Will Graham:
B.A. Middlebury College
M.A. Middlebury College

Marguerite Graham:
B.A. New England College
MST University of New Hampshire

WILL GRAHAM, Midland’s eighth Head of School, arrived in 2006 with over thirty years of boarding school experience as a student, teacher, coach and administrator. Will earned a B.A. in American Literature from Middlebury College and holds an M.A. in English from the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College where he had the opportunity to spend a summer studying the teaching of writing at Lincoln College, Oxford. A high school and college All-American lacrosse player, Will continues to share his passion for the sport by coaching Midland’s Mighty Oaks. Life-long New Englanders, the Grahams enjoy exploring the Midland property as well as California’s Central Coast.

MARGUERITE GRAHAM joins the Midland faculty as an Assistant to the Head for Special Projects, reserving a few hours each week for therapeutic massage clients at her office in Ireland House. A magna cum laude graduate of New England College, Marguerite completed her graduate studies in writing and the teaching of English at the University of New Hampshire. She has been a teacher, alumni/ae director, arts council administrator, volunteer coordinator for instructors of skiers with physical disabilities, and recipient of various grants to support writing projects and programs in the arts for teachers and students in Bethel, Maine. When their children, Kate and Angus, left home for college, Marguerite returned to school to pursue her interests in anatomy and physiology, the healing arts, and reflexology.

JILL BRADY is Midland's incredibly efficient and generous Office Manager and Assistant to the Head of School. She lives in the Santa Ynez Valley with her husband Kimmis, their two Whippet dogs Lily and Lucy, and their three horses. Jill is a frequent rider of Midland's trails, a passion she developed from growing up on a ranch in Missouri. Jill has a Masters Degree in Library Science, and worked in the public library system in Toronto for 15 years. Anyone visiting Midland's campus needs to know that the flowers and landscaping are largely a result of her diligence and green thumb.

"What a gift this four-year moment-in-time is for our students and those of us fortunate to work with them. Midland is a quiet place in a world screaming materialism and self-absorption."

MICHELLE BONE returned to Midland in 2011 as the Librarian, and for Michelle, returning to Midland is a proverbial path home. She grew up in these hills was marked as one who could walk dirt roads at night or stand off cattle at pasture. She had moved from the city with her family and watched the ranch kids with awe. She learned to wear boots and ride horses, to be outdoors and connect with the land.

"But mostly (at Midland), I learned to be me. And now, years later, I am accepted as openly into the Midland community as I was at five years old. I am a librarian and a book lover. I garden, can, sew and craft. I play volleyball and hike whenever possible. My favorite thing about being a librarian is the opportunity to connect with others and learn new things. Together, in our authentic pursuit of knowledge and expression, life-long relationships are formed."

CELESTE CARLISLE is the Director of Midland’s horse program, and she brings a wealth of experience to the position. She is a certified riding instructor by the Horsemanship Safety Association and the Association of Riding Instruction. She has taught riding at the college level and she has instructed youth and disabled riders. As an equine scientist, Celeste performed fieldwork and research on birth control in wild horses. She continues to work with wild horses at Return to Freedom, a nearby wild horse sanctuary, and has experience maintaining herd health, feeding, vaccinating and managing a herd of 225 wild horses and burros. In addition to work in wildlife rehabilitation, Celeste has extensive scientific field work in handling marine mammals and estuarine research. She and her husband, Steve Sadro moved to the Santa Ynez Valley from Santa Barbara.

CORY CRAMER joined the Humanities department as an English teacher with experience teaching literature and Latin from the deck of a 125 ft. schooner as it sailed from Maine to Puerto Rico with Proctor Academy and the Ocean Classroom Foundation. Cory has extensive background in outdoor education and will coach soccer at Midland. Cory may also find time to share his woodworking and blacksmithing talents with Midland students. Cory and his fiancee Kate Fox live in Lowery House.

