Wildflower
Staff Portal Home
Welcome to our staff portal! Bookmark this site so you can refer back when applicable.
WELCOME TO WILDFLOWER
NATURE SCHOOL (WNS)
NATURE SCHOOL (WNS)
Welcome to Wildflower's Staff Portal. This site is intended to provide you with the information you need as an employee. Things to keep in mind:
Please go through the site in order and complete each section's "quiz". This lets us know that you are understanding the material. Take your time and leave/come back as much as you'd like.
Make sure to complete all Onboarding Documents and Required Trainings before your start date.
Refer back to this portal whenever needed! We will do our best to keep it up to date at all times. If you have any questions or comments about the contents here, please email your directors directly or at info@wildflowersilverthorne.org.
ABOUT WILDFLOWER NATURE SCHOOL
Location
We are opening September 11, 2023!
Mission, Vision, & Philosophy
Mission
To empower curious minds and cultivate lifelong learners through educational and immersive nature-based experiences.
Vision
To promote whole child development through a nature-based, emergent curriculum, inspiring them to become leaders of a socially responsible generation.
Values
Emergent nature-based education
Whole-Child Development
Environmental Stewardship
Inclusivity
Community Partnerships
Family Minded
Philosophy
Wildflower Nature School provides a nature-based approach to early childhood education by integrating environmental education and whole-child development. An emergent, nature-based curriculum creates an environment for intentional teaching based on the children's interests and their individual needs. Children stay active and engaged in each day’s investigation as the teacher adapts to where the child’s discovery leads them - indoors, outdoors, and beyond.
Research has shown that nature improves a child’s ability to learn while giving them an opportunity to explore their cognitive, physical, social, and even artistic outlets. Our nature-based learning center blurs the lines between the indoor and outdoor spaces with the use of open-ended and natural materials indoors, ample time outdoors, and open-ended investigations about the world beyond the fence. WNS believes every child has the right to discover their true selves through their play in nature and in our school.
At WNS, we invite parents to become partners in their child’s early childhood education. We believe that family or parental involvement helps extend teaching outside the classroom. Parents who are in tune with what is happening in their child’s classroom are better able to establish a connection between what is learned at school and what takes place in the home. We understand that parents are a child’s first teacher and look forward to building on the foundation parents have created.
Wildflower Nature School is dedicated to meeting the needs of all the children in our community. Our values are rooted in a sense of community through deep nature connection mentoring. This includes maintaining relationships with our community partners and providing development resources for families and children. We are committed to offer quality services that are accessible and affordable to families of all incomes, backgrounds, and cultures.
Wildflower works hard to accommodate the unique learning style of each child. The individual temperament and learning styles of each child will be respected. Children need to grow at their own pace, with support and optimum learning environments. Our goal is to implement curricula that aims to produce helpful, earth-conscious citizens, to encourage social-emotional health of young children as they get older, to provide readiness skills to advance in education, and to encourage the connection of positive relationships with others and their surroundings. Our philosophy is to foster rich learning experiences, ecological literacy, and healthy living by connecting children to nature.
MEET WILDFLOWER'S DIRECTORS
Tiernan Gannon
Executive Director
tiernan@wildflowersilverthorne.org
Tiernan, or "T," is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Wildflower Nature School. She has envisioned starting a nature-based preschool in Summit County since 2014 while obtaining her degree in Sustainable Studies and working as an early childhood educator. T believes our children are future stewards of the earth. In order to raise adults who are passionate about protecting the environment and preserving our planet, they must first develop a deep love for it. This is where Wildflower's philosophy began.
Wildflower Nature School will be Tiernan's first large care center to lead, however directorship is not new to her. Previously serving as Mountain Top Explorium's director, T rebranded the non-profit organization to provide families with year-round science and nature based school-age programs. She also remodeled an old ski shop to reopen the organization's children's museum for families to connect through hands-on learning experiences.
Having experience working with all age groups including infants, toddlers, preschool, and school-age children, T understands how a child's experiences in their early years can have lifelong social, physical, and emotional impacts. Tiernan wants to empower educators to cultivate an environment that supports children and families through every step of development. She envisions Wildflower to serve as a community resource for all families in Summit County, providing support and information on early childhood education and environmental literacy.
Outside of work, Tiernan enjoys staying active by playing hockey, mountain biking and skiing. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Rob, their dog, Sugar, and the many friends made in the mountain community. T also "plays" on Breckenridge's Ski Patrol part time on weekends.
Angela Banitt
Assistant Director
angela@wildflowersilverthorne.org
Angela is the Assistant Director and Co-Founder of the Wildflower Nature School. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology, and Public Policy and Administration. Angela began her endeavors in Early Childhood in 2013, and has the most experience working as a Lead PreK Teacher.
Opening a Nature-based preschool in Summit County has been one of her dreams for nearly a decade. Combining her passion for children and her love of nature within this wondrous place she has called "home" since 2010, she strives to give children the ability to explore and learn within their own natural environments. Originally born in Minnesota, Angela moved and traveled around the World before settling in Colorado. Having lived for several years in Brazil and Panama, and traveling throughout the Caribbean and Central America, she has gained knowledge and much respect for this multicultural World. Being the daughter of former U.S. Diplomats, and having worked as a Diplomat overseas herself, Angela aims to support this diverse Community in Summit County through close Family partnerships and by advocating for the needs of our Children and Families.
When she's not working, Angela can be found adventuring outdoors; summiting 14ers, off-roading, and exploring off-trail with her family.
Melanie McAuley
Director of Systems and Data Management
melanie@wildflowersilverthorne.org
Melanie is the Director of Education at Wildflower Nature School. She has a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelors in Early Childhood Development.
