Darian brings over 15 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, having served in a wide range of roles and learning environments. Throughout their career, Darian has taught alongside educators from diverse pedagogical backgrounds—including forest school, Waldorf, and Montessori teachers, as well as professionals holding advanced degrees in child development and educators with decades of classroom experience. These collaborative experiences shaped Darian’s specialization in garden- and outdoor-based enrichment curriculum and informed the blended pedagogy practiced at Flora & Fauna Learning Center SPC today. Central to this approach is a commitment to honoring each educator’s unique strengths while nurturing the whole child through responsive, intentional teaching.

After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Economics with a minor in Business Administration from Western Washington University in 2017, Darian made the intentional choice to step away from corporate life in Seattle to pursue a more values-aligned path in education. They returned to school and, in 2019, earned an Associate of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Whatcom Falls Community College, with a focus on music and movement, learning environments, and child development.

In 2022, Darian founded Flora & Fauna Learning Center SPC in Spokane, bringing together their passion for early childhood education and outdoor learning in a garden preschool setting. They are deeply committed to building a program that supports children, families, and educators through land-based, community-rooted practices.

Outside of their work at Flora & Fauna, Darian remains actively engaged in the outdoors and in community-building. Their interests include hiking, foraging, gardening, roller derby, community activism, volunteering, and nonprofit work—reflecting the same values of connection, stewardship, and collective care that guide their educational philosophy.

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Mackenzie joined the Flora & Fauna Learning Center team in the summer of 2024, bringing with her a strong foundation in both Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and earned a Certificate in Early Childhood Development while in high school, reflecting a long-standing dedication to supporting young learners.

Mackenzie’s teaching approach centers on hands-on, interdisciplinary learning that encourages curiosity, creativity, and meaningful connections. She is especially passionate about creating learning experiences that are responsive, engaging, and rooted in children’s natural sense of wonder.

A lifelong plant enthusiast, Mackenzie grew up immersed in her mother’s gardens—an experience that sparked her enduring love for nurturing plant life both indoors and outdoors. Today, she proudly tends to her own thriving collection of houseplants and enjoys sharing her appreciation for nature with students through exploratory, garden-based learning.

Originally from Nevada, Mackenzie relocated to Spokane with her partner after both received exciting professional opportunities, fulfilling a long-held dream of living in the Pacific Northwest. Outside the classroom, she enjoys hiking, gardening, and spending time outdoors with her partner and their pets.

Grace joined the Flora & Fauna Learning Center team in the Fall of 2026 as a co-teacher in the preschool program, bringing over ten years of childcare experience and a deep commitment to supporting young children as curious, capable learners. She is a Washington State certified teacher and is currently in her fourth year of teaching, with experience across a variety of learning environments.

Throughout her career, Grace has served as a lead teacher in an ECEAP preschool classroom, worked as a substitute teacher across all grade levels, and most recently provided individualized support as a private in-home teacher for children with diverse learning needs. These experiences have shaped her responsive, relationship-centered approach to teaching and strengthened her belief that every child deserves the space and support to learn in their own way.

Grace holds specialized endorsements in Elementary Education, Reading, and English Language Learners. She is especially passionate about the ways outdoor learning naturally invites children into literacy, mathematics, storytelling, and problem-solving. Whether children are counting pebbles, tracing letters in the dirt, narrating discoveries, or listening to stories beneath the trees, Grace loves creating opportunities for learning to emerge through children’s natural curiosity and exploration.

She believes young children learn best through their bodies and senses and values giving children opportunities to balance on logs, dig in the mud, observe changes in the garden, and ask endless questions. For Grace, outdoor learning is a powerful way to build confidence, resilience, independence, and real-world problem-solving skills while nurturing a child’s sense of wonder.

Grace has called Spokane home since 2019, where she lives with her husband and their two cats. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time on the river, gardening, and making pottery.

Addy joined the Flora & Fauna Learning Center team in Spring of 2026, bringing with her a strong foundation in childcare and a genuine passion for working with young children. Through her experience in nannying, babysitting, and volunteer work at an Outdoor Learning Center, Addy has developed a nurturing, attentive approach to supporting children’s growth and development in both indoor and outdoor settings.

Addy’s connection to early childhood care began at a young age, having spent much of her time caring for younger cousins and family members. These experiences sparked her love for working with children and inspired her to pursue opportunities where she could continue to build meaningful relationships while supporting children’s curiosity and independence.

She is currently completing both her high school diploma and Associate of Arts degree, reflecting her dedication to learning and personal growth. Addy is especially excited to be part of a nature-based learning environment, where she can combine her love for the outdoors with her passion for early childhood education. She believes that hands-on, outdoor experiences play an important role in helping children explore, learn, and connect with the world around them.

Outside of the classroom, Addy enjoys hiking, reading, and playing sports. She values staying active and spending time in nature, and she looks forward to sharing these interests with the children and families at Flora & Fauna. Addy is excited to grow within the community and contribute to a supportive, engaging learning environment.

Amy, now 'retired', played an integral role in the emerging field of Early Childhood Care and Education in Spokane. Amy obtained a BA in Criminal Justice with a minor in Business Administration in 1997 while raising two children under 5.  Amy became frustrated with the lack of quality Early Childhood Care spaces and spaces for children in the Spokane area. In 2001 she opened Child Haven Learning Center and in 2003 she founded Child Haven Learning Center at Northwood. Through these years Amy worked with and served a countless number of families while navigating the ever changing field of Early Childhood Education in Washington State. By 2019, Amy had sold both business licenses and continued to serve as a mentor and consultant to a variety of Early Childhood Spaces across Spokane County and beyond informing state policy and practices from a business lens.