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 20 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 the birth of her daughter (her son also joined the program after his birth two years later). 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, laughing, camping, learning about other cultures, traveling, sewing, jewelry-making, and going out for ice cream with her 2 children.
Kristin Kohler, Teacher
Kristin began her journey with MEC as a parent, with both of her daughters having graduated from the school. After her daughters' experience at MEC, Kristin joined our team as an assistant teacher. Wanting to immerse herself in her own personal nature connection learning journey, Kristin relocated to attend the Anake Outdoor School/The Immersion Program at Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall, WA, completing the program with a naturalist certification. Upon her return to CA, Kristin returned as co-teacher at MEC, where she has continued her journey as nature educator since Winter of 2022. Before re-discovering the wonders of the outdoor world as an adult and mom, Kristin worked as a professional chef for 15 years and always brings her passion for cooking and feeding people to whatever she does. She enjoys spending time with her partner, Dan, daughters Adalynn and Emma, and their puppy Robi, as well as many extended family members. Favorite other-than-human beings include Bay tree, Willow, Oak, all puppies, Fire, Spotted Towhee, and currently any plant fiber that can be twisted into natural cordage. Kristin is also a student of anti-racism, which she sees as a life-long journey of inner tracking and decolonization.
