Janis was born and raised in the Midwest. She has fond memories of playing outside in all kinds of weather: catching lightning bugs on muggy summer nights, jumping in piles of leaves in her backyard under the maple trees each fall, building snow forts in subzero winters, and splashing through puddles on wet spring days. She earned a BA in Communications at Loyola University Chicago and worked in media for several years before moving to the west coast.

Shortly after the birth of her first child, Janis discovered Waldorf education and was deeply inspired by the holistic approach to educating children. After a few years in southern California, her family moved to the Pacific Northwest and she began searching for a school for her children. She quickly fell in love with Swallowtail; particularly the warm community, the beautiful farm campus, and the school’s emphasis on environmental stewardship.

Janis spent several years as a very involved parent in both the Family Association and Board of Trustees, before joining Swallowtail as the enrollment coordinator. In the summer of 2022, she stepped into the Business Manager role. She now has three children that attend Swallowtail and feels incredibly lucky to be a part of this wonderful school.