Little Schoolhouse in the Woods is a nonprofit preschool dedicated to advocating, improving and providing access to quality outdoor early education for children of all socio-economic demographics in the Cincinnati west side.
MISSION STATEMENT
Little Schoolhouse in the Woods Outdoor Education Program mission is to foster a love of nature and to guide children toward healthy relationships with themselves and others.
PHILOSOPHY
It is our belief that children are naturally curious and eager to learn about themselves and the world around them. They are able to communicate their needs and desires. They can ask questions, explore and find answers. Children learn best when they are interested and engaged while accompanied by warm, stable and caring educators and caretakers. We believe children have the right to an education that fosters respect for nature and each other.
VISION
Our goal is to provide children with access to a beautiful, natural play space and a warm, caring environment. We support independence, positive self-esteem, and social emotional skills while allowing them to unfold in a developmentally appropriate manner.
Our Board
We are pleased to introduce you to our Board of Trustees. Each member is dedicated to our mission of fostering a love of nature and guiding children toward healthy relationships with themselves, each other and nature.
Robyn Weaver, President
Robyn’s journey with Little Schoolhouse in the Woods began in 2012 when she and her husband were looking for childcare for their son. Even before that time, she has been an advocate for outdoor education and experiences, having led adolescents on a 25-day wilderness trip and a service learning trip in Guatemala while teaching at Eagle Rock High School and Professional Development Center in Colorado through a fellowship with Public Allies and Americorps. She is passionate about educating children, with a Bachelor’s in Spanish and International Studies from The Ohio State University, a Masters in Education from the University of Minnesota and a second Masters in Literacy from the University of the Cumberlands. Having taught in public schools since 2007, Robyn has experience teaching Spanish, English as a Second Language, and is currently a Reading Specialist for students in grades Kindergarten through fifth grade.
Her students inspire her when they find their voice in leadership and decision-making by building confidence and understanding respect. Robyn is also passionate about using her strengths to contribute to the bigger picture–reimagining education in our country.
She and her husband live in Northside with their two young boys, who are both proud alumni of Little Schoolhouse in the Woods. They now attend Parker Woods Montessori, a magnet school that is part of Cincinnati Public Schools.
Mary Dudley, Board Treasurer, she/her, MA Botany, MEd Workforce Education & Development, Montessori Secondary Teacher I & II Credential
Jason Hamzy, Secretary
Jason Hamzy is Co-Founder and Co-Teacher at Little Schoolhouse in the Woods. He is a National Geographic certified educator and holds an Ohio teaching license. He has taught math and science in the public classroom and was a substitute teacher for Cincinnati Public Schools. He has worked with Little Schoolhouse in the Woods since 2012. Teaching children outdoors about nature is one of his greatest joys and accomplishments.
David McKenrick, Trustee
David McKenrick is a longtime resident of Northside where he and his wife Anna raised their four children. He was employed as an accountant at the Greater Cincinnati Water Works for his entire professional career. Upon retiring in 2007, he had more time to devote to his interests of woodworking, Rya rug making, cycling and running, and now enjoys exploring a whole new world through the lives of his grandchildren.
Jacque Daugherty, Board Trustee
Jacque Daugherty is a professor in the Western Program for Individualized Studies at Miami University. She is a sociologist with a PhD in the socio-cultural foundations of education; and she has taught and published interdisciplinarily on issues of equity, education, and climate change. She spent almost a decade of her early career in nonprofit social service organizations. Her students do service learning projects with Little Schoolhouse, and her kiddo attended school here. She wants to live in a world where all children have the opportunity to attend preschool at a place like Little Schoolhouse in the Woods–where they can follow their own interests, grow as a part of a collective, and hang out with trees. She lives in College Hill with her family.
Lee Hamzy, Executive Director
Lee Hamzy is co-founder and co-teacher at Little Schoolhouse in the Woods. She is a certified ERAFANS educator and has 17 years of experience working with early childhood and her empathetic demeanor and perceptive approach to early childhood development have helped to build a world class nature based, student led early childhood program. As Executive Director, Lee is not on the Board, but she works directly with them to help keep everything running awesome!
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS
Little Schoolhouse in the Woods admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.