Sarah About Me
I am a nature-based educator who believes that empathy, compassion, humor, and resilience are essential to our existence — and I do my best to look for ways to experience these daily.
As the oldest of three girls, I have spent much of my life caring for my sisters, which naturally evolved into babysitting jobs up and through college and eventually into graduate school for education. Since graduating, I’ve taught both private and public school in New York City and New Jersey, worked as a private nanny for a family in New York City and London, and as of 10 years ago began a nature-based preschool In Brooklyn, NY. We now have two schools in Brooklyn, and another in the works, as well as a non-profit to raise funds to create accessibility for all families who want to join our programs.
So much of the daily work I now do encouraging children and teachers to explore and learn through nature parallels directly to what I want for my own life and the child I hope to parent: an understanding that we are all part of something bigger, that we have a choice in how we interact with the world around us, that all emotions are valid, and that freedom is magical when rooted in boundaries to keep ourselves and others feeling safe and respected. Creating and running these urban nature immersion preschools has been an unexpected, but beautiful blessing — providing spaces that honor inclusivity, social justice, identity, and different learning strengths. Working with children is a consistent source of joy and also presents challenges that require patience, compassion, humility, and reflection.
I joke that I tolerate adult company (and don’t get me wrong, I love spending time with my adult friends) but the truest, most vibrant version one will see of me is with children. I find it invigorating to learn alongside the children, and get messy and muddy, and have the sunshine (or the rain drops) on my face all day long in the middle of New York City.
Having shifted into a more supervisory and creative role over the past five years, I’ve gained flexibility that would now allow me to bring my child to work with me, or work from home to care for them as needed. And the cool thing is once they are old enough, I also have a preschool they can attend!
I was raised Lutheran, and continue to attend the same church that both my grandparents were a part of and that my parents, sisters, nephew, and nieces still attend. I am proud to be my nephew’s godmother as well, and appreciate the inclusivity that this church in particular values.
Travel has been a highlight of my life and has included a summer at a Spanish immersion program in Costa Rica, a week volunteering in an orphanage in Morocco, yoga retreats in Mexico, Ireland, and Nicaragua, and travel in Europe while I was nannying to Paris, Prague, Barcelona, Lisbon, and Venice.
Baking (especially themed birthday cakes for my family), crafting (lately it is painting garden sculptures and bird houses), and yoga are all activities that also challenge and inspire me to continue to learn and grow as a human.
As a fellow educator and play enthusiast, I have learned so much about teaching and childhood development from Sarah. All children in her care feel safe because of Sarah’s unique ability to connect with each of them as they are and where they are.” –Lilly, close friend
