Amy and her sisters grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin but spent many summers as kids visiting their grandma, aunt, and uncle on the west coast. These trips were punctuated by being immersed in nature. Exploring the rivers and woods with her aunt, going trout fishing and camping at the foot of Mt. St. Helens, and frequent trips to the ocean left a deep impression on Amy, impacting her outlook on the world. 

Amy earned her BA in Elementary Education from St. Andrews University in North Carolina. She taught Kindergarten for a year in the public school system before moving to West Virginia and opening up a cafe near a college town at the foot of the Appalachian mountains. 

After moving to Portland in 2000, Amy’s aunt continued to be a guiding force in her life when she introduced her to Waldorf education and Rudolf Steiner. Shortly after, Amy enrolled in a Waldorf Teacher Training program.

The teaching of respect and reverence for nature, the connection to the development of the growing child, and the creation of soulful, living lessons are ideals of this education that resonate deeply with Amy. 

After completing her training, Amy taught for seven amazing years at Swallowtail before deciding to move north with her husband and teach at a Waldorf school on Bainbridge Island, where they would be closer to her in-laws and extended family. Amy returned to Swallowtail in 2021 as a first-grade teacher.

In her free time, Amy enjoys tackling home improvement projects and finding new tools to check out from her local tool library. She and her husband also enjoy hiking with their rescue dog, Mochi.