Hello Current and prospective Tall Pines families!  My name is Kelsey Anderson and I have been a teacher here at Tall Pines for eight years and I am entering my fourth year as Director.  After moving to Nevada County in 2004, I immediately heard wonderful things about Tall Pines from friends that were born and raised here and had their own children enrolled in the program.  We welcomed our first daughter in 2006 and when she was 18 months old we enrolled in the Parent Toddler class with Teacher Michelle.  The unique structure of the parent cooperative preschool aligned perfectly for our family as I was blessed to be a full-time stay-at-home mom.  The socialization that my daughter was encountering was wonderful but equally important was the parent socialization that I received as a new and first time mom.  I was surrounded by like-minded families that helped me through the challenging years of toddler-hood.  In 2008, we welcomed our second daughter and as she became of age for Tall Pines we enrolled her as well.

Tall Pines is a play based preschool that teaches children in a holistic and natural process.  I was so impressed by what I was encountering for my children and myself that when a teaching position became available I was honored to combine my desire to be a full-time parent and combine my background in education.  In 2001 I graduated from the University of California, Davis with a major in Sociology and minor in education and went on to receive my teaching credential from Sonoma State University in 2004.  I have always had a passion for teaching and a natural affinity for the preschool aged child.  Children are naturally creative and inquisitive and my class offers them the opportunity to question, engineer, engage in kinetic exploration, role-play, story tell and learn about the world around them using all five senses and their innate curiosity.

Most importantly as my (i.e. your) children leave to move on -to Kindergarten, I am filled with a great sense of hope and love for them.  They have learned to be kind, compassionate and empathetic small humans.  Every aspect of my classroom environment and management is focused on the awareness of not only ourselves but the people, animals and planet that make our world so beautiful and brilliant.  My kiddos are ready to walk into kindergarten as confident and caring children who know how to listen and have the courage to speak.  My favorite quote is “there are two lasting things we give our children.  One is roots and the other is wings.” My goal is to honor this notion and extend it to all the children who bless my life.