Director & 4-Day Teacher

Sarah spent six years teaching at the Shaker Heights Cooperative Preschool before joining forces with Angela in the forest in 2020 with the newly created Shaker Forest School.

She holds her level 1 nature-based teacher certification through the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools. She loves the freedom and inquiry that comes from play-based and child-led learning. She is inspired by children's authenticity, energy, and expression and believes strongly in the creativity that ample time in nature can provide.

When not in the forest, you can find Sarah taking long walks with her husband and dog and cheering on her three kids at all their various sporting events.

4-Day Teacher

Angela came to Shaker Heights Cooperative Preschool in 2019 as a three-day parent. She has a degree in horticulture and is very passionate about native plants. She has earned her level 1 nature-based teacher certification through the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools and has taught alongside Sarah in the forest since 2020.

Angela lives in Shaker Heights with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys gardening, raising chickens, hiking, camping, canoeing, and spending time with her family. Angela is so excited to explore and learn in nature with your children!

3-Day Teacher

Carol has been teaching preschool for the last 17 years both in Pittsburgh and Solon. She has been actively involved in teaching outdoors since 2017 having created an outdoor learning garden and outdoor class options.

Having just completed her level 1 nature-based teacher certification through the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools, Carol is very excited to be part of Shaker Forest School and to be outside 100 percent outside with students! Since childhood, she has always loved to have her hands in the dirt and passionately believes in the power of nature to promote creativity, curiosity, connectedness and compassion.

Carol lives in Solon with her husband and two corgis. She has three grown children.

3-Day Teacher

Laurel attended Cleveland State University for Early Childhood Education from 2011-2015. She taught with Carol at Play and Prep Preschool in Solon for seven years before joining Shaker Forest School.

She's excited to be working with Carol again with the forest as their classroom! As a lover of both nature and music, she is looking forward to learning the birds and their songs of Southerly Park.