Kyla Ledes (she/her) - Administrative Director

Kyla was raised in the Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee. Her backpacking, Pediatrician father instilled in her a love of children and the outdoors. Her foodie, hairdresser mother instilled a love of good food and artistry. She spent much of her adolescence hiking, camping, splashing in creeks, horseback riding, rock-climbing, and exploring. When she wasn’t doing that, she was painting, drawing, building, or eating a good meal with good people.  

Kyla received her BFA in Acting from Belmont University in Nashville and her Master’s of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Southern California here in LA. Since then she’s worn many hats from acting and directing to managing a restaurant to raising her now twelve-year-old son. 

Kyla’s tenure in both theatre and restaurant management showed her the importance of communication and teamwork. Bringing unlikely groups of people together to achieve seemingly unachievable things is one of her greatest joys. She also has an interest in non-profits and underserved communities, which is where her focus is looking forward. 

For fun, Kyla is still the same small-town mountain girl she has always been. She loves to hike, rock-climb, build furniture and pottery, and spend time with her son and their five pets.

Nicole Shears (she/her) -
Chickadees Educator

Nicole’s love for nature and education has been a lifelong journey. Raised in the vibrant landscapes of Southern California, Nicole's early years at a Waldorf School shaped her profound appreciation for the natural world. Gardening, tree climbing, and imaginative play were not just childhood activities but the building blocks of her connection with the environment.

Nicole's education instilled in her a sense of confidence and independence, by emphasizing handwork practices and a harmonious relationship with the land. These formative experiences taught her that nature and imagination are invaluable resources for personal growth.

As an artist and educator, Nicole holds a BFA in Filmmaking from Calarts and a Masters in Psychology in Education from Teachers College Columbia University. Her academic journey focused on social-emotional learning, mindfulness, and creativity, reflecting her fascination with the ways creative thinking contributes to overall well-being.

While living in New York City for the last 5 years, she worked as a teacher at Second Nature Forest School in the parks of Upper Manhattan, as well as with the non-profit organization Art Resistance Through Education.  

Her favorite part of working with young children is their ability to be present and engaged in the moment. She is inspired by their imaginations and finds great joy in listening to their outlooks and wonderings about the world. 

Outside the classroom, Nicole indulges in her love for painting, hiking, yoga, and reading. These activities not only enrich her personal life but also contribute to her holistic approach to teaching and fostering creativity in young minds.

Julissa Tobias (she/her) - Sparrows Educator

Julissa grew up in Orange County (Garden Grove and Anaheim) and LA County (Norwalk) during her childhood. She became a first generation college student in her family. She graduated from Whittier College with a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development and Spanish; her native language. She was a collegiate student-athlete, double major with a passion for service and volunteerism. She was a NCAA DIII National Qualifier for Cross Country and Track & Field. She was an AmeriCorps Member for 2 years with Jumpstart: Children First, an organization focusing on literacy development in low-income communities by partnering with HeadStart preschools. Upon graduation, she became an AmeriCorps Member with a non-profit organization called City Year. She dedicated herself to a year of service with City Year Los Angeles 2018-2019 being a tutor, mentor and role model for LAUSD high school students in community of South Los Angeles. With City Year LA, she was a Service Ambassador guiding corporate volunteers and their families with beautification projects by painting murals on campuses across LAUSD. Although she tutored and mentored the high school students, they taught her more than she could imagine about resilience. She ran her first marathon, the 2019 Los Angeles Marathon for charity. She joined NELA Forest School in August 2019, teaching for 3 years and counting! She enjoys reading, building stick houses, hiking and learning from the children.

For leisure, Julissa enjoys running, hiking, going to the movies, the beach, spending time with family, friends and 3 dogs (husky and chihuahuas).

Her goal is to become a doula to gain experience before pursuing a Master of Science as a Certified Nurse-Midwife.

Emily Grunfeld (she/her) - Hawks Educator

Emily Grunfeld received her Early Childhood Education Certification with distinction from UCLA Extension, with a concentration in Reggio Emilia Philosophy. Prior to her focus on early childhood education, Emily earned a B.F.A. in Photography and Imaging from Art Center College of Design. During her time as a photographer, Emily was drawn to projects relating to social justice and advocacy for children’s rights, from housing justice to the incarceration of migrant children. Her social justice work and close relationship with her nephew, paired with her passion for research and neuroscience, led her to her path in early childhood education. Emily strongly feels that early childhood is the foundation for all future learning, as well as integral to building a kinder, more compassionate society. 

