Our instructors
Sarah Schmidt – Sprouts
Teacher Sarah has worked with children from birth to elementary age for 17 years, the last 10 of which have been focused on preschool age children. Her teaching philosophy is based on following the children’s lead for play and learning (emergent curriculum), positive guidance, and facilitating problem solving rather than solving problems for them. She views teaching as facilitating a love for learning using fun and positive tools. She uses a strength-based approach to learning by focusing on each child’s skills and using them as a foundation. She gives children tools appropriate for their individual personalities, temperaments, and needs to help them achieve their highest potential. In doing this, a positive and loving bond is created between the children and the caregivers, helping the children build trust in adults and their peers.
Teacher Sarah uses music and movement to address developmental needs in children 12 months to 5 years old. She is a strong proponent of learning and gaining confidence through creative outlets and through playing freely with positive modeling from adults. When children are having fun and being freely creative they absorb more from their every day interactions.
Teacher Sarah is also a singer-songwriter, musician (guitar and piano), and a very proud single parent to a 17 year old boy!
Ashlee Staub – Seedlings and Saplings
With a background in Early Childhood Education, Sociology, Oral Storytelling, Nutrition, and Urban Sustainability, Teacher Ashlee has been working with preschool children since 2008.
Teacher Ashlee’s focus is on creating a safe learning environment for the empowerment of students, meeting their individual needs while learning together. She supports students as collaborative partners for harmonious interactions, providing an integrated learning curriculum that presents each subject in a way that is accessible for all learning abilities. She emphasizes diverse cultural contexts and loves to introduce kids to powerful storytelling methods.
Teacher Ashlee is a mom to two young children, and she loves writing children’s stories, crafting, kayaking, camping, hiking and beachcombing with her family.
Kelly Mulligan – Parent Educator
Kelly has over 25 years of experience working with parents, children and youth as a Children’s Advocate, Seattle Public Schools Teacher, Tutor, Preschool Teacher and Administrator, and Parent Educator. She received a Master’s in Teaching from Seattle University in 1999. In her undergraduate studies she focused on Social and Rehabilitation Services and Psychology.
Kelly has 3 children, ages 8, 11 and 12. She loves to spend her time traveling, dancing, biking, hiking, writing, reading and playing tennis.