Ben Draper

Ben Draper is a Sudbury Valley School "lifer." After graduating in 1997 he studied composition briefly at the New England Conservatory of music before going on to pursue his interests in art and philosophy at the school of the Museum of fine arts Boston and tufts university. His work has been shown in the contemporary wing of the Museum of fine arts Boston as well as other galleries in the Boston area. Draper began reading at the age of 17 when a Sudbury Valley staff member loaned him a book on Zen Buddhism. This set him on the Buddhist path which is still on today.

Chester Elliott IV

This is Chet. This is his eighth year on the HVSS staff. He is the tech guy, the graphics guy, the resident DM, and our Mr. Fix-it. He loves everyone (as close as a mortal can get, anyway), and he’s always willing to do...anything you ask him to. Truly, his devotion and generosity are unsurpassed; you can find him here anytime during his regular hours or...any other time too. It is typical for Chet to be in such high demand during school hours that School Meeting nearly codified a law which would have prohibited wandering around asking “Where’s Chet?” or chanting his name (or “Cheddar Cheese”). Where he is, though, is usually either guiding a group of eager adventurers through the moral dilemmas and fearsome obstacles of magical worlds as Dungeon Master, or designing our next badass poster, postcard, t-shirt, etc. Or (endlessly) helping a younger student sign in to a gaming portal, or download an app, or even take apart their computer to clean it, or tying their shoes, (or cleaning up their occasional vomit). He’s here to help, and he roots for all our students so, so hard. In closing, I’ll go right out on a limb here and say that Chet is a saint, insofar as a saint is a person who cares about others more than themselves. And also the minutiae of design. He cares a lot about that. Chet, you may be Chester Arthur Elliot IV, but you’ll always be the number 1 Chet in our book.

Erin Bertholf

Erin graduated from SUNY New Paltz in 2008 with a degree in Communication Disorders. Soon after graduating, she started her dream job of raising two amazing children which led her to the Hudson Valley Sudbury School. After having a child enrolled she was inspired to help bring back Sudbury Play Day as a director.

Erin enjoys hiking the Hudson Valley, playing board games, engaging with people of all ages, and is continually adding to her skill set.

Ernest Goodmaw

Ernest is a multi-media artist with a Masters degree in Art Education from Queens College. After teaching in private, public and non-profit settings in NYC, they began seeking communities that respect the learner's autonomy. They love jumping into soccer games, debating hypothetical questions, and experimenting in the art room and the kitchen. They have experience starting their own business, and assisting in the operation of an arts company and a textile design business. Outside of school they're working on collaborations, organizing community events, and performances.

Jamie Keller

Jamie has been working with kids for two decades, starting in summer camps and after-school programs before teaching in both public and private schools. A native of upstate New York, he lived for twelve years in Oakland, California and received his Masters in Education from UC Berkeley, where he developed an interest in radical pedagogies and the unschooling movement. Jamie enjoys reading philosophy, working with his hands, playing games, and generally learning more about the world around him.

Matthew Gioia

Matthew began seeking alternative educational environments for himself halfway through his college experience. He participated in Naropa University's "contemplative education program" in Boulder, CO, and studied at St. John's College in Santa Fe, NM, which offers a Great Books curriculum. From there, he moved to Mississippi to teach in a rural middle school and attend the Ole Miss on weekends. He arrived at HVSS by way of a search for a school which permits adults to interact with children and teenagers on equal terms. Matthew's current interests include writing, history, conversation, sports, humor, and foraging for plants and mushrooms. He lives in Kingston with his wife Ana and their two children.

Tallas Sandy

Tallas is a Hudson Valley Sudbury School alumna. After graduating, she worked in the Hudson Valley for 2 years before starting college in CUNY. She studied Linguistics, Communication Disorders, Japanese, TESOL, and Communication Studies. She received an A.A. from LaGuardia Community College in 2015 but has put her bachelor's degree on hold to devote time to HVSS. As a student, she visited the Makkuro Kurosuke Democratic School, a Sudbury School in Hyogo, Japan and met with other participatory democratic school start up groups. She hopes to continue promoting relations between Sudbury model schools globally as a staff member. She loves traveling and has volunteered and taught abroad. At HVSS, you can find her assisting student businesses, crafting new resources for students, playing games, and cooking in the kitchen.

Trine Boode-Petersen

Trine is the co-owner and co-manager of the local, theatrical summer camp The Wayfinder Experience. She received her BA in The Arts from The New School in 2011 and stayed in New York City for two years working in theater as a writer, director, actor, and producer. Trine’s pre-college education included a number of years at Sudbury Valley School, the original Sudbury school, and she could not be happier to be surrounded once again by people actively following their passions. At HVSS, you can find Trine working on up-coming theater productions, participating in cooperative meetings, or experimenting in the art room.

Vanessa Van Burek

Vanessa graduated from New York University with a B.A. in Elementary Education and a minor in Psychology. Upon graduating she founded the Hudson Valley Sudbury School, where she has staffed since its inception. Both inside and outside of school, Vanessa enjoys debating educational philosophies, photography, soccer, becoming engrossed in craft projects and the ridiculous fun of raising six kids! She is happy to be a part of a much needed revolution in education.

Contact Us

Hudson Valley Sudbury School

84 Zena Road
Kingston, NY 12401
 
Phone: 845-679-1002
Fax: 845-679-3874