top of page

OUR TEACHERS

Our team of highly-skilled educators is here to help your child grow and reach their potential. We believe in supporting and engaging the whole child, inside and out, in this critical stage of their development. Please learn more about our broader educational philosophies and values here, as well as our unprecedented teacher benefits. 

Current and prospective parents are encouraged to follow us on social media @growingwildforestschool on Instagram and Facebook. 

Eliza_New 21.png
Amanda.jpg
Jessie.jpg
IMG_5177.jpg

Mica Whitmire | Teacher

Mica has worked with children and young adults for over ten years as a counselor, caregiver, facilitator, and teacher. He particularly likes helping young children be aware of their feelings, speak their needs in clear and kind ways, and using silliness, play, and roleplaying to work with deeper issues in a fun and productive way. He is a trained permaculturalist and gardener, musician, storyteller, poet, and performer, and is initiated with the Mankind Project of Asheville. He advocates for social, ecological, and economic justice in the world, and is dedicated to practicing a life where all beings are treated with respect, affection, and care.

 

 

Eliza apprentices herself to the beauty in nature, Earthly cycles and tending plants. She delights in sharing these passions with youth and is endlessly inspired by the way children connect in the forest. She believes that youth mentorship in nature is a vital part of reweaving a healthy and connected culture for tomorrow. In 2017-2018, she participated in Wild Leaders Immersion, a 9-month long nature connection, leadership and cultural transformation program with local leaders in nature and community-based programming, including the directors of Forest Floor. She has a background in writing and herbalism, and she loves to sing, craft and tell old stories.

 

Amanda Islambouli| Teacher

Amanda has lived her life passionately devoted to children and humanitarian causes. She has a background of STEM education in diverse classrooms and of non-profit fundraising with global children and environmental non-profits. She delights in connecting children to nature and science, and in the general daily silliness of working with young children. Whether it is healthy living, cultivating a loving connection to all living beings, or using one's imagination, Amanda is always excited to instill lessons that may carry children forward into a holistically happy and healthy future. 

Jessie Thistlegrove |  Teacher

Jessie is a devoted naturalist and parent of two.  She delights in bringing spontaneous teaching/learning experiences to life in the natural world, with her background in wilderness training, musical theatre, craft and childhood development.  Having graduated from New College of CA with a major in Art and Social Change and a minor in Ecopsychology, she has taught in an outdoor Montessori pre-school in Sebastopol, and as a kindergarten teacher in Thailand.   Her work and wishes are for young people to find balance, communication skills, and a sense of place, in order to spawn a thriving local community that values life, connection and healthy cycles.  

 

 

Stephanie Thomas | Substitute Teacher 

Stephanie has been serving children and their families since 2013. She revels in spending time in nature, especially on snowy or rainy days. Her experience as a forest school educator began in 2017 in the California Redwoods. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development with a concentration in early childhood development from CSU East Bay, as well as three teaching credentials. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Human Development through Pacific Oaks College. Her hopes are to expand her learning as a wilderness immersion educator. Stephanie is an avid animal lover and her hobbies include reading fantasy novels, theater acting, and stargazing.

Eliza Rose Laubach | Teacher

Grace Upshaw | Substitute Teacher

Grace is a passionate educator and mentor who has found deep joy and fulfillment in her nine years of working with children. Teaching in settings from traditional and Montessori classrooms to earthskills gatherings and nature-based programs of all kinds, she has taken every opportunity to hone her skills at supporting children to learn, grow, and thrive. A trained ecologist and musician, Grace holds a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Lees-McRae and is always ready to weave environmental education and music and movement into the school day. She believes in the power of nature connection to help humans of all ages to become more fully themselves as they learn to feel at home on the earth.

You can also get to know our teachers better on our YouTube channel!

 

Additional administrative and financial support is provided by The Forest School Foundation.

Want to join us as a Forest School Educator, or are you a parent who is curious about our employee benefits? Our new CAREERS page is coming soon! Until then, please Subscribe to our mailing list to stay in the know.

bottom of page