Rachael Clarke - First Grade Teaching Assistant
Greetings!
My name is Rachael Clarke and my pronouns are she/they. This will be my second year at ABS as a teaching assistant. I am so excited to be working alongside Ms. Jenn in first grade this year. I have been in the education field for nine years now.
Before coming here, I was the Lead Preschool teacher at Piedmont Forest School where I facilitated outdoor child-directed learning immersed in nature year round. I also worked part time as a Teacher/Registered Behavior Therapist to children and teens on the autism spectrum with ABC of NC. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. Afterword, I made my way to Forsyth Technical Community College to complete ECE requirements. I also have my foundations training with Cedarsong Nature School out of Asheville, NC. Right now, I am in UNC Charlotte's Masters of Elementary Education (K-6) program.
As both a previous forest school and an exceptional education teacher, neurodiversity, nature based education and anti-ableist values are incredibly important to my framework in helping build a classroom. I do my best to incorporate music, art and a love of nature in everything I do. In my free time I can be found practicing my guitar, playing with my kiddo (who also attends ABS), cuddling with Woody Guthrie (our cat), and taking Freddy, our rescue dog, on hikes through the woods.
“As a classroom community, our capacity to generate excitement is deeply affected by our interest in one another, in hearing one another's voices, in recognizing one another's presence.” - Bell Hooks
