, of course, Windows. In all this time, and after touching all manner of different approaches and operating systems, I wanted to support computing at Trillium for two reasons. First, because I believe, very deeply, in the strength of the educational practices and methods at Trillium and I want to be a member of the team. Second, because it is, without a doubt, the most elegant and robust computing system that I have encountered in my career. It is thrilling to be a part of it.
I live in North Portland with my wife and twin boys, and I garden and write science fiction in my spare time. I have published two short stories and am shopping for an agent to handle the three young adult novels I have completed.
Arielle Clark
Trillium Chef
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I am a proud Alaskan native. I migrated with my family to Portland in the summer of 1996, so it’s fair to say I have Oregon in my blood. My first memory of living in Oregon was climbing a huge Rainer cherry tree in my back yard. I ate so many cherries that summer I made myself sick. I was fascinated with Oregon’s bounty and found joy in discovering the diverse vegetation that thrived in this state. Both my mother and father worked in the restaurant industry, my father a chef, my mother a baker, naturally I found solace in the kitchen. It’s fair to say that I learned how to use and knife before I could walk.
I consider myself an artist with a very strong passion for food and nutrition. I have always thrived in learning environments and have never stopped in my pursuit of higher education. I graduated from high school early. As I was eager to pursue my dream of becoming a chef, I moved to Seattle, Washington and enrolled in a culinary program. After completing my degree in Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management, I spent several years working in the industry. In that time I worked in fine dining, catering, on cruise ships, kids camps and even large corporate chain restaurants. I moved from the back of the house as a chef, to the front of the house as a server, a restaurant manager, a dietitian to a personal chef. I have done it all!
In 2006, I decided to return to school to purse a degree in Community Development and Urban Planning. I continued working in restaurants but knew there was more that Iwanted to achieve for myself. I wanted to take my passion to the next level by incorporating my knowledge of food and nutrition and applying in a way that would enhance the community I live in and love. Moreover, I felt a college degree would provide more opportunities and connections to help me accomplish my goals. I was right! Trillium was logically the next step of my journey.
I’m blessed with the opportunity to work with such amazing children and a passionate and dedicated staff. My work here is extremely gratifying, as I am pursing my artistic talents in the kitchen and connecting with my community. Just doing what I love! I have such big dreams for the school lunch program here at Trillium and am excited to take part in the next food revolution. After all, you are what you eat!
Emily Saxton
Development Director
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I’m thrilled to be joining the Trillium Admin team, which is a wonderful way of unifying my interest in sustainable nonprofit development and strong public education. After spending most of middle school and high school trying to be in a classroom that didn’t drive me crazy, I attended the University of Massachusetts in Boston, graduating with a BA in History.
I put the “History” part into action, working as a community organizer to build campus groups that engaged college students in environmental, political, and economic justice campaigns. Working with students in New England and at the Evergreen State College was exciting and challenging in the best way possible, but in 2008, I left to manage a voter registration drive in rural Southwest Virginia.
Since starting a Public Administration Masters at Portland State in 2010, I’ve been working in nonprofit financial development. Development is a great place to be, because it’s a window into how an organization puts its values into practice. At Trillium, where parent involvement is part and parcel of healthy fundraising systems, it’s been especially rewarding. I went into the MPA program with a strong interest in locally-controlled education, and am thrilled to be part of the Trillium community. I am a fourth-generation Oregonian and a new-ish North Portlander, and enjoy riding my bike, figuring out my backyard, reading, and the radio.
Dave Coffman
Accounting Consultant
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I’ve been working with Trillium since February 2012 on a contract basis through my business as the people’s accountant (www.peoplesaccountant.com). I’ve been working in Accounting and Finance for over 15 years, with the last four years spent exclusively in the Portland non-profit community. Prior to joining the non-profit community, I spent time working with public schools in the State of Ohio and public corporations both in Ohio and here in Oregon.
I believe that every organization deserves and benefits from high-level financial analysis and professional accounting expertise. Additionally, I believe that timely and reliable financial information is a critical aspect of managing the scarce resources that exist in today’s educational and non-profit environments. My goal is to provide Trillium with that in-depth, high-level and reliable financial analysis and reporting that is critical for sound financial decision-making and ultimately the fulfillment of the organization’s mission.
I am excited to be working with the Trillium community and have been very impressed with the love and dedication folks have for the School as a whole. It’s clear that Trillium is an important part of this community and I am grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of this collective effort.
When I don’t have my nose in a set of financial statements, you might find me on my bicycle, working in my yard, or cooking up a batch of home-brewed beer. My partner, Sarah, and I moved to Oregon from Columbus, Ohio in 2005 and are having a hard time picturing ourselves anywhere else.
Rambod Behnam
Bookkeeper
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I moved to Portland in February of 2012 from Los Angeles where I had attended Loyola Marymount University and received a B.S. in Accounting and minors in film and Roman history. Following graduation, I worked for three years as a financial auditor at Ernst & Young, and then spent a year backpacking and traveling. Itching for a change from LA’s gridlock traffic and yearning for a new lifestyle, I moved to Portland. Now I am excited to be working with Portland’s thriving charter school education community and furthering my participation with nonprofit work. Outside of work I bike, garden, and raise chickens.
Eduardo Gonzales
Building Maintenance Coordinator
My career has been focused on building maintenance in all its many forms. I have been at Trillium for going on 6 years. Prior to that I was a maintenance supervisor for many years. I have a daughter and a son and a wife that is an incredible cook that keeps us all very happy with home cooked meals everyday. I am an avid collector and gardener. Lately, I am especially proud of my kite collection. Trillium is in need of much support in the way of building and grounds maintenance and I appreciate the help I get from volunteers. If you’d like to help with working on the building, please catch up with me after school is out for the day, I work in the evenings.
