Staff

Jack Mesplay

Like any organization, our school benefits from having strong administrative support and leadership.  Jack Mesplay currently serves as the school's Executive Director.

Jack came to work for the Village Free School at the age of 19, originally hired to serve as the school's volunteer coordinator. Over the past several years Jack has held many positions and worn many hats, ranging from working directly with our youngest students as their lead advisor, to serving as our board's treasurer. Jack has always carried a strong sense of responsibility for the school, and was chosen by our board to lead us through our next period of transition and opportunity.

The work ahead has been clearly marked, and the focus for the administrative leadership of our school for the next several years will be on program quality and financial sustainability.

Jack is a Portland native, one of seven children, and has been known to drink a little too much coffee and work a little too late into the night.

Heather Hack 

Heather is the Environmental Coordinator at our school.  Besides hanging out at Village Free School she enjoys knitting, chickens, eating sushi, playing board games, doing crossword puzzles and singing karaoke.  She has many jobs including busy home-birth midwife, instructor at the local midwifery college, childbirth education teacher, stepmama to Ivy and Henry and mama to Wyatt and Asa.

Kate Kerr

Kate is an unschooling/freeschooling artist mom of two fabulous    kids, and the office coordinator at our school.  She is married to a teacher, tinkerer and artist.  She was raised all over the world, but spent most of her life on the west coast skipping school and playing on the beach.  Kate spends her free time taking photographs, baking, painting, sewing and creating.  She is a homebody and doesn't much like to travel, but loves it when people come to her house to visit and play.

Amy Crevola

Amy is a hard working mother, and student, and is currently serving as the school's volunteer Volunteer Coordinator.

Ethan Smith

Ethan Smith is Lead Advisor for students in the 8-12 age cohort, primary Math and Science Educator, and newly appointed Senior Advisor at the VFS.  As a former science researcher turned free school educator, Ethan brings to the school a genuine passion for math and science and their real life applications. 

Ethan spent his formative years on the coast of Northern California where he went through phases of Wanna-Be-Break-Dancer, Computer Hacker, and finally Science Fair Nerd.  Ethan traveled to Portland in 1994 to attend Reed College and graduated with a B.A. in chemistry. After graduation, he worked for many years at Oregon Health and Science University as a researcher studying lung biophysics.  Ethan left research after discovering the free school movement and by serendipitous events got involved during the early days when the school was still being born.  During that time he also earned Teaching Credentials in Science for Secondary Education and a Master’s Degree in Education from PSU. 

Ethan brings a variety of interests to the school including complex board games & puzzles, cooking, music appreciation and composition as well as a love of physical activities such as hiking, cycling, and favorite VFS sports such as SPROUT and Capture the Flag.  As Senior Advisor at VFS, Ethan wears many hats but his greatest passion is encouraging and working with students to develop their passions and kick-start ambitious projects while honoring each student's unique needs and choices.

Jeff Kerr

I grew up on California’s Central Coast. I learned an appreciation for art and had the opportunity to explore other cultures with the help of my artist parents who taught and loved to travel. I was involved with printing, graphic design, and art production for eleven years. I found my voice as an advisor and coach when I joined LOVARC: a resource center for adults living with developmental disabilities. Pursuing a teaching degree led me to find interests in the social sciences, especially history. I have enjoyed working with early learners and children who encounter challenges in school settings. I moved to Portland five years ago with my wife, Kate, and our kids, Robin and Storey.  As a parent of two children I have participated in the challenges and advantages of unschooling.The Village Free School has given my family the gift of community and I have learned much from kids, parents, and staff.

 Jessica Graves

Jessica Graves is a graduate of the Albany Free School (Albany, NY), and has had the good fortune of being able to live and work in many places; among them, Oakland, CA, Wheeling, WV, and Hampshire, England. She has taught in a variety of settings, striving always to bring compassion, respect, and an excitement to learning. Jessica has been an active part of the Alternative Education Resource Organization's annual conference, and was most recently associate editor of Turning Points; 35 Visionaries in Education Tell Their Own Stories. She is passionate about hiking, reading and writing, puttering in the garden, and teaching her dog to be an exceptional canine athlete.

Rachael King                                               

  Rachael King is Lead Advisor for the youngest group of students, ages 5 – 8.  Rachael has experienced and succeeded with interactive, creative learning environments for both children and adults.  She is happy to share energy in exploring freedom, interests, a high level of responsibility and excitement for life with students.

In addition to nannying and volunteering at VFS, Rachael gained experience in education as the Program Director and Primary Instructor of the Pharmacy Technician Program at Carrington College.

A native Pacific Northwesterner, Rachael extensively traveled both the United States and Europe before nestling in Portland amongst the pine trees.  Belonging to a family of educators and child advocates, Rachael’s enthusiasm for education that feels good for everyone involved has been cultivated and enriched from an early age.  Support and opportunity to discover the world and herself on peculiar, fun, passionate, and thrilling adventures have prepared her to thrive in the chaotic and whimsical VFS community.

Rachael is a voracious reader, avid people watcher, and loves to pioneer uncharted territory.

Sarah Anne Mills "Sam"                                                

Sam has had a lifelong relationship with free schooling. As a child she attended Sundance - a free school in Victoria, BC. As an adult she earned her Masters Degree in democratic education and has been mentored by Helen Hughes, founder of Windsor House - a free school in Vancouver, BC. Sam helped organize the 2008 IDEC conference, and has presented on democratic education at multiple academic and community events, including the AERO conference. Additionally, she has worked with adults often marginalized by the education system: First Nations, inner-city residents living in poverty, and Adult Basic Education students. Sam likes toys, puzzles, and  games.  She loves being in, on, and by the ocean; enjoys cooking (she recently started making her own cheese!); and is delighted when she sees people's eyes sparkle.