Ian Cummings:
B.A. Stanford University

Lynda Cummings:
B.A. Stanford University

IAN CUMMINGS taught at Midland in 1987-88 and rejoined the faculty in 1994. He teaches World Studies and American Studies, coaches boys’ soccer, and chairs the Student-Faculty Council.  He has also taught English, Spanish, and theater.  Ian earned his B.A. in political science from Stanford University, graduating with distinction, and studied acting at the Professional Theater Training Program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is currently completing work towards an M.A. in private school leadership through Teachers College, Columbia University.  He loves playing soccer, performing in local theater, and reading baseball box scores.  Ian and his wife, Lynda, spent most of their first two years of marriage teaching and working as volunteers in Guatemala. They are the proud parents of Sean and Emily.
LYNDA CUMMINGS joined the Midland community in 1994, served briefly as Director of Admissions, retired to have children, then returned as Editor of the Midland Mirror. In July 2004, she discovered the best job on campus—Director of College Placement. In 2009, she visited 15 college campuses bringing the total number of schools she has visited to 53. Lynda loves quilting and raising her children at Midland.

PAUL H. GELLES is in his his fourth year as a Spanish teacher, after teaching Anthropology at the University of California at Riverside for thirteen years. He has traveled extensively throughout Latin America and has lived in Peru for many years, both as an exchange student and as a researcher studying Andean culture and civilization. Paul has particular interests in indigenous literature, irrigation politics, and translation theory; he is fascinated by language and culture and enjoys sharing his interests with students. He also enjoys hiking, surfing, and spending time with his wife, Iliana, and their children, Daniela and Darien.

LISE AND JEFF GODDARD joined the Midland faculty in 2003 as the Director of Environmental Programs and chemistry teacher. She earned her B.A. from Stanford University, spent a year studying and working in the Caribbean, and taught biology and coached crew at St. Andrew’s School in Delaware. With her husband Jeff and identical twin sons, Ziggy and William, she is delighted to be in a boarding school community, especially one that embraces using the natural world as the classroom. Jeff is a research biologist at the Marine Science Institute at UCSB and enjoys identifying native and non-native plants on Midland’s property while walking Ziggy and Will. In addition to co-teaching Marine Biology at Midland, Lise and Jeff enjoy back country hiking, surfing and photography.

AMY GRAHAM is Midland’s Director of Admission and Financial Aid. She joined the faculty in 2011 after serving as Associate Head of School at The Family School and Associate Director of Admissions and Director of Financial Aid at Dunn School. Amy and her husband, Andy, live in Los Olivos with their daughter Paige. 

DEREK HARWELL graduated from Midland in 1988 and rejoined in 2010 as Midland's Director of Outdoor Programs. In addition to teaching Midland 102, Derek coordinates the outdoor education program and plan camping trips. He brings over twenty years of experience to Midland, including ten years as Director of Outdoor Trips for The Urban School of San Francisco. He has held field positions at Yosemite National Institutes, Naturalists At Large, and Monterey County Outdoor Program. Derek looks forward to his return and introducing the next generation of Midland students to the property and the outdoors. He and his wife Emily (who helps out in many ways at Midland) live in Schwartz House.

B.S. University of California, Santa Barbara
B.A. University of California, Santa Barbara

PHIL HASSELJIAN came to Midland in 2001. He works in the Mathematics department and supports the staff with technological assistance. Sandy (his dog, pictured on the right) and Phil have dedicated their lives to living the Midland mission, including yearly multiple ascents of Grass Mountain.

JOSÉ JUAN IBARRA graduated from Midland in 1987 and rejoined the community in 1996 to teach Spanish and coach soccer and baseball. After graduating from college, José Juan worked as a social worker acting as an advocate for low-income families. Besides teaching and coaching at Midland, José Juan coordinates a cultural exchange program between a college preparatory school in Mascota, Jalisco, México. For the last few years José Juan has been active in promoting issues of diversity both at Midland as well as nationally through NAIS. He is a member of The Call to Action, and has been taking students for the last four years to the annual People of Color Conference and Students Diversity Leadership Conference. José Juan and his wife, Arcelia, have two daughters, Deyanira and Zoraida.

