Jessica Rhys

is the founder, operator and head teacher at Fiddleheads. Jessica has a degree in Environmental Education and Cross Cultural Studies from Prescott College in AZ. She has taught at the early childhood level in both public and private institutions including in the Patagonia School System in AZ, and at Mayberry Hill Preschool in Casco, ME. She long served as the Program Director at Cultivating Community in Portland, ME, a nonprofit dedicated to at risk youth development, urban gardening, and advocating for a sustainable local food system. She also served as the Coordinator of the Maine School Garden Network, helping to connect, support and implement school gardens around the state of Maine. In 2017 Jessica founded Fiddleheads Urban Forest Preschool in Portland, OR. In 2021 she sold that school to her longtime co-teacher, and it still exists today as a revered and highly sought after program in that city. She has recently moved back to New England and spent the 2020-21 school year as a teacher in the woods program at The Riley School in Rockport, Maine. She is grateful to finally be returned to her native Vermont after many years away and so thrilled to be running a forest school here and immersing children into the wilds of her own childhood landscape. Her most relevant training yet has been as the mother of her two sons, Torin age 12 and Roan age 9.

As well as being a mother and a teacher Jessica is an artist, a stepmother of 4, a guitar player, an enthusiastic cook, an overly enthusiastic gardener, and an avid birdwatcher. She is proficient in Spanish and French, is working on Italian, and believes in the benefits of early exposure to foreign language. She is passionate about early childhood education, and fosters a deep personal connection with the natural world.

John Woodward

As a young boy spending time along the New England coast, John remembers the pure joy of learning through play and hands on exploration along the shore, amidst the tidepools, seaweed covered rocks and pebbly beaches, he brings that same love of nature based freedom and learning to Fiddleheads Farm and Forest School. John comes from a long career working with young children of all ages. With a degree in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine and a Masters Degree in Education from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, John began his career many years ago in a Montessori School working with 3-6 year olds in Camden, ME. After college, John transformed his passion for environmental and experiential education into a hands-on environmental science program for young naturalists called, Inside the Outside World along the coast of Maine. From there, John worked for more than 18 years as an elementary classroom teacher in multiple grades in the US and overseas in Brazil, Thailand, Qatar and most recently, Malaysia. John has also worked with older students at Hurricane Island Outward Bound School and the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps as the High School Leadership Program Director and Director of Community Programs. Recently, John served as the Executive Director of the mentoring, youth and family services non-profit, The Mentor Connector in Rutland, VT. 

John believes that nurturing an authentic and deep connection with the natural world builds a foundation of empathy, understanding and a level of connection in young children critical to their development. Independent free play and exploration inspires creativity, curiosity, social and emotional growth and confidence that can lay the groundwork for care and stewardship later in life. His time along the coast and forests of New England and his passion for early childhood education has led him to Fiddleheads. 

As well as being a father of 2 awesome college aged daughters, John loves to romp in the woods with their yellow lab, Willow, continue to work on becoming more adept on the bluegrass mandolin, cook as often as possible, and spend lots of time on the tennis court. Oh and he loves to juggle as often as he can! 

Kristin Beavor

Kristin has a passion for play and nature-based learning. She seeks to provide children the freedom to explore their passions, emotions, and personal paths with as little restriction as possible. She cultivates an environment that fosters and honors creativity and authenticity. Kristin also loves to inspire adults and children to live healthily through yoga, mindfulness practices, and eating healthy.

Kristin graduated from Saint Leo University (Florida) in 2009 with a Bachelor's in Elementary Education. Kristin has worked as a lead preschool teacher, facilitator of a creative kids' art program, summer camp counselor, teaching assistant, and most recently a kindergarten teacher. She has also run her own small at-home daycare/home-school program, as well as a kid's yoga program. She was a co-founder of a self-directed learners community as well. 

Kristin recently moved from Florida to Vermont and resides in Manchester with her husband and 2 children, Jay & Jocelyn. She enjoys reading, hiking, yoga, traveling, and having deep conversations about all the mysteries of life. 

Michelle Aldrich

Michelle graduated from Marist College in 1991 with a social work degree, attended National Outdoor Leadership School and worked as a wilderness therapy instructor for many years. This career took her to Utah, where she enjoyed working as a ski school supervisor for Deer Valley and discovered Montessori Education. She received her Montessori Certification for Lower Elementary in 2003 and worked as a teacher for Soaring Wings International Montessori school in Park City for 16 years. During this time, she received a Master of Art in Education degree, presented at Montessori conferences, was a field consultant for Westminster College and went on many outdoor adventures with her class. Upon returning to the East Coast, she and her family were drawn to Vermont.  Michelle taught first and second grade at The Mountain School at Winhall for four years, attended conferences for Forest classrooms and joyfully led Forest Fridays.

Michelle is excited to continue to share her love of learning and the outdoors with the community at Fiddleheads in all types of weather! She believes that being in nature provides opportunities to inspire curiosity, creative problem solving and genuine connections to the world and those around us.

A few of Michelle's favorite things are hiking in the woods, swimming in the ocean, listening to live music and sharing experiences(old and new) with family and friends! 

Derek Andersen

Derek Andersen brings over 25 years of educational experience ranging from environmental education to special education. Derek has a deep background in naturalist skills and wilderness survival. A student of Tom Brown’s Wilderness Survival School in New Jersey and a graduate of the former Green Mountain College in Poultney, VT where he studied biology, agriculture, ceramics and education, Derek brings a diverse and deep connection with the natural world.  Derek and his wife Teri created Turning Wheel; an Art and Nature Exploration Center, which built connections with local schools and community. Derek spent years working at the Mountain School at Winhall as well as Flood Brook School.  During his time at Burr and Burton Academy Derek created the Food and Farm studies program at The Dene Farm. Pursuing his passion for sustainable agriculture and artisanal crafts, Derek is now the owner and operator of Vermont Natural Tannery.  He is excited to be offering The Outsiders Adventure Afterschool program for 9-12 year olds at Fiddleheads.

Delaney Shepherd

Delaney will be joining Fiddleheads for the 2024 summer program! She graduated from a Maria College in 2019 with a degree in occupational therapy. She works in the Windham supervisory union with elementary students as an occupational therapy assistant. She has worked with young children in outdoors setting before at nature based summer programs, and in all her work she greatly enjoys being with children and watching them succeed in their educational experiences. 

  Delaney is an avid hiker and mountain biker! She also enjoys spending time in her garden and being outdoors.