Our Director & Staff

About the Center | Board of Directors | Our Founder | Our Director & Staff | Our Sponsors

Carol Castanon

Carol has been working with families for 30 years both here in Ojai, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles.  Her work began as a volunteer with the Los Angeles School District in Special Education, nurturing a love for, and honoring the unique gifts in children and families.  “I was incredibly fortunate to work with colleagues who became mentors, and whose profound respect for children continues to inspire me today. They created a foundation of observing children, and asking the questions necessary to uncover what a child and adult perceives and needs.”  Carol has a degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College, and is a professional mediator with families, schools, foundations, and small businesses.  Her business includes facilitating communication and planning, parent education, staff development and training, observation and consultation for individual children and groups, and community workshops.

Carol is the parent of two sons, Ben (21) and Gabe (17).  Along with her husband, Dave, they home-schooled their boys for eight years.  “We took child-centered learning to the next level.  It was important that we followed the passion and interests of the boys, young men who now are passionate about music, history, literature, science, math, and friendships.  Schooling is a family choice, and finding the right match for your own family can be extremely satisfying.”

A note from Carol:

“I am honored to be part of this community, supporting the enduring and profound work of Nan Tolbert.  Nan and I worked together for several years, sharing the love and challenges of young families.  Our past director, Elizabeth Thasiah sustained Nan’s legacy and commitment to families pre-birth to three years of age.  I thank them both for the foundation on which the Ojai Valley Birth Resource and Family Support at the Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center will continue to grow.  My dream is for caregivers, parents, and children to have a second home to love, learn, play, support each other, and simply get good at being together.”

Elizabeth “Liz” Beem

Liz’s career experience includes Human Resources management for multi-national firms, supporting and executing quality customer service and office administration. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from UC, Santa Barbara, Liz pursued her interest in working with people by helping organizations develop a healthy and productive employee base. She and her husband moved back to the Ojai Valley after living in the Los Angeles area for a few years. There truly is “no place like home” and there is no place like Ojai. “We love the small-town feel and the support we have from our continually growing group of neighbors and friends.”

Liz is happy to now be connected with the Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center and its efforts to support the “little ones” in our community and looks forward to the continued success of the Center and all that it strives to accomplish.