I am a mother, educator, folk herbalist, and student of life. In the past ten years, I have worked with all ages, from preschool to high school, in both traditional and nontraditional settings. I hold a B.A. in Environmental Studies, a Masters in Elementary Education, and a teaching credential from the State of California. Most recently, I have been teaching for The Ecology Center’s EcoTots and Microgreens programs. As an educator my hope is to cultivate ever-curious, lifelong learners who view the world as their classroom, never ceasing their quest for knowledge. I believe in the value of play, self-directedness, and hands-on experiences in learning.​ I grew up in Orange County within walking distance to Peter’s Canyon and Irvine Regional Parks. Spending many hours in those open spaces, I always felt a deep connection with our plant, animal, mineral, and fungal kin, and I knew from a young age I wanted to be a voice for the voiceless with whom we share this Earth. What started as making potions in my mud kitchen as a child, has blossomed into a love for folk herbalism, using everyday plant allies for healing and vitality. In high school I spent two summers as a camp counselor for the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center, where I led people of all ages through enriching outdoor activities, such as zip lining, rock climbing, nature hikes, sustainability education, and more. After high school I went to college at University of Oregon to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and a Minor in Food Studies. It was there in Eugene, OR, home to the Grow Food Not Lawns movement, where I discovered my deep love and passion for regenerative farming practices and growing healing, medicinal home gardens. In Oregon I spent much of my free time working alongside school garden initiatives for a variety of ages, in both public schools as well as with a Reggio Emilia-inspired co-op. After college my partner, Ambison, and I moved to Santa Barbara and I worked as a Special Education Paraeducator in a public high school. This experience made it very clear to me that I wanted to pursue the path of education, and I knew I had a calling to work with children. Then, during Spring of 2020, everything went online. I saw firsthand the effects that virtual learning had on my students and I felt disillusioned with the philosophies and practices behind traditional schooling. Wanting to work in a hands-on environment, Ambison and I left for Maui during Fall 2020 to work on a biodynamic farm and nonprofit, Lokelani Ohana, which provides community education and therapeutic workshops for adults with disabilities. At Lokelani Ohana as I learned biodynamic farming practices, I also grew to know more about Rudolf Steiner, anthroposophy, Camphill Communities, and Waldorf education. After 6 months on Maui, with the news that we would become parents, we came back to Southern California to be closer to our families. Since then I have been a full-time mom and completed a Masters in Education and Teaching Credential program with Western Governors University. In January 2024 I started leading Waldorf-inspired EcoTots and Microgreens classes at The Ecology Center. I am so excited to join the Head Heart Hands community and dive more deeply into Waldorf teaching at our intensive training this summer.