Meet Our Educators
Our educators connect with students at their level, employing creative and active teaching methods to engage and inspire even the most hesitant learners. Their dedication fosters a passion for lifelong learning. Through unique approaches such as writing in dirt, skip counting while jumping rope, and exploring geometry through woodworking projects, we prioritize hands-on and experiential learning.Furthermore, we prioritize mindset by incorporating moments of mindfulness and gratitude. Our emphasis on meaningful connections between students, each other, and the natural world cultivates a sense of purpose. Learners are empowered to approach challenges with bravery and confidence, developing both skills and resilience.
Kelly, M.S.Ed., Founder & Director
For as long as she can remember, Kelly has always been passionate about inspiring confidence in others. It’s been a dream for her to see it happen through this program with both the team members and the learners.
Kelly’s background is in health, wellbeing and education. Over the past 20 years, she’s had various experiences leading teams in recreation, public schools, private gyms, teaching and training. Most recently, she’s been focused on supporting homeschooling families through Peace of Earth’s Earth Keepers & Teen Learning Collective programs.
Having worked in various educational settings from 2006-2023, she has seen first hand the skills needed to succeed academically, socially and emotionally. This experience paired with her desire for her children to thrive was the spark that started it all.
One of her favorite quotes is, "If you take the walls away, they can't bounce off of them." Kelly first heard this when her children were small and it still motivates her to spend more time outdoors with them.
She loves being outdoors and experiencing the learning and healing that occur as a result. As a lifelong learner, she says, “Every day is a good day for learning!” She has enjoyed taking the Virginia Master Naturalist and Wilderness First Aid courses and regularly picks folks brains from forest and microschools worldwide.
It fills her cup to see students develop an appreciation for the natural world and understand the interconnectedness of all living things. Environmental responsibility, self-awareness, and leading a healthy lifestyle are pillars that she hopes to share with all of our amazing learners here.
Peace of Earth is a culmination of what Kelly believes to be foundational for the success of young people. She believes in using a holistic, student centered approach that empowers us all to become healthy, well-rounded individuals, deeply connected to the world we live in.
Gwen, Educator of 3 & 4 year olds
This is Gwen’s third year at Peace of Earth and she continues to feel honored to be part of the team!
As a mom of two, ages 4 and 7, Gwen finds joy in seeing the world through the eyes of children. She loves using opportunities to explore, be creative, curious, silly, and adventurous and has found the best opportunities for this to be in the simplicity and groundedness of nature.
Gwen’s background is primarily rooted in counseling and advocacy with a focus in trauma recovery and perinatal health. Her knowledge and experience has influenced her values of social and emotional learning and prioritizing building a foundation of emotional intelligence for our littles.
Gwen enjoys cooking, traveling, being near water, and sharing stories and laughs by a good fire.
Salem, Educator of 3 & 4 year olds
This will be Salem’s third year teaching with Earth Keepers, and she is very excited for this adventure! She loves spending time outdoors camping, walking, sitting, playing, cooking by a fire, and going on adventures with her family. She and her husband, Parrish, have two children, Siler, age 14, and Ingram, age 11. Salem always knew she wanted to raise her kids to love the earth and the outdoors but didn’t realize how integral this philosophy would become in her life.
Salem has been working with kids since she was young. She babysat and nannied through high school and college, earning a BA in anthropology at UNC-Chapel Hill. She then worked as a whitewater raft guide on the Chattooga River in Georgia and as a guide at Green River Preserve camp, where she led teenagers on camping trips down small coastal rivers. After moving to Asheville, NC, she worked at a group home for at-risk youth.
In 2012, Salem, Parrish, and Siler moved to Berlin, Germany, where Siler attended a forest kindergarten. This 'WaldKita' experience highlighted the importance of teaching kids outdoors and was very influential for her. They moved to Fredericksburg in 2014, where she started a small forest school for parents and children in local parks. When Siler was ready for kindergarten, Salem discovered that local schools offered only 20 minutes of outdoor time per day, prompting her to begin homeschooling.
Another pivotal experience for Salem was attending the Living Earth Adult Foundations program through the Living Earth School in Charlottesville. This program deepened her family's nature connection. Her kids have attended the school's summer camp since they were five, and she has worked with the 5-6 year old group for several years. Salem truly believes that nature and the outdoors provide the richest learning environments for all children and is excited to help children find comfort and confidence in the outdoors. She loves seeing the creativity, wonder, and joy that the outdoors brings out in kids!
