Our Team

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. 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, running, hiking, and hanging out with her three kids.

Madi Loftis

Co-Teacher

Madi Loftis has been teaching at nature preschools for the past five years. She has her associates degree in early childhood education and is currently working on her nature based teaching certificate through the Forest School Teacher Institute. Madi aims to inspire children to be life-long learners and enjoys joining in their inquisitiveness and growth over the school year. In her spare time Madi enjoys cross country skiing, trail running, and mountain biking with her husband, Clayton, and their two dogs Bear and Knute.

Kayla Lehrman

Little Acorns (formerly Two & You) Teacher

Kayla Lehrman loves child-led play and helping families learn about social and emotional development. She has her bachelors degree and teaching certificate with an endorsement in early childhood. She also has experience leading families in outdoor learning and nature play. Kayla believes even the youngest of learners are capable, creative and full of grit. She can’t wait to explore together! When she’s not teaching you can find Kayla chasing her three young children around. Ms. Kayla loves to be outside, especially near water, gardening, reading and going on walks with her family.

Danessa Manasco

Assistant Teacher

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.

Shanon McBride

Co-Teacher

Shannon McBride has a passion for early childhood education and with her own young kiddos at home she brings an abundance of patience, empathy, and energy to our school. Finding ways to make education fun is what creates life-long learners, and to Ms. Shannon you are never too old or too young to learn something new! She will be finishing her undergraduate degree in elementary education soon and hopes to become an elementary music teacher. Ms. Shannon has traveled to seven different countries and loves all things musical theater and outdoor recreation. Rain or shine, you will most likely find her outside puddle jumping with her sons or enjoying a hike with her high school sweetheart.

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.