Woodland Playhouse

Hi, my name is Alisha. I first heard of Woodland Playhouse through Christina. Christina and I have been friends since early years of SUNY Ulster back in 2007 and became fast friends. I loved hearing about what her daughter was learning. The playhouse clearly focused more on exploration and experience rather than using a teacher-centered approach to learning. A little about myself: I have two children; Arya and Ryker. I hold a BS in Childhood Education and an MS in special education and literacy. I am certified to teach public elementary school and special education. I have held various jobs within the field from being a substitute teacher in districts like Saugerties, Catskill, Onteora, and Hudson as well as being a substitute here at the Woodland Playhouse (and working Summer camps since 2017), Boys and Girls Club counselor, preschool and toddler teacher at the YWCA of Ulster County, and preschool teacher of a self-contained class at Columbia County’s ARC (The Starting Place). I enjoy science and instilling wonder, creativity, and curiosity with all my students. I look forward to continuing my passion for teaching and learning here at the playhouse!

Hi! I am Christina. I began my experience at Woodland Playhouse during the 2014-15 school year when my oldest child, Isabelle, attended. I fell in love with the school, the atmosphere and the teachers and decided to enroll my son, Leonardo, as soon as he was old enough. When Grace approached me in 2016 about partnering, I was thrilled. I hold a BS in Childhood Education (B-6) with a concentration in English, and a MA in Childhood Education with a concentration in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). I have spent years running a small, family owned business before creating Woodland Playhouse, LLC with Grace - an expansion of the original Woodland Playhouse. Upon Grace's leaving Woodland Playhouse in 2019, I took up the torch on my own. As lead teacher of the Grizzly Bears and owner/director, I've worked hard to hold fast to the heart and spirit of the original Woodland Playhouse that I fell in love with as a parent. I love combining my natural entrepreneurial spirit and my love for children and teaching in a developmentally appropriate, experiential way -- playing, reading and exploring! 

Since then, I've also stretched to earn my Early Childhood Professional Development credential to spread my love for outdoor education, risky play, and so much more to other educators across the US.

Hi everyone! My name is Laura and I live here in the Catskills. I have been working at Woodland Playhouse for two wonderful years. I work primarily in the Grizzly Bear classroom. I am getting my early childhood education degree at Grand Canyon University and I am also a volunteer firefighter for our local fire department! I love working with the littles and now know that this is what I am going to do for the rest of my life. Learning new things from the kids everyday is the highlight of this job they have taught me how to be capable and flexible in my everyday life. I can’t wait to meet all of you and your kiddos. 

Hi, I’m Belinda. I first learned about the Playhouse when it moved to it’s current location. I had signed my two sons, Brantley and Kody up for summer camp. I loved this place the minute I walked in. It had such a great atmosphere and the teachers were wonderful with the children.I worked in the nursing field for five years as an aid for geriatrics. Once I had my second son, Kody we decided I would stay home with them. In the fall of 2018, I was offered the wonderful opportunity to work aftercare for the Playhouse. Since I have started, I haven’t looked back. I couldn’t be happier to work with these young individuals. I love helping them learn and grow as I continue to learn and grow myself. Most of all I truly love working with your little ones.

I’m Danny.  I am a substitute teacher at Woodland Playhouse this year. I graduated from Onteora and went to SUNY Ulster for a degree in​ business, but I found that I prefer working with children. I started working with children at Shandaken Rec when I was 18 years old. I continue to work at Shandaken Rec each summer. For about four years, I also worked at Belleayre Mountain in the drop off child care center, but have chosen to work at Woodland Playhouse exclusively during the winter months. I've been a part of Woodland Playhouse since 2017. I love working with children and helping them learn, grow, and succeed. 

THE POWER OF PLAY
I believe play is the most effective tool we have to build strong, creative,  compassionate, and successful children.  For this reason, I work to develop nature-based community programs that  create play-spaces with a focus on environmental immersion experiences, outdoor education, and youth development. Play is most powerful when it is freely chosen and intrinsically motivated  because it helps create a path for children to evolve into confident and  driven adults.