Our Team
Amber Blair
Spanish Dual-language Teacher
Amber Blair studied early childhood education at Clark College and learned Spanish while living in Mexico as a child. With over a decade of teaching experience, her greatest joy comes from nurturing lifelong learners. Ms. Amber is passionate about exploring new worlds through culture, language, and art. She helps children connect to diverse experiences by turning language learning into an exciting adventure. Outside of teaching, she loves spending time with her husband of thirty years, her children, grandchildren, and dogs, and enjoys traveling internationally, RV adventures, beach outings, kayaking, and tending to the three acres of land around her home.
Stacey Borchardt
Assistant Teacher; Little Acorns Teacher
Stacey Borchardt believes that learning should be an experience filled with laughter, curiosity, and perseverance. She holds a BS in Integrated Elementary Education with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies. Her approach to teaching fosters an environment where children and adults alike are encouraged to explore and grow at their own pace, embracing mistakes as stepping stones to success. Outside of the classroom, she cherishes spending time outdoors and traveling with her family, photography, a strong cup of iced coffee, and a good 'ole fashion emo concert.
Bailey Hartman
Co-Teacher
Bailey Hartman holds B.S. in animal science from Cal Poly. Ms. Bailey's passion for teaching sparked while working at a small zoo, where she enjoyed giving talks to visiting children and witnessing their excitement for the animals. This inspiration led her to become an outdoor preschool teacher in 2019. Ms. Bailey integrates her love for animals, nature, and gardening into her teaching approach, which emphasizes Reggio-style, place-based, and child-led education. Recently relocated to Vancouver, she is pursuing her M.S. in Leadership Sustainability Education at Portland State. Outside of school, Ms. Bailey enjoys hiking with her partner, traveling with her family, and practicing her art by illustrating stories.
Kara Landry
Director
Kara Landry has a Masters of Teaching and Learning with an Early Childhood endorsement and has been working with children and families for over 20 years. Kara is a caring, devoted, and enthusiastic educator and loves learning alongside both students and staff. Her dedication to child-led, nature based learning is enhanced by her past work at Waldorf and Montessori schools and her own childhood in the woods and mountains of New Hampshire. In her free time Kara loves gardening, reading, watching birds, hiking, and hanging out with her husband and her three kids.
Angus Hennig
Co-Teacher
With a B.A. from Evergreen College and hands-on experience at their childcare center and Forest Farm, Angus Hennig brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to nurturing young minds. Since high school, he has been dedicated to guiding children as they flourish through play, curiosity, and creativity. Mr. Angus has a passion for the arts as well as education, and it shines through in everything he does—whether it's drawing, painting, sculpting, or crocheting, Angus is always crafting something special! In his free time, you can find him drawing, diving into a good book, or tending to his yard & garden.
Danessa Manasco
Teacher Assistant
Danessa Manasco started as a Teacher’s Aide at St. Andrew Nature Preschool in 2020 and even attended St. Andrew herself as a child! She loves working at St. Andrew because she gets to see the kids learn and grow into themselves and explore their interests. She especially enjoys observing what the children are interested in and then providing ways for them to investigate those interests further. Ms. Danessa also loves her family, her dog Gunner, riding ATVs, spending time in the mountains, and the color purple.
Alondra Rivera
Areli Torres
Co-Teacher
Areli Torres hails from a small town north of Seattle. She recently graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelors in Elementary Education and a minor in bilingual education and ESL. Since childhood she has been actively involved in helping her family, siblings, and community, and has worked professionally with children for the past 9 years. Ms. Areli fosters a warm, safe, and engaging environment where young children feel respected, happy, and eager to discover and learn through play. In her free time she enjoys visiting the coast and spending time with family, exploring new places, taking her toddler to the indoor playground and parks.
Mary Wells
Co-Teacher
Mary Wells is a longtime early childhood educator with over 20 years experience in the field. She has an Associate’s degree and is working on her Bachelor’s in Child Development. Mary loves to come alongside children as they explore the world around them, especially in the garden which she has always planted, tended, and learned from with her students. Mary believes that the classroom, both indoors and out, should be a safe, fun, and stimulating place that motivates each child’s development. When not at school, Ms. Mary loves to read, hike, and spend time at the beach and nearby lakes and rivers.