Sarah Amadei
Co-Founder and Lead Teacher of the Ferns (6-10 years)
Sarah’s true passions lie in learning through the lens of nature and local landscapes. Her background and pedagogical approach is inspired by Montessori, Waldorf and the IB curriculums and in her practice she strives to foster emergent, place and project-based strategies, and uses a whole-child and anti-bias approach. Originally from Canada she has been living and teaching in Santa Cruz County for the past 5 years. Having worked with children for upwards of 12 years, she’d explored teaching in both contemporary classrooms and in alternative education programs in California, Canada, New Zealand and Hong Kong. Sarah is excited to engage with students in ways that enhance the well being of the individual child and to encourage stewardship of our local and global communities.
Experience & Education
- 12+ years of working with children, 6+ in education, 3+ in outdoor learning.
- Graduate Degree in Primary Education from University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand and Bachelor’s Degree in International and Agricultural Development from The University of Guelph, Canada.
- CPR & First Aid Certification
Caryn Hewlett (She/Her)
Co-Founder and Co-Lead Teacher of the Fiddleheads (3-6 years)
An avid hiker and lover of traveling the world, Caryn is always seeking new learning experiences. She brings this energy to her work with young children, which inspires her to continue furthering her education so that she can offer them the best learning experiences possible. We are always learners! Caryn is currently embarking on one of the greatest adventures life offers us: parenthood! She welcomed her first child in early 2025.
She is inspired by the Reggio-Emilia approach, which fosters communication and independence while building community through emergent, play-based curriculum, and the Waldorf Approach, which values pretend play, Caryn hopes to foster imagination and curiosity in her students.
experience & education
- 10+ years of preschool teaching, 3 years of outdoor teaching experience
- Graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Care and Education
- Associate’s Degrees in Early Childhood Education, Psychology, and Liberal Arts and Sciences – Interdisciplinary Studies from Cabrillo College (High Honors)
- CPR & First Aid Certification
Kirra McColl
With experience in garden education programs, Kirra loves facilitating learning with kids in nature. She was introduced to alternative education while volunteering at farms in Australia, where she was awed by children’s creativity and resourcefulness. She is inspired by kids’ curiosity and is excited to cultivate joy and confidence in students! Kirra enjoys sewing, wool spinning, and basket weaving, and is passionate about sharing her craftiness with kids.
experience & education
- Graduate of UC Santa Cruz with a Bachelor of Sciences in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
- CPR & First Aid Certification
Beatriz Gagliardo
With over a decade of experience in childcare and education, Beatriz is passionate about guiding children as they discover and explore the natural world. Born in Brazil and now based in California, she brings a rich trilingual perspective—Portuguese, Spanish, and English—allowing her to connect with children from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Beatriz values the transformative power of hands-on, outdoor learning to inspire curiosity, creativity, and confidence. She holds a deep appreciation for the outdoors and all living beings, finding joy in sharing the wonder and beauty of our environment. Her passions for photography, art, painting, animals, and crafts infuse her teaching with imagination and creativity, turning each lesson into a meaningful experience. Rooted in her belief that communication, respect, and kindness are the foundations of a joyful life, Beatriz nurtures not only learning but also empathy and connection in every child she works with.
experience & education
- 10+ years of working with children, 3+ in childcare, 1 in outdoor teaching
- Bachelor’s degree in social communication from UNIP (Brazil)
- CPR, First Aid Certified & Wilderness and Remote First Aid
- Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English
Fern Grove Cooperative Learning 