Manila Bol

Principal

Manila has been teaching at Orchard School for over 25 years, primarily in the field of mathematics. She was also the vice-principal and co-director from 1998 to 2014 and took over the principalship in 2015. Before coming to Orchard, she taught at Capitola Elementary School for six years. She holds a B.A. in Photojournalism and a California State Teaching Credential from San Jose State University, where she graduated with distinction.  She completed the Marilyn Burns Math Institute, and is a member of both the California Mathematics Council and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. In her free time, Manila likes to read, bike, play sports, and spend time with family and friends.

Rosy Weiser

Assistant Principal, Kindergarten

Rosy has been teaching at Orchard School since 2012, and administrating since 2016. She has a B.A. in English Literature, with a minor in French, from Mills College where she graduated with honors, Phi Beta Kappa, and an M.A. in Communication from Stanford University. She fell in love with Orchard School initially as a parent, eventually leaving her career as an award-winning freelance reporter for National Public Radio and the Santa Cruz Sentinel to take the helm of the kindergarten program. She had worked with children her whole adult life, as a nanny, a teacher’s assistant, an elective teacher, and as an active parent in various classrooms for almost 15 years, but it did not become her primary focus until she found Orchard. Her interests lie in spending time with her family and her animals, as well as  cooking, eating and traveling.

Lisa Bird

Language Arts/Social Studies 3rd-6th Grade

Lisa is new to Orchard this year but has been an educator for over 30 years. She has a B.A. in Social Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a California State Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from San Jose State University. After many years teaching in public schools locally, at the elementary and middle-school level, she decided to leave traditional education and get certified as an AMI Montessori guide for children ages 6-12. She says being a Montessorian has been transformational in changing the way she approaches education, allowing a deep respect for each child’s innate curiosity and learning style. Lisa and her husband live in Aptos and are now joyful empty nesters, with four adult children spread across the US. She feels extremely grateful to live in this community of abundance and beauty and is very happy to be a part of the Orchard team.

Joy Parker

Language Arts/Social Studies 1st-2nd Grade

Joy joined the Orchard team in 2024. She is a certified AMI Montessori guide with 20 years of experience teaching at Montessori-based schools locally, including at Tara Redwood School and a preschool in Scotts Valley. Before that, she lived in France for many years, teaching English as a Second Language to adults and later, working with children at a bilingual elementary Montessori school in Paris. She is excited to be a part of a program that combines academics with exploration and observation of the natural world, where teachers serve as gentle guides. Joy enjoys spending time with her family, reading, travelling,camping, hiking, and she’s a recent convert to hot yoga.

Erica Fiechter

Science

Erica joined the Orchard team in 2018 with nine years of classroom teaching experience in the Cupertino Union School District, and over 10 years experience in outdoor education working as a naturalist and program coordinator. Her teaching has taken her all over the world, from South America to Australia and Europe, as a volunteer elementary school teacher and a wilderness adventure leader. Erica has a B.A. in Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism, Parks and Protected Area Management from Colorado State University, a Single Subject Science Teaching Credential, and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. As well as teaching, Erica loves to crochet, work with clay, and go on outdoor adventures with her husband and daughter.  

ROCK LERUM

Circus Arts, Drama, Gardening

Rock has been teaching at Orchard School for 25 years. He has performed locally and internationally for over three decades with artists including Tandy Beal, SoVoSo, The New Pickle Circus, Linda Arnold, and the Golden State Warriors. He received a Gail Rich award in 2003 honoring his artistic work in the community. He is an avid gardener and bicyclist, and a lover of healthy food. 

VALERIE PHIPPS

Art, Leadership, Electives

Valerie has been part of the Orchard community since 2010 when her daughter joined the kindergarten class. She began teaching sewing and movement electives in 2013, and in 2016, she took charge of the fine arts program. She has trained as an artist in various mediums, from watercolor to quilting, around the world from Japan to Paris for over 25 years. She is a certified holistic chef, a certified mentor for young girls coming of age and she recently completed yoga teacher training. Valerie is passionate about African dance,  practicing yoga, and traveling, and is an independent artist and business owner who specializes in creating upcycled, wearable art. 

Tara Butler

Kindergarten, Teacher’s Aide

Tara comes to Orchard with more than a decade of Early Childhood Education experience teaching at local preschools including at Rocking Horse Ranch Preschool and the University of California, Santa Cruz’s preschool. Most recently, she was a kindergarten teacher at Spring Hill Elementary and before that, at DeLaveaga Elementary. She has a B.A. in Environmental Studies with a minor in Science from San Jose State University. Tara loves outdoor education, especially hands-on activities, and she’s committed to providing positive discipline and conflict resolution skills in a safe, loving and nurturing environment. She enjoys being in nature, hiking, Zumba, mountain biking, yoga, live music, walking her dog and spending time with her children.

