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Our Mission & Trustees


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Our Mission

The Waldorf School of Garden City educates children to meet the world with purpose, gratitude and respect.

Our curriculum, inspired by Rudolf Steiner, progresses in accordance with child development, awakening students to the experience of knowledge, strengthening their sense of moral responsibility, and empowering them to act with courage and conviction.

The School’s aim is to graduate a diverse group of young people distinguished by the scope and acuity of their minds as well as the depth and integrity of their character.

Know Who You Are

 

Board of Trustees

The School’s Board of Trustees is responsible for the legal and financial well-being of the institution. Primary functions of the Board include: establishing financial policies, overseeing the development and implementation of the School’s operating budget, determining tuition rates, and developing long-range and strategic plans to support the continued growth and development of the institution. The Board maintains a number of standing committees, including: Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Buildings & Grounds Committee, Development Committee, Audit Committee, Glen Brook Committee and Trustee Committee. The School Administrator reports directly to the Board of Trustees.

In addition to the Trustees listed below, the School’s faculty also elect two colleagues to serve on the Board of Trustees.


Anne M. Murray ’85, Chair

Trustee since 2018
Committees: Executive (Chair) and Glen Brook

Anne M. Murray ’85 counsels insurance companies on first- and third-party claims, including toxic tort, environmental, product liability, general liability, construction defect, employee benefits liability, labor law, bad faith, and other emerging issues.

Anne is an accomplished litigator. Her achievements include successfully representing a major insurer as lead counsel in a New Jersey coverage action seeking several hundred million dollars in insurance coverage and involving 14 hazardous waste sites across the country.  Anne also served as counsel to the insurer throughout the successful jury trial and subsequent appeals in the ACC Chemical insurance coverage action, which sought over $100,000,000 in insurance coverage.

You can contact Anne at boardchair@waldorfgarden.org.


Cristin Burtis

Trustee since 2017
Committees: Development and Finance 

A current parent at the Waldorf School, Cristin Burtis is the Managing Partner of iDEKOgov, a strategic consulting group, which she co-founded, and specializes in government affairs and regulatory compliance as it relates to Real Estate and Development. In addition, she is a Partner at iDEKO Productions, a New York City-based event production company focused on creating interactive and innovative consumer experiences for the entertainment, corporate, and hospitality industries. Cristin has a rich history in government, serving under three NYC Mayors, and helping coordinate a number of high-profile events such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Super Bowl XLVIII, and 2008/2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Games to name a few.  Cristin holds both master and bachelor of science degrees in secondary education and athletic administration from St. Johns University.


Tarik Carney ’02

Trustee Since 2019
Committees: Development and Audit

Tarik Carney is a Political Affairs Officer working for the United Nations with a particular focus on peace and security initiatives in Central and East Africa. Primarily serving under the UN’s Departments of Peace Operations (DPO) and Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), Tarik has held a number of positions, working as a Civil Affairs Officer in the Central African Republic, a Child Protection Officer in Uganda, and as a member of the Protection of Civilians team based in the UNHQ in New York. Tarik most recently served in Somalia as the focal point for research and analysis on extremist groups operating within the country, before returning to New York in 2019.

Tarik graduated from the Waldorf School of Garden City in 2002 and went on to major in Philosophy and Japanese at New York University and Jochi Daigaku (Tokyo, Japan). Later, he obtained master’s degrees from both Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) and Science Po (Institut d’études politiques de Paris) in Paris, France. Tarik’s older sister, Ayanna Wayner, also graduated from the Waldorf School of Garden City in 1994.


Lance Cheney

Trustee since 2010
Committees: Executive and Glen Brook

Lance is the fourth generation owner and president of Braun Brush Co. – one of the oldest family-owned manufacturers of industrial brushes in the United States. Founded in 1875, the company is based in Albertson, New York, and is dedicated to crafting the finest quality brushes for a broad range of industrial, architectural, and fine art applications. Lance is a graduate of The University of Northern Colorado as well as the Winkler Center’s Foundation Studies Program. He and his wife Sue are parents of one current Waldorf students and two Waldorf alums.


David Chauvin ’97

Trustee since 2017
Committees: Development, Trustee, and Glen Brook 

An alumnus of the School, David Chauvin, ’97, is a public relations executive with two decades of experience. He currently serves as Executive Vice President and Partner at Zimmerman Edelson, Inc., a strategic communications firm that provides services to clients throughout Long Island, New York City, and the Tri-state area. Prior to joining Zimmerman/Edelson, Inc., David had an extensive career in government where he served in multiple policy and communications roles. David received his B.A. in English from Hofstra University.


Jay Dorman, Secretary, and Legal Counsel

Trustee since 1997
Committees: Executive, Trustee (Chair), Finance, and Buildings & Grounds

A partner at Bryan Cave LLP, Jay Dorman has a broad range of experience in corporate finance and securities. A member of the New York State and American Bar Associations, Jay graduated from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York and received his law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1981.  For many years during the 1990s, Jay and his wife Diana served as co-chairs of the Parent Association at the School.  They are the parents of three Waldorf alumni: Jennifer ’95, Kenneth ’99, and Joanna ’05.


Jeffrey Kane

Trustee since 2002
Committees: Executive, Buildings & Grounds, and Glen Brook

Jeffrey Kane is the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Long Island University. A trained and experienced Waldorf educator, Jeff completed his Waldorf Teacher Training at the Waldorf Institute of Adelphi University and taught at the Rudolf Steiner School in Manhattan for a number of years.  He and his wife Janet, a faculty member of our Early Childhood department, are also the parents of Gabriel ’99, Emily ’01, and Jesse ’05.


Roxana Escobar Kariyannis

Trustee since 2023
Committees: Buildings & Grounds and Glen Brook

Roxana Escobar Kariyannis, a current parent at the Waldorf School, serves as an Associate Vice President and Operations Lead for the NY Metro Architecture practice at AΞCOM, a multinational infrastructure consulting firm. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in architecture from the New York Institute of Technology, in addition to a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a focus in Structural Engineering from Manhattan College. Mrs. Kariyannis has a track record of leadership in architectural and engineering projects, spanning from notable projects such as the WTC Path terminal in collaboration with Santiago Calatrava to the recent completion of the Suffolk County Community College NET Zero Stem building in Brentwood, L.I.

Her professional portfolio extends to diverse public works projects, with clients including MTA NYC Transit & NYC Bridges and Tunnels, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, NYC Housing Authority, NYC Department of Design and Construction, and NYS Department of Transportation.

Beyond her professional commitments, Roxana has been an active mentor in the ACE mentoring program of greater New York for over two decades, contributing to the development of hundreds of students interested in the STEM field. She currently holds a position on the ACE executive board.


Ed Magee, Treasurer

Trustee since 2006
Committees: Executive, Finance (Chair), Trustee, and Buildings & Grounds

Ed Magee holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Boston University. Prior to joining the board, Ed and his wife Mikel served as co-chairs of the parent association for three years. They are the parents of two alums, Charlotte ’14 and Owen’16.

 


 

David Resnick ’79

Trustee since 2012
Committees: Buildings & Grounds and Audit (Chair)

David Resnick ’79 is Vice President for Design and Construction at NYU Langone Medical Center. Prior to joining NYU Langone, David spent over two decades in the public sector, managing capital programs for the NYC Department of Design and Construction, and before that with the New York City Housing Authority. David has been an Adjunct Professor at New York University since 1997, and is past Chair of the Planning Board of the Incorporated Village of Rockville Centre. He is a licensed Architect in New York and New Jersey, and he holds a Master of Architecture degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art, a B. Arch. from New York Institute of Technology, and a BA in Psychology from Adelphi University. David and his wife have served as Parent Association Co-Chairs, and are parents of three alumni.


Jean-Rene Zetrenne ’88

Trustee since 2015
Committee: Development

Jean-Rene Zetrenne ’88 graduated from Boston University with a major in communications. He also holds an M.B.A. from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. In February of 2021, Jean-Rene was named Chief People Officer at UTA, where he will lead human resources operations across the company. He will also serve as a partner at the talent agency. Jean-Rene joins UTA from North America at Ogilvy & Mather – one of the largest marketing and communications companies worldwide, where he held the role of Senior Partner and Chief Talent Officer.  In his role, Jean-Rene was charged with implementing a complete “people-focused” strategy built on consistent communications about performance, opportunities, training, and career growth. “Throughout my career, it has been quite clear to me that the people side of business is where I belong. People are the same at every company I’ve worked for, they all want to contribute to something bigger than themselves, make powerful connections with others, and feel a sense of belonging and fulfillment, which was something that I felt being part of the Waldorf community. The fact that I get to partner with employees every day to do just that is an honor.”