School Governance

BA Wesleyan University, Major American Studies

Ms. Bank was appointed as the new Head of School/Faculty Chair, effective July 1, 2024. Following a thorough search process conducted by the WWS Trustees Council in collaboration with the WWS College and Alma Partners, our DEIB consultant, Ms. Bank emerged as the unanimous choice. Her leadership will bring continued success and growth to our institution.

Ms. Bank was the director of the Tucson Waldorf School (TWS) for 14 years before relocating back to the East Coast. Her children (now young adults) attended TWS from playgroup through Grade 8.

Before coming to WWS, Ms. Bank was the Head of School at St. John’s Episcopal School in Olney, Maryland. Looking to reconnect with Waldorf education, she joined the WWS Trustees Council in 2023, bringing her experience and expertise to WWS.

Nick Hampton has 18 years’ experience leading IT budget and governance activities. He serves at the Department of Interior as Planning and Management Branch Chief. Nick resides in Cheltenham, Maryland with his wife Katrina and their ten-year-old daughter Skylar who is a student at WWS.  Nick is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys mountain biking, skiing, hiking, and rock climbing.

BA, Guilford College

After graduating from Guilford College, Taisto became a professional golfer. He worked at Indian Spring CC and Columbia CC as a teaching professional and he played professionally for four years. Taisto left the golf world to pursue a career in high school teaching and coaching. He became the varsity basketball coach for WWS for both the boys and girls in the 2002-2003 season. Taisto began teaching American History at WWS in 2003, along with becoming the school’s Athletic Director.

BA, St. John Fisher College - MA, University of Rochester - Nova Institute Waldorf Teacher Training

Before moving to the DC area, Suzanne traveled throughout Europe and studied in Spain, France, and Mexico. She taught Spanish and French at the middle school and community college levels. Suzanne's love of Waldorf education began at Potomac Crescent Waldorf School and from the parent-child classes into the grades. The Tapia family spent 3 years in Brazil at the Escola Turmalina where Suzanne worked with teachers, parents, and students, gaining new perspectives and a deeper knowledge of Waldorf education across continents. Upon returning, the spent one year as the Lower School substitute before becoming the 6th grade teacher and subsequently the Lower School Spanish teacher.

Dan is an attorney with a background in organizational leadership, board governance, and site development. A graduate of the US Air Force Academy Class of 1971 and Harvard Law School, Dan served as a Judge Advocate (“JAG”) in the Air Force stationed in Korea, England and Germany and was involved in investigations and litigation throughout Asia and Europe.  Upon leaving active duty in 1980, Dan continued to serve as a JAG in the Air Force Reserve until retiring from the Reserve in 1998.  In 1981 he joined the international legal department of a multinational corporation, initially based in New York with subsequent postings in Tokyo and London. Dan negotiated major development projects throughout the world, conducted due diligence investigations, served on the boards of foreign affiliated companies, and led the legal departments of several of the corporation’s affiliates. Upon retiring, he relocated with his family to the Washington area. 

Dan’s two daughters were born in Japan, attended Michael Hall Waldorf School in England and later WWS, from which they graduated in 2006 and 2008.  Dan served on the WWS Trustees Council from 2001to 2012, the last seven years of which as its Chair.  During this time, he was involved in the negotiation with Montgomery County that resulted in the School’s current 30-year lease.  He then served as co-chair of the capital campaign that raised the funds for the School’s 2015 renovation and on the site committee for the 2022 construction of the gym.

Dan is currently a member of Capacity Partners Inc., consultants to nonprofit organizations on issues of management, strategic planning and fundraising.  He is a board member of the Washington Institute of Foreign Affairs.  He regularly volunteers at Shepherds Table of Silver Spring that serves daily meals to the homeless population of the County.  When not traveling internationally, he enjoys caring for his two grandchildren, hiking, and building furniture in his home studio.  

BA in Economics from Wake Forest University and MA in International Economics from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies

James is a Senior Vice President at Ernst & Young Infrastructure Advisors where he works as a financial advisor primarily with state and local government agencies to plan and deliver major infrastructure assets, especially in the emerging technology and green infrastructure sectors.  He and his wife, Pamela, have four children, two of whom attend WWS.

Anne Wotring is currently navigating from a multi-varied career -- as leadership coach, organization development professional, mother and wife, writing teacher and researcher – to new, open spaces for exploration.  Early on as a public-school educator, she admired Waldorf philosophy and pedagogy, so she and her husband Tom sent their two children, Katie and Alex, to WWS from 1985-99 (K-12) and 1988-97 (KG-8) Over the years Anne served as administrative faculty, and actively led parent-faculty initiatives including bazaar, parent organization and overall school organization development. She also was teaching faculty and board president for The Nova Institute.

Anne holds a Ph.D. in Human and Organization Development from The Union Institute, M.A. in English Education from George Mason University and B.A. in Literature from The American University. She earned a Sunbridge College certificate in Waldorf Administration and Community Development. She lives in Bethesda, where she’s an active tennis player, dog walker and grandma.