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Meet Jenn Boyunegmez

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Jenn's Bio

Jenn is a passionate early educator with nearly 20 years of experience teaching children aged 3-9 in a variety of settings.  She partners with families to advocate strongly for their children.  Parents are their child's first and forever teachers, and Jenn honors the invitation to join families on this journey.  Jenn facilitates opportunities for children to develop emotionally, socially and academically.  She empowers children to manage risk-taking, become fully developed members of a healthy community of learners and challenges their academic strengths while gently encouraging their needs.  A vocal advocate of the importance of play, Jenn creates a learning environment which allows for investigation and discovery, develops critical thinking skills, promotes emotional regulation and fosters literacy skills with rich language experiences.  Inspired by the outdoor education movement, she has developed programming for experiences in the woods for children in preschool through 2nd grade.  Jenn makes space for children to fully wander in wonder.

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EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

  • B.S. Ed. / Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Major: Early Childhood Education / Minor.: Music

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TEACHING CERTIFICATIONS:

  • K-6 Elementary Education

Meet Ashley Brochart

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Ashley's Bio

At Fern Hill, Ashley is the teacher of 3rd, 4th and 5th grades.  She has spent the majority of her career providing developmentally appropriate play, psychosocial support, procedural preparation and diagnosis education to children in the hospital setting.  She understands the value of play and the importance of developing strong relationships with children and their families.  Ashley meets children where they are on their journeys and develops a plan to provide them with the skills needed to thrive.  Play is the way children learn and discover the world and Ashley is excited to provide a learning environment that focuses on the child.  Children will be encouraged daily to investigate, discover and collaborate, as they build a solid social, emotional and educational foundation.   

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EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

  • M.S. Child Life Specialist / Loma Linda University School of Behavioral Health

  • B.A. / California Baptist University

  • Major : Liberal Studies - Elementary Subject Matter Program / Concentration: Early Childhood

 

TEACHING CERTIFICATIONS:

  • PA Private School
    Teaching Certificate

  • Certified Nature Educator

Meet Marah Biddle

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Marah's Bio

Marah joined Fern Hill as the Assistant Teacher of the Early Grades in 2021 and in 2022 earned a promotion to Junior Teacher!  Marah grew up locally on a farm in central Pennsylvania. It was there that she developed her love of nature. After college, she gained valuable experience working closely with children ages 3-6 at a Montessori-based, outdoor preschool in Lewisburg, PA. During the four years she worked at Nature School, she fell in love with the philosophy that important developmental learning is able to be accomplished outdoors. Marah feels very passionate about helping children discover a sense of self through nature and exploration. She gained invaluable skills and experiences in teaching children outdoors. Marah is an enthusiastic educator who is excited to share her knowledge of nature with children.

She will continue to work with Jenn this year in the mornings to continue to develop her teaching skills.  Marah’s relationships with students, her experience and commitment to outdoor ed and play based learning are such a strong base for her journey to Lead Teacher and we are so excited to see the outcomes of this mentorship!

Meet Bethany Marcello

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Bethany's Bio

Bethany joins Fern Hill as the 1st and 2nd grade teacher.
She values empathy as a basis for learning. When kids
feel safe emotionally, they can take risks, and risks are
where the magic happens--learning, collaboration,
self-trust and fun. Years as a public and private school
teacher, Penn State Master Gardener and nature teacher have taught her that treating
children with dignity via choices and emotional validation fosters meaningful learning.

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EDUCATIONAL

BACKGROUND:
● B.A.: Shippensburg University, English with a Secondary Certification, Summa Cum Laude

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