Favorite quote: We are what we believe we are.— C.S. Lewis  

About: Kayla was born and raised on California’s Central Coast, where her love for the outdoors and deep connection to place first took root. She now lives in Bigfork and is grateful to call the Flathead Valley home. With more than 17 years of experience teaching learners from preschool through adulthood, Kayla has dedicated her life to education, program development, and community-centered learning.

Her work is grounded in the belief that learning is a lifelong, relational process and that nature plays a vital role in human development and well-being. Recognizing a need for nature-based education in the Flathead Valley, Kayla is proud to be part of a growing movement that honors curiosity, creativity, and connection to the natural world.

Education: Kayla holds a Bachelor of Science in Culture and Communications and a Master of Education with a focus on Early Childhood. She completed Waldorf Foundations training through the Rudolf Steiner Centre Toronto and Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Education at Sophia’s Hearth. She has also studied nature-based education through The Association for Nature-Based Education.

Kayla is currently pursuing her PhD in Psychology, with a focus on policy, advocacy, and the human experience across the lifespan.

Loves: Hiking, baking, gardening, relaxing on the lakeshore, and spending time with her husband, son, and all her farm animals.

Favorite quote:  Today’s Procrastination is tomorrow’s regret. - Jim Rohn

About: Payten was born and raised in Northeast South Dakota, where she grew up in the country with many different animals. She has a very large family and is one of 44 grandchildren, which is only from one side! Payten has been around children her whole life and has worked in childcare for many years, although she grew up in the restaurant business and knows how to make a mean omelet. Before working in childcare, Payten was a CNA for years, where she grew to love caring for people and making new friends. Payten loves traveling, and that is what brought her to land in Bigfork, Montana, two years ago.

Education: Payten is currently expanding her leadership skills through Waldorf administration and education courses at the Sophia Institute, where she is deepening her understanding of holistic school governance, child development, and the spiritual foundation of Waldorf-inspired education. Peyton also holds an associate's degree in business and is a certified nursing assistant.

Loves: Hiking, Snowshoeing, skiing, running, traveling, crocheting, crafting, photography, and spending time with family.

Favorite quote: The wonder of teaching is watching caterpillars become butterflies. - unknown

About: Kate was born and raised in Kalispell, Montana, where she developed a deep love for the outdoors from an early age. She spent much of her childhood exploring the mountains, rivers, and forests of the Flathead Valley—often alongside her father, who taught her how to hunt, fish, and appreciate the quiet wisdom of nature. Kate has traveled extensively and has visited 25 different countries around the world.

Kate and her husband welcomed their first child—a beautiful baby boy who has already become a beloved addition to the RSS family. Kate brings with her a strong sense of community, connection, and a deep appreciation for both adventure and home.

Education: Kate has completed many Waldorf early childhood classes, including The First Three Years of Life and Early Childhood Education from Sophia Institute. Kate is the first certified RIE® instructor in Montana and is currently completing her ECE admin degree.

Loves: Hunting, Fishing, Hiking, being outdoors, and spending time with family.

Favorite Quote: 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 experience practicing and teaching various Polynesian cultural art forms. 

Loves: Community Organizing, Linguistics, and Fun Facts!

Favorite Quote: 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, where summers were spent 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 a sense of wonder, reverence, and respect for the natural world in young learners and finds great joy in sharing this way of life with her two daughters.

Education: Jordyn has over ten years 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 and outdoor learning. This discovery deeply resonated with her values and educational philosophy. She remains inspired by Waldorf education’s holistic, nature-centered approach 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.

Favorite Quote: “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.

Favorite quote: A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove… but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child. – Forest E. Witcraft

About: Baylie was born and raised between the beaches of Cape Cod and the mountains of the Adirondacks, she grew up with a deep appreciation for nature and adventure. At 18, her curiosity led her across the country to Washington, where her love for road trips truly began.

In 2020, she found healing and grounding in nature, spending nearly every day exploring the Olympic Mountains—and falling in love with the rain along the way. In 2023, feeling ready for something new, she set off again—this time heading east to the Flathead Valley in search of more mountains and deeper community. Despite all her travels, nowhere has ever felt more like home than the Flathead.

With over a decade of experience in childcare, her journey began as a camp counselor at the summer camp she attended for 13 years. After relocating to the Pacific Northwest, she took on roles in nannying and homeschooling. Baylie’s committed to ongoing growth in her work and is currently completing her associate’s degree at Flathead Community College, while continuing professional development through additional training courses.

Loves: Road trips, gardening, exploring, hiking with her two pups, and spending time with her chosen family.

Rhyanna (Ray) and Tierra