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.

Tom has a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition and Culinary Arts, and received Birth Doula training from Bastyr University. They have volunteered with Open Arms Perinatal Services as a pre/postnatal Doula, serving marginalized birth parents in the Seattle area. Tom has also worked as a volunteer cook at Operation Sack Lunch, serving Seattle’s homeless community.

As a child (and adult), Tom spent most of their time outside in the woods exploring, playing, imagining, dreaming and learning. As a queer/trans, gender non-conforming, birth-parent, Tom Crowley-Thomas has a passion for fostering equitable learning spaces and empowering students.

Currently, Tom is working on a degree in Psychology/Social Work and believes social emotional learning is paramount during formative Pre-K years. Making this connection to the land is foundational. In their free time, Tom loves to make up songs for their child, read poetry, ride their Vespa, play music with their band and spend time in the garden.

Hailing from the windy steppes of southeastern Wyoming, Nathanael discovered the Pacific Northwest in college and, after much roaming and many adventures, relocated there permanently with his wife Martha in 2019. Their daughter Inkeri was born in 2022, and currently attends Magnolia’s Evergreen Valley Class.

Nathanael holds degrees in Journalism and Education, and worked most recently as a middle school teacher in English Language Arts in the South Kitsap School District. During an extended sabbatical as a stay-at-home dad, however, he was plunged into the fascinating world of early learners, and has continued that journey as a part-time teacher at Magnolia.