As a teacher, Emily is thrilled to bring her visual arts background to Northeast LA Forest School, and integrate Reggio Emilia strategies with Nature Pedagogy. When Emily isn’t teaching, she loves to visit museums, propagate succulents, drink boba, create robots with her nephew, foster cats, and read magical realism. In the future, Emily plans to pursue a Masters’ degree in Child Psychology, and to develop trauma-informed educational environments for under-resourced communities. 

Ian Randolph (he/him) - Nest Educator

Coming Soon

Garret Brisbane (they/them) - Nest Educator

Hi I’m Garrett. I’m from Folsom, California and moved to LA county in July 2021. I enjoy exploring my Burbank neighborhood by way of urban foraging. I can point you to the nearest citrus trees and lavender bushes. I am elated to teach Spanish to the children of NELA as well as learn from the children how to enjoy my imagination again. Ask me about the pop music industry, the joys of running, El Camino De Santiago (a spiritual pilgrimage across northern Spain), and the LA public transportation lifestyle.

Aaron Levy (he/him)- Operations Manager

Aaron is ecstatic to continue working with Northeast LA Forest School. He started out as a frequent sub when the school was in its infancy and continued in that position as the school toddled on and hit the ground running. He was asked to come on as a full time educator during the Covid pandemic and has to say that helping children and families navigate this difficult time has almost made it worthwhile. Almost. He has recently transitioned to Operations Manager, making sure the school runs smoothly day-to-day, and is looking forward to continuing to be a presence in the lives of our students.
Prior to teaching at NELA Forest School, Aaron taught and tutored students at the 52nd Street Project in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York where he helped kids formulate, write and produce their own plays as well as helping with homework and after school activities. He was also a Camp Counselor for many years in the suburbs of Chicago. In his other life he is a writer working in film and TV and was a playwright for many years in New York working with such theaters as the Public, New Group, Ensemble Studio Theatre, the Flea and many others. He holds an undergraduate degree from Columbia College and a Masters Degree from NYU. Husband to Becca, father to Henry and avid outdoor enthusiast of the glorious flora and fauna of Southern California.

Perren Carrillo (they/them) - Chickadees Educator

Perren is a plant person through and through. They received their BA in Comparative Literature at the University of Pennsylvania where they really developed their fondness for the outdoors biking along the Wissahickon in Philadelphia. Returning to LA, an interest in native plants and their ethnobotanical uses led them to start Motherland Garden, an agroecological space in their mother's front yard (hence the name!). MG functions as their experimental garden where they can cultivate sense of place and culture, and observe and involve their self in the myriad interconnections that plants and animals have with each other. 

Their love of plants coincided with early childhood education while babysitting their baby cousin in the garden. Perren, also known as B(estie) to their 2-year-old cousin, Ian, laughed a lot watching how quickly Ian honed in on the strawberries and blueberries and plums and learned exactly when to pick them! For Ian, it was a definitively tasty exploration in shapes, colors, and textures...Oh, and sharing the harvest!

Working with Westside kids in the Santa Monica Mountains, Perren found a further sense of purpose in encouraging more "wild" plant-human relationships and seeing how much young kids feel integrated not just within but as a part of Nature. It's their understanding that to know our more-than-human relatives is to know ourselves as humans, an integral lesson at any age!

Addie Meyer (she/her) - Sparrows Educator

Addie was born and raised in LA and graduated with a degree in Political Science from Reed College in Portland, Oregon. While the rainy weather of the PNW was an adjustment for a SoCal transplant, she deeply loved the landscapes and energy of the northwest coast. Addie was in a band that gained local notoriety in the DIY scene and spent her days studying, babysitting, playing live music, and biking in the rain. After graduating she explored a career in fine dining, working as a line cook at a popular restaurant in Portland.

These invaluable experiences all lead to Addie's desire to be an educator. She has always loved working with children. Since shifting into education she has been credited as a creative and kind caretaker, with a keen sense of imagination and curiosity. Her experience in childcare includes her work as a teaching assistant at Willowcrest School, an innovative pre-school for neurodivergent children, and a near-decade of nannying and babysitting across the west coast.

