About Us

Board of Trustees

Officers

List of 2 items.

  • Darlene Fountaine | Chair

    Darlene Fountaine brings experience in education and personal development. She founded Your Go-To Coaches and is a certified life and executive coach. She was director of admission at Westside Neighborhood School for many years, as well as a trustee. During her tenure as a trustee, she served as vice chair and established the board's advisory committee on diversity, equity, and inclusion. She was a trustee at the Willows Community School and served as chair of the parent association. Darlene has headed the admission directors' consortium for the Los Angeles Area Independent Schools (LAIS) and serves on the board of Southern California People of Color in Independent Schools (SoCal POCIS) as well as other nonprofit boards.
     
    Darlene has an MBA from USC and a BA from the University of Michigan. She holds a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University in addition to other certificates.
     
    Darlene and her husband Sy are proud parents of Vistamar alumnus Bradley (’15). They reside in Ladera Heights.
     
    Why Vistamar?
     
    "I love the spirit of Vistamar—the way it feels when you walk through the doors, down the corridors and across the campus. I believe it offers a unique high school experience that prepares students for life, not just college. I love the size of Vistamar, and that with a little effort, a student could know everyone in his class, if not the school. I love the access to teachers and the individualized attention afforded to each student. I love that students with many interests do not have to choose just one, but can explore them all. I love the fact that no one is invisible and most importantly, Vistamar’s commitment to all types of diversity."
  • Kris Rone | Vice Chair

    Kris Rone is a business and marketing executive who has experience operating, marketing, and developing business strategies and plans for companies like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Staples Center, the Los Angeles Kings, and Target Stores.

    Most recently, Kris was the Executive Vice President of Business Operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Prior to that, she was President of Fox Sports One, a company that was responsible for all sponsorship revenue for Staples Center, the LA Kings, LA Galaxy and LA Dodgers. Before being involved in professional sports, she was SVP for the Haworth Group, and handled all of Target’s sports marketing and media efforts around the country.

    Kris has also been involved with several nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, including serving on the board of Para Los Ninos and the Dodger Dream Foundation. She is a mother of two (Vistamar ’18 and ’21), an avid athlete and coach of youth sports.

    Why Vistamar?

    "I love Vistamar because our mission and core values allow our students to grow and learn in an environment rich in diversity, programmatic excellence and creativity. Our students are valued, and they leave Vistamar empowered to express themselves, become change makers, and are comfortable engaging in a diverse world."

Board of Trustees

List of 18 items.

  • Princess Baltimore

    Princess Baltimore received her Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. where she focused her studies on International Politics and Philosophy.  After foregoing an opportunity to enter the US Foreign Service Corps, Ms. Baltimore returned to California to be closer to her immediate family. After working 2 years in the commercial insurance industry with the Marsh & McLennan Companies, Ms. Baltimore decided to pursue a law degree and graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law a few years later. Ms. Baltimore has dedicated her legal career to the service of the most vulnerable in our communities - abused and neglected children and youth. She has worked for the Children’s Law Center of California (“CLC”), a national leader in the area of juvenile court advocacy, for 27 years in a host of roles that include everything from litigation to recruitment, program management, and fundraising. Ms. Baltimore is the proud parent of a Vistamar Viking (Class of 2024) and their dog, Archer. 
     
    Why Vistamar?
     
    "In these challenging times, I can’t imagine having my daughter attend a school other than Vistamar.  The care and concern that teachers and staff consistently demonstrate while students try to navigate through a distance-learning environment has been phenomenal.  Teachers routinely show an ability to meet students where they’re at while also encouraging students to bring their best selves to an unconventional school setting.  Also, as a product of an independent school, it has been refreshing for our family to find ourselves in a school community where the notion of diversity is not just a talking point but a palpable, tangible fact of life that you immediately feel the moment that you set foot on Vistamar’s campus.  Vistamar is not just producing good students, but more importantly, it is producing good citizens."
  • Carla Buck

     
    Carla Buck is head of Product Vision and Operations for WIN, which connects homeless youth of LA to critical resources. She is a co-owner of Quivira Solutions, which manages real estate and technology businesses. She has over 15 years of experience consulting to Fortune 500 companies on strategy, technology and operations solutions through her work at top tier management consulting firms.

