Katy McKay - Lead Preschool Teacher/Owner
Katy McKay is the owner and lead teacher of Mother Earth's Children Preschool. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Development as well as Spanish from San Diego State University. Katy has been working in the field of early childhood education for over 27 years in various settings, including preschool teaching, center-based child care, family child care, and home-based care as a nanny. She opened Mother Earth's Children Family Child Care, now Mother Earth's Children Preschool, in 2007 after recognizing a lack of high-quality infant care options to serve her own 2 children. Katy has a great passion for connecting children with nature and strives to offer children opportunities to engage with the natural world that they might not otherwise have access to. She also values professional development and trainings in nature education in order to keep up to date with the latest research in early childhood education. Katy's interests include beachcombing, hiking, thrifting, laughing, camping, learning about other cultures, traveling, sewing, jewelry-making, and attending music festivals with her 2 teenage children, Kenya & Haven.
Alana McGrath, Teacher
Alana joined the MEC community when her son started preschool in the Fall of 2022. She has 8 years of classroom experience with children ages 2-6. She holds a Montessori teaching credential and worked as a teacher and assistant administrator of a Montessori School, which laid a foundation for her work in early childhood education. She has since worked in Reggio Emilia and nature play-based programs. She values child-led, experiential learning, and from her own childhood growing up in the Santa Cruz mountains has harbored a strong connection and fascination with the natural world. Alana is an artist and musician. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Music, with a minor in creative writing, and enjoys all kinds of creative pursuits. She had a childhood rich in the arts and worked for many years after college doing hand painted finishes for her father's decorative arts business. She is also interested in permaculture and its application towards restoring and supporting our communities and lands, and strives to lead a homesteading lifestyle. She lives in Monte Rio with her husband (Barnaby), children (Bruce and Llewyn), cat (Winslow), and four goats (Hollyhock, Sweetpea, Beans, and Toast). She spends her free time in the garden, and going for rambling explores with her family.
Lindsey Pope, Teacher
|
Lindsey Pope is a passionate early childhood educator and nature-based learning specialist
with over a decade of experience fostering curiosity, creativity, and connection to the natural world. She believes that children thrive when given the freedom to explore, engage their senses, and develop a lifelong love for learning through hands-on experiences in nature. Lindsey holds a Master of Arts in Education from Sonoma State University and has worked in diverse early childhood and elementary settings, from forest and farm schools to traditional classrooms. She has designed and led immersive outdoor learning experiences that integrate storytelling, gardening, natural crafts, and ecological stewardship, ensuring that young learners build confidence, resilience, and a sense of wonder. In addition to her work in education, Lindsey is a community herbalist, having completed two years of intensive study at the California School of Herbal Studies. With over a decade of experience in sustainable farming, regenerative agriculture, and herbal medicine, she weaves nature-based wellness into her teaching philosophy. One of Lindsey’s greatest passions is helping children develop a deep respect for the land and the origins of their food. Lindsey’s work is rooted in the belief that outdoor play, self-directed exploration, and connection to the natural world are essential for young children's development. At home, Lindsey and her partner steward a small-scale regenerative farm, growing herbs and vegetables, and small herd of dairy goats. They love creating nourishing, from-the-land meals that bring friends and family together, celebrating the connection between food, community, and well-being. |