B.A. Colby College
M.A. University of California, Santa Barbara

KATIE ISAACSON grew up on her family’s cattle ranch in between Gaviota and Lompoc.  Over the last few years she has worked in a number of local schools, as well as leading trips for school groups in Channel Islands National Park.  In her spare time, Katie loves to hike, cook, garden, and ride her horse Tiger Lily. At Midland, she works in the garden, cooks on Sundays, and helps with Midland 102. Katie and her husband Will Hames live near her family's ranch.

DEBORAH BALLMAN JONES joined the Midland faculty in 1996 as the school’s first Director of Development. Debbie received her B.A. in history from Texas Christian University and her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. Prior to her move to California with her family, Debbie was the Director of Special Projects for the Easter Seal Society in Washington, D.C. She enjoys sailing and snow skiing and biking with her family.

GILLIAN KINNEAR graduated from Midland in 2004, and serves as Midlands Assistant Director of the Equestrian Program.  She studied Environmental Science and Geology at the University of Denver. While in Colorado, she participated in club soccer and represented the university in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. Fall of her senior year she traveled to Guatemala to study socioeconomics and fog collecting.

B.G. and JOANNE KRESSE has been a Midland faculty member since 1977. He graduated from Midland in 1968, and is the school cook, and all-around go-to person for everything from plumbing to history facts about the school. He is also the electrician and school fire marshal, as well as a student advisor. B.G.’s interests include electronics and travel. B.G. and Joanne's son, James, graduated from Midland in 2002. B.G. is also the campus ping pong master. JOANNE works privately with a handful of Midland students each year to help them better acclimate to living independently.

SHAWN McVICAR joined the Midland faculty in 1999. He received his B.S. in Wildlife Biology with an emphasis in Natural Resources Planning and Interpretation from Humboldt State University. He teaches biology and Algebra I, and a class in Naturalist Studies. He is also a coach in the maintenance program. A Central Coast native, his interests include playing guitar, mountain biking, and bird watching. He and his wife Laura are the parents of Evan Carter and Garrett Quinn.

Ben Munger:
B.A. University of Montana
M.A. University of California, Santa Barbara

Laurie Munger:
B.A. University of Montana
M.S. University of Montana

BEN MUNGER and Midland School have long and strong family ties. Ben and his family lived at Midland while his father, Carl Munger, taught and was Headmaster of the school.  Ben graduated from Midland in 1979. He earned his B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Montana and received his Masters of Arts in Archaeology from the University of California. Ben worked for the US Forest Service for 10 years as an archaeologist. From 1985-89, Ben taught anthropology and art at Midland. Ben is the Ranch Manager and oversees and directs our 8-acre organic garden. He teaches Agriculture and Midland 101, and also teaches any interested students how to drive a tractor or run the plow behind the clydesdales. Ben and Laurie's daughter, Emma `08, is a sophomore at MICA in Baltimore.

LAURIE MUNGER returned to Midland in 1999 and teaches Midland 101, geology, and a class on water. Laurie studied at the University of Montana, where she earned a Masters of Science in Geology. From 1985 to 1994, Laurie taught biology, geology, human development, and environmental studies at Midland, and then moved to Montana where she ran Bison Bagels. (When we're lucky, Laurie will make a batch of cranberry bagels for the school.) Her interests include camping, hiking in the rain, and swimming.

ASHLEIGH ROSA NINOS is a product of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Ashleigh completed an Outdoor Adventure apprenticeship with Inner Quest, Inc. where she was trained as an instructor in the practical skills, safety, and instructional methods in a wide variety of outdoor pursuits for adolescents. In addition to teaching Fundamentals in Visual Art, Honors Art, and Representational Drawing, Ashleigh coaches girls' JV soccer and teaches yoga. She likes exploring the West Coast and living in the Midland community.

