Our Teachers |
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Katie Timberlake is the Owner and Director of Robin’s Nest Nature School, as well as an Educator. Coming from a long line of educators, she began working with children herself at the age of thirteen. Babysitting for all of the neighborhood kids eventually led to her first job at the after school program of an elementary school. She became a full time nanny while attending college and still enjoys nannying part time for multiple wonderful families when time allows. She was a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program for six years. She has a social work degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and has completed her nature-based teacher certification through the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools (ERAFANS). She is CPR and wilderness first aid certified. She also has training in non-violent communication as a way to better facilitate conflict resolution among students.
She has fond memories of her childhood exploring local caves, blueberry and strawberry picking, hiking, and traveling with her family. Her most memorable time spent in nature was in her own backyard with it's beloved magnolia trees, fig trees, azaleas, wood sorrel, "roly polies," and tent caterpillars. As an adult her love of the natural world has led her on many cross-country adventures. She has travelled and explored throughout 46 states, living in the mountains of Asheville and the forests of southern Oregon before settling in Atlanta. The birth of her daughter in 2018 sparked her interest in alternative preschool education models, which led to her becoming a passionate advocate of the forest school movement. She founded the Smyrna/Mableton branch of Free Forest School before joining the Robin's Nest in 2019. She is dedicated to engaging with children in a meaningful way that fosters their own interests and independence and recognizes the importance of nature and unstructured play in early childhood development. She believes that children mirror the adults in their life , and she strives to always be worthy of imitation.
She has fond memories of her childhood exploring local caves, blueberry and strawberry picking, hiking, and traveling with her family. Her most memorable time spent in nature was in her own backyard with it's beloved magnolia trees, fig trees, azaleas, wood sorrel, "roly polies," and tent caterpillars. As an adult her love of the natural world has led her on many cross-country adventures. She has travelled and explored throughout 46 states, living in the mountains of Asheville and the forests of southern Oregon before settling in Atlanta. The birth of her daughter in 2018 sparked her interest in alternative preschool education models, which led to her becoming a passionate advocate of the forest school movement. She founded the Smyrna/Mableton branch of Free Forest School before joining the Robin's Nest in 2019. She is dedicated to engaging with children in a meaningful way that fosters their own interests and independence and recognizes the importance of nature and unstructured play in early childhood development. She believes that children mirror the adults in their life , and she strives to always be worthy of imitation.
Jaye Spangler is an educator at Robin’s Nest Nature School. She has a deep appreciation for the child’s innate intelligence and their desire to seek out their curiosities and to express themselves through work and play. She believes early childhood is an amazing and sacred time and that children should be free to explore and follow their interests.
Jaye studied ancient language (Latin and Akkadian) and ancient history and philosophy of the Mediterranean at Georgia State University. She did graduate studies at Loyola University Maryland in early childhood education and Montessori education; she is a certified Montessori guide by Association Montessori Internationale (AMI).
Jaye has worked as an English teacher for elementary school students in Poitiers, France. She has been a Montessori guide in Warsaw, Poland and Toulouse, France. She was also a nanny for several years in Atlanta.
Jaye loves foraging, especially for mushrooms, and is passionate about expanding her plant, fungi and animal identification repertoire.
Jaye loves cooking, practicing yoga and mindfulness, and studying homeopathy.
Jaye loves being outside among all the wonders of nature and is so happy to get to share this school year with the children, teachers, and parents in the Robin’s Nest family.
Hazel Pardington is an Educator at Robin’s Nest Nature School. She graduated from Appalachian State University in 2021, where she obtained her BS in Sustainable Development and minored in Gender & Women’s Studies. Since graduating college during the pandemic Hazel has worked numerous jobs, but none filled her with such a strong sense of purpose as her role as a forest school educator. Trough her work with children, she hopes to facilitate a life-long curiosity about the natural world and a personal sense of stewardship with nature.
In her free time, Hazel enjoys exploring the outdoors, cooking, gardening, reading, and creating intuitive art. Eventually, Hazel aims to gain some farming experience to improve her food growing skills and to share this knowledge with others in her community, but especially with children as she believes these skills will be of increasing importance if we are to build climate resilient communities. She is a strong believer that practicing reciprocity with people and the land is essential to being an active citizen. She loves seeing kids become more confident in themselves as they spend more time honing their skills outdoors. She is CPR certified. Hazel feels very grateful to be a small part of children’s self-discovery journey.
In her free time, Hazel enjoys exploring the outdoors, cooking, gardening, reading, and creating intuitive art. Eventually, Hazel aims to gain some farming experience to improve her food growing skills and to share this knowledge with others in her community, but especially with children as she believes these skills will be of increasing importance if we are to build climate resilient communities. She is a strong believer that practicing reciprocity with people and the land is essential to being an active citizen. She loves seeing kids become more confident in themselves as they spend more time honing their skills outdoors. She is CPR certified. Hazel feels very grateful to be a small part of children’s self-discovery journey.
Zuri Snow is a Mother, nature enthusiast, and soon-to-be Homebirth Midwife as well as well as a substitute at Robin's Nest Nature School. She is very passionate about protecting and caring for babies, children, families, and the earth. Some of her earliest memories include building fairy houses out of sticks and leaves, collecting bugs, and playing in the dirt. She has been deeply moved by nature since she was a young girl, and has spent many years of her life exploring the wilderness, traveling, and learning from the elements.
As a dedicated homeschooling mother of 2 toddlers, Zuri is very passionate about early childhood development. She believes that nurturing the formative years is crucial in raising healthy adults who respect the earth and all of its inhabitants. Zuri truly believes that the way we care for birth, children, and families has the potential to heal the earth for generations to come.
In her free time, Zuri loves to go hiking and foraging with her family, create art, read educational books, practice alternative healing modalities, cook nourishing foods, explore museums and parks, dance at concerts, play, laugh, and connect with other humans. Zuri is so excited to join the team at Robin’s Nest, and feels very grateful for the opportunity to spend even more time in nature, and to expand her educational services beyond the reach of her own kids. As a bonus, her children will be joining the class as well!
As a dedicated homeschooling mother of 2 toddlers, Zuri is very passionate about early childhood development. She believes that nurturing the formative years is crucial in raising healthy adults who respect the earth and all of its inhabitants. Zuri truly believes that the way we care for birth, children, and families has the potential to heal the earth for generations to come.
In her free time, Zuri loves to go hiking and foraging with her family, create art, read educational books, practice alternative healing modalities, cook nourishing foods, explore museums and parks, dance at concerts, play, laugh, and connect with other humans. Zuri is so excited to join the team at Robin’s Nest, and feels very grateful for the opportunity to spend even more time in nature, and to expand her educational services beyond the reach of her own kids. As a bonus, her children will be joining the class as well!