Emilee Little
Second/Third Grade
Emilee has worked in various domains of education for the last 20 years. She started in elementary curriculum design and then moved into corporate education. In 2013 she launched and led a mid-high school for international refugees in Oklahoma City. She transitioned into education research and design, where she developed educational curriculum for peace-centered learning. She wholeheartedly believes education shapes identity, so how we educate matters. Emilee attended the University of Central Oklahoma, where her studies focused on Family and Child Development. When school is not in session, you can find Emilee sharing meals with friends, escaping to the mountains, or starting new projects. She is a creative trailblazer, mom to one amazing human, and partner to a great guy. They love their cats, dog, and neighbors in the heart of Oklahoma City.
Annabelle Davidson
First Grade
Anna grew up in Moore, Oklahoma. Home of tornado alley and a true testament to what being from OKC means. Anna comes from a family with a unique range of children. She is the oldest of eleven grandchildren, with nine of them, including her brother, being autistic. These circumstances have allowed her to have a deep understanding that every child is indeed different, and every child deserves to learn at their own pace. Anna took her childcare experience from a young age & followed her intuition into the world of nannying. She has been a long-term caregiver for families in OKC for 10 years, while teaching yoga to the surrounding communities since 2017. Anna is currently pursuing the path of becoming a Waldorf Grades Teacher. When she is not taking care of kids, you can find her on the road with her three dogs, chasing nature’s alpine lines & wide open spaces.
Corley Correa
First Grade (2024/2025)
Corley is an Oklahoma Native, raised in Piedmont. She studied Art Education at the University of Central Oklahoma & completed a Master’s of Education in English Language Instruction through Arizona State University. She has spent the past 15 years working in various teaching roles while also working at SkyWest Airlines as a flight attendant. When not enjoying views from 30,000 feet or sharing her love of learning with others she enjoys spending time with her husband Juan and two young daughters, traveling to new places, journaling, reading (especially magical realism) and soaking up all the seasons outside.
Dawn Maxwell
Forest School
Dawn is an Okie, born and raised, although she lived in 5 other states as a child including New York and New Mexico. She attended the University of Oklahoma but stepped away from her education to raise her children. She now has four beautiful and unique children. Two are in their 20’s and have a band that takes them all across the world, while her husband, Bryson and herself raise their younger two here in the city!
Dawn briefly opened her own preschool before pivoting into a different direction. She has nannied for several families and introduced those families to the ideas of play-based learning. She is also a regular substitute at her kids’ elementary school. Most recently, she has been a teacher at Little Leaf Playgarden which has just been a dream come true, as is teaching here!
When not playing with kiddos, Dawn enjoys camping, roller skating, gardening, yoga and reading.
Madeleine Purcell
Kindergarten
Madeleine is from Connecticut and has over 11 years experience in childcare and teaching dance. As a former professional ballet dancer, she moved to Oklahoma to dance with Oklahoma City Ballet, before retiring from stage in 2020. She holds a BS in Psychology from OU, where her research focused on children’s social development. She loves nature and the outdoors, and has a thriving kitchen garden at her home in OKC. She loves to dance, sing and cook homemade foods and firmly believes art is essential in every stage of life. When not teaching, she can be found curled up with a book, knitting, sewing or learning a new handcraft. She has a deep reverence for the magic of childhood and is excited to join Back to Earth school.
Leigh Patton
Handwork
Leigh Patton has a Masters's degree in Art Therapy and Counseling from Southwestern College of Santa Fe with an emphasis in Eco-therapy. She has studied Anthroposophy and been involved in Waldorf Education for the last decade. First, as a handwork teacher at the Anchorage Waldorf school for many years while also directing the art and nature-based after-school program. She also has written and directed summer camps at Anchorage and Santa Fe Waldorf schools over the past 8 years. She studied foundations and fiber arts at Rudolf Steiner College. “I chose Waldorf when I heard there was an education that encompasses happy hands, heart, and mind…. was hooked right then and there.”
She is an interdisciplinary artist and finds joy in being in nature.
Tasha England
Therapeutic Arts & Spanish
Tasha was born and raised in central Oklahoma. After receiving her BA in History from East Central University, she moved to the northeast to pursue her Master of Arts degree, which she was awarded with distinction in Modern History and Literature. Having stumbled upon Waldorf Education in a book, she visited the campus of Sunbridge Institute in upstate New York, and she knew she had arrived at "home." She completed her Elementary Teaching Certificate in Waldorf Education there. From 2015-2020 she worked at The Waldorf School of Garden City on Long Island, New York, where she wore many hats: middle school intern, Early Childhood After School Coordinator, and Class Teacher Grades 1-3. When coronavirus struck, it was with a heavy heart she left her class in New York to return to Oklahoma to be closer to her family. She happily continues to foster her passion for teaching: online, in person at the Rose Rock School in Norman, and to private clients needing therapeutic educational support in Jones.
Carmen
Forest Preschool
Carmen’s passion has always been caring for children and animals. She grew up raising sheep, cows, cats, dogs, and a variety of crops on her family’s farm in eastern Wisconsin. Gardening, cooking, crafting, creating, woodworking, sewing, knitting, mending, candle making, and building were all part of everyday life and continue to bring her joy. She loves to be outdoors, strives to be resourceful and exist lightly on the earth.
Carmen has 15+ years of professional childcare experience ranging from infant care to middle school. She spent 9 years raising three children as their full-time, live-in nanny, taught Grades 1, 3, 4, and 5 at Waldorf schools in New York. In Wyoming, she has led farm and forest summer camps, an afterschool program, and taught preschool for 18 month olds to 6 year olds. She was also the assistant director of the school and the chairman of school festivals. This winter, she taught a baking, gifts, and apothecary camp in North Carolina.
Carmen has earned her Master’s degree in Education, with an emphasis on outdoor learning and is certified as a Waldorf teacher. She loves empowering children to be self-sufficient and gain confidence through their growing skills and capabilities. Most of all, she loves bringing children into nature to explore, play, and learn in all types of weather!
Sage Eden Smith
Ceramics
Sage has lived in Oklahoma City her whole life. She started taking ceramics during high school and, falling in love with every bit of the process, never stopped. Along with 12 years of experience in ceramics, Sage has 7 years of experience in childcare from nannying, to being a postpartum doula, to teaching ceramics for children ranging from 4-17. Sage was able to commit to ceramics full time in 2021 working for herself and now being a studio potter at Mammoth Clay Company. When her hands aren’t covered in clay, she loves to travel with her husband and find inspiration on this beautiful earth!