Melanie began her career in Early Childhood when she moved to Summit County in 2012. In the classroom, she has the most experience with the infants and toddlers. Melanie also has over six years of experience working at the Family Intercultural Resource Center where she provided parenting education and community resources through home visits targeted towards family well being and school readiness to new parents of children prenatal to kindergarten.
Before Wildflower, Melanie managed a team of brain health coaches, providing neuro-stimulation services to community members in need. She understands the importance of healthy experiences in the early years to create a strong foundation for brain development and learning over time.
Melanie believes that children thrive in their natural environment through play with materials that are applicable to the world around them. She is dedicated to providing a learning environment where children feel both secure in their relationships, and curious to explore their surroundings with all of their senses. She also values heightened communication between family and school life, and seeks to ensure that all parents are collaborative in their child’s unique learning experiences.
Outside of work, Melanie is an avid trail runner and enjoys trail running up mountains for sunrise. She also loves playing soccer, snowboarding, the CrossFit gym, and spending time with her husband, daughter and dogs on the weekends.
Allie Ryan
Education Director
allie@wildflowersilverthorne.org
Hello, my name is Allie Baldwin and I am so excited to join the Wildflower Nature School community. After graduating from the University of Minnesota with a Masters in Early Childhood Education, I made my way to Denver, Colorado.
Although I enjoyed teaching Kindergarten in Denver, my love of adventuring and skiing brought me up to Summit County after a year there. I found my place teaching within the Summit County School District. I started with long term substitute teaching in Silverthorne, to teaching First grade in Frisco, to Fourth grade in Breckenridge.
After almost ten years working as an elementary school teacher, I felt compelled to seek a position where I could more actively help other teachers with their own roles as teachers. I am so incredibly excited to begin this new chapter as the Education Director at Wildflower Nature School.
When I am not at school, you can find me hiking during the summer, skiing during the winter, reading a book in my free time (which is far and few in between) but most likely spending time with my family. My husband Joe, my son, Harrison, and my furry friends Ripley and Jones are at the top of my list to spend my time with. I am looking forward to beginning this new chapter and becoming a part of the WNS community.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART & JOB ROLES
Executive Director
The Executive Director is responsible for the overall management of the organization, including program development, resource allocation, and business operations. The Director establishes clear goals and direction for the organization, inspires and leads a diverse team of professionals, advises and informs the board of directors, and champions the organization’s vision, goals, and values.
Assistant Director
The Assistant Director is responsible for assisting the Executive Director in ensuring the health, safety, and quality of education for all children within the center’s care. Under the direction of the Executive Director, the Assistant Director collaborates with staff to ensure that curriculum and classroom activities are properly delivered, overseeing staff and facilities management, and ensuring that the needs of the students and the goals of the center are met appropriately. The Assistant Director supports the School with all aspects of compliance and program regulation, accreditation, licensing, staffing and professional development, curriculum, quality control, budgeting, parent and public relations.
Education Director
The Education Director is responsible for developing a quality education curriculum that supports the learning goals of the center. The Education Director will assist Teachers in developing and evaluating the curriculum that guides early childhood development, environmental education and recreation programs at Wildflower Nature School. The Education Director works with the Teachers to ensure that they are prepared to deliver the lesson plans and that the lesson plans meet the curriculum guidelines. They oversee the professional development plan for the center and individual teachers. They also manage the quality improvement activities including accreditation self-study and children assessments.
Director of Systems and Data Management
The Director of Systems and Data Management is responsible for overseeing and streamlining all data-related processes within the center. This role ensures that the onboarding of new children and staff is conducted efficiently and in compliance with all regulatory requirements. The Director will manage data integrity, maintain accurate records, manage classroom transitions, support operational goals, and share director-on-duty responsibilities.
Infant Lead Teacher
The Infant Lead Teacher is responsible for developing a cohesive teaching team to implement a nature-based curriculum and manage daily operations within the classroom at Wildflower Nature School (WNS). The Lead Teacher observes and documents each child’s developmental milestones using an observational assessment system to determine each child’s progress throughout the school year. Communication skills with both children and adults is required to maintain relationships with families, effectively guide co-teachers, and resolve parental concerns.
Lead Teacher
The Lead Teacher is responsible for developing a cohesive teaching team to implement a nature-based curriculum and manage daily operations within the classroom at Wildflower Nature School (WNS). The Lead Teacher observes and documents each child’s developmental milestones using an observational assessment system to determine each child’s progress throughout the school year. Communication skills with both children and adults is required to maintain relationships with families, effectively guide co-teachers, and resolve parental concerns.
Assistant Teacher
The Co-Teacher supports the Lead Teacher and the Directors by helping to create a caring and safe environment for the children at Wildflower Nature School (WNS). The Co-Teacher must be able to communicate, listen, and work well with others in a team environment. Co-Teachers are responsible for implementing developmentally appropriate activities based on children’s interests and needs under the direction of the Lead Teacher, the Directors, and the WNS nature-based curriculum and philosophy.
Substitute Teacher
The Substitute Teacher supports the Co-Teacher, Lead Teacher and the Directors by helping to create a caring and safe environment for the children at Wildflower Nature School (WNS). The Substitute Teacher must be able to communicate, listen, and work well with others in a team environment. Substitute Teachers are responsible for implementing developmentally appropriate activities based on children’s interests and needs under the direction of the Co-Teacher, Lead Teacher, the Directors, and the WNS nature-based curriculum and philosophy.
STAY IN THE KNOW
Staff App with Quick Links Below:
