Meet Teacher Ariel!

Hi! I’m Ariel, although most of my students simply know me as Teacher.

I’ve been teaching for over ten years, and I still feel lucky every day that this is what I get to do.

Ironically, I never planned to become a teacher! My first love was writing. I studied English Literature at Portland State University (despite what my occasional typos might suggest!), and I’m still forever working on a novel. Storytelling has always been a huge part of who I am, and I think that’s one of the reasons I love teaching so much. Every day in preschool is full of stories waiting to happen.

Later I earned my Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Blue Mountain Community College and my Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Oregon University. I’m always taking new trainings and learning from other educators because I believe children deserve teachers who never stop growing.

As my students will happily tell you, the important facts are these:

• My favorite color is blue.
• My favorite animal is the elephant.
• My favorite princess is Belle.
• My favorite dinosaur is the Parasaurolophus (which preschoolers love trying to pronounce!).

Childhood Should Feel Magical

If you ask me what children need most, my answer is simple:

Wonder.

I believe children learn best when they’re fascinated by the world around them. Some days that means asking big questions. Some days it means watching a spider build a web outside the window. Sometimes it’s pretending our classroom pet rock has important responsibilities or learning that even grown-ups can be a little afraid of loud windstorms.

Those moments may seem small, but they’re often where the biggest learning happens.

My teaching style is inspired by Reggio Emilia, Montessori, Bev Bos, and many other incredible educators. Rather than following one philosophy perfectly, I’ve built a classroom around what I believe works best for children: curiosity, play, relationships, and lots of laughter.

Every Child Has Their Own Story

No two children arrive with the same needs.

One child may be learning to read.

Another may be learning colors.

Another may need bigger academic challenges because they’re ready for more.

Another may simply be learning that school is a safe place where adults listen to them and they belong.

To me, every one of those victories deserves to be celebrated.

One of the things I care most about is truly knowing my students. I spend a lot of time observing them… not to judge them, but to understand them. Over the years, I’ve helped families notice when a child might benefit from speech services, vision testing, or extra academic challenges. Sometimes what a child needs most isn’t an intervention at all. Sometimes they just need someone who understands how they learn best.

Building a Community

This preschool has been built one family at a time.

When I started, I didn’t have a large team or lots of connections. I simply had a dream of creating the kind of school where children feel excited to come each morning and families feel like they’re part of something bigger.

Today, that’s exactly what this has become.

The relationships I’ve built with children, families, and fellow educators are what I’m most proud of. I love collaborating with other teachers because we all have something to learn from one another.

I’ve also spent time advocating for children beyond my own classroom, including working with state agencies during COVID to help ensure childcare providers could continue serving families safely when they were needed most. Whenever children need someone to speak up for them, I’ll gladly be that person.

Outside of preschool, you’ll often find me directing youth drama productions, writing stories, reading far too many books, or planning my next classroom adventure.

Thank You

People often ask how long I plan to keep teaching.

My answer is always the same:

As long as I still get excited to walk into my classroom each morning.

So far, that excitement hasn’t faded.

Thank you for trusting me with your children. It’s an incredible privilege to be part of their story, and I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to be part of ours.