FOUNDER, DIRECTOR

Renee Dellar is the mother of two. Noticing her children’s struggles in the traditional, standardized education system, Renee made it her mission to find a way to educate her children holistically, so that they would enjoy learning.

Renee spearheaded the effort to understand and support of families who also sought alternative education methods for their children. She established the Wonder Community in 2020. She began construction on the Wonder Farm and established The Learning Studio in 2023.

LEAD GUIDE, FARM DIRECTOR

Liz Lyons is a certified Montessori Elementary teacher and horticulture enthusiast. She has been working in Montessori classrooms for almost 10 years and received her AMI Montessori Elementary diploma for ages 6-12 from Bergamo, Italy. During her training, her passion for botany and horticulture was born and it has become an important side project for her. She continues to advance her understanding of permaculture practices by taking courses in native plant species, propagation, and landscape maintenance. In her free time, she spends her weekends turning her own backyard into a food forest and safe haven for local wildlife and pollinators. Liz will be the primary teacher for Upper Elementary and Middle School at The Learning Studio. Additionally, she will be leading the Farm Friday program which will focus on project based, hands-on learning and cultivating of our own regenerative farm on site. With years of experience as a teacher, Liz brings to the Wonder Farm engaging ideas, programs and activities that delight children in the classroom and on the Farm.

LEAD GUIDE

Maya Theiss Sakata's educational journey began at the Waldorf School, where she was a student from Pre-K through 12th grade. There, she developed a passion for holistic education, creative expression, and nature. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Marketing from San Francisco State University, then excelled in the corporate world by managing a brand ambassador program for a sports nutrition supplement brand. Despite her corporate success, Maya's love for children and education led her back to her Waldorf roots and alternative education. Her approach at The Learning Studio is characterized by fostering creativity, encouraging critical thinking, and instilling a profound respect for nature.