Our Team at Gilbert Nature School

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Clarissa is a second-generation Montessori student and grew up living and breathing the Montessori philosophy.  She was named a National Merit Scholar and received two Presidential Service Awards for outstanding volunteer service while in high school and went on to attend University on a full-ride academic merit scholarship.

She is a mother of two children and a trained and certified Montessori educator. Clarissa is an RYT 500 yoga instructor, Suzuki music teacher, and Maricopa County Master Gardener. 

Clarissa is committed to creating a welcoming, nurturing, and positive learning environment for her students that serve the whole child-- mind, body, and spirit. She has always believed that nature is the ultimate learning environment and is thrilled to be offering this educational opportunity to her community. 

Rachel Pollack attended Montessori schools from childhood through high school and has been a state-certified elementary teacher since 2004, with licenses in Montana and Arizona. She is most passionate about helping children become expert readers and enthusiastic mathematicians. She uses phonics-based, proven methods of reading instruction and a hands-on, physical approach to math. 

She has experience with a range of all academic abilities—gifted students, students who might find sitting still a challenge, and students who have dyslexia or dyscalculia.

With a BS in Environmental Education and Outdoor Leadership, Billie values learning through, with, and from nature. Her own non-traditional educational journey, combined with three years spent serving in autism education, has shaped her highly adaptable approach to teaching—meeting both students and the environment where they are.

After Billie experienced the devastation of Hurricane Helene in the hardest-hit county, her perspective on education expanded to equipping the next generation with essential survival skills, including seed saving, water conservation, and resilience in an unpredictable world. 

By fostering authentic connections with both students and nature, Billie is committed to preparing young learners not only to thrive in the outdoors but to become stewards of it. 

Billie  believes that by being who you are in the world, you are a teacher every day. Every interaction is an opportunity to foster growth, and Billie's life’s purpose is to facilitate positive transformation toward self-actualization. Rooted in authenticity, Billie approaches education with honesty, openness, and a deep respect for each student’s unique journey.

Stephanie has a background in elementary education, middle school language arts, multilingual learning, and social/cultural pedagogy. She holds an MA in Social and Cultural Pedagogy and a BS in Education and is very passionate about non-hierarchical knowledge production. Stephanie believes that life is lived in the teachable moments that emerge when we are present with each other.

She is delighted to be part of a collective effort to meet little humans where they are, walk with them, ask questions, and imagine stories in response. Stephanie hopes that the beloved little ones at Gilbert Nature School are learning as much from her as she is learning from them. She aims to be someone who models how to take care of others, how to be present in the moment, and how to learn from the art of nature. 

When she is not playing with little humans, Stephanie likes to play outside and play with language. She experiments with poetry, takes her kayak out regularly, and enjoys reggae music and storytelling.