Silverwood

Born and raised in small-town Iowa, Taylor has always been fascinated by the ability of the environment to influence how we develop, think, and feel. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture with a minor in psychology and a Master of Landscape Architecture with an emphasis on environmental psychology and risky play, both from Iowa State University. She is a member of the International Play Association, the United States Play Coalition, and the Washington Nature Preschool Association.

Taylor has spent much of her life working with children, and she strives to continue to see the world with the wonder and joy of a child. She loves to climb, play, and spend time in nature, is a passionate musician, and starts every day with a strong cup of coffee and a song.

Holly graduated from Washington State University in 2012 with two degrees, one in Philosophy and the other in Human Development with an emphasis in Family Studies. She enjoyed her time in Pullman, WA immensely and even met her husband, Cody, there. Born and raised in western Washington though, she has always been drawn back to the mountains and the trees.

Holly’s professional background includes roles in both childcare and ministry, as a Teacher and Project Manager. She took time off to stay home with her two children, Luke and Riley, but felt the desire to return to meaningful, community-based work outside the home. Magnolia was the perfect fit!

Holly is excited to join the Magnolia team after watching her oldest son’s growth in the program last year. She has seen firsthand the benefits of outdoor education and Magnolia’s play-based mode. She can’t wait to share that magic with all the new and returning families this year.

Growing up in western Massachusetts, Megan spent her childhood exploring and playing outside. As she grew up, her love of the outdoors was matched only by her love of Spanish language and culture. After high school, she took a gap year to study in Zaragoza, Spain. She returned home to continue her Spanish studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. It was during this time, she met her husband, a United States Navy Submariner. Together they have two children and have lived in Pearl Harbor, HI, Groton, CT and now Kitsap County, WA.

Megan has always enjoyed working with children and seeing the world through their curious eyes. She has worked as a military spouse support group president, planning activities for families of deployed service members as well as a soccer coach for kids ages 2.5-6 years old.
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As a mother to two children who attended Magnolia Forest Preschool, Megan saw how profoundly Magnolia’s principles helped foster self-confidence as well as social and emotional growth in her own children. As a teacher, she looks forward to spending her days in the forest, facilitating play and supporting children as they grow and learn about themselves, others and nature. She likes to spend her free time adventuring outside, baking and crafting with her kids.

Amanda was born and raised in Washington state. She is a wife and mother to three children and has been lucky enough to be a stay at home mother for the last 2.5 years. She has valued this time at home, spending one on one time together, learning and growing together.

She previously worked as a preschool teacher and in early childhood ministry, as well as a substitute teacher for the local school district. She loves teaching and working with children. She decided to pursue early childhood education again so that she and her son could be together while pursuing a meaningful preschool experience for him and where they could both be around like-minded individuals.

Amanda is excited to join the Magnolia team and spend her days outdoors. She has read about and witnessed the benefits of play-based, outdoor education with her son and is looking forward to observing and experiencing it in others. She hopes to share her passion for the outdoors, a simpler way of learning and letting kids be kids again.

Jes is from Charleston, SC and grew up spending most of her childhood outside either at the beach or with neighborhood friends. Having two younger siblings with a range of disabilities, from deafness to autism, she learned the power of early childhood practices and the power of learning through play. This led her to earning her bachelors in Early Childhood and Family Studies at the University of Washington. She became an advocate for outdoor education after student teaching in an outdoor preschool in Norway where she saw the benefits of outdoor play first hand.

She has both a deep love for nature and a passion for exploration through travel. She believes that many lessons are learned through personal experience, and cherish her time traveling via motorbike, train, and boat across parts of Europe, South East Asia, and Australia. Working for National Geographic eco cruise ships for several years also showed her some of nature's gems, and provoked a deeper desire for conservation and preserving natural spaces. Washington is one of her favorite places in the world and feels lucky to be so close to both mountains and the ocean.

Jes believes that the formative years are critical for healthy brain development and that play is essential. Play fosters neurological development ranging from memory, perception, imaginative play, self regulation, motor skills, and so much more! Play is the language of childhood, it is our responsibility to allow children to have that voice and to explore the world around them as they grow.