People of RTS
As an educational enrichment nonprofit 501(c)(3), public benefit corporation, Rock Tree Sky is supported by a dedicated educational community ecosystem of mentors, specialist, board of directors, Ojai School District teachers, charter school teachers, parents, learners, volunteers, donors, community partners, community businesses, and community members. Each contribute in many ways to support our learning community.
Mentors
Holland Eads she/her - Mentor
Holland was born in Ventura, CA and raised in Ojai. She has experience working at a Montessori School in Ojai and at Gratitude Garden Preschool in San Clemente. Holland enjoys working at Rock Tree Sky because she loves how she can witness the immediate results of its philosophy in action and experience how joyful and grateful the learners are.
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Holland teaches ceramics and supports learners in the art room. On a daily basis, she can be found inspiring others to bring their creations to life.
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She has a strong passion for skateboarding, music, caring for her pets. Skateboarding in Denmark was one of the most exciting times of her life. Holland values her close friends, family, and her bird Firda. Holland comes to RTS everyday with Frida on her shoulder and the kids adore it.
Gina Gerard she/her - Mentor
Gina has with children for more than a decade. While studying Child Development and Early Childhood Education she discovered a passion for a child-centered, play-based approach to learning. After moving to Ojai with her husband and daughter in 2017, she began facilitating parent-child playgroups at Secure Beginnings. Later she took her experience outdoors where she shared her love of sunshine with babies and toddlers through nature-based education programs with Ventura Wild. She feels at home at Rock Tree Sky where she sees the good in every child, believes in the power of play, and utilizes art, writing, and movement as tools for self expression. She hopes to inspire a generation that has the courage to follow their interests, the confidence to share their knowledge with others, and the foundation of love and kindness that supports meaningful relationships.
Gina is now raising three children with the support and love of the Ojai community. She enjoys dancing, writing, early mornings, sushi, and beach days with her family and friends.
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Kenia Goicochea she/her - Mentor
Kenia is a passionate bilingual youth guide with a deep connection to nature and creative imagination. Born in California and raised with strong roots in Mexican culture, Kenia brings the warmth and wisdom of both worlds to her work. She has over nine years of experience working with youth in diverse settings, from summer camps to environmental education and public school classrooms.
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Kenia holds degrees in Anthropology and M.A. in Education, and has formal training as a trauma-informed caregiver and holistic practitioner. Her work is influenced by her ancestral Mexica Cuitlatec heritage, and she actively participates in traditional ceremonies to deepen her connection to indigenous wisdom.
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Kenia enjoys a life filled with intentionality, gratitude, and outdoor adventures, from meditation at dawn to barefoot walks in nature. She is thrilled to join Rock Tree Sky and looks forward to inspiring wonder and resilience in learners through creative exploration and nature connection.
Jim Bailey he/him
Executive Director, Co-Founder
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Jim has been teaching in the Ojai Valley for 23 years. His work with Rock Tree Sky is informed by his learn-by-doing experience from the science classroom setting as well as years of youth mentorship at the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation.
Jim's current work in learner-centered education focuses on the invention of community based ecosystems of learning and self-directed learning space design.
Jim is a certified California Naturalist and enjoys studying the geology, insects, micro-invertebrates, and birds of the Ojai Valley. His love of the natural world and of people is also expressed in his volunteer work as a past member of the Upper Ojai Mountain Search and Rescue Team. He is an amateur astronomer and the father of 4 daughters.
Peter Cable he/him - Mentor
Peter has served as an educator in many environments—from teaching English to employees of multinational corporations in Mexico City, to working with third grade students in the Ojai Unified School District. Through this journey, he has come to believe that the most effective learning communities are ones that allow children the freedom to make independent choices around what they wish to pursue, with whom they wish to pursue it, and what sorts of commitments they want to make in the process.
His passion for the creative arts is fed every day through supporting learners with engineering challenges, 3D printing, stop-motion animation, film projects, music, and his new favorite offering: laugh circles.
Peter feels lucky to live in an area of such great beauty and volunteers with the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy maintaining our local hiking trails.
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Ella Hubley they/them - Mentor
Ella is a singer-songwriter and artist born and raised in Venice Beach, California.
After a circuitous route of surfing as a young teen., playing NCAA ice hockey and studying Anthropology, Ella grew a love for natural building and nature’s rhythms, inspiring a deep dive into poetry and performing as a musician. This was informed by living in New Orleans framing houses post Katrina as part of the Americorp program, and completing a Certification in Permaculture Design.
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Facilitating art projects and installations, as well as directing theatrical performances and concerts has paved the way for a lifelong spontaneous adventure and investigative creative pursuits.
Close to Ella's heart is a ferocious spirit and imagination. Ella especially values organic sparks that ignite curiosity and authentic encounters played out in song and performance.
