Pine Ridge

Amber is a Seattle native who has a passion for early childhood development, as a facilitator for the Free Forest School of Seattle and working parent at Woodland Park Co-operative Preschool. She believes that child-led outdoor free play is instrumental in instilling a genuine love of learning, discovery, and a lifelong connection to nature.

She is involved in the community, as the Program Coordinator for the Roots to Shoots children’s program at the Queen Anne Farmer’s Market. This program teaches children about fruits and vegetables and has a different craft every week. She also works with the Fremont Arts Council as a Coordinator, leading the Children’s Float in the Fremont Solstice Parade.

She is excited to bring her creative skills to Magnolia, fostering imaginative play and developing social/emotional skills in a stimulating and serene environment. Her child, Lucian, will also be attending the program this year, whom has been raised the Forest School way. Looking forward to jumping in mud puddles, celebrating the changing seasons, playing in fairy gardens, and smelling the roses together.

Dante graduated from Sonoma State University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development. Two weeks after graduating, she started working at a Residential Treatment Center for teenage boys and was working there for the last four years before moving to Washington to pursue her Master's degree.

Dante has started a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at Bastyr University. She has always been passionate about working with children, and is excited to watch preschool children play and grow in nature. Her absolute favorite place is the forest!

Her spare time is spent hiking, swimming, going to the gym, and listening to music (favorite is live). Dante is looking forward to impacting the lives of our Magnolia children while pursuing her education to become a Licensed Mental Health Clinician.

Ly is a co-facilitator and co-creator of communities and learning opportunities for early childhood-adult learners. She believes all beings are equal and deserve to be loved and cared for. That means inviting the presence of the whole self and the Earth in and within her work. She is centered on care, co-creation, and interconnection to make our own meaningful transformations.

In 2020, she came to the U.S. to pursue a master's at Portland State University, studying Leadership for Sustainable Education through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. She also completed the Forest Therapy Guide training and is practicing as a certified Forest and Nature Bathing Guide. In both her personal and professional life, Ly has been weaving possibilities of who she is, what she has been dreaming, and what she has been doing. This possibility is guided by slowing down, observing, listening to wisdom from the Earth and others, reflecting, and connecting more deeply to ourselves, our communities, and our surroundings. And Magnolia provides the environment where she wants to learn and practice how we can all nourish and be nourished with the Earth.

Since graduating from Seattle University in 2016 with a BA in English, Connor has spent the last few years working with youth around the world in both traditional classroom and outdoor settings. In 2018 he moved to Hanoi, Vietnam and taught ESL to young learners and teens followed by a stint in Costa Rica.

Upon returning to the US at the onset of the COVID pandemic, Connor mentored youth at a Boys & Girls Club and a wilderness therapy camp for teens in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. Most recently, he gained experience with early childhood learners in a Montessori preschool here in Seattle and is eager to get back to an outdoor setting.

He believes in creating space for children to tell their own stories and gain confidence in their voice because every child is full of insight worth sharing with the world. Connor has found the outdoors best accommodates a child’s imagination that’s primed to run freely with the creatures and space around them.

Terry has an MA in education and teaching experience in primary grades at international
schools in Hong Kong, Poland, Thailand and Korea as well as in Northwest preschools. She
was grade level team leader, served on accreditation teams for the Western Association of
Schools and Colleges, and presented at International Teacher Conferences. As a lifelong
learner, she frequently participated in or led teacher workshops both in the US and overseas.
Terry uses collaborative learning and the Reggio Emilia method, teaching from the view that
every child is born with preparedness, curiosity and interest, constructing their own learning,
building relationships, and holding their own values as well as respect for others as they interact
with other children, adults, and their environment.

Terry and her family traveled independently in 26 countries and many regions of the US to
experience different cultures. She speaks German and Polish, enjoys learning new skills,
reading, camping and hiking. Her experience includes trekking in Nepal and Switzerland,
coaching Middle School and High School cross country, community races and running five
marathons. Finding that being active outdoors builds both physical and mental health, she
organized and participated in two 200 Mile Challenge events in support of food banks during the
pandemic.

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Terry looks forward to collaborating with staff at Magnolia Forest School in outdoor learning and
experiencing the joy of seeing the world through the eyes of children.

Jayden is currently a student at Shoreline Community College working forwards her Associates of the Arts Degree in Kinesiology. She plans to enroll into the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Lake Washington Institute of Technology after graduating from Shoreline CC and also take some time to travel the country. She hopes to specialize in pediatrics during her career to help kids gain skills for their future.

Jayden has been working with kids from a young age as a result from being the oldest child of the family. She was also a counselor at Beach Camp at Sunset Bay where she taught children the basic skills in many different watersports and about the marine biology that lives here in the Puget Sound. She’s also a nanny outside of Magnolia and just finished an internship at a pediatric occupational therapy clinic.

When she has spare time, she likes to spend it listening to music, thrift shopping, going on adventures, and trying new things. Jayden also loves going camping and to concerts whenever she can. She’s so excited to join Magnolia and to make many new little friends in the great outdoors!

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Jeremy is a graduate from the University of Washington with a Bachelors in International Studies and a minor in Global health. He currently works as a full-time fire fighter for the Northshore department and is a certified emergency medical technician. He is fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese and has a background in public speaking. In his public speaking background he has worked with many local elementary and middles schools in the greater Washington area. Jeremy is also a 2016 olympian in the decathlon for team USA and has worked with many youth athletes during his sports career.

He believes in meeting everyone with an abundance of kindness and love and helping give people the tools they need to succeed. He is excited to work with young children to be able to guide them through their developmental milestones and instill kindness, empathy and imagination for others in their community. Jeremy is also looking forward to being in an all outdoor setting, he believes being outdoors is a fundamental part of growing and connecting with the natural world.

In his spare time Jeremy works on an organic farm in Woodinville. He applies his sustainable farming techniques to his home life as well. He also loves expressing his creativity and using his imagination playing D&D on a weekly basis. He is an avid reader and always loves to be outside moving. He is excited to be in the forest and be a part of the Magnolia Teaching staff!