Patty Christensen: Founder and Director
Welcome to Urban Nature Preschool, teaching young children is my passion! My first teaching experience was through the Murrieta Valley School District in Murrieta CA, where I was a co-teacher for 5 years in their State Preschool Program. Because of the joy that teaching young children brought to me, I quickly realized that it was my calling. I later earned a degree in Early Childhood Education from Lake Washington Institute of Technology in WA state, where I also taught as a lead preschool teacher in their Early Learning Center for 6 years. In addition to leading a class of 20 preschoolers, I also had the opportunity to train college students going into the field of ECE by mentoring and assisting them in the professional application of best age-appropriate practices in Early Childhood Education. My next opportunity was as a lead teacher for 4 years at Denise Louie Education Center in Seattle. Denise Louie Education Center is a non-profit multicultural early learning and family support program. At DLEC I had the joy of implementing a bilingual curriculum and working with a diverse population of students. It was at DLEC that I experienced the power and importance of community when it comes to working with young children and their families. In 2018 I heard about the Outdoor/Nature Preschool concept because of Tiny Trees Preschool in Seattle. I then decided to become a substitute teacher at this amazing innovative non-profit organization. I immediately fell in love with Nature-based Early Childhood Education. As a substitute teacher I was able to travel to several of their locations throughout King County and embrace their philosophy for over 2 years. There I had the privilege of meeting other professionals who were also very passionate about Nature -based preschool. At the same time in 2019, I also began my role as a substitute teacher at Little Cubs Preschool an Arts and Nature preschool in West Seattle. It is the compilation of all my experiences and the knowledge I’ve acquired from working with so many highly devoted educators in my journey as a teacher of young children, that has inspired me to create the Urban Nature Preschool experience in West Seattle! Along with my Family, I have been a resident of West Seattle for the last 16 years and I look forward to exploring the green spaces in our community with your little Urban Nature explorers.
Anne Churchill: Lead Teacher
I am a West Seattle mom originally from Denmark where I earned a Bachelor degree in Social Education and worked as a preschool teacher until I moved to Seattle in 2009. I home-schooled my daughter until she started Kindergarten and I had the opportunity to be one of the founding teachers of Tiny Trees Preschool. I love being outside with the kids every day rain or shine, exploring nature, playing with sticks and mud, finding bugs and making art! I am excited to now be a part of Urban Nature Preschool since 2020!
Elizabeth (Liz) Schroeder: Lead Teacher
Born and raised in West Seattle, having attended Fauntleroy School thru the 5th grade, I returned to it
working for a couple of years at FCC with the 1–3-year-olds and as a substitute teacher. I left working
with children to pursue a 20+ yr career in the restaurant industry. I’m a mom of an 18yr old young
man and found myself back working in childcare 10yrs ago. I worked at two local birth to 5 yr in home
daycares where I was able to use my education and training Early Childhood Education. I’m an avid
outdoorsy person and love being a Lead teacher at UNP since Fall of 2024. I look forward to
exploring and teaching UNP students about nature and the elements.
Sophie Tuell: Assistant Teacher
Originally from California, I moved to Bellingham in 2017 to pursue education in environmental
sciences and performing arts at Western Washington University. I fell in love with the landscape and
have been in Washington ever since! I transitioned to early childhood education in 2020, beginning
first as a substitute teacher throughout the greater Seattle area before teaching preschool at Bright
Horizons West 8th. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, kayaking, reading, and participating in Seattle’s
vibrant arts scene. I am passionate about the intersection of art and the natural world, and what it
means to foster love and gratitude for our planet from an early age. I am very excited to be joining the
UNP team, where instead of simply bringing nature to the classroom, we have the opportunity to bring
the classroom to nature!