Explorers (4-5) Lead Teacher
Shannon Coker
Shannon has worked in the field of Early Childhood Education for 18 years. She was a Lead Teacher at LCC's Lane Child & Family Center for 13 years where she supported children, their families and college students studying toward a degree in ECE. It was at the LCC campus where she found her passion for connecting young children to the natural world, leading weekly treks into the woods for a morning of "outdoor school".
Over the course of a year of "outdoor school" she observed children learning to identify local plants, animal tracks and animal trails. The children worked more collaboratively in the woods, they were more focused and became more confident in trying new skills, such as climbing trees. Shannon became enthralled with outdoor education and its benefits.
She joined Tiffany at Mind-Full Meadows in the summer of 2021 leading preschool summer camps and co-teaching the K-8 for the 21/22 school year.
Adventurers (2-3) Lead Teacher
Amy Sutton
Ms Amy has been teaching for 27 years. She started her career in Early Childhood Education in Redding, CA where she was born and raised. In 2014 she moved to Eugene Oregon where she finished her degree in ECE at LCC. While at LCC, Ms. Amy was a lab student under Ms. Shannon, then later worked alongside her as a co-teacher.
Ms. Amy has worked with children from newborns up to 8th grade, as well as 10+ years experience working with neurodivergent children.
It was when she took on the role as a toddler teacher that Ms. Amy saw the benefits of including more outdoor experiences for early learners, and made nature experiences a regular part of her curriculum.
Ms. Amy is an outdoor enthusiast and spends much of her free time out in nature hiking, enjoying the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and indulging in photography.
Director
Tiffany Jeanette Price
In the spring of 2020, Tiffany was a public school lead teacher based in Eugene, Oregon, and with the help of her mother, was able to purchase the property now known as Mind-Full Meadows Mini-Farm. After leading a few rounds of K-8 summer camps, Tiffany decided to open Mind-Full Meadows STEAM-Powered Learning Farm. Combining her personal interests in native edible and medicinal plants, farm animals, and STEAM education, Tiffany took an idea and developed a multifaceted K-8 program incorporating all of what she believes are the essential elements of a well-rounded child-centered education:
- A strong connection with the natural world
- Support and challenge at one's level
- A robust, relevant, hands-on science program
- An expectation of kindness and personal responsibility
- A rich Arts program, including music and movement
- Meaningful learning around personal topics of interest
- Thoughtful, compassionate feedback
Her history in public education spanning over two decades, and with classroom teaching experiences ranging from kindergarten through 9th grade, Tiffany's breadth and depth of experience prepared her to take on the adventure of leading a tiny farm school through a pandemic.
Tiffany completed her interdisciplinary Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education, with a focus on Integrated Sciences and with support areas in Geography and Music. After teaching for ten years, working in regular ed. classrooms, with students considered academically and behaviorally at-risk, and in grades K-9, she completed an Masters in Education program from Lesley University, focused on Integrated Teaching Through the Arts.
Tiffany undertook the Initial Administrative Licensure Program at the University of Oregon, and now has both her Legacy Teaching License and her Principal License. She integrates these varied skill sets and lenses in her work at Mind-Full Education, as well as when she facilitates discussions community and district levels and in her work with The Oregon Department of Education in refining assessments and analyzing instructional technology.
All of these experiences provide Tiffany with a broad background in both multi-age outdoor education and a spectrum of varied educational systems and strategies. Her efforts in supporting student's academic and social-emotional development through relationship building and compassionate routines stems from the idea that we were all children, and the best way we can create the world we want is through the thoughtful inspiration and loving guidance of our young humans.
Tiffany is now able to combine her education experiences with her lifelong, heartfelt mission that all humans feel seen, heard, and valued. Her strong faith guides the variety of supports offered and contributions made to those in our community often overlooked and underserved. From those considered neurodivergent to those experiencing housing, food, or mobility challenges, Tiffany works to create environments and opportunities to include and support all community members. Knowing we all want to be part of a community motivates Tiffany's work.