Kimberley Bonder
Preschool Teacher
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I grew up mostly in Spokane Washington and sometimes in a small rural town, Elma just west of Olympia. Both homes nestled outside of cities in the rolling countryside I spent most of my time playing in creeks, swimming in lakes floating down rivers and enjoying a very large close family.
After high school, I worked, played and attended college, moved to New York, meet my husband moved back to Washington State and obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Washington State University in human development with a teaching certification in early childhood education.
I found Trillium while researching a democratic school conference being held in Albany New york. I attended an open house and my children were accepted through the lottery in 2008. My children started their fourth year at Trillium this fall.
I began working at Trillium as a substitute teacher and when the opportunity to join the teaching staff arose, my teaching experience in preschool and kindergarten along with the larger community aspect of Trillium made this a perfect fit.
I believe that in order for human beings to reach their full potential we must have a sense of belonging. This is especially true for young children, their learning environments must establish a sense of wonder, nurture self awareness, allow risk taking, provide time to wallow, tinker, ponder, discover and create ideas about the world as whole and how they belong. I teach by a philosophy I learned back in teacher school…children are naturally curious and naturally playful. It is the tools we provide in early childhood classrooms for “play” that create lifetime proactive learners. But mostly I agree with Bev Bos who said: “We are so often worried about preparing children for the next stage, for the 3 year old will soon be a 4 year old, the 4 year old will become a 5 year old . We must stop and look and prepare classroom for the child as a 3, 4 or 5 year old for they have ARRIVED.”
When not at Trillium, I love gathering with my family and friends, laughing, dancing, playing with my children, talking till late hours with my husband, reading books and listening to songs I love over and over again
Andrea Larsen
Preschool Teacher
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I have been teaching preschool since 1995 when I began my teaching career at the University of Oregon’s CCDC. Shortly after moving to Portland I was hired as a sub at a co-op in the NE where I met teachers to work and collaborate with for the next 10 years. Feeling that education was an important step in my path I received my Master’s in Education in 2005 and began working at Rowanberry School that fall. After spending three years teaching and learning at Rowanberry, I was ready for the challenge of a bigger classroom to share my excitement for young children with a larger community. It has always been my dream to work in a school that aligned with her values and mission in life and I am grateful to have found that at Trillium. In my spare time you can find me gardening, hiking, playing with my kitties, feeding my chickens, and sharing food with my family and friends.
Sara McWilliams
Preschool Teacher
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I grew up in Youngstown, Ohio where the seasons are harsh and the folks are down-to-earth. As a child, I was an actor, a teacher, a violin player, and a crafter. Guess what? I’m still an actor, a teacher, a violin player and crafter. I’m one of the rare and lucky few who got to be what they wanted when they grew up. I have officially been teaching for over a decade and it feels good down to my toes: I’m constantly in awe of young children and feel the privilege and responsibility of working together each day. I attended Kent State University where I obtained a bachelor’s and promptly headed off to Los Angeles, CA. There I taught preschool, studied early childhood education, refined my jewelry-making skills, and got my second bachelor’s in “life on my own”. Thankfully, I passed. I married my college sweetheart and we moved to Portland and lived happily ever after. When not being enlightened by preschoolers, I can be found studying metal arts, performing with Playback Theater, (shameless plug: www.playbacktheaterpdx.com) doing amazing work in the field of drama therapy, and trying not to let the Steelers drive me batty.