When she's not at work you can find Addie at home with her pitbull Francine, working on a DJ set for her bi-weekly radio show, and cooking for her loved ones. She is thrilled to be a part of the NELA Forest School team, and is enchanted by the magic of the Griffith Park classrooms.

Kayla Carrington (they/them) - Hawks Educator

Teacher Kayla is an artistic and exploratory outdoor educator who for 8 years has led outdoor youth programs at the University of Washington Arboretum in Seattle. From Forest Preschool, to Family Nature Class, to Arboretum Summer Camp, to elementary school field trips, to private instruction, Kayla watches how children resonate with nature and loves to help further that connection. Their approach is immersive, and leads into topics like Nature art, Insect Shelters, and the Water Cycle with ease. Teacher Kayla is also known as Kayla Carrington, a jazz saxophonist, poet/rapper, and activist with goals to widely nurture environmental action. To learn more, or to connect about private outdoor tutoring, check out www.kaylacarrington.com. Happy Learning!

Francesca Noel (she/her) - Nest Educator

Francesca is a self-proclaimed student of nature and lover of all things flora and fauna. Having grown up in the Catskill Mountains of Woodstock, NY, she is very well versed in the mysteries and lessons of the forest. She has received her Bachelor’s in Songwriting from Berklee College of Music and studied at the Bard Conservatory for Classical Music. Early childhood education is a passion of hers, as she believes the key to keeping a healthy planet lies in educating young minds. She has been a private tutor for two years now, as well as a gymnastics instructor to kids age 0-14. She loves exploration and imaginative play, and takes pride in being a shepherd of learning!

Sydney Melton (she/her) - Hawks Educator - temporary leave

Sydney was born and raised in Franklin TN, just south of Nashville. She received her BA in Humanities from Lee University where she discovered a love of learning purely based on seeking knowledge for the sake of curiosity, enjoyment, and becoming a better human being. She met her husband in college and they moved to CA in 2022 for him to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology. Sydney grew up camping and hiking throughout East Tennessee with her siblings and parents and will always have a heart for the Appalachian mountains. Her feet were always barefoot, knees scraped from climbing trees, and hands full of sticks and river rocks for my fairy houses. Although SoCal is very different from TN, Sydney has enjoyed going to the beach, hiking, mountain biking, and visiting local botanical gardens. 
When she am not at work you can find Sydney hanging out with her husband, cooking delicious meals, reading, or planting another house plant. She also loves sharing a meal with friends, exploring her new home in Pasadena, and listening to Tennessee bluegrass. 
Sydney’s experience with childcare starts at baby-sitting in her teenage years and then working as a nanny. She also worked in a pottery studio that directly helped children discover a love of art through painting. Before moving to CA, Sydney worked as a kindergarten teacher at a Forest School in Cleveland TN. She always felt a deep connection to nature and teaching children so her experience with forest schools has been an absolutely magical one. She is in the beginning process of receiving a Masters in Education and looks forward to continuing on the path of Forest School education. 
Sydney’s favorite part of forest school education is getting to experience the pure joy and revelation nature brings alongside the children. At these beginning stages of development, wonder and curiosity are at the forefront of their learning and we get to step into their shoes and inspire them to seek and listen. Sydney is excited to experience forest school in SoCal and bring her outdoor experience from Tennessee to share in a completely new environment!

Melissa Pinkham (she/her) - Hummingbirds Program Lead

Melissa grew up in Northern California, spending her childhood playing outside in the neighborhood, exploring nature by digging in dirt, walking in creeks, climbing up trees and especially building forts. Playing freely in nature are some of her best memories as a child and have influenced her teaching to this day.

Melissa has taught in early childhood for over 37 years.  After receiving a B.A. in Child Development, she began teaching in Northern California, both in preschool environments, infant- toddler classes and parent education programs.   After moving to Los Angeles in 2000, Melissa taught at Pacific Oaks Children’s School for 13 years while working with toddlers, preschoolers and multiage groups. During this time, she received her M.A in Human Development and later took a position as adjunct faculty at Pacific Oaks College.   Melissa also worked at Sunnyside preschool as a curriculum director, toddler teacher and outdoor educator in an urban setting.  After joining Northeast Los Angeles Forest School in 2019, Melissa experienced first-hand the incredible benefits of forest education.  Children learning in natural environments is at the heart of her work.

When Melissa isn’t teaching, she writes on topics of early childhood and presents at workshops nationally. Her first published book by Redleaf Press titled, “Emergent Curriculum for Toddlers: Learning Through Play”, shares her journey working with toddlers and developing curriculum, including her rich experiences teaching and learning at Northeast Forest School.  

In her spare time, Melissa enjoys spending time with her friends, family and two dogs, exploring Southern California and playing music on her autoharp.

Sam Salk (she/her)- Chickadees Educator

Sam, also known as Jack's mom, is an artist based in Los Angeles. Originally from Chicago, she has been residing in LA since 2005. Sam's artistic journey began at the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana, where she studied painting, glass blowing, and art history.

Through her interdisciplinary studies, Sam developed a well-rounded artistic education that nurtured her creativity and expanded her horizons. She embraces the fusion of different mediums, incorporating elements of painting, glass blowing, and art history into her own artistic practice.

Inspired by her passion for art and the opportunity to sub in the NELA classrooms, Sam is excited to bring her artistic talents into the educational setting. She believes in the power of natural surroundings and the limitless imagination of children. By combining these elements, Sam aims to create an environment that fosters creativity and encourages children to explore their artistic potential.

With her diverse skill set and experiences, Sam plans to introduce children to various art forms and techniques. By incorporating the beauty and inspiration of nature, she hopes to ignite their curiosity and help them develop their artistic skills. Sam believes that art education not only cultivates creativity but also promotes critical thinking, problem-solving, and self-expression.

With her dedication and enthusiasm, Sam looks forward to sharing her artistic passions with the next generation and inspiring them to embrace the joy of art and creativity.

Clementine Morse (she/her) - Sparrows Educator

Clementine was born and raised in Brooklyn. She received her BA in English from Reed College in Portland, OR, where she discovered a love of literature and writing while also having tons of outdoor adventures in the PNW. Although she’s a city kid at heart, Clementine grew up spending time in Upstate NY and the Berkshires biking, hiking, skiing, and exploring with her family. Outside of teaching, Clementine is a poet and writer as well as an avid cyclist. As a recent LA transplant she’s grateful for the proximity to so much natural beauty and is always looking forward to planning her next bike adventure or camping trip.

Clementine’s experience in education and childcare includes working as a literacy tutor specializing in sensory-cognitive reading strategies for kids with learning differences, as an afterschool programs leader at an LAUSD school, and as a nanny since her teenage years. She is thrilled to begin her journey in early childhood education at NELAFS.

Her favorite parts of working at a forest school include being outside all day and all of the storytelling, whether it's through sharing and rediscovering favorite picture books or just imaginative play in nature! Most of all, she loves getting to be around the magic, chaos (the safe kind), and sense of wonder that is the stuff of childhood.

Jorian Robinson (she/her) - Hawks Educator

Jorian is a creative crafter and country girl at heart. Originally born on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana, she artistically combines her native traditions and rural hobbies. In her younger years, she spent most of her time playing outdoors such as hiking to Treasure Hill, making "witch's brew" from harvested local plants, climbing hay bales, camping, and trying out archery. Today she inspires others to be innovative indoors and outdoors. She is often starting new projects such as ribbon skirts, beadwork, poems or short stories, paintings, candle-making, and much much more! Jorian recently completed her certification in Child Care Professional, but that never stops her from learning more every day. Whether it be a new recipe, new animal, new idea, or new fun fact, she always encourages others to learn and discover as she also learns more herself. Jorian also loves animals of all shapes and sizes. Growing up with horses, guinea pigs, and critters alike, she never backs down from making another wildlife friend. She is thrilled to be joining the NELA team this year and can't wait to encourage others to be creative, be kind, and have fun!

Sar Artoonian (they/them)- Nest Educator

Agnes 'Sar' Artoonian is an aspiring teaching artist with a passion for enlivening the spirit and intuition. Sar creates land-based rituals and body-based research that explores our capacity to listen and collaborate with the more-than-human world. At NELA Forest School, Sar is committed to sharing these practices through play, movement, and plant magic!

After completing their philosophy undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley, Sar broke out of a traditional academic path and embraced a deeper (vs. higher) education through their partnership with School for the Ecocene. Currently, Sar is on a diy PhD (un)learning journey, engaging in decolonial research methodologies, ancestral re-membrance, herbal medicine-making, and performance art. These interests emerge from a deep connection with local habitat, stewarding the land, and fostering community through liberatory practices.