JOHNNY NINOS, from Upstate New York, is the Metals instructor. Johnny also works in the kitchen as the Friday night pizza guy. An avid fixer-upper, Johnny heads the Heroes program which helps maintain the school grounds by training students proper techniques and tools for reconstruction. In addition to coaching boys' JV soccer, Johnny loves to share his love for the outdoors with the Midland community.

B.A. University of Mississippi
B.F.A. Montana State University
B.A. Montana State University

FAITH NYGREN came to Midland in August of 2001 and is Midland’s Ceramics and Advanced Art teacher. Faith, a Mississippi native, spent time backpacking, learning to snowboard, and exploring Montana and the Northern Rockies. She brings a love of the outdoors, of art and music, and a commitment to community to Midland. She teaches the Ceramics and Advanced Art courses. Faith is married to John, and they are the parents of George.

KAREN READEY is Midland’s Director of Communications. She has been a marketing and public relations consultant in the local wine industry and has taught various courses in Sociology at Chapman University. While living in New York City, Karen conducted research for a large corporation and served as a Dean of First-Year Students at Columbia University. She enjoys traveling, the beach/ocean, cycling, hiking, yoga, and spending time with family and friends.

DON and JILL REDL joined the Midland community in 2004 after teaching for several years at independent high schools in New Jersey. Jill co-teaches American Studies, and tours the great expanse of British Literature with her seniors in English 12. Don, who chairs the math department, teaches Precalculus, Calculus Honors, Statistics and Economics, and they both coach Cross Country. Don and Jill, along with their adopted barn cat, Kali, feel very much at home at Midland and are happily establishing roots in the Golden State.

TOM ROGOWSKI joined Midland in 1998 as the Business Manager and Athletic Director for the school. Tom is a long-time Santa Ynez Valley resident and has extensive experience in management and operations. Previous to joining Midland, he had owned and operated a business in the Santa Ynez Valley for twenty-three years. He has taught at the junior high and high school levels and coaches various sports including basketball, baseball and volleyball. He is an outdoor enthusiast and has led climbing groups on Mt. Whitney. Though he might seem like an office guy, Tom loves nothing more than driving tractors, using power tools of one sort or another, and "reducing" the campus's ground squirrel population. Contacting him is a difficult task, and takes a series of searches to various parts of the property.

Roddy Taylor:
B.S. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

RODERICK (RODDY) and KYLE TAYLOR joined the math department as a physics and calculus teacher. His degree from WPI prepared him for a profession in structural foundation design, but his involvement as a tutor changed his focus and led him to a career in teaching. His boarding school teaching experience at New Hampton School in New Hampshire led him to Midland. In addition to teaching, Roddy will coach soccer at Midland. Kyle joined the Midland faculty in 2011 as a Library Technician, Midland 102 co-teacher and fitness trainer. Kyle graduated from Colby-Sawyer College with a B.S. in Exercise Science (concentration in Physiology and Kinesiology). Prior to coming to Midland she worked as a K-12 substitute teacher,
owned a small personal training business, and led a variety of youth enrichment programs in the outdoors. Kyle enjoys spending her free time
rollerblading, hiking, singing in choirs, and camping. She is a beginning gardener and seamstress and would like to develop her craft at quilting.

DONNA WILLIAMS has called Santa Barbara home for the last forty years. She spent several of those years working in the organic farming community. Since completing her degree and earning her RN license in 1988, she has been employed by the County of Santa Barbara, working in Public Health. She did volunteer work in Nicaragua at the orphanage of Managua; locally, she has worked with AIDS patients and Hospice. She is Midland's Health Coordinator, and her son Aaron graduated from Midland in 2000, while her youngest son, Shane, is a senior at Midland. Donna lives on campus with her husband, Ken, and enjoys cycling and hiking, in addition to caring for others.