Anna, M.Ed. | Assistant Director

I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.
— Louisa May Alcott

About: Anna grew up in a close-knit community in the Ozarks of Arkansas, surrounded by family and nearby farms. After traveling across the United States with her husband, including all 48 contiguous states, they settled in Montana's Flathead Valley.

Education: Anna holds a bachelor's degree in Professional Studies with a focus on Professional Leadership from Arkansas Tech University and a Master of Education in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis, completed in 2025.

She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA).

Her professional experience includes providing Applied Behavior Analysis services to children and adults across home, school, clinical, and community settings. She has supported individuals with autism, ADHD, and a variety of developmental and behavioral needs.

Anna believes that meaningful education begins with connection, understanding, and empathy. Her experiences working with individuals with diverse abilities have shaped her commitment to recognizing each child's unique strengths, needs, and ways of experiencing the world.

She values creating supportive environments where children feel understood, relationships are prioritized, and learning is approached with compassion and curiosity.

Loves: Exploring Glacier National Park, hiking, mountain biking, skiing, reading, and spending time with her husband and their two dachshunds.

Lena | Language Teacher, Forest Skola® Guide

Each one teach one.
— African American Traditional

About: Lena is a cultural performer and educator raised on the Kumayaay-Ipai homelands. As a Hula dancer and daughter/granddaughter of cultural practitioners, she learned a deep reverence for the natural world and a reciprocal relationship with the plants, animals, rocks, waters, and winds. As a student at SKC, Lena has also been lucky enough to learn about the Flathead Valley from Salish and Blackfeet relations and is passionate about passing on this value of stewardship to the next generations.

Education: Lena comes from a background in Special Education, including ABA, American Sign Language, and various forms of nonverbal communication (AAC). She also has 15+ years of experience practicing and teaching various Polynesian cultural art forms.

Loves: Community Organizing, Linguistics, and Fun Facts!

Jordyn | Tots Guide, Forest Skola® Summer Camp Guide

Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.

— John Muir

About: Jordyn grew up in Bigfork, Montana, spending summers at Swan Lake and riding horses with her family. These early experiences fostered a deep, lifelong connection to the outdoors and shaped the way she engages with children today. She is passionate about nurturing wonder, reverence, and respect for the natural world in young learners, and she finds great joy in sharing this way of life with her two daughters.

Education: Jordyn has over a decade of experience in early childhood education and holds her preschool certification. She spent four years working in a Montessori setting, which led her to explore further and discover Waldorf-inspired and outdoor learning. This discovery deeply resonated with her values and educational philosophy. She remains inspired by the holistic, nature-centered approach of Waldorf education and looks forward to growing within the Waldorf community.

Loves: Gardening, fly fishing, hunting, baking, and spending meaningful time outdoors with her husband and daughters.

Ashlynn | Saplings Preschool Guide

The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.
— Rumi

About: Ashlynn was born and raised in Arizona, with family roots in Polson, Montana, and today is grateful to call the mountains of Bigfork, Montana, home. Her connection to this place is grounded in a love for slower rhythms, open skies, and time spent outdoors.

Education: Ashlynn’s path to early childhood education has been shaped by many meaningful roles, including years spent as a nanny, family photographer, and working within a pediatric optical center. Although she built a successful career in tech administration and business, she felt a consistent pull toward work that was more relational, hands-on, and heart-centered. After moving to Montana, she followed that calling into early childhood education, where she feels deeply at home.

With fourteen years of experience as a ballerina, Ashlynn brings a strong sense of rhythm, movement, and creative expression into her work with children. She values presence, patience, and authentic connection, and believes children thrive when learning is rooted in calm, curiosity, and gentle guidance. Ashlynn is passionate about supporting children in environments that honor wonder, creativity, and the unfolding of each child’s unique development.

Loves: Paddleboarding, photography, travel, creative arts, music, and spending time outdoors with her husband and their two pups.

Grace, Assistant Guide | Saplings Preschool, Tots

“It’s always a good day to have a great day!”
— Unknown

About
Grace grew up in a large family in a small town in Oklahoma, while spending summers immersed in the natural beauty of Bigfork, Montana. Her childhood was rooted in outdoor exploration, fostering a lifelong connection to nature and a deep appreciation for the world around her.

One of the greatest influences in Grace’s life has been growing up alongside her older sister, who has autism. Through both sibling connection and caregiving experiences, she developed a strong sense of empathy, patience, and a passion for supporting children and individuals in reaching their fullest potential.

Education
Grace brings both personal and professional experience to her work with children and families. She has training in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), which has strengthened her ability to provide thoughtful, individualized, and compassionate support within the learning environment.

Loves
Hiking, yoga, music, and any activity that keeps her grounded, creative, and energized! 

Presley, Assistant Guide | Pinewood, Forest Skola®

“What if I fall?’ Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?”
— Erin Hanson

About: Presley grew up in West Texas, where her love of nature began on her family’s ranch, spending her days exploring creeks, building forts, and riding horses. Over the past two years, she and her husband have traveled across the United States, working on a variety of ranches and experiencing diverse landscapes.

Her passion for working with children began as the eldest of four and grew through years of babysitting, where she loved encouraging outdoor play, creativity, and imagination.

Education: She has worked in both public and private schools with children ranging from age one through 5th grade. She is currently pursuing a degree in Elementary Education and plans to emphasize Early Childhood Education.

Loves: Reading, spending time with her dog Finn, photography, antique and thrift shopping, painting, and drawing.

Kate | Lead Nursery Guide

Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar.
— Bradley Miller

About: Born and raised in Kalispell, Montana, Kate grew up with a deep appreciation for nature, spending much of her childhood hunting, fishing, and exploring the outdoors with her father. Her love of adventure has taken her to 25 countries, but Montana remains home.

Education: Kate brings 10 years of experience working with young children, with a particular focus on infants and toddlers. She has completed Waldorf early childhood studies through the Sophia Institute, including coursework focused on the first three years of life.

She is also RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers) certified, bringing a respectful, relationship-centered approach to caring for infants and toddlers. Kate believes that children thrive when they are respected as capable individuals and given the freedom to explore and develop at their own pace. She values nurturing relationships, thoughtful observation, and child-led discovery.

Her approach emphasizes trust, connection, and creating a peaceful environment where even the youngest children feel safe, secure, and valued.

Loves: Spending time outdoors with her family—hunting, fishing, hiking, and sharing her appreciation for nature with those around her.