    Carla has served on the boards of Pathways LA, the Everychild Foundation, Children’s House of Hope and has been active in local education organizations.

    Raised in Texas, Carla earned a degree in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from UCLA. Carla and her husband, Jack Levy, live in Hermosa Beach and have 2 Vistamar alumni (’17 and ‘19). She is passionate about learning, history, and exploring the world.

    Why Vistamar?

    "I love that everything Vistamar does is intentionally designed to achieve its mission.

    "I love that Vistamar students get this amazing education in an environment where they can breathe and explore and be honored for who they are.  And when they graduate they have learned to know themselves and become active owners of their future."

  • Mike Burke

    Mike Burke is a commercial real estate expert who completed a 30 year career at CBRE in 2013. At CBRE Mike held numerous positions concluding with being the team leader for the Private Client team located in Southern LA County. Mike was a founding member of the National Private Client Group within CBRE and served for several years on its board of directors. 

    Since leaving CBRE Mike has operated a consulting business that focuses on families in transition where portfolios of properties are transferring from one generation to another.
     
    Mike graduated from Arizona State University in 1983 with a BS in Business and Real Estate. In addition to Vistamar, Mike has been involved with Children’s Hospital LA and the Richstone Center. Mike and his wife, Mary, live in the South Bay and have 2 children (Vistamar ’15 and ‘18).

    Why Vistamar?

    "The structure that Vistamar operates under is progressive and unique. The diversity of the campus, small class sizes and extremely dedicated faculty and staff have all come together to create and environment and culture that is really something special. The students sense of community is higher than I have ever seen in other independent high schools."
  • Derrick Butler

    Dr. Butler is a Family Medicine Physician and HIV Specialist practicing in South Central Los Angeles. He serves as Chief Medical Officer at the To Help Everyone (T.H.E.) Clinic, a federally qualified community health center and is the Director of T.H.E Clinic’s HIV Program. He is also a faculty member of the Pacific AIDS Education and Training Center at Charles Drew University.   With an additional interest in international health, Dr. Butler has lived in Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer and has participated in medical missions in various parts of Africa.
     
    Derrick is married to Gayle Butler and the proud father of three children, Derrick (Vistamar ’17), Justin, and Andrew (Vistamar '24.) He and his family live in the View Park/ Baldwin Hills area of Los Angeles and are active members of the community.

    Why Vistamar?

    "I love Vistamar because its community fosters belonging for each student and allows the student to find their particular niche. The philosophy and curriculum force the students to take their education into their own hands and become courageous, exploratory, and confident. There is no cookie-cutter formula or a feed and regurgitate mentality here that exists at other schools. Independent thought and discovery are championed."
  • David Christopher

    David Christopher is a technology executive who has spent most of his career in the wireless industry bringing new forms of connectivity to our world. He is currently the Executive Vice President of business development and strategic alliances at AT&T, responsible for the company’s largest partnerships and strategic deals. Prior to this current role, Christopher was Executive Vice President and General Manager for AT&T’s largest business, AT&T Mobility, for 4 years, and before that served as President of its combined consumer business which included wireless, fiber broadband and DIRECTV. He was Chief Marketing Officer for AT&T’s wireless business for the ten years prior to that. Before joining AT&T, he was Vice President, Product Marketing and Management at Palm. He also worked for Apple and began his career with the Sara Lee Corporation in Barcelona, Spain, and Gent, Belgium.
     
    David currently serves as chairman of CTIA, which represents the wireless communications industry before congress, state legislatures, the Federal Communications Commission, and other federal and state agencies on matters of public policy. He has also served as Chairman of the Ad Council, which brings together the marketing, advertising and media industries to combat pressing social issues. 

