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Four Seasons of Learning
About Our School
野花学校坐落在适合步行的街道上光线充足的地方。它们增加了社区中儿童和家庭的存在，因为更狭窄的地理焦点支持步行上学和放学，并与当地游乐场、花园和其他公共空间合作，否则这些空间将在大型机构中使用。我们将“利益相关者”的定义扩展到我们直接服务的家庭之外，我们努力使我们周 围的社区对儿童更强大、更健康。
Our Teacher Leaders
Josh Shanklin
Founding Teacher Leader and Elementary Guide
Josh is a 12 year veteran Montessori elementary teacher who has worked in both public and private Montessori schools. He has also worked for 8 years helping others become Montessori teachers at Xavier University and most recently with the American Montessori Society. Josh and his wife have three daughters, all of whom have grown up, “Montessori.” One of Josh’s first jobs was as a summer camp counselor. Throughout his teaching career he has often wondered how to have school feel more like summer camp. He is excited to pursue his love of nature and Montessori in this new endeavor.
Jason Waters
Founding Teacher Leader and Elementary Guide
Jason is an avid outdoorsman and dedicated Montessori educator. He began his calling at Xavier Montessori where he also earned his certification in Elementary I and II. Jason was born and raised in Cincinnati and is now raising his two sons here as well. When not in the classroom, Jason enjoys hiking with his family and friends all around Ohio and beyond, collecting and reading books, and good coffee. Founding Trout Lily Montessori Elementary has meant combining his love of nature with his passion for Montessori education. Observing the way children and nature interact has been an inspiring experience.
Our Staff
Michelle Geter
Lead Elementary Guide
Michelle has been a Montessori educator for the past 10 years. Her career has consisted of one year in a 3-6 classroom, six years in a 6-9 classroom, and three years in a 9-12 classroom. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Montessori Education from Xavier University and received her certification for Montessori ages 6-9, and has completed courses for both the 3-6 and 9-12 certification programs. She is thrilled to be part of the Azalea community and to combine her love of nature with Montessori education. She will be with the elementary program in the morning and the primary program in the afternoon.
Claire Swick
Elementary Guide
Maker's Club Leader
Claire Swick is trained as an Upper and Lower Elementary guide, but has spent most of her career with children ages 6-9. Claire has her Masters in Montessori Education from Xavier University and has taught as an adjunct professor in their program. She loves the outdoors and tries to get out every day with her kids. Claire’s passion for the outdoors and vocation as a Montessori educator has lead her to our school
Ananda Nash-Viles
Lead Elementary Guide
Ananda Nash Viles has been teaching young children for over twenty-five years and holds a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, (PreK-3rd grade) from Ohio University. Her deep connection with the natural world has influenced her teaching career as an outdoor educator and classroom teacher. After discovering this learning community for her daughter, Willow, serving as a substitute for two consecutive maternity leaves, and falling in love with Montessori educations, Ananda has joined the teaching team full time and dedicated herself to furthering her education in nature-based Montessori training. Exploring the wonders of the natural world is one of her greatest joys and she is excited to bring her passion and her experience to the children.
Erin Lockridge
Elementary Guide
Stewarding Guide
Erin has nurtured a love for the outdoors since she was a child and now finds great joy sharing this love with others. After earning a Bachelor's Degree at Hope College in Holland Michigan, and studying theology at Regent College in British Columbia, she moved home to Illinois, where she fell in love with the prairie and began teaching nature education to children while earning a Naturalist Certification from the Morton Arboretum. When she moved to Cincinnati, in 2011, she started Norwood Grows, which was a series of programs that taught garden, culinary, art, and nature-based skills to the children and teens of Norwood. She and her husband, Robert, have farmed city land since 2011, growing food for their pay-as-you-can restaurant, which serves breakfast right down the street from Trout Lily. A foundational aspect of Erin's teaching is to introduce to the children a sense of "home," by getting to know and love the plants, animals, and people of their neighborhood.