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.

Heaven joined the Flora & Fauna Learning Center team in 2025, bringing with her a deepening commitment to early childhood education and a genuine love for working with young children. She discovered her passion for the field while working as a Support Teacher in a large ECEAP preschool setting, where she gained valuable experience supporting diverse learners and classrooms.

Motivated by her experiences in the classroom, Heaven is continuing to grow professionally by pursuing an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Spokane Falls Community College. Her dedication to ongoing learning reflects her desire to thoughtfully support children’s development and to build meaningful, nurturing relationships within the classroom.

Coming from a large family with seven siblings and sixteen nieces and nephews, Heaven has been surrounded by children her entire life. This background has shaped her natural ability to connect with young learners and has fostered a deep appreciation for witnessing children’s growth, curiosity, and emerging independence. She finds great joy in supporting children as they explore, learn, and develop confidence in themselves and the world around them.

Outside of the classroom, Heaven enjoys creative and reflective pursuits such as reading and painting. She also values spending time with her friends and family and loves relaxing at home with her two beloved cats. Heaven is grateful to be part of the Flora & Fauna community and is excited to continue learning and growing alongside the children, families, and educators she works with.

Ashley joined the Flora & Fauna Learning Center team in 2026, bringing with her a love for outdoor, hands- on learning within a Preschool setting and commitment to being a role model for children. 

With over five years of experience in early childhood education, Ashley has worked with a wide range of ages. She began her journey at just 15 years old through internships in both an infant classroom and a fourth-grade setting, followed by work in an after-school program at a childcare center. After graduating high school, she continued her commitment to the field by working full-time in early education.

Ashley is especially excited to be transitioning into a Garden Preschool Environment. She deeply values outdoor, hands-on, play-based learning and believes that meaningful growth happens when children are given the freedom to explore, get messy, and truly be kids. Having grown up loving time spent outdoors herself, Ashley is passionate about fostering joyful, curiosity-driven experiences that connect children to nature and to one another.

She looks forward to building relationships with the children, families, and educators at Flora & Fauna and is excited to learn and grow within this nurturing, nature-centered community.

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.