Chipmunk Cottage

Pre-K

Some people believe kindergarten readiness means memorizing facts or demonstrating certain academic skills. While those are valuable, we believe readiness is about the whole child. It means your child can step into school with enthusiasm, resilience, and joy in the learning process. So while we do believe in focusing on academics, it is not our goal for the classroom.

Chipmunk Cottage is a place where children will be able to safely take risks, have support through all the feelings and explore the environment to their hearts desire and that is because we believe a solid foundation of social-emotional growth and a love for learning will carry them much further than rote skills alone. Our goal in Pre-K is to nurture a love for learning so your child enters kindergarten feeling confident, curious, and capable.

In our classroom, play is at the center of learning. Through open-ended exploration, children will have daily opportunities to create, discover, and grow. Some days your child may come home with a project to share, while other days their learning may not be something tangible—but always meaningful. Alongside early academics like letters and numbers, we place a strong emphasis on social and emotional growth. Our goal is for every child to leave Chipmunk Cottage confident, capable, and excited for the next step in their learning.

WELCOME TO CHIPMUNK COTTAGE!

Meet the Teachers

  • LEAD TEACHER

    Hi! My name is Mikayla, and I am the lead teacher of Chipmunk Cottage. Working with children has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I joined Little Acorn in 2013 as an assistant teacher while also working as a full-time nanny. From the very beginning, I could tell there was something special about this community and I knew I wanted to make Little Acorn my permanent home.

    Since then, I’ve had the privilege of serving in many roles—including assistant teacher, office support and lead teacher. Each experience has been meaningful and has shaped me into the educator I am today. Over the past year, I’ve also been taking courses at Clark College and I’m excited to be completing my Early Childhood Education Certification this spring.

    In 2017, I stepped away from the classroom to spend six wonderful years at home with my three children. Motherhood has deeply influenced my approach to teaching—especially through my journey supporting my oldest son with his ADHD diagnosis and navigating my own recent AuDHD diagnosis. These experiences have given me a greater understanding of learning, growth, and the importance of meeting children where they are. I believe every child deserves to experience the joy of learning, and one of my favorite reminders is, “Progress is not linear.” I carry this with me every day as I create an environment where children feel confident, valued, and excited to learn as their authentic selves. My hope for Chipmunk Cottage is that every child who walks through our doors experiences a year full of fun, discovery, and belonging.

    On a personal note, I’ve called Washington home for the past 12 years. Not long after moving here, I met my husband, and we recently celebrated our ten-year anniversary! He fully supports our mission at Little Acorn and often jumps in to volunteer wherever he’s needed. Together we have three spunky, vibrant children—Wylee (8), Junie (6), and Goldie (3)—all of whom have been part of the Little Acorn community. Our household is lively, with two French bulldogs,

    Bingo and Biggy, and two cats, Patsy and Joey. As a family, we love riding bikes, reading books, and spending time at our beach property.

    I know entrusting your child to someone else is never easy, and I want you to know that I deeply respect and honor that trust. I am truly excited to get to know your family and to share a year filled with learning, play, special memories, and lasting friendships. Thank you for being a part of our Little Acorn family!

  • ASSISTANT TEACHER

    I’m thrilled to be a part of Little Acorn at The Pines Campus this year as we begin an exciting new chapter together. It’s a wonderful blend of familiar faces and new ones, and I can’t wait to see them all :)

    I have been working at Little Acorn for five years, starting after my youngest, Maeve, began kindergarten. I have three children Rory, who is in 11th grade, Oisin is in 6th, and Maeve is already in fourth grade. (Believe them when they say time flies!) I spend a few weeks every summer on the east coast where I am from, and enjoy camping with my family and snowboarding in the winter!  I went to college in the Bay Area for fashion design and eventually found myself as a chef in NYC, Portland, and then in Vancouver.  I love all kinds of food and still enjoy cooking;) I have lived here for 18 years and truly love this area!

    I’ve learned so much about early childhood education and how important these years are for building a love for learning. It warms my heart to see our students come in excited for school:) 

    I’m looking forward to getting to know your children, supporting their growth, and working in partnership with you throughout the year. Together, we will create a positive, engaging, and enriching experience for everyone!

    Here’s to a fantastic school year ahead!