07 Jan Three New Board Members Join the Team

In the words of Spinal Tap “This board goes up to eleven”… or, err… 12 actually… but you get my drift: 2016 is a big year for Tiny Trees and we need an extra boost to help get us to opening day. That is why I am thrilled have three new champions join our board of directors. Each of them comes with skills that complement our team and address strategic and operational needs. Please join me in giving a warm Spinal Tap welcome to:

Shelley Stromholt
Researcher at the Institute for Science and Math Education and the University of Washington

“I am passionate about equity in education and as a parent I am aware of the lack of affordable, quality early childhood education and childcare options in the Puget Sound region. I’m interested in lending my expertise in STEM and place-based education to help engage even the youngest children in understanding their community and how they can make a difference.”

Shelley started her career in environmental education and informal science – teaching in many different venues including at IslandWood, the Exploratorium in San Francisco, and a WWII submarine. As the coordinator of assessment and evaluation for four years at IslandWood she was inspired to return to UW to get her Ph.D. in Learning Sciences and Human Development – specifically with a focus on equity in STEM education. Since finishing her degree she has continued her work as a researcher with the Institute for Science and Math Education at UW where she works on a variety of projects, including afterschool programs, partnering with Seattle Public Schools to adopt the Next Generation Science Standards, and developing a framework for art and science for out of school time programs.

Jenna Crouch
Public Defender – Snohomish Juvenile Court

“I’d like to ensure that children in Seattle of all socio-economic backgrounds have access to learning through play. I truly believe in the importance of giving kids the opportunity to move, be active, dance, play, and explore outdoors.”

Jenna grew up in Seattle, but it took six years in New York City for her to fully appreciate the beauty of the Northwest. After college and two years in NYC at the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. She moved back to Seattle in 2008 and attended law school at the University of Washington, where she focused on public interest law and criminal defense. She currently works as a public defender, representing indigent clients in juvenile court where she has discovered a love for youth work and a belief that a quality education early in life is critical for keeping kids out of the criminal justice system. Jenna is also a certified Jivamukti Yoga teacher and is an instructor at Modo Yoga Seattle and Aditi Yoga.

Kristen Modie
Core Leader at Nordstroms

“Tiny Trees is a ground-breaking idea in a world full of screen stimulation. We spend most of our days staring at video and computer screens and the idea that we are going to teach children the value and excitement of being outdoors in any element is what we as a society need more of.”

Kristen grew up in Portland, Oregon and lived in in St. Louis, Missouri, Chicago, Illinois and Washington, DC before moving to Seattle in 2009. A parent of a Washington Middle School 7th grader, Kristen lives with her husband in Seattle’s Central District (Judkins Park). For the last 15 years she has worked for Nordstrom, an innovative retail company, where she has developed initiative and leadership skills, learned how to implement her ideas, own the outcomes and fix them when they don’t go as planned. She also is an avid snow boarder and is working on beating her fearless 7^th grader down the slopes this winter.

By Andrew A. Jay, Chief Executive Officer, Tiny Trees Preschool