Jennifer L., Educator of 5 & 6 year olds
Jennifer is excited for another year of teaching at Peace of Earth!
She was born in Indiana and enjoyed moving around the country as a child. Her father was in the Air Force, so she had the privilege of being able to travel around the country before she settled in Fredericksburg, Va.
Jennifer has a 11 year old son, 3 cats and a dog and is a huge animal lover! In her free time she loves to read, take walks, and do community service. As a hobby she has started to teach herself sign language!
She's very excited to start this school year, and can't wait to see what the year brings!
Sophia & Joshua, Educators of 5 & 6 year olds
Sophia and Joshua are excited to jump into their first year at Peace of Earth! Mother and father to 5 and 1 year old sons, they are beyond grateful to be able to share this journey together, taking turns in the classroom while the other cares for the baby.
As nature enthusiasts, they are passionate about natural living, holistic health, music, mindful movement and “food as medicine”. When they’re not in the classroom, you’ll find them barefoot, hanging from a tree branch, scrambling over some rocks, playing a new musical instrument, wild food hunting, or crafting delicious and healthy meals at nonprofit meditation centers.
With Sophia’s background in naturopathic medicine, and Joshua’s in yoga and detoxification, this dynamic duo loves to positively empower children to be their healthiest, strongest & most balanced self. Sophia offers a sense of positive reassurance and creative resourcefulness, while Joshua offers a very grounded, clear, and calm presence for the children.
Hilary, Educator of 5 & 6 year olds
This is Hilary’s first year teaching, and she is absolutely STOKED to be part of the Peace of Earth family!
After watching her son thrive during his first year at Peace of Earth, she saw firsthand how much the school helped build his confidence and sense of self. She is excited to help our youngest learners find their own confidence and SHINE!
One of her favorite parts of teaching is watching children realize that THEY CAN DO IT! She loves seeing their unique personalities come out as they grow, learn and explore. At Peace of Earth, there is a true sense of community, and everyone supports one another. From the youngest learners to the most experienced of the teachers.
Not surprising in this area, the daughter of a single mom who served nearly 30 years on active duty in the military, Hilary grew up moving … a lot. Thanks to culinary school she was able to spend the next 10 years being rather nomadic. Those experiences gave her a deep appreciation for learning about different cultures, people, and ways of life. After her mom retired in Virginia, Hilary settled here with her husband and son in a converted taxidermy studio on a multigenerational family property shared with her mom, grandma,aunt, and filled with four dogs and three cats, and if you ask Hilary, she’ll tell you there’s always room for more animals!
When she’s not in the classroom, Hilary enjoys creating pottery, being in water, SLOWLY attempting to homestead and … eating.
Current favorite motto: “Be curious, not judgmental.”
Nicole, Educator of 7 & 8 year olds
Nicole is very excited to continue her journey here at Peace of Earth. Nicole has been working with children for as long as she can remember. She has worked as a babysitter, a nanny, and then in classroom settings both in private and public schools. She and her husband Dennis have four boys and enjoy spending time together as a family. They enjoy board games, movie nights, road trips, and any time they can get to the beach! She is very much looking forward to working with and getting to know all the kiddos coming her way, and being a part of their story this upcoming year.
Madison, Educator of 7 & 8 year olds
Madison is thrilled to be joining Peace of Earth this year, bringing together her love of nature and education in one place! She recently graduated with two master's degrees, one in Integrated Science and Technology from James Madison University, and one in Environmental Sustainability and Management from the University of Malta.
While studying abroad in Malta, Madison researched the movement ecology of chameleons and swallowtail butterflies, deepening her fascination with how creatures interact with their environments. Born and raised in Stafford, Virginia, she grew up with role models who taught her to treat nature with respect, sparking a lifelong passion for caring for the earth. Now, she hopes to be that same kind of role model for others, sharing that same love and respect for the natural world with her students.
Madison has spent the last three summers as a supervisor for Stafford Parks and Rec sports camps, where she discovered just how much she loves working with children. Outside of teaching, she enjoys crafting, especially painting and drawing, and loves cooking up vegetarian meals in her free time. She can't wait for a year full of outdoor exploration, creativity, and connection with her students!
Moriah, Educator of 7 & 8 year olds
Moriah is excited to be returning for her second year of teaching at Peace of Earth. She is a proud mom to a 5 year old boy, and almost 3 year old girl. While she is relatively new to teaching, she has plenty of experience in various childcare settings and has always loved working with kids. During her free time, she enjoys trips to the beach, spending time outdoors on her family’s farm, and post dinner walks. She is excited to begin this upcoming year and be a part of your kid’s journey at POE!
