My name is Michelle McEvoy and I am a certified elementary classroom teacher, co-owner of Nature's Playhouse, as well as a mother to my son, Zander. I have taught all ages from Kindergarten to Fifth grade in the Holly Area School District. I also have a strong interest in Waldorf Education, both as a parent as an educator. I look forward to growing our community of support and friendship for families through Nature's Playhouse.
Since becoming a new mother, Lisa has found the importance in becoming active in one's community, because community, along with family and school are major influences in children's lives. She believes in the importance of playing a hands on role in all of these influential aspects, especially between the ages of 0 - 4 when the parents are the primary teachers in their child's life.
Lisa Ball is co-owner of Nature's Playhouse and a Clawson City mom! She is an author, promoter, and community organizer. Lisa is the co-founder of Clawson's Annual Arts & Authors Festival elevatethearts held this year on September 8th in City Park, heads her own publishing company with six titles currently in print, including two children's books, sold worldwide at Amazon.com, and is a leading member of the Clawson Cultural Foundation. She has been a guest on CMN TV's Sketches of Michigan, has presented at the Kerrytown Book Festival and The Baldwin Public Library notably, as well as several area elementary schools. Married to Clawson's boogie-woogie man Matthew Ball, whose music is played in rotation on the Clawson City access channel, she brings the fun of music and crafts to Nature's Playhouse of Clawson with a new class designed to stimulate your child's appetite for learning through the power of music!
My name is Erin Bobola and I am honored to be part of Nature's Playhouse. I am a certified teacher in Elementary Education and also Waldorf Education. Professionally, I have taught in Novi Community Schools, Oakland Steiner School in Rochester and also ESL in Japan through the JET Program. I have had many experiences working with young children and believe in the power of community support while raising children.
When Lauren Crimando discovered yoga as a way to help her cope with running injuries, she knew she had found the career for her. She has been passionate about making yoga accessible to as many people as possible ever since.
Lauren completed her 200 hour teacher training in Chicago, Illinois, at Yoga Now, with Amy Beth Treciokas and Jen Enders, both students of Pattbhi Jois, the founder of the Ashtanga Yoga System. She also received her certification in Yoga for the Special Child © and Street Yoga ©.
As a certified HypnoBirthing Educator, Natalie Fuoco empowers women to trust their bodies to birth the way nature intended. She gave birth to her own daughter using the Mongan Method (HypnoBirthing) which teaches deep relaxation and visualization to make birth a comfortable experience. Natalie believes that her daughter's gentle waterbirth has set the foundation for a more peaceful life.
With a Western Michigan University background in Education that included courses in child development and psychology, she appreciates the importance of educating parents and families through classes, seminars and educational literature. She uses her teaching experience to inform parents of their birth options so they are empowered to make the right choice for their family.
Alycia Schoof, M.Ed., N.D., RYT, teaches infant massage and prenatal yoga at Nature's Playhouse. Alycia completed her yoga training under Nancy McCaochan, E-RYT 500, through the Inner Door Center in Royal Oak, and has chosen to specialize in yoga to aid and support women through the wondrous, transformative period of pregnancy and postpartum. Alycia's own 15-year history with yoga, including practicing through her own pregnancies with her three children, has informed and enlightened her teaching, and gives her a greater sense of and appreciation for a new mother's changing body and needs. She also recognizes the strength and resiliency yoga can bring to a woman's body, through pregnancy, labor and beyond. www.livingbettermichigan.com
My name is Kelly Jacobs. I have been practicing yoga for the past 11 years and aim to cultivate more of a yogic lifestyle for myself and community. I am a certified yoga teacher, registered with Yoga Alliance, and I studied anthropology and peace and conflict resolution in college. I am a mother of two young children whom have helped broaden my practice of yoga into one which embraces them.
Paula Messner is a member of The Candy Band, comprised of four Detroit area moms who formed their rockin band in 2003 playing punk versions of nursery rhymes, movie themes, original tunes and other childrens favorites. She has been featured in MetroParent and USA Today, made an appearance on The CBS Morning Show, and performs regularly at the Detroit Zoos summer concert series. www.candyband.com
Frances Todd is a mom and a speech and language therapist from England who has worked with children of all ages. Frances holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) in Psychology and Anthropology as well as a graduate diploma in Speech and Language Therapy. She is also a member of the Cambridge English Language Teaching Association (CELTA). Frances has also worked as an ESL teacher and has taught English in schools in the UK and abroad.
Sarah Olechowski is a graduate of Michigan State University and a board certified music therapist. She joins the Natures Playhouse family with nearly a decade of experience in the field of therapy, is a life long vocalist, and is trained to play a number of instruments!
Jennifer Fox holds a Master degree in both Counseling and Art Therapy, as well as a Bachelor degree in Fine Art, all from Wayne State University. She is currently licensed as a counselor and art therapist in the State of Michigan, and is a past president of SMATA (Students of The Michigan Art Therapy Association). In addition to her work with Nature's Playhouse, she also freelances at both Children's Hospital and the pediatric division of The Karmanos Institute.