Member of the Board of Trustees since 2023

Aaron is the parent of Kazoo graduates, Hannah & Hayden. He is a member of the Building and Grounds Committee.

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Honorary Trustee: In her former life, Anne was an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Anesthesia at Stanford University Medical Center. Her position centered around the teaching of residents through patient care. She now works in refugee resettlement under the auspices of Samaritas. Her focus is with children, with whom she works on acquisition of English language skills, development of academic skills, and communication/collaboration between home and school. Anne has been part of the Kazoo School community for 23 years. She uses all she has learned about progressive education at Kazoo School to make her work with young new Americans exciting and fun. Anne serves on the Harvard Schools Committee, where she interviews applicants for Harvard College. She has three children who all attended Kazoo School. The youngest graduated Kazoo School in 2015. They all point to Kazoo School as foundational to their subsequent academic success. An active participant in the Kazoo School Community for many years, Anne was the recipient of the 2011 Kazoo School Community Leadership Award. Anne’s roles include two seasons as Girls on the Run Coach, two years as National History Day Coach, and one year as Kazoo School Capital Campaign Co-Chair. This is Anne’s 3rd time serving on the Kazoo School Board. She is currently Vice Chair Emerita, and is on the Finance and Development Committees.

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Britt Sydnes is a Licensed Massage Therapist and small business owner in Kalamazoo. She is a graduate from the Kalamazoo Center for the Healing Arts and has been practicing massage therapy for 20 years. Britt spent most of her youth growing up and attending school in France. This experience of many transitions and the opportunity to learn about people and their different cultures awakened a deep desire to find a career & life path that felt grounded in inclusivity and equality for all people. Britt found her calling as a massage therapist and is passionate about cultivating heart-centered, helpful, compassionate, and purposeful connections with others. Britt is a parent of a Kazoo kid and serves on the diversity, equity and inclusion committee.

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Member of the Board Since 2024

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Corrine is a nurse with a focus on maternal and child health and education, a writer, and the finance manager/accountant for her family’s small business. She is a graduate of WMU with a BA in English and Environmental Studies, and of GVSU with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She is the parent of three Kazoo kids, and a college age daughter. She values the outdoor education and social emotional skills that are emphasized at Kazoo School. Corrine loves baking, gardening, and teaching homesteading skills to her children.

Corrine (she/her)

Member of the Board of Trustees Since 2016

Heather is a parent of two Kazoo School alumnae, Hillary Ruffe Mason and Anne Ruffe, who attended in the mid 1990s - early 2000s. Heather served as a trustee during many of the years her daughters attended Kazoo and is glad to be back involved on the Board. Heather has also provided pro bono legal services to the School on various issues over the years. She is currently a retired attorney/human resources professional. She is the chair of the Governance and Trustees Committees.

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Member of the Board of Trustees Since 2024

Jenine Hinkle is an attorney with broad experience in marketing & advertising, franchise, and technology transactions in the automotive and retail industries. She is a graduate of USC School of Law and U.C. Irvine, where she majored in English Literature. Born in Kalamazoo, raised in Southern California, and happily back in the Kalamazoo community since 2022, Jenine is thrilled to be a Kazoo parent and values the school's commitment to justice and focus on the whole child. She and her husband love spending time outdoors (preferably by the water) with their two kids.

Member of the Board of Trustees Since 2021

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Lauren is a political science professor at Western Michigan University, where she teaches public policy and law. She directs an internship program and enjoys working with young people starting to think through decisions about career and life. She is a Kazoo parent and appreciates the outdoor-centered education at the Kazoo School and the emphasis on the education of the whole child. Lauren enjoys spending time outside with her wife, Melinda, and their two children.

Member of the Board of Trustees since 2023

Levi is a carpenter and small business owner in Kalamazoo. He specializes in customizing living spaces, and is passionate about preserving and renovating existing homes and buildings, thus reducing the human footprint on natural spaces and increasing sustainability. Levi and his wife, Corrine are parents of Kazoo kids. His family appreciates Kazoo’s commitment to teaching the whole child, as well as being outside and connecting with nature. He is grateful to be part of a community that not only fosters individual personalities, but also helps them to grow and thrive as members of that community.

Member of the Board of Trustees since 2022

Megan Slayter Jubenville is a Professor of Dance and Associate Director of the School of Theatre & Dance at Western Michigan University. She is an elected representative to the Board of Directors of the American College Dance Association where she serves as the East-Central Regional Director. She also serves as a site evaluator for the National Association of Schools of Dance, the accrediting body for dance in higher education. Megan and her husband Jeremy are parents to two Kazoo School kids. They joined Kazoo in the fall of 2020 and love being part of this wonderful community.

Member of the Board of Trustees Since 2021

Monica Beltran is a program officer for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan. In this role, she manages the foundation’s investments to promote efforts to support thriving children, working families and equitable communities. More specifically, Monica focuses on maternal and child health, health equity, and the intersection of health, early childhood education, and economic security. Monica and her family are originally from Colombia, and have lived in Florida, Nebraska, and Colorado prior to relocating to Kalamazoo, MI in 2019. The Beltrans joined the Kazoo School community in 2022 looking for a place where their son, Daniel could learn in a nurturing and inclusive environment.

Member of the Board of Trustees Since 2016

Pete is the parent of Kazoo graduate, Ian. He is a member of the Finance and Executive Committee.

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Member of the Board of Trustees Since 2017

Staci is the associate dean of the Lee Honors College at Western Michigan University. She is also the 2015 recipient of the WMU College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Achievement Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities, and the 2018 recipient of the College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Achievement Award for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion. She has published several books, book chapters and articles on culturally relevant teaching practices and writing program administration. Staci is the parent of a Kazoo Kid. She is on the Education Committee.

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Member of the Board of Trustees since 2024

Tom Anderton is the managing director of 626 Financial where he manages wealth for families in and around southwest Michigan.  In addition, he also operates apartment buildings in Detroit where they specialize in quality, newly renovated but still affordable housing.

Outside of the office he teaches a capstone course at Western Michigan University for students preparing to sit for the Certified Financial Planning exam.  Tom earned his BA from University of Florida in Finance and his MBA from the University of Chicago.  The Anderton family lives in Texas corners and he and his wife Rachel have two young girls who are currently enrolled at Kazoo.

The whole family is looking forward to many good years working in this community.

Member of the Board of Trustees since 2024

Born and raised in Kalamazoo.  I live in portage with my wife, Jinny, and three girls. We have a house full of animals - cats, dogs, hamsters, a rabbit and a bearded dragon. There is a great deal of life in our home!

I have worked in real estate at Jaqua Realtors for 20 years. I also worked for the firm doing marketing for 4 years. 

For the past 6 years I have also been working at a local funeral home as Chief Operating Officer. Whitley Memorial is a black, woman-owned business and we serve all members of the Greater Kalamazoo/Battle Creek areas regardless of economic or cultural background.  That mission speaks to me and there is also something about sharing in the humanity of the moment with grieving families, helping to provide them support, that I find fulfilling.

I’m looking forward to supporting the school as a member of the Board of Trustees.