Sarah, Educator of 9 & 10 year olds
Sarah is excited to be joining us alongside her family for their fourth year at Peace of Earth. Sarah has been a home educator for over 9 years and is excited to begin this adventurous year of learning, growing, and having fun. As an unschooling family, the freedom and encouragement for the children to be children while also learning to be good humans is important. As a mom to 6 kiddos, ages 5 to almost 20, she has a bit of experience when it comes to busy bodies and busy brains.
Her interests and hobbies include spending time with family and friends, working on home projects, motorcycle rides with her husband, sewing and hand embroidery, reading books, cooking, and sleeping. You’ll often find her swinging in her favorite hammock under the trees at home or snuggled on the couch with a book .
This school year is going to be another amazing one and she can’t wait for it to begin!
Jennifer, Educator of 9 & 10 year olds
Jennifer is so excited to start her fourth year teaching at Peace of Earth and third year with our awesome 9/10s crew!! She’s so excited to jump into another year of curiosity, connection, and creativity with these amazing learners!
She believes nature is one of the most powerful classrooms we have. offering endless lessons in curiosity, patience, and wonder. She strives to weave the natural world into our daily learning, helping students build deeper connections to the earth and to themselves.
She loves bringing theater into our learning, using storytelling, role play, and improv to help kids express themselves and build confidence. She also incorporates American Sign Language (ASL) into our daily routines to support visual learning and encourage communication in new ways. Learning ASL is not only practical, it's also a lot of fun!
She can’t wait for another year of muddy boots, big laughs, and learning together under the trees!
Favorite Quote: “Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.” - John Lennon
Asheley, Educator of 11 & 12 year olds
Asheley is super excited to be returning for her second year as a part of the team at PoE. She has been a homeschool educator and mom since 2014. She takes pride in educating her children primarily with an unschooling philosophy. Her oldest graduated May 2024, and her #2 graduated in May 2025. Her younger 2 kiddos will be attending PoE with her for the fourth year and love the program! Asheley’s background is in health, fitness and coaching. She has been teaching Homeschool PE at the Rosner Y since 2019. Leading student groups of all abilities. She has coached young athletes at all ages, genders and abilities in different sports as well. Asheley is a certified Yoga Instructor, and has certificates in Social Emotional Learning and Trauma informed language. She enjoys the outdoors, camping and looking at the night sky. Her favorite place would be any space by the sea, with a warm breeze. She can't wait to start learning and growing and playing with your families!
Emily, Educator of 11 & 12 year olds
Emily has been teaching since childhood. Many games of school were played until she started her teaching career in 2010. She earned her bachelor's degree in 2010 with a concentration in Family & Consumer Science, education and art. She has been teaching and supporting students at Peace of Earth since 2021. She was born hungry to learn and share all the amazing things she learns. Her hobbies include reading, gardening, photography, cooking, sewing, and trying new things! She is a lifelong learner and is always looking for ways to grow personally and communicate with kindness and empathy. She encourages her students to get curious and develop skills for navigating new experiences and relationships with others and within themselves. The outdoor classroom offers countless daily opportunities to learn and grow and find ourselves. “It’s always an adventure.”
Katie K.,Teen Learning Collective
Hello! I am originally from Long Island, New York, but my family's journey has taken us across the country and around the world. After marrying my husband, a US Marine, we've had the opportunity to call California, Japan, North Carolina, and now Virginia home. Along the way, we've built a love for adventure, traveling, community, and learning wherever we go.
I am the proud mom of three wonderful children, ages 4, 6, and 8, who will also be attending the school.
Over the years, I've coached youth basketball, served as an assistant coach for a boys' high school varsity basketball team, led a multi-age Girl Scout troop, and worked as a substitute teacher at Timbernook of the Sandhills, where all three of my children attended school.
When I'm not working with children, you'll usually find me outdoors hiking, tending my garden, or tackling a DIY home improvement project. I believe some of life's best lessons are learned outside, where children can explore, imagine, and build confidence through meaningful experiences.
Katie C.,Teen Learning Collective
Katie is a homeschool mother of two who has been teaching at several homeschool co-op groups for the past six years. Her favorite part of teaching is watching students figure out their individual learning style. She has taught many different classes from running a Drama program for 50 plus students to leading our local homeschool National Beta group. Katie is also passionate about animal care and rescue. Their family has fostered over 100 cats and kittens over the past eight years. She loves watching sports, especially baseball and reading in her free time.