Illahee State Park

Jenny began her teaching career in 1995 in a small Arkansas town and has since taught preschool through college in Arkansas, Texas, and Washington states.  She holds a Masters in Early Childhood and Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University, and a BFA in Art Education from Baylor University.

Jenny is a fierce advocate for a child’s right to play and believes that truly play-based programs, like Magnolia, provide the best opportunity for young children to be creative, compassionate learners who embrace themselves and others with empathy, curiosity and joy.   What follows are self-regulation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Her belief that social-emotional development is the leading indicator of long-term school success informs her position as an educator.  Her mission is to graduate children from Magnolia who are not only academically successful but who also fully understand themselves and their value in our world.  And who love to learn!  She is a teacher first and believes that the outdoor environment is an ideal place for a child’s imagination to soar and relationships to flourish.

Jenny loves to crochet and knit children's book characters, and can be found doing so amongst the hundreds of children's books that line her office shelves.

Jenny has three sons, Connor, Sean, and Jackson, and a daughter, Grace.  One of her favorite roles is “Bunny” to her precious grandson, Samuel. And her cheeky Irish Setter, Clover Sue, keeps her on her toes with a sense of humor!   Jenny will forever be grateful for her late husband, Bob, who supplied her with constant laughter and believed in her dream of starting a “little preschool in the woods” so many years ago.  Without his love and support, none of this would have been possible.

Brandyn earned her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Grove City College, with a concentration in math and science. She taught high school science (i.e. biology, chemistry, physics and physical science) and loves to inspire children to revel in the intricacies of nature. She holds a master's degree from the University of Washington in Library and Information Science. She is passionate about empowering Magnolia staff through knowledge creation and management strategies so that many children can experience the transformative power of play-based forest school learning.

Brandyn believes that all children are innately artists, initiators of originality, and is dedicated to fostering this in their very first experiences at school. She has an extensive background in early childhood dance education and was the Artistic Director at Aspire Academy of Expressive Arts in Sequim prior to moving to Kitsap County. When inspiring children to dance, sing, and make music in forest school, she draws on her certification in American Ballet Theatre’s® National Training Curriculum, Music Together™, and the Brain Dance Method.

Brandyn is the mother of three children, ages 19, 15, and 14. She is championed by her husband of 22 years, a well-loved high school teacher in Kingston.

Alex is a graduate of Western Washington University with a degree in elementary education and literacy. She’s a certified K-8 teacher in Washington with experience in both primary and secondary grades. Teaching the foundations of literacy is her passion!

Alex and her husband Benjamin are parents to five kiddos all of whom have attended Magnolia! She has a deep love of learning and a passion for observing and facilitating lifelong learning in children. Magnolia has inspired and forever changed their family. The Magnolia philosophy has directly impacted their parenting and shifted the family dynamic in completely unexpected ways. Alex joined the Magnolia team as a teacher and then as the Parent Liaison in order to share the Magnolia Method with children and their families.

When not in the forest Alex is a flower farmer and loves to share her garden and home with others. She is often found with her nose in a book and loves to travel and cook. As a family they spend their time working and free ranging on the farm, exploring, camping, kayaking, and fishing.

Alex is thrilled to be experiencing the forest alongside children as they grow and develop in curiosity and insight together.