Our Team
Emma
Director and Lead Teacher
Emma's youthful energy is contagious, she is playful and spontaneous. Emma has spent the past 13 years teaching preschool and working as a Child Development Specialist. She founded Emerging Sprouts Forest School in January 2018 because she saw a need for children to have access to place-based nature learning in the forest. Emma graduated from San Francisco State University with her Bachelors of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Development. Emma's love for curiosity and play is evident in the Emerging Sprouts Curriculum.
Tre-C
Lead Teacher and Administrator
Tre-C has spent 15 years working in outdoor education with organizations all over the world including: NOLS, Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions, the National Park Service, and several independent, private schools. Prior to launching her career as an expedition leader, Tre-C was a full time nanny for four years in Connecticut while pursing her undergraduate degree. She has an uncanny ability to connect with students of all ages while challenging them to acknowledge and develop their potential. She enjoys teaching and facilitating adventure in the outdoors because she loves helping students be the best version of themselves. Tre-c is particularly excited to work at the Emerging Sprouts Forest School to foster inquisitive, curious, and present-minded children.
ZOHE
Teacher
Zohe comes to Emerging Sprouts with lots of curiosity and enthusiasm. She grew up romping around East Bay Parks This instilled a love of the outdoors that she is excited to share with the Emerging Sprouts Community. She followed her fascination with the natural world and attended UC Santa Cruz where she studied Ecology and taught in several elementary classrooms about how to cultivate sustainability practices. She loves spending time with kids. Her experience working as a nanny and working at outdoor summer camps has given her an appreciation of active, inquiry-based learning. Zohe is excited to be learning alongside the students at Forest school which she sees as an environment that fosters curiosity, resilience, and community in nature.
LiSette
Intern Teacher
Lisette is passionate about working with children, especially in nature! She grew up in the East Bay Area and has enjoyed exploring regional parks and trails since childhood. She attends Samuel Merritt University and is completing her last semester of her Occupational Therapy Doctorate. She has a B.S. in Health Sciences from California State University East Bay with an emphasis in pre-clinical studies. Her professional journey working with children includes years of working for both Mt. Diablo School District and Martinez Unified School District as a para-educator and special education assistant. She is excited to work with Emerging Sprouts and combine her love of nature and working with children.
Naomi
Lead Teacher
Naomi is excited to join the Emerging Sprouts community. Naomi graduated college from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. She has since spent several seasons in Connecticut working as an educator at an elementary outdoor education program. She also spent a school year in New Orleans as a classroom teacher’s assistant. Naomi has experience working with children inside and outside, and appreciates nature as a guide, seeing how it can transform the classroom setting. Since moving to Berkeley in fall 2018, she has enjoyed exploring the wonderful parks, trails, and views in the east bay. She is excited to continue exploring with our children at Emerging Sprouts this year.
Tracy
Intern Teacher
Tracy is grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the Emerging Sprouts community. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at Sonoma State University. She is currently in her final year of the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program at Samuel Merritt University in Oakland. She is passionate about supporting health, wellness, and participation in life for all ages and abilities through engagement in occupations - which are anything meaningful from self-care to climbing trees. She especially loves learning with children through play and exploration. Tracy is excited to empower others to learn, grow, and become more connected with the world around us. She enjoys practicing connection through yoga, hiking, and gardening.
Linda
Intern Teacher
Linda has proudly lived in the Bay Area her whole life and is grateful for its natural beauty. She enjoys spending time in the outdoors by going on walks, visiting local parks, and camping with family and friends. She received her B.S. in Kinesiology from San Francisco State University and is currently a third-year occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) student from Samuel Merritt University. She enjoys working with children, and has an interest in exploring the impact that the natural world has to offer to children of all abilities. She is excited to be a part of Emerging Sprouts, learn from each child, and have FUN!
Emma is an amazing teacher,
with a loving heart, strong
boundaries, and a strong sense
of magic and fun. She's also a fierce role model--particularly for young girls and gender non-conforming children--in a world of princess girls and lego boys. I can't think of anyone better to guide a preschooler through forest adventures!
Aya de Leon
Author and UC Berkeley faculty
Emma’s real world depth of
understanding of child
development has been garnered from both formal education and years of working with a wide range of children in many different contexts. She is patient, constructive and allows children to take appropriate risks. Add in her naturalist skills and understanding of how nature can benefit children and you have a recipe for a forest preschool.
Jason Neumann
Public Programs Manager, Cincinnati Nature Center