Chad he/him - Garden Director
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Chad was born and raised in Northern Michigan in a small town. He traveled to West Africa for the Peace Corps, working with local villages. Chad started an urban farming non-profit called B’earth, where vacant lots were turned into small farms. They taught those with housing insecurity how to farm, giving them employment.
He enjoys working at RTS because he loves how it brings out the curiosity in the learners as they follow their passions.
His interests involve food, developing human potential, and saunas. Chad loves food because it creates community, wellness, and art. He has a passion for saunas because after he feels refreshed. He likes witnessing human potential as we move closer to compassion and loving kindness, with integrity and authenticity, the foundation of trust, connection, and growth.
Alex Molina she/her - Pebbles Mentor
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Alex is a born and raised Ojai, attending Topa Topa, Matilija, and Nordhoff. She attended Santa Barbara City College to pursue her studies in Culinary Arts and Dance. Working as an after school care teacher she realized her true passion working with children. She has found children learn the best when they explore their environment at their own pace. Alex is so excited to share her love of learning with the Pebbles at RTS.
Alex is a mother of 3 boys. Raising her children in her home town is a true blessing. If they aren’t at a soccer game they are mostly likely surfing or cooking something sweet in the kitchen. Alex also enjoys the art of photography, utilizing these skills as a local family photographer in the area.
Katie Ramirez she/her - Pebbles Mentor
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Katie was born and raised in Ventura, California. She is a proud mother to two daughters. Katie has a passion for baking, especially sourdough bread and sweet treats, which she loves to share with friends and family.
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With a background in elementary education and child development from Chico State, Katie realized that traditional public education didn’t align with her desire to nurture children in more personalized ways. As a certified parent coach and homeschooling mom, she’s passionate about creating learning environments where children can thrive emotionally and developmentally by following their natural curiosity. Katie is excited to bring here experience to Rock Tree Sky.
Lily Sparks she/her - Mentor
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Lily grew up in Connecticut and moved to the West Coast to attend UCLA, where she earned her Fine Art degree. Raised by two freelance painters, she explored various mediums, from oils to screen printing, guided by foundational skills in perspective and anatomy.
Her love of storytelling led her to become a character designer for animation, working with studios like Adult Swim, Amazon, and Netflix, while also publishing four young adult books.
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Lily enjoys supporting young creatives in bringing their ideas to life, focusing on the process rather than the outcome. This summer, she completed her fifth novel, co-released an indie video game, and spent time at the beach with her daughter. She’s excited be a part of Rock Tree Sky.
Natasha Efross she/her
RTS Co-Founder / Teacher
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Natasha began her research into alternative education when she took an unconventional path out of high school and into college and service work.
She has been engaged with youth in teaching and mentorship capacities for over fifteen years and is learning every day more about what it means to build meaningful relationships in our community through this role.
She is excited to connect with young people and their families to discover how their lives intersect with Ojai Unified School District's core values of creating an inclusive environment, supporting creativity, fostering a regenerative relationship with our environment, all while keeping the student's (and ultimately the community's) well-being at the center of all we do.
Katy Arnovick she/her - Mentor
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Katy is thrilled to join the Rock Tree Sky community this year. With over 15 years of teaching experience, including time spent at Innovations School in Hawaii, she brings a deep passion for creative expression and individualized learning. As a musician and educator, Katy values innovative approaches that empower learners to explore their own paths.
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Growing up, she participated in The Learning Community program, where students designed their own curriculum—a transformative experience that continues to influence her teaching style today. This summer, she toured Europe with her band, The Durgas, an experience that has recharged her and inspired her to share new energy with Rock Tree Sky learners.
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Katy looks forward to learning alongside learners as they find their own unique voice.
Spencer Babcock he/him - Mentor, Campus Director
Spence has worked with youth in a variety of settings, from helping teens backpack in the desert, to teaching art in a middle school classroom. His background brings experience with construction, building, tinkering, designing, and making.
Previously Spence has worked at Village Free School in Portland, Oregon and supported the Free To Learn Agile Learning Community in Sacramento, California.
He is passionate about finding ways to help more kids have the opportunities to learn through natural curiosity.
When he isn't creating or building something, he enjoys traveling the world, exploring mountains, playing at the beach, and stretching his imagining with his son.
Rock Tree Sky Board of Directors
As an educational enrichment nonprofit 501(c)(3), public benefit corporation, Rock Tree Sky is supported by a Board of Directors. The current board is made up of parents and people from the larger community. All board members serve as volunteers. They meet four times a year. The board is responsible for overseeing the financial well-being of Rock Tree Sky as well as giving general support to the program. You can contact the board at board@rocktreesky.org These are the current board members:
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Sara MacCracken - Board Chair
Nathan Brewer - Board Secretary
Paula Mallis - Board Treasurer
Kyrinn Gould - Learner/Board Member​
Jim Bailey - Director/Board Member