    He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. David and his wife Mary Beth are the proud parents of two Vistamar students, Emma (’21) and Elizabeth (’25).   
     
    Why Vistamar?

    “Vistamar has a special sauce that creates confident, curious and empathetic young adults.   It combines rigorous academics with the arts, sports and other activities….all with the right amount of support that fosters creativity and builds community. Students can be themselves in an environment that prepares them to succeed well beyond high school."
     
  • Mariana Eggleton

    Mariana Eggleton has 26 years of experience as an elementary arts and Spanish teacher and tutor.  Originally from Mexico City, she holds a BA in Fine Art with a minor in Education from the Universidad of Monterrey, Mexico and is bilingual in Spanish and English. She migrated to the United States 17 years ago, living first in Texas and now in California.
     
    Mariana has a great passion for teaching and helping others. She is active in her local community and has always been deeply involved in her kids' schools.  Besides the love she has for education and arts, she also has worked as a community manager and developing social media platforms for non profit organizations and small businesses. 
     
    The thing that drives her the most are the love and passion she has for her son Benja (Vistamar ’26), her two younger boys, her husband and her dog.
     
    Why Vistamar?
     
    "Vistamar’s academic program is designed to challenge students to be the best version of themselves while fostering  a passion for learning and growing. The sense of community and belonging that you can feel among the students, staff, faculty and parents is one of the most precious things that Vistamar offers. I know the students are not only being prepared for college but are getting a great foundation for the future."
  • Erin Freeman

    Erin Freeman is a Los Angeles native who grew up in Manhattan Beach, CA. She received her BA from Pitzer College (‘92) and her MBA (‘98) from USC. Prior to starting a family, she worked as a financial consultant at Merrill Lynch and then in investment banking at Bank of America and Newman & Associates. She specialized in raising both equity and debt for highly structured real estate transactions.
     
    Erin has volunteered in the classroom and as a soccer coach. Additionally, she worked at a homeless shelter in Las Vegas for women and children and currently volunteers at Safe Place for Youth, a drop-in center for homeless youth in Venice. She is passionate about children and helping them find their best selves.
     
    Erin and her husband, Jim, have two Vistamar daughters, ’22 and '24.
     
    Why Vistamar?
     
    “I fell in love with Vistamar when my daughter took her entrance exam at the school. I loved the interior pods and common areas and how the school felt like a collaborative space. Once I learned more about the curriculum, especially VistaMath, and the diversity of the school, I knew it was a special environment where the students can be themselves while finding out who they really are and what truly inspires them. I have never seen a more passionate faculty who actually knows each kid and what they bring to the table”
  • Parker Hudnut

    Parker Hudnut is an educator working to open doors of opportunity for youth in Los Angeles and Inglewood.  Parker currently serves as the CEO of ICEF Public Schools, a network of public charter schools.  He is also a board member of GALS-LA, an all-girls charter middle school, and CharterSAFE, the statewide insurance provider for public charter schools.  Parker is also committed to supporting financial opportunities and serves as a board member and Audit Chair of Accion Opportunity Fund, the largest non-profit small business lender in the country.  Parker has an MBA from Wharton and a BA from the University of Virginia.  Parker and his wife Melissa WIckman are proud Vistamar parents of Logan ('22) and Catherine ('24).

    Why Vistamar?