LINDA ELLIS

Ceramics

Linda has been teaching at Orchard School since 2009, although she had worked as the school’s substitute ceramics teacher for 18 years prior to this. She has a B.A. in Fine Arts from Chico State and began her art career as a watercolorist in Seattle. Her experience includes 10 years teaching ceramics classes to kids and adults through the Capitola Parks and Recreation program. She also designed the ceramics program for Scotts Valley’s parks and recreation program, and taught there for 5 years. Linda studied horticulture and floral design in college and ran her own floral business for a number of years. She also enjoys drawing, painting, photography, weaving and other fiber arts.

Jane Joel

Teacher’s Aide, Lunch Hut Cook, Electives

Jane came to Orchard as an employee in 2019 but is very familiar with the school as she was an elementary student here in the nineties, and is also the parent of a current student. She has spent most of her career working in the food industry. She graduated from the Culinary Institute of America Greystone with an A.O.S degree in Hospitality Management. Jane enjoys reading, cooking, gardening, and spending time with loved ones.

Amber Wallin

Lunch Hut Cook, Aftercare, Electives

Amber came to Orchard in 2022 when an attending family recommended her for the aftercare position. She is an artist who loves working with both children and adults. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the College of Visual Arts and 10 years experience teaching children in after school programs and as an arts facilitator. She has also worked extensively with adults with disabilities. Her interests include being outside, admiring the creativity of others, giggling with her friends, meditation and loving life as much as possible.

tovia Anderson

Office Assistant, Teacher’s Aide, Electives

Tovia is an alumni parent (2006 and 2010 graduates) who began teaching the photography elective in 2003. She has an A.A. degree from Cabrillo College in Early Childhood Education and a B.A. in Psychology, with an emphasis in child psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She also works for a national non-profit that teaches self empowerment, meditation, communication, and leadership around the world. She is passionate about her family, reading and writing, art, picnics in nature, and children.

MICHELLE GEBBIA

Lunch Hut Cook

Michelle has been an Orchard parent since 2017 when her daughter started kindergarten. Her son still attends. She is a certified natural chef and a nutrition educator. She graduated from Bauman College here in Santa Cruz. She runs her own cooking business called Summit Lady Food. She loves yoga, riding horses, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Orchard School Board Members

Walt Allen and Jan Raffety -- Alumni parents (2001-2007), joined board 2014

Walter Allen and Jan Raffety have been involved with Orchard School since 2001 when their son attended kindergarten. Now their grandchildren are also students. As board members, Walt and Jan have provided assistance with project management, financial planning, and long-term goal setting. Jan is a semi-retired marriage and family therapist with 30 years of experience. Walt is a semi-retired transportation planner with more than 30 years experience working with local, state, and regional governmental agencies.

Manila Bol -- Current principal, joined board 1999

See bio under staff

Liza Morell -- Alumni parent (1999-2006), joined board 1998

Liza Morell grew up in New York before moving to Santa Cruz where she graduated with honors from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a B.A. in psychology and community studies. She spent time in New Zealand before moving back to Santa Cruz to start a family, build a contracting business and later start a middle school collective and become a realtor at Bailey Properties with a specific focus on ecological stewardship. Liza’s daughter attended Orchard from kindergarten through the 6th grade. Liza said she is “honored to serve on the board as an alumni parent representing the greater community’s support of Orchard.”

Colleen Murphy — Former Orchard teacher, parent and early childhood educator, joined board 2023

Colleen Murphy is a certified Positive Discipline educator and trainer who holds an Adult Education Teaching Credential and a B.A. in Child Development from Chico State University. She was a kindergarten co-teacher at Orchard School in 2020 and an aide in the program until the end of the 2022 school year. She has been a parent and early childhood educator at Soquel and Santa Cruz Parent Education Nursery Schools since 2006. She says she has always admired Orchard School and looks forward to contributing to the board to “keep it heathy and strong by setting sound policies.”

Shana Sisti — Current parent (since 2017), joined board 2023

Shana Sisti is a licensed marriage and family therapist who has worked at Planned Parenthood since 2015. Before this she worked with a variety of non-profits that serve families. Both her sons attend Orchard and have done so since kindergarten, her eldest will graduate this year. She says, “Orchard is a unique, educational oasis where children are respected and educated as whole humans. It’s the only place we considered sending our children.”

Rosy Weiser — Assistant principal, kindergarten teacher, alumni parent (2007-2008, 2011-2017), joined board 2022

See bio under staff

A day in the life