Ms. Stacie - Founder / Owner
Ms. Annie - Lead Teacher
Blue Lotus
Nature School:
About Us
Stacie’s passion for early childhood education started in 2011, when her daughter Cameron first began preschool in Santa Barbara. Cam attended an outdoor, nature-based program – a pretty radical alternative to traditional preschool at that time. Stacie was amazed at how quickly Cam’s foundational skills grew and confidence soared. Both mother and child were thrilled with the experience, and Cameron’s newly found love of the outdoors.
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Just a few years later, Stacie founded Blue Lotus Nature School in her backyard barn in Fallbrook. Since then, she's spread the word on the importance of incorporating nature-based play in early education curriculum. In Stacie’s mind, making a connection to nature helps us, as human beings, connect with each other. And as one who feels the appreciation for nature begins at home, Stacie is an avid recycler, conservationist, gardening enthusiast and all-around animal lover. (Horses, chickens, bunnies, dogs and cats make for quite a zoo around the house.)
In addition to being an experienced small business owner, Stacie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies from the University of CA Santa Barbara, and a Masters degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University. Founding Blue Lotus Nature School has been a lifelong dream that we're all so thrilled has become a reality.
Annie's love of school began the moment she started kindergarten. She loved learning and dreamed of being a kindergarten teacher when she grew up. Upon graduating high school, Annie enrolled in Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania where she studied Early Childhood/Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology.
Annie's first teaching job was in Maryland where she taught kindergarten for 5 years. She also spent time in Oklahoma as an Early Literacy Coach, teaching elementary students the fundamentals of reading and writing. After moving back to Pennsylvania, Annie taught preschool for 2 years and was a nanny for 3 years.
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Throughout her years of teaching, Annie realized that many early childhood programs were lacking in some important aspects of learning. This drove her to pursue a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Annie is excited to use this knowledge to develop Blue Lotus's curriculum, focusing on nature-based learning.