    "Vistamar is inclusive in admissions, academics, and engagement; this intentionality supports students to flourish and become leaders in diverse dimensions, a requirement for success in our modern world.  The blend of well-rounded personal and academic expectations for each student combine with a warm and nurturing environment to create a perfect launchpad for my daughters."
  • Leanne Huebner

    Leanne Huebner is a nationally-recognized nonprofit leader and seasoned social entrepreneur with over 15 years of nonprofit board experience.   Today, Leanne serves as National Board Co-Chair of Minds Matter, a nationwide organization that guides low-income students to college and life success she co-founded back in 1991.   As Founding Board Chair, Leanne led efforts to launch an early-start middle school in an underserved area of South Los Angeles in 2013.  In 2015, she helped establish the First Generation Low Income Program at her alma mater University of Pennsylvania where she serves on the Trustee's Council of Penn Women.  Previously, Leanne served on the boards of Manhattan Beach Education Foundation and the Manhattan Beach Council of PTAs and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.  Leanne, her husband Kyle, and Vistamar students Justin '24 and Ashley '26  reside in Manhattan Beach.

    Why Vistamar?


    "Vistamar's faculty and staff create a globally-minded learning environment where every student is individually challenged, authentically valued, and respectfully heard.  Its diverse student body builds a vibrant school community truly reflective of what Los Angeles is -- and will continue to be.  It is a community that envisions what the rest of society might strive towards, full of knowledge preparing these students for tomorrow's opportunities."
  • Carl J. Katerndahl, CAIA 

    Carl is a managing director and Client Portfolio Manager for asset management firm, Nuveen. In his role, Carl serves as a primary link between the investment team and Nuveen’s client/prospective client community, supporting the firm's fixed income and multi-asset strategies. Carl graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration from Pepperdine University and an M.B.A. from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. Carl holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation from the CAIA Association. Carl was a member of Vistamar's first 4-year graduating class. 
     
    Why Vistamar?

    "Vistamar provided me with a high energy, academically rigorous, innovative, yet intimate environment for my formative high school years. In my experience, I was better prepared than a majority of my peers in adapting to life at a challenging and diverse four year university. I couldn't have more highly recommended Vistamar to two of my younger siblings, and was proud to watch them grow in the same ways I did while attending the school. One of Vistamar's early mission statements was to ensure students feel "at home in the world" - something that has meaningfully resonated with me since my initial decision to attend the school"
     
  • Laura Konigsberg

    Dr. Laura Konigsberg is Head of School at Turning Point School. Before coming to Turning Point in 2016, she served in the role of Associate Head of Bentley School, a dual campus K-12 co-ed day school in the San Francisco East Bay where she oversaw grades Kindergarten through Grade 8. Laura’s prior experience as English Department Chair 9-12, and Dean of Teaching and Learning K-12, was integral in enriching Bentley’s curriculum and academic program.
     
    Dr. Konigsberg earned her undergraduate degree from Trinity College and her Masters and Ph.D. in English from the University of California, Davis; in addition, she holds a Masters in Counseling Psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley. She serves on the Board of Directors of the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and on the faculty of the Heads Network’s Women’s Leadership Seminar.

    Why Vistamar?

    "Vistamar encourages high school students to thrive intellectually and fosters reflection and the development of an interconnected view of the world.  I have seen this approach at its best in the VistaMath program and the senior projects."

  • Elisabeth Lesser

    Elisabeth Lesser received her BA from Occidental College and her MBA from the University of California at Irvine. After several entrepreneurial experiments, in 1999, she founded Siena Healthcare Solutions, a medical MSO which provided physician groups with a range of business services including strategic and operation consulting, private cloud IT hosting and IT support, as well as medical billing and collection. She has simultaneously been committed to the community, serving in leadership positions for several regional non-profits over the past 25 years including Center for Nonprofit Management (Board Chair), The Cancer Support Community Los Angeles (Board Chair), Peninsula Heritage School (Board Treasurer), and the Manhattan Beach Badminton Club (Board Secretary).  She is also a member of the Everychild Foundation Grant Screening Board and formerly chaired the Annual Fund Campaign at Chadwick School.

    Elisabeth is married to David Lesser, and they are the proud parents of two college-aged children – Matthew (Lafayette College ’23) and Meagan (Pitzer College ’25). They have lived in Manhattan Beach for over 25 years.

    Why Vistamar?

