Renee Beck has a B.A. in Consciousness (Goddard), an M.A. in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology (JFKU), and has been at Holden since 1981. She supervises and trains the Holden counselors and teaches Psychology and other classes with spiritual or psychological themes. She is a licensed Marriage, Family & Child Therapist with a small private practice in Dreamwork & Transpersonal Psychology. Co-Author of The Art of Ritual: Creating Your Own Rituals for Growth & Change and a Universal Life Minister, Renee does ritual work, tarot and spiritual counseling. Renee enjoys gardening, animals, horror, writing and the Rolling Stones.

Kate Knox graduated Magna Cum Laude from San Francisco State University in 1990 with a self-designed B.A. in English with a focus on education. She teaches English IV, Senior Seminar and electives. Kate has been at Holden in various capacities since 1987. Actively involved in the punk scene since 1979, Kate is a founding member of B.O.B., a collective that organizes international punk rock concerts biannually. Kate feels that Holden is an extension of her political and community activism. She enjoys traveling, music and reading.

Kristin Lamoureux graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hamilton College with a B.A. in Studio Arts and Sociology. She received her M.A. in counseling psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies in 1997 and became a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in 2001. She has been a part of Holden formally and informally since 1995 and is extremely excited to be part of the school. Kristin is our admissions director and teaches various electives. Kristin is currently the board president of the National Coalition of Alternative and Community Schools. Outside of Holden, she enjoys spending time with her family and playing soccer and ultimate frisbee.

Abby Tuttle graduated from Holden High School in 1993, has a B.A. in Humanities with an emphasis in Education from New College of California and an M.A. in Special Education from San Francisco State University as well as a Mild to Moderate Education Specialist Credential. She heads both our Special Education Program as well as our mathematics and IT departments, and works with the Junior Class. She teaches language arts and mathematics as well as provides learning support to individual students. Abby serves on the board of the National Coalition of Alternative and Community Schools, and is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children and the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics. Outside of Holden she enjoys yoga, dancing, traveling, walking her dogs and spending time with her friends.

Jennifer Polse Payne is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and serves as our Lead Counselor here at Holden as well as a Co-Director in Training. She leads a check-in group and and an elective social science course called Social Relations.  She attended Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA and received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master’s of Arts in Counseling Psychology. Besides working at Holden, Jenn has a private therapy practice in Berkeley.