Learn more about the dynamic backgrounds of our teaching staff below:
Monica Wiedel-Lubinski, Director of The Nature Preschool
At her core, Monica loves being an educator. She joined Irvine Nature Center in 1997 and fell in love with outdoor interpretation while pursuing her undergraduate degree in art education. She has spearheaded numerous programs including the nature birthday party program, the Doodlebugs Nature & Art Preschool Semester, Tagalong Time and the Children’s Nature Semester of parent/child courses, the Earth Friends Co-op for homeschool children, and a range of early childhood nature camps. During the design of the Center’s new facility in 2005, she was the exhibit design coordinator serving as an educational liaison between Irvine and the Maryland Science Center who fabricated the exhibits. In 2010, Monica was key collaborator in the design of the Outdoor Classroom at Irvine. She has since launched a natural play space consulting program to help other schools achieve their own success. She hosts professional development trainings and presents across the region to help other educators discover the benefits and joys of nature-based learning.
Most notably, Monica is the founding director of The Nature Preschool at Irvine. This licensed, nature-based preschool serves over 60 students and their families each year. The Nature Preschool is a national leader and a global model for other nature preschools and forest kindergartens. In 2012, she forged the first annual Nature Preschool Conference to help other environmental early childhood educators share best practices. Monica is a passionate advocate of nature-based learning and wild nature play.
HER CAREER FOUNDATION
Monica worked as a naturalist at Irvine before teaching with Baltimore County Public Schools for four years. She has developed programs for the Chesapeake Arts Center, School 33 Contemporary Art Center, Young Audiences of Maryland, and the Baltimore Office for Promotion of the Arts. Monica is a frequent presenter and keynote speaker for groups that include the Maryland State Department of Education’s HeadStart program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and the annual MAEOE, NAEYC and NAAEE conferences. Her writing has been published in various print media as well as blogs.
When she is not contemplating the next nature initiative at Irvine, she loves to paint, sing, sew, watch the birds, play outside and spend time with her boys (hubby and son).
Monica received a Bachelor’s of Science in Art Education from Towson University and is working towards her Masters of Education in Early Childhood degree.
Karen Vinyard Madigan, Assistant Director
“Working with young children while surrounded by nature, what could be better?” exclaims Karen. She’s been a preschool teacher for over twenty years. Karen is most comfortable outdoors, amidst the laughter of three to five year olds who are curious and eager to learn about their world. She studied Early Childhood Education at CCBC and Towson University. She taught in a mixed-aged program for sixteen years at a private school in Baltimore, where she learned that children thrive when given opportunities to play and to make their own choices. She left that traditional setting to join a more meaningful, engaging program at The Nature Preschool. She is also pursuing her dream of becoming an author of children’s books. Notably, Karen was honored with the first O’Neill Early Childhood Nature Educator award in June 2013.
Along with writing, Karen enjoys the beach, hiking, reading, gardening, and cooking. She also loves to craft! From designing jewelry to creating handmade toys for the preschool, she loves crafting things by hand – especially for her three-year-old niece.
Karen is proud to have been involved in the establishment The Nature Preschool at Irvine. Working with children in this unique setting has awakened her creativity; it allows her to seize priceless moments in nature as opportunities for teaching. As Assistant Director, she hopes to spark a love and curiosity of nature and learning in children and their families.
Sophie Gerard, Preschool Teacher
Sophie joins our team as an enthusiastic teacher excited to work with our little ones. She was previously an education programs instructor at The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore and taught natural science at the Jemicy School’s lower and middle school campus. Sophie received an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Loyola University in Maryland and a Masters Degree in Ecological Teaching and Learning from Lesley University located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Sophie has always loved animals and spending time outdoors. One of her more recent hobbies is raising chickens. She has a flock of seven hens who tolerate the company of her yellow lab named Montgomery. Having fresh eggs is a wonderful treat! Sophie is delighted to be here in her third year as a lead teacher.
Nancy Savage, Teaching Aide
A former social worker and child welfare advocate, Nancy is deeply committed to helping children thrive in positive, loving environments. She has been working with The Nature Preschool since its first pilot program in 2008. She has delighted in watching it grow! She recently became a postpartum doula to help support young families. Nancy also has three wonderful children of her own. She enjoys doing just about anything outside including running, tennis, hiking and gardening.
Beth Savitz, Head Teacher of Parent & Child Programs
As the lead teacher of the Children’s Nature Semester (CNS) and substitute teacher in The Nature Preschool, Miss Beth can’t get enough of our little ones! She has extensive experience as a classroom teacher in an elementary school and more recently in a local preschool. She obtained her undergrad in Elementary Education/Political Science and received a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She shares her wonderful ideas through nature-based curriculum as a lead teacher.
Meghan DeKozlowski, Lead Teacher in The Nature Preschool and the Earth Friends Co-op
Meghan is a graduate from Salisbury University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies. Her love of the outdoors derives from growing up on a farm in Northern Baltimore County where she would spend her free time tromping through streams and riding horses. Needless to say her clothes never stayed clean for more than five minutes! Not much has changed as she has gotten older.J In her spare time Meghan enjoys hiking with her Golden Retriever Lucy, cooking, canoeing, crafting, photography and camping.
Meghan began teaching at Irvine in 2013 where she worked as a counselor in the Irvine Nature Camp. Upon acquiring her teaching degree, Meghan organized and piloted the Earth Friends Co-Op for Homeschool children and worked as a substitute teacher in the Nature Preschool. Meghan is thrilled to be leading the Earth Friends Co-op again, along with teaching in the Preschool. Her number one goal is to inspire little ones to have a deep love for nature just as she does.
Monica French, Lead Teacher in The Nature Preschool
Devon Rothschild, Lead Teacher of Baby Love and Substitute Preschool Teacher
Paula Jackson, Lead Teacher in The Nature Preschool and Muddy Buddies
Carolyn Bookholt, Lead Teacher in the Children’s Nature Semester
As a former elementary school teacher, and mother of two young boys (one alumni and one current student of The Nature Preschool at Irvine) Carolyn is always up for a good adventure. She graduated from North Carolina State University with degrees in Sociology and Elementary Education. Shortly after her first son Alexander was born, her family relocated to England for three years where her youngest son, Edward, was born. While in England, she took the boys all over England for day trips visiting castles, forests, museums, and other historic sites. On weekends and holidays, they’d travel even further as a family, visiting places like Wales, Scotland, France, Germany, and Egypt. She was exposed time and time again to a European approach to early childhood education — which included the intense focus on a nature-based and play-based curriculum often completely outdoors. After returning to Maryland, she found Irvine Nature Center and The Nature Preschool. She knew it was the right place for them, and the right place for her to return to the classroom for the Children’s Nature Semester (CNS). Outside of teaching, Carolyn enjoys reading, photography, camping, SCUBA diving, skiing, and spending time with her family and friends.
Stephanie Holzman, Lead Teacher in the Earth Friends Co-Op
Stephanie is a graduate of the Hahnemann University with Master’s degree in Creative Arts Therapy and a graduate of Lynchburg College with BA degrees in both Studio Art and Psychology. She is a creative arts therapist, educator, Master Gardener, and mother of three, who enjoys working with adolescents and children. Sharing her love of the outdoors with children has just come–naturally! As an educator and volunteer naturalist at the Conservancy for several years, Stephanie leads groups of preschool-, elementary-, middle-, high-school, and special needs students to explore and study in nature’s classroom. She is also a talented artist and musician and skillfully weaves these gifts through her storytelling and lessons. With jobs, committees and organizations over the years, Stephanie has had varied opportunities to foster creativity and the love of learning for many, both indoors and out of doors.
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