    "I have loved Vistamar since my first tour of the campus over a decade ago. It is a small and nurturing environment, so students feel safe and supported as they explore new interests and take charge of pursuing their own passions. Simultaneously however, it is broadly diverse, reflecting the big tent of cultural and economic diversity that is Los Angeles. I love that Vistamar challenges students with a deep and robust curriculum without the pressures found in many other regional independent schools. Add to this, the approach to life after Vistamar provided by the Life Planning department and Vistamar provides an unparalleled high school experience. Our children ultimately chose different educational paths, but my love of Vistamar has only deepened over the years, and I am thrilled to now be a part of the community as a Board member."


  • Lorin Liesy

    Lorin Liesy is Director of Product Management for Capital Group’s institutional retirement business, overseeing product strategy and business management functions for the broad retirement and insurance market. She has worked at Capital Group since 1992 and is currently active in the firm’s diversity and inclusion efforts as well as mentoring younger associates.
     
    Lorin is a graduate of Occidental College with a degree in Diplomacy and World Affairs. She is a Southern California native and lives in Manhattan Beach with her husband, Doug Dust, and two children (Vistamar ’21 and ’23). She enjoys supporting her kids’ passion for volleyball and musical theater, as well as rooting for the Dodgers and Rams with family and friends.
     
    Why Vistamar?
     
    “I love Vistamar’s supportive and welcoming community, which gives students the comfort to be their authentic selves and the confidence to explore the individuals they will become. Vistamar’s commitment to fostering independent thinking through a collaborative approach to learning provides students with a strong foundation for their future endeavors.”   
     
  • Stu MacFarlane

    Stu MacFarlane is President of TransForceOne, a software company in the trucking and transportation industry.  Prior to that he was Chief Marketing Officer of Internet Brands’ portfolio of health businesses, including WebMD, and has founded several internet and technology companies in the Los Angeles area.  Stu earned his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and his MBA from Harvard University.
     
    Stu and his wife Kathleen Waters live in Manhattan Beach and have two daughters, Anna and Tess (Vistamar ’21), and also have two nieces who are recent Vistamar graduates (’18 and ’19).
     
    Why Vistamar?
     
    “I love how Vistamar combines academic rigor with a community experience that encourages students to take risks, work with people of different backgrounds and points of view, and build a passion for learning.  Vistamar graduates are well prepared not only for the college experience, but for navigating in the real world.”
  • Jessica Martin

    Jessica Martin is an author, consultant, and national speaker. Prior to her current work, she was a co-founder and CEO of a women-owned education consulting business, and a YMCA and rec center youth basketball coach. Additionally, she had the privilege of working as an elementary educator at the UCLA Lab School, supporting school communities as a literacy staff developer at Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, Columbia University, mentoring new teachers as a resident advisor at UCLA Center X, and as a global professional development provider at Chapters International. Jessica earned a BA from CSUN and a MA from CSUDH. 

    Jessica and her spouse are raising four children, one at Vistamar, ‘26, and a Betta fish. They are active members in their neighborhood and school communities.
     
    Why Vistamar?

    "As a new and Black-multiracial family, we experienced first-hand, a genuine and sincere commitment to:
    - developing a positive awareness of racial, ethnic, and cultural identities
    - pursuing culturally relevant pedagogy and curriculum
    - understanding and critiquing social inequities
     
    Our interactions with other families, students, staffulty, PAVE council members, and administrators lead us to believe that Vistamar stakeholders strive to create a psychologically safe environment where the tenets of equity, justice, belonging, and individuality are embraced and valued."
  • Sandy Montalvo

    Sandy is the Director for the Volunteer Center South Bay-Harbor-Long Beach - Court Referral Community Service Program. She oversees six offices and coordinates the community service efforts which allow misdemeanants the opportunity to contribute service to their communities in lieu of a fine or jail sentence. She also coordinates the Hospital and Morgue (HAM) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) classes. These classes expose offenders to the lasting damage caused by substance impaired driving, with the aim of creating an empathy and understanding that will change their thinking and behavior, preventing future offenses.
     Sandy is married to Joseluis Montalvo and the proud mother of two children, David (Vistamar ’23), and Sophia (Vistamar ’25). She and her family live in Los Angeles and are actively involved in their community.
     
    Why Vistamar?

     “I love Vistamar because it is a community where everyone feels welcome. I see my children being challenged and the fabulous faculty has a connection with the kids that pushes them towards personal growth. I love the fact that my kids are happy and they want to be there. I know that academics can be challenging, but I see the kids thriving on it. I know they will be ready and well prepared for whatever awaits them in the future. Vistamar is a well-rounded school with top faculty, excellent academics, a wide range of activities, a very diverse population, and a safe and friendly environment.”  
     
  • Julie Smith-Clementi

    Julie Smith-Clementi is an Architect in Los Angeles with over 30 years of experience. She approaches architecture in a holistic way, integrating all aspects and scales of design.  Her background includes 20 years as CEO of the product design company, notNeutral, focusing on the Specialty Coffee Industry.
     
    Julie and her husband/business partner, Frank Clementi, have recently started their own firm that expands beyond architecture into a multidisciplinary practice including landscape, interior design, product design, and urban design. 
     
    Julie and Frank have two daughters, Emilia and Nina (Vistamar ’21) and are 30 year residents of Venice, CA.  Prior to joining Vistamar’s board, Julie was on the Building and Grounds committee helping with the development of the Viking Commons.  She held a similar position at Westside Neighborhood School and was the architect for their Gym, Science, Art and Child Care Center renovation.
     
    Why Vistamar? 
     
    “I believe in the mission of the school to provide an expansive education that celebrates different points of view and exposes the students to varied perspectives. I appreciate the access students have to the faculty and the administration. The education at Vistamar is individualized and accessible. And I love how the arts are celebrated in this close-knit community.”
     
  • April Spencer

    April Spencer is a Partner with EY and has 30+ years of experience providing business insights and tax services to clients in entertainment, technology, and consumer products. In addition to serving clients, April has held several regional and global leadership roles where she was responsible for vision, strategy, execution, and operation of several large practices across multiple countries.

    April earned her undergraduate degree from UC Santa Barbara and a MBT from USC. She has previously served on the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles and on the Board of the Golden West chapter of ALS.

    She and her husband, Roger, live in Manhattan Beach with their daughter Cas (Marlborough ’22) and son Jack (Vistamar ’25).

    Why Vistamar?
    "My son went through the application process during a period of time when everything was virtual, yet the strength of the academic program, the sense of an engaged community and the aspects that make Vistamar so unique and special still came through loud and clear. I love Vistamar’s approach to Math and Science, the small class sizes and the fact that every faculty member I’ve met has incredible warmth for the students and enthusiasm for fostering a love of learning. But what I love most is that they “get my kid”. The teachers are really intentional about finding out what makes each student unique and creating an intimate, nurturing environment where the students can be themselves as they stretch their intellectual muscles and build the skills needed to excel in college and in life."

Board of Trustees

Vistamar School’s Board of Trustees is the governing body of the school. Its members collaborate with the Head of School to guard the school’s mission and ensure effective governance and growth. The comprehensive work of the Board is conducted by committees that focus on strategic planning, finance, facilities, fundraising, community outreach, and several other key focus areas.

Our Board of Trustees is comprised of parents, alumni, parents of alumni, and distinguished community leaders representing a broad spectrum of backgrounds, skills, and perspectives.

Romayne Levee - Founding Board Chair

Vistamar's founders were driven by the idea that there had to be a better way to do high school. It was our mission to teach deeply rather than broadly and to promote balance over burn-out--all while being relentless in our embrace of diversity of thought and
experience.
Vistamar School is a private independent high school in the South Bay region of Los Angeles.

Vistamar School