2022-2023 Faculty Team

Administrator

Alissa began working in Early Education 17 years ago, when she found a true passion for teaching young children and sharing her own joys in the classroom. Alissa's favorite thing about working with children is witnessing them take the humble beginnings of ideas, questions, and exploration, and watching them achieve understanding and accomplishment from their own successes. Alissa appreciates the remarkable effects that patience, kindness and mindfulness create in our classrooms and always strives to apply these not just at school, but in her personal life too.

Over her career, Alissa has had the privilege of working in a variety of capacities; she taught in some very small centers, served in state-run programs, and in a Headstart within the Indiginous community. She loved creating Pre-K programs at larger private schools, and most recently, Alissa was a Co-Director of a center of 130 children in Washington state. Alissa has always operated as an emergent learning teacher with a serious lean into the arts, so she is very excited to be joining a Reggio based school where this is a way of life!

Alissa and her husband, Kevin, just moved to Georgia from Seattle. Their grown children live at opposite ends of the country, and they are excited to live closer to her husband's family in Florida, as well as working towards their personal goals. Every once in a while her Canadian slips out with an 'eh'. She comes by it honestly as she was born and raised in Vancouver, BC. This isn't her first stay in the south, though, Alissa lived in Florida for a couple years and loves some of the great things here - the storms are her favorite!

In her personal time, Alissa is an avid reader and enjoys researching a variety of topics. She loves to garden and grow, and she and Kevin are known to wander off into the woods quite regularly.

From Alissa: Watching children learn and accomplish their goals is a truly amazing process to be a part of, and I am grateful to be in a position which allows me to connect with families in such a meaningful way. I am so happy to join the SOWJS team, and this school, where I have the opportunity to share in some beautiful values! I look forward to getting to know you and your family and working together through happy days and fun learning!

Teacher

 Nadine is beginning her second year teaching at SOWJS. She was born in Montreal, Canada.  Her family moved to South Florida in 1991.  She finished high school in the United States and attended Florida Atlantic University.  Nadine graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1999.  In 2000 Nadine’s preschool career began.  For the past 20+ years Nadine has taught in a few schools in South Florida and started teaching in Atlanta in 2005. Throughout her teaching career she has taught art, Judaics, and children of all ages. In addition has remained current in continuing to pursue her own education and professional development classes.

Nadine Resides in Roswell with her Husband Barry and son Tyler.  Outside of work, Nadine is a “Soccer Mom”, is a big Atlanta United Fan,  loves doing activities with her family, enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time in her at home studio painting or creating with clay. 

Nadine believes she was born to be a teacher.  When she was a young girl she loved playing school with her dolls and taking care of her little brother, she started babysitting as a young teen, and worked at camps before starting her teaching career.  

From Nadine: Teaching is in my heart and is my passion.  I love watching children smile and cheer as they learn something new.  I am so excited and feel totally blessed to now be part of the Seeds of Wonder family. 

Teacher

Shawn earned two Master's Degrees - one in Education and one in Special Education with a specialization in Early Childhood Education from Ashford University in San Diego, California. She also obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Workforce Education and Development at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.  Shawn is currently completing her PhD. 

 Shawn taught at SOWJS before the Covid pandemic, until she left to pursue her PhD in Psychology with a focus in criminal justice. During the last two years, in addition to her studies, Shawn has been a paraprofessional in the Cobb County School District, as well as staying connected to the SOWJS community by returning from time to time as a substitute teacher whenever her schedule allowed.  We are so excited to welcome Shawn back to SOWJS in the summer of 2022!  Shawn has more than 20 years of teaching experience, including more than 10 years in Reggio-Inspired programs, and has worked with children of all ages.  Her passion is working with children birth to five years of age.  

 Shawn enjoys watching movies, spending time with her friends, traveling, and going to dinner with her family.  

From Shawn: I am looking forward to growing with the children, families, colleagues and the entire school community Seeds of Wonder Journey School!

Teacher & Music Specialist  

Jennifer joined the SOWJS faculty team in our first year. She studied Environmental Science and Forestry at SUNY Morrisville in upstate NY, holds certification in Early Childhood Education, and is an internationally certified Kindermusik educator. She began pursuing her interest in early childhood education with her own children by volunteering at summer camps, school and as a Girl Scout leader for 5 years. 

Experienced in Reggio Emilia philosophy, Jennifer has been a mentor teacher at SOWJS since early 2019, taught PreK at Ahava ELC in Buckhead, and she also taught for the Fulton County Public School System for 8 years. Jennifer incorporates her love of music and learning through her thriving piano/percussion/Kindermusik studio for students, who span from infants to toddlers to preschool age to school age to adult. 

In her spare time, Jennifer loves spending time with her 3 daughters, a rescue dog named Joey, and her rescue bunny, Nightfury. Jennifer shares the love and joy of learning that she has shared with her own children with the parents and young children with whom she works. 

From Jennifer: I am delighted to share my love of education and to instill my passion for learning within every child’s heart and soul.  

Teacher  

Jasmine was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Austin Peay State University. Jasmine currently attends Liberty University, where she is pursuing her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family counseling.  

Beginning her third year at SOWJS, Jasmine has been working in early childhood education for 8 years. Her primary focus is working with Infants and Toddlers. 

Ever since Jasmine was a child she always knew that she wanted to work with families and children.  In her free time, Jasmine enjoys spending as much time as possible with family and friends, well as giving her time to her energetic puppy, Oreo.  

Teacher 

Gisel was raised in Miami, FL and is beginning her third year at SOWJS. Before joining our faculty team, she worked in childcare for over 10 years through mentoring programs, summer camps, after school programs, nannying, children’s homeless shelters and as a preschool teacher. Gisel uses healing tools such as painting, crafting, dancing, meditation, yoga, affirmations, and journaling to lead empowerment workshops in her community, including for the SOWJS faculty team during our professional development days and faculty retreats, where she is always the highlight of the day! 

Gisel's passion to inspire children grew deeper while at the children’s homeless shelter where she was given the opportunity to facilitate empowerment workshops which helped the children heal though mindfulness.  She has a deeply rooted gift in helping others, especially children. Her goal is to continue expanding the minds of our youth through creative mindfulness. 

Gisel enjoys working on her home apothecary, crafting products, dancing, painting, meditating, hiking and simply being out in nature. Gisel's company is https://www.giselsharmony.com/

From Gisel: It brings me much joy to witness children evolve and find beauty within the simplest, often forgotten or unnoticed things, like a leaf falling from a tree. 

Teacher

Jen is a cheery, exuberant teacher who brings a wealth of early childhood expertise and a lifetime love of learning and teaching into each interaction with young students. Her calling is the design and implementation of strength-based, compassionate, meaningful learning opportunities for small, inclusive child groups. 

Jen brings nearly three decades of early childhood expertise, coupled with a lifetime love of Judaic learning and teaching, into every interaction with her students. Jen previously taught as a Lead Teacher with Georgia Head Start, several private preschools in Marietta and Athens, and a social-emotional play program, Social Butterflies, a private preschool-aged peer confidence & leadership group that she originally created at Faith Lutheran School’s “Little Yellow House” in Marietta, and later expanded and also adopted by the Sandy Creek Nature Center in Athens, GA. Social Butterflies won the “Best Children’s Therapeutic Recreation Program in Georgia”.

Jen's contributions in the developmental education field, particularly with emphasis on autism spectrum disorders, have earned her the moniker “The Autism Angel” and numerous awards, expert panel appointments, and accolades.

Jen’s inspiring book, The Heart of Autism: Motivational Intervention Strategies For Professionals & Caregivers, received the national “I-Parenting Outstanding Media Resource Award” and currently is used as a touchstone training resource in the field. Jen has provided collaborative teacher trainings with Emory Autism Center, The Model Classroom (a private developmental program), and has given developmental strategist lectures from Canada to New Zealand. 

    While Jen is a Marietta native, and has officially called herself an Athenian for many years, she was excited to return to the metro Atlanta area this year.  She graduated from UGA with a degree in Speech Communications. She holds additional niche credentials from the Governor’s Office of the Child Advocate, which she has utilized to help over 300+ Georgia children primarily via The Lily Pad and The Treehouse in Southwest, GA.       

Outside of teaching, Jen is often found delighting in nature and wildlife pursuits, small-scale sculpting and jewelry arts, singing, editing/writing, laughing, painting, meditating and making a daily practice of Tikkun Olam (the Jewish value of repairing the world).

Teacher 

Bailee was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Bailee holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Child Development from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Bailee has been working with children for the past 10 years in various settings such as nannying, summer camps, preschools, daycares, and as an elementary school teacher’s aid. 

Before joining the SOWJS faculty team in 2020, Bailee worked at a childcare corporate office as the Director of Quality Assurance and Education, where she mentored teachers in areas such as best practices, interactions, challenging behaviors, assessment and documentation, and NAEYC accreditation. Bailee’s experience with the Reggio Emilia philosophy began in college at the preschool lab on campus, and she brings that philosophy into every setting. Bailee’s interests include playing flute in a classical, concert band setting and hiking with her rescue lab/pit Albus Dumbledog. In LA, she and her husband were part of a non-profit charitable adult cheerleading team which raises money and awareness for HIV/AIDS organizations in the area. Bailee and her husband are in the process of starting a sister team in the Atlanta area. 

 From Bailee: I am ecstatic to work in a preschool which exudes such an amazing philosophy towards child development! I look forward to fostering growth and learning alongside your children in a loving, respectful setting.  

Teacher 

 Cree joined the SOWJS faculty team last year with a wealth of experience and a deep knowledge of young children and early childhood classrooms. Cree has six years of classroom experience, including with another Reggio Emilia inspired preschool. Cree also has worked as a nanny. 

Cree currently is a student at Georgia State University, studying marketing and business law. She grew up mostly in the southeast and traveled extensively due to her father's service in the military. 

From Cree: I have worked with children of all age groups and backgrounds. I love to give children a sense of love and security when they are away from home, and to allow them the space to explore and have fun with what they learn.