Meet the Team

The quality of the program is due to the quality of the Teachers.

The teachers are dedicated to their practice and are honored to be your child’s guides as they learn, play, and grow at Kind Roots.

All Kind Roots teachers are current in their First Aid and CPR certification and have passed a criminal background check.  Each teacher must receive at least 16 hours of continuing education in child development each year. This requirement is over and above what the state licensing regulations require and is crucial in maintaining qualified teachers for the ongoing success of the Kind Roots program.


  • Founder/Teacher

    Annie comes into nature-based child care by both passion and professional training. A Stillwater native, she earned a BS in Early Childhood Education & Child Services from Montana State University in Bozeman, where she also developed her love for nature-based learning. Throughout her undergraduate years and beyond, Annie gained valuable experience in a variety of early childhood programs, including Dodge Nature Preschool, camps, and nanny settings. Recently, she received her Nature-based Teacher Certification from the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools.

    Annie is not only a dedicated educator but also an entrepreneur who opened her own nature-based preschool. She brings her expertise to Kind Roots Early Learning & Care, where she teaches and fosters a love for the natural world in young children. Beyond the classroom, Annie plays an active role in her community by organizing summer events for the local parks and trail department and serving on the board of the local nature center, where she helps run enriching programs.

    Annie’s passion for nature-based education is matched by her love for her family, and she’s thrilled to bring another special connection to the school—her son, Beau, who will be joining the Kind Roots community.


  • Lead Teacher

    Meghan spent much of her childhood being outdoors at her family's cabin near the Canadian border, learning to respect nature and all it has to offer. Though she suffered from anxiety as a child, it disappeared in the middle of the deep woods. Her professional career started in cosmetology, but she discovered she wanted something more. Instead, she was drawn to working with children as a paraprofessional and nanny. Meghan has traveled and lived in Big Sky, Montana and New Zealand. Now back in Stillwater with her husband/travel partner, they are proud parents to Ophelia and a newborn baby. She describes Kind Roots as a dream job. "I wholeheartedly know children benefit from exposure and resources right outside our doors." 


  • Lead Teacher

    Ann earned her B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Minnesota State University Moorhead,

    where she gained hands-on experience in a variety of early childhood and elementary settings.

    After graduating, she sought out a program that prioritized children’s well-being, play-based

    learning, and a strong connection to nature. These values led her to Kind Roots. Ann believes

    deeply in honoring each child as a unique individual with rights, voices, and ideas worth

    respecting. Her approach to education is rooted in curiosity, compassion, and the power of

    meaningful relationships. Outside the classroom, you can find her traveling and hiking, soaking

    up sunshine wherever she can.