Our Teachers and Staff

Program Director

All Classrooms

She/Her

In her 20 years as an educator, Crystal has taught a wide variety of subjects and students including high school performing arts, middle school English, elementary music, and play based preschool. She earned her BA in English before continuing on to a post-graduate study in education at San Jose State University. In 2019, she and her family moved to Portland and opened Sprout and Spark. Her dream is to help other teachers develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to bring their own schools into being. 

Crystal enjoys anything that allows her to flex her creative muscles, especially cooking, writing, and composing elaborate impromptu operettas with her three kids.

Groundsmaster General

All Classrooms

He/Him

After spending the last decade designing electric airplanes at Ampaire and getting rockets off the ground (and back on the ground again) at Space X, Jason can't wait to bring his technical expertise and love of science and engineering to our school. Jason is our do-everything and make-everything guy: fences and furniture, climbing structures, and sandboxes. 

A devoted father of three, Jason also enjoys playing guitar, designing tabletop games, and creating beautiful and precise CAD drawings.

Reggio Emilia Guide

All Classrooms

She/Her

Lori studied Art and Child Development at San Francisco State University. An art education internship at the de Young Museum set her on a path to work as an art teacher and resource specialist in traditional school settings across the Bay Area. After several years, she became more interested in early childhood education, and how art materials can be utilized to support development. 

Lori enjoys spending time with her family and does her best to carve out time for her many hobbies including artmaking/painting, photography, reading, gardening and home design. She enjoys being able to share her excitement for the possibilities of art, and how we can create together.

Montessori Primary Guide

Creek and Forest Classrooms

She/Her

Carol graduated Oregon State University in 2018 with a Bachelor’s of Science and has hopes of returning to school in the near future to expand her knowledge in the field of Early Childhood Education. She has previously worked at two Montessori schools from ages 12 months through 6 years before working at Sprout and Spark. Her journey with Montessori first began at home where she discovered the method during the pandemic and began practicing with her own children. 

Carol enjoys spending time outdoors, specifically rock climbing and hiking, she also loves cozying up with a good book, baking, and having dance parties with her two daughters. She is excited to share these passions with the students at school.

Montessori Primary Guide

Forest Classroom

She/Her

Sam graduated from Golden West College in 2021 with an Associates Degree in Elementary Education and in Science. After moving to Oregon from California in 2021 she began working in early childhood education and fell in love with it. She worked at 2 schools and as a Montessori guide prior to joining Sprout and Spark in 2025. 

In her free time, Sam enjoys family hikes with her daughter, husband, and her dog Charlie. She also loves reading a good book while cuddling up with her two cats.

Transitional Preschool Guide

Spring Classroom

She/Her

After several experiences working as an au pair in France and as a private nanny, Michelle began working in preschools shortly after moving to and settling into Portland. She explored teaching at several schools in Portland, and in 2019 joined a play-based, outdoor focused preschool, a niche that made her heart shine! In her time at this school, she was promoted to lead teacher and director, and loved nurturing the kiddos' love and curiosity about the outdoors, gardening, and animal care. 

She loves to spend time outside, whether that looks like gardening, adventures with the pup, camping, floating down rivers, and exploring Oregon and Washington. Traveling, music, and crafts often keep her busy in her free time. She adores animals of any shape or size, and is always growing her mindfulness and yoga practices.

Montessori Primary Guide

Creek Classroom

She/Her

Kristine has dedicated more than 30 years to Montessori education. She holds Association Montessori Internationale certification at the Primary and Elementary levels and completed graduate studies in education at Loyola College of Maryland. Over the years, Kristine has guided elementary and primary classes in both private and public schools. Work beyond the classroom has included mentoring adolescents in a boys’ group home, leading a home-based program, homeschooling, developing a parent education and toddler class, piloting a reading intervention initiative, and serving as Director of the Primary Program at a charter school. 

Kristine and her husband, a fellow Montessori guide, have three children. They road tripped across the country to the Pacific Northwest in 2016. Immediately, hiking along the beaches (rain or shine) and biking through the hills of Oregon and Washington were favorite family pastimes. When not on the trail, Kristine also enjoys cooking from scratch, reading in the park, and listening to live music.

Assistant Guide

Spring and Creek Classrooms

She/Her

Josephine has over three years of experience in childcare. After moving to Oregon in 2021, she began teaching in a project-play based preschool working with children from ages 3 to 6 years. She took a year off when her daughter Elsie was born, and upon returning, discovered her passion for Montessori education. She then worked in a Montessori preschool with children aged 12 months to 6 years for two years before working at Sprout and Spark. 

Josephine enjoys reading, exploring the outdoors at local parks, and uncovering hidden gems around Oregon. She especially treasures these adventures with her fiancé and daughter, Elsie, making family time both fun and meaningful.

Preschool Guide

Forest Classroom

She/Her

Jasmine is a dedicated early childhood educator with four years of experience, including nearly two years in preschool classrooms. She holds a BS in Psychology and Political Science, providing a strong foundation in child development and social-emotional learning. Through play-based learning, intentional instruction, collaboration, and strong family partnerships, she supports each child’s unique academic, social, and emotional growth. 

Outside of the classroom, Jasmine enjoys spending time with her family and staying active in her community. She shares a close bond with her younger siblings and values lifelong learning in both her personal and professional life. She enjoys reading, exploring nature, gardening, crafting, and painting. Jasmine is also passionate about dancing hula and Tahitian, embracing the cultural traditions and sense of community they represent, which inspire the warmth, creativity, and cultural appreciation she brings into the classroom.

Assistant Guide; Substitute

She/Her

 Chelsea is a mom to 2 who has been working with children for over 10 years. She started as a daycare worker for 7 years and has been a preschool teacher for the last 3. The 25-26 school year will be her fourth year teaching with Sprout and Spark. 

Chelsea is most excited to share her love of science with children. She loves looking at interesting plants, animals and natural materials under a microscope and constructing new knowledge with her students based on scientific observations. She also loves sharing her passion for animals and helping the children learn how to be gentle and loving to all forms of life.

Assistant Guide; Substitute

She/Her

My name is Shelby and this is my 4th year with Sprout and Spark. Finding Sprout and Spark has forever changed my view on parenting and how children learn. Previously I worked as a caregiver for adults in all age ranges. I have always had a passion for helping people and encouraging independence within your abilities. 

I am a wife and mother to an almost 2 year old little boy named Leo with another bundle of joy arriving this spring. I love spending my free time outside and exploring nature with my friends and family. My passion in life is finding joy in the little things and helping others to do the same.