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 Jennifer Pickering | Founder
Taking advantage of the opportunity to travel throughout her life, Jennifer
has experienced cultures in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and
Australia. She participated in international education programs both in high
school and university and attributes much of who she is today to these
incredible opportunities for travel and cultural immersion.
Jennifer graduated from Southern Methodist University with a B.A. in
International Studies, Spanish and Latin American Studies and in 2001 her
passion for international education led her to create World School, Inc.
After ten years, Jennifer calls Ocean Beach, San Diego home.
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 Sara Johnson | Program Leader
Sara Johnson, from northern California, was a college athlete and graduated
from the University of Arizona with a B.A. degree in Communications. After
graduating in 1999, Sara spent 2 years travelling through Costa Rica,
Panama, Nicaragua, and Australia.
While in Australia, Sara gained experience and environmental awareness
through hands-on education and application of permaculture, organic, and
biodynamic principles. Realizing the importance of sustainable living in
relation to the human spirit and the planet, Sara attended the Sustainable
Agriculture Research Institute where she obtained a Permaculture Design
Certificate.
Sara now resides in San Diego, California. In 2005 she earned her masters
degree in education from the University of San Diego and is currently a high
school special education teacher. She has been leading World School
programs since 2002. Sara is an enthusiastic educator with a passion for
world travel, environmental awareness, and taking positive steps towards a
more internationally aware and concerned youth of America.
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 Tiffani Klug | Program Leader
Tiffani Klug grew up in Portland, Oregon and received her BA in Communications and Spanish from Denver University. She recently completed a Master's Program in Special Education and currently lives in San Diego, California where she works as a Resource Specialist at High Tech High International.
Tiffani is passionate about sharing the benefits of international travel with students and emphasizes the importance of immersion into different cultures while encouraging students to push themselves outside of their comfort zones. She has extensive travel experience having spent a year teaching English in South America, studying in Costa Rica, and has been to Bolivia, Peru, Ecador, Chile, Argentina, Thailand, Australia, the Baja Pennisula, and mainland Mexico.
If you need to find Tiffani, you can find her kick boxing, enjoying nature by camping and hiking, or leading a World School trip whenever possible.
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 Andrew Pickering | Program Leader
Understanding that travel brings exposure to new ideas, cultures, and
environments, Andy has explored Australia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam,
Cambodia, Israel, Germany, the peninsula of Baja, and countries in Europe.
In addition to his international travels, Andy has extensive domestic
camping experience having both ridden and hiked the Colorado Trail, five of
Utah's national parks, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Big Bend, Joshua Tree, and
more. Andy enjoys sharing the travel experience with students and allowing
them to push themselves 'outside the box' and open up to the world outside
their zip code.
Andy completed his undergraduate work at Southern Methodist University and
received his Masters Degree from San Diego State University in Counseling
Psychology. A licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Andy maintains a
private practice in San Diego specializing in work with families and
teenagers.
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 Ashley Ruback | Program Leader
Ashley Ruback graduated from Duke University as well as Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design with degrees in Art History and Graphic Design. She currently lives in Portland, OR where she has her own design company, Point3Design. She has extensive outdoor wilderness experience and attended multiple Outward Bound programs, a 3 month NOLS program in Africa, and many backpacking and backcountry ski trips. Starting in high school, she learned the value of setting a goal and testing the body's limits by climbing several 14ers in Colorado, Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, the Matterhorn and Mt. Kenya. She ran 10 marathons from age 18-28. Currently, she is an Anusara yoga instructor and finds peace and the many therapeutic benefits from yoga.
Her travel experience has taken her to Africa, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Europe, Bhutan and India. Showing teenagers the benefits of the outdoors and yoga while opening their eyes to new experiences and cultures is an amazing opportunity.
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 Ryan Redman | Program Leader
Through a keen interest in Yoga, Ryan began exploring the sub-continent of India at a very young age. During his travels, Sri Sathya Sai Baba inspired and awakened him to a lifelong commitment of spirituality. While still a student at UCSB, Ryan began sharing his yoga practice as a certified instructor in Santa Barbara California. With close to three years of intensive study in India, Ryan has grounded the roots of his teachings deep into Indian Philosophy, while integrating western principles of Anatomy and Physiology. Ryan continues to lead retreats and teach workshops internationally in both Yoga and Ayurveda.
Alongside his passion for teaching Yoga, Ryan is a practicing professional herbalist incorporating Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic principles for healing. Currently, Ryan is working toward a certification from the American Herbalist Guild, which is the most prestigious organization in the United States representing herbalists. Ryan is continuing to further his education with world-renowned herbalist and teacher, Karta Purkh Khalsa under a private mentorship.
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 Brian Sward | Program Leader
Born and raised in Ocean Beach, Brian graduates in 2008 from Point Loma
Nazarene University with a degree in business administration and an
entrepreneurial finance concentration. Currently he is a special education
substitute assistant for the San Diego Unified School District. He has
connected well with the local community through his schooling, a 6 year
experience at a local surf shop, and serving as a junior high youth leader
for 3 years.
Just because Brian has chosen to stay local, does not insinuate isolation.
He has traveled Baja extensively, rode many of the western State¹s
mountains, explored Fiji, traveled France, examined business in the Gold
Coast of Australia for a semester, and studied Castilian Spanish in the
Basque Country for a summer.
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 Courtney Feldt - Program Leader
Courtney Feldt lives in the small mountain community of Whitefish, Montana.
Located in northwest Montana, 25 miles from Glacier Park, Courtney lives
with her husband and dog and spends most of her time recreating outdoors.
Courtney graduated from Santa Clara University in 1996 with a B.S. in
Political Science. She spent her time volunteering and developing a
conflict resolution program for the University, and also played soccer.
After graduation, Courtney worked in Denver, Colorado for three years,
living the city life. After a business trip to Whitefish, she relocated and
discovered her true "home". After running a mentoring program for high
school girls for three years, she and her husband started an excavation
business, where she has learned various skills like driving a dump truck and
mastering bookkeeping. She enjoys working seasonally so she can travel and
ski during the winter months. Travels include Costa Rica, Panama, Thailand,
Mexico, Canada, France and Switzerland. Courtney is following in her
younger sister's traveling footsteps and hopes to continue to travel more on
her own and with World School adventures.
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