Willow Creek Academy

Our Faculty and Staff

Upper School Teachers
 
 
 
Meegan Meegan Devol, 5th Grade Teacher
After graduating from Whittier College, Meegan received an internship at the Broadoaks Children’s School, a private demonstration school emphasizing developmentally based education, social responsibility and lifelong learning. At Broadoaks, Meegan learned how to create a thematic hands-on environment and the importance of building a strong classroom community.

Meegan went on to teach 1st and 5th grade in a public elementary school in culturally diverse La Mirada, CA while getting her Master’s in Multicultural Education. Three years later, Meegan was chosen to be a Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) helping K-5 teachers with their literacy and technology instruction as well as facilitating a teacher buddy program designed to help integrate the different cultures within the community. During her time as a TOSA, Meegan attended intensive literacy training which she used to grow the Academic Volunteer Mentor program at her school site. 

Raised in Marin, Meegan loves cooking, gardening, hiking, practicing yoga, and spending time with her two kids, husband, friends, and family. Meegan is thrilled to be a part of the Willow Creek community!

 
 
matt helmenstine Matt Helmenstine, 6th Grade Teacher
After graduating from Cal Poly with a B.A. in History, Matt moved to Italy where he spent a hilarious summer teaching English to Sicilian children and an equally amusing year teaching English conversation to northern Italian businessmen.  The following year he was lucky enough to sail the Caribbean on the world’s largest cruise ships while working as Youth Staff for Royal Caribbean Cruise lines (2000 hours of directing kids activities).  He then entered Cambridge University's world renowned ESL teachers certification program (CELTA) in Australia, which helped him land a position teaching English to 600 middle school students outside of Tokyo, Japan.  Once his three year contract was up, he volunteered to teach for 101 days on Peace Boat - a Japanese NGO which circumnavigates the globe with the goal of promoting peace and intercultural communication. 

Having traveled through 50 countries on six continents, Matt finally felt prepared to return to the states and teach to his passion - Social Studies.  After 12 years working in summer programs, he became a founding director for ‘Aim High’ in Marin City along with Emily Enstice.  The program aims to bridge the academic summer learning loss experienced by lower income students while giving them the experiences that every child should have.  Matt will have his Masters in International Relations finished in August of 2011 and a second Masters in Educational Administration finished in December of 2012. 

Matt says: "In the last 12 years of teaching and traveling I've come across a great number of inadvertent teachers who helped me see that people across the world not only wish to survive and thrive, but succeed in doing so with tenacity and empathy - the hallmarks of every good educational philosophy.  I aim to nurture these traits and show my students what an enormous adventure life can be when they refuse to give up."
 


 
carter devol Carter Devol, Upper School English and Social Studies
Upon graduating from Whittier College with a major in Political Science and a minor in History, Carter received a Graduate Fellowship position and earned his Masters Degree in Education two years later. He had the opportunity to work and train at The Broadoaks School, a High Scope Demonstration School and a private institution that utilizes a hands-on approach to learning.   He has taught abroad range of subjects including Technology, Math and P.E. to grades K-8 and Social Science and AVID (an accelerated learning program whose goal is college preparation) to grades 9-12.

Carter was born and raised in Orange County, California where his career as an educator began at La Serna High School implementing active learning into three classes of World Civilization and two classes of U.S. History. This experience prepared him for 5 years of instruction at Santa Fe Springs High School where he taught Geography, World Civilization, U.S. History and Freshman Studies to 9th, 10thand 11th graders. 

While teaching at the high school level and coaching baseball for four years at the college level, he oversaw the “At Risk” program for incoming 9th graders, which offered extended support, both socially and academically, to students moving from middle school to high school. He also served as the schools D.A.T.E. (Drug Alcohol Tobacco Education) coordinator. Carter is currently in his second year at Sir Francis Drake High School coaching varsity baseball as the hitting and outfielder instructor.

He strongly values a hands-on, project-based style of educating that engages students and makes learning a memorable and enjoyable experience. Whether teaching or coaching, his philosophy comes from a role model, John Wooden, which is that great coaching and educating will raise expectations of students and with the proper support and instruction, they will rise to the challenge!

Carter loves Marin for its accessibility to hiking, backpacking, and camping and canbe found on any available weekend camping up and down Marin with his wife, 6year-old son and 3 year-old daughter. Carter also loves bass fishing at Lake Shasta and taking the ferry to a Giants game with his family.  

Roy Baker, Upper School Math and Science
Bio and photo coming soon! 
 

Lori O'Brien, Upper School Coordinator and 6th Grade Math Teacher

Lori began her career as a 5th grade teacher in an environmental sciences magnet school in Kansas City, Missouri. She has a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Nebraska and a Master’s degree in Education from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri. Lori moved to California in 2010, where she spent a year teaching Algebra readiness in Seaside, CA.  She has been in education and the classroom for twenty years.

 

 

 

Lori has been a math chair, data director, and lead teacher at three of her schools. Additionally, she participated on three curriculum development committees. She believes strongly that the love of learning is fostered through engaging lessons and hands-on learning.  Lori has a passion for education; she attends seminars and workshops to continue to develop her skills and knowledge base. Recently she attended mathematics instruction, 21st Century learners, technology, and project based teaching as part of her commitment to professional development.

 

 

 

Lori believes strongly in the value and worth of all individuals and works tirelessly as an educator and volunteer to promote the empowerment of youth and conscious living. She lives in Sausalito with her family and cat, Luna. Long walks, reading, and quiet mediation are her favorite pastimes, along with visiting with friends. You will often see her walking or riding her bike in Sausalito.