Sequim Bay

Jenny holds a Masters in Early Childhood and Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University and a BFA in Art Education (PreK-12) from Baylor University. She began her teaching career 27 years ago in a small Arkansas town and has since taught ages preschool-college in Arkansas, Texas, and Washington States.  

Jenny is a fierce advocate for a child’s right to play and believes that a play-based program provides the best opportunity for young children to learn self-regulation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. There is empirical evidence that shows that social-emotional development is the leading indicator of long-term school success and that is what informs her position as an educator.  Her goal is to graduate children from Magnolia who are not only successful academically, but who are empathetic and kind human beings.  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 has two children, Jackson and Grace, and two stepsons, Connor and Sean. Jackson is working on his degree in Elementary Education and has worked at Magnolia as a teacher, starting at Summer Camps, since 2019.  Grace was one of the OG camp counselors when Magnolia opened in 2018 and is currently a supervisor at Wet Noses Dry Paws combining her passions for dogs and organization.  Connor and Sean are pursuing their careers in L.A. and Tacoma. Her husband, Bob, supplies her with constant love and laughter.

Jenny is a Washington state native who has recently moved to the Olympic Peninsula. Her bachelor's degree is in Early Childhood Education and she has a master's degree in Applied Behavioral Science. She has taught in a variety of settings and is most passionate about the ones that incorporate multiple ages, curiosity, collaboration and laughter.

Jenny believes in the power of play and experiential learning for humans of all sizes and stages of development and loves to find joy in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life. She has two adult children she continues to be proud of and a husband who she loves to go on adventures with.

In her free time you will find Jenny in her garden, trying out a new recipe, exploring nature or snuggled on the couch with a book and her animals.

Liz recently relocated from the east coast where she was an art teacher for twenty-one years. She has one Masters degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a second from the NYU Steinhardt School of Education.

Liz is thrilled to be part the Magnolia team! She loves the magic that happens when children come together with excitement and curiosity. Outside of her time at school, she enjoys exploring her passion for art and spending time outdoors with her family.

Makaela is a new resident of the PNW, originally from Kansas. She spent several years in Colorado getting a degree in culinary and pastry arts. Afterwards, Makaela spent time in central Washington where she earned her degree in psychology. Makaela has experience working in the mental health field but has always had a calling to work with children. She has experience working with children with behavioral challenges as well as children on the ADHD and autism spectrum. Makaela is familiar with positive discipline and the Montessori method but loves the philosophy at Magnolia Forest Preschool.

Due to her time working in the mental health field, Makaela values the importance of teaching emotional regulation.

Makaela spends her free making art and cooking from scratch. Makaela loves to encourage children to explore their creativity whether it is through art or play.

Jacob has long been passionate about human development and potential, as well as the natural environment as a teacher. While his formal education took him down the path of Aviation Sciences (Jacob holds his FAA Flight Instructor License), his passions turned him into an autodidact in regards to curating understanding, empathy, and curiosity in others. Alongside teaching adults how to fly fixed-wing aircraft, he found an outlet for this passion in wilderness therapy, working with adolescents and young adults, as well as mentoring and working with kids in foster care. Jacob has also been an advisor to executives holding contracts with the DOD.

It wasn’t until his son was born in April 2023, that he discovered the immeasurable joys working with young children. A child’s brain is developing at such a higher rate than an adults, you can see the connections being made. Jacob quickly became fascinated at the speed in which young children metabolize new information, and he grew excited at the potential in helping kids create social-emotional regulation and resilience from the get-go, as he has seen first-hand the effects of lacking these imperative skills. As soon as Jacob learned about the ethos of Magnolia Forest Preschool, it clicked for him, bringing together his passion and understanding of human development. And he can think of no better place than outside, in a natural setting, for this to occur.

Jacob recently moved to Port Angeles with his family to be closer to more family. While he grew up in Utah, he loves the climate of the North Olympic Peninsula Coast, and you will find him playing in the mountains, on the coast, or maybe snuggling in front of a fire.