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Rigor * Relevance * Relationships * Responsibility * Regeneration
2730 Foster Avenue, Arcata, California 95521* (707) 683-5708 *laureltree_lc@yahoo.com
Teaching Staff
Professional
info
Brenda Sutter
Brenda started Laurel Tree for her own kids thirty plus years ago. She got her teaching credential from Chico State University, her permaculture certification from Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, and her School Leadership Training from Charter School Development Center. After raising her children at Laurel Tree, she's delighted to have her grandchildren there. Her favorite things are traveling, theater, and novels. This year she will be teaching World History and English in upper high school and eighth grade, and Theater in the afternoons. She and Josh share Lead Teacher roles on the Administrative Team.
Josh Nikolauson
Josh is passionate, enthusiastic, and an agent for growth. Josh has been teaching at Laurel Tree since 2003. During this time he has taught every primary grade and subject. Currently, he is tapping into his vast experience of teaching the sciences to inspire the 4th-6th graders to be inquisitive learners in this ever-changing world. Josh will also be helping the students to develop a deep sense of nature connection while also teaching the youth about the importance of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Josh can also be found in the background, helping to keep our amazing community at Laurel Tree running smoothly. If you have a question or need a helping hand, he is the guy to find! Some say that if you stay in one place long enough, he will come zipping by.
Catherine Bunz
Catherine has been with Laurel Tree since Jan. 2016. She is honored and grateful to continue here and is part of our Forest Kindergarten Program again this year. She has been a certified teacher since 2005, was a reading interventionist and primary classroom teacher in Arizona for 5 years, and before that spent 5 years running an after-school program. Her Bachelor of Education comes from the University of Arizona and she has a Cleared Multi-Subject K-8 credential in Arizona and California. She is certified as a Forest School practitioner from the University of San Diego, has a Structured English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement, and is completing her additional units in Early Ed/Child Development for TK through Cal Poly Humboldt. Catherine values the ability to work with students in a way that empowers the whole child, giving respect to their social-emotional growth and with regard to developmentally appropriate practices. She feels fortunate to help build a community of learners that build not only a relationship with one another but with their natural environment as well.
Catherine loves continuing to learn, listening to and making music, exploring all things new to her, and interacting with the natural world.
Kinsley Kaeser
Kinsley began her teaching journey with Laurel Tree in 2023 with the Forest Kindergarten Program. She came to Humboldt from southern California in 2022 to finish her Bachelors degree in Environmental Studies at Cal Poly Humboldt. She is completing her additional units for the Early Childhood Education program at College of the Redwoods. Her love for protecting the environment has led her to work with local non profit Redwood Community Action Agency doing conservation work removing invasive plant species around Humboldt. Her love for animals inspired her to also volunteer at the local Sequoia Park Zoo during her time finishing school. She believes that the most important way to make a change towards a more sustainable future is by inspiring children to share a sense of responsibility towards taking care of the earth and to learn how we can coexist with the natural world. Kinsley is passionate about continuing her education, reading, camping, traveling, spending time with family, and going on walks with her dog.
Rebecca Boatman
Rebecca teaches 1st grade at Laurel Tree. Her elementary teaching career has spanned 14 years within Arcata, Oakland, San Francisco, and the Sierra Nevada mountains. She holds an M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of San Francisco and an Elementary Teaching Credential (during which she participated as an AmeriCorps TEAMS member), as well as a B.A. in Communications. Her academic passion is teaching early literacy with her most valuable learning being from her two-year work with Columbia University’s Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. She has also studied for two years with the California Academy of Sciences Teacher Institute on Science and Sustainability and Stanford University’s National Board of Teacher Preparation program. She spent two years living on a remote five-square-mile island in American Samoa. In her personal life, Rebecca loves reading and doing art with her daughter, Clementine, as well as running, meditation, yoga, and travel.
Alina Alishoev
Alina is teaching 2nd grade at Laurel Tree. She has a BA in Child Development and she received her teaching credential from HSU in 2017. Alina is a licensed herbalist and a certified children’s yoga instructor. Alina believes that as educators, it is our duty to nurture the curiosity of young learners and lay the foundation of their lifelong love of learning, creativity, and confidence.
In her free time, Alina enjoys setting up tea lounges at community events, hanging out with her two kids, baking gluten free desserts, and exploring nature.
Sam Oetinger
Sam is happily returning to Laurel Tree for his fourth year with the school. He has served in many roles—including substitute teacher, instructional aide, and art teacher—and is especially excited to return this year as both the third grade teacher and part-time art teacher. Outside the classroom, Sam is a professional artist and musician who performs regularly with his band at local venues and occasionally exhibits his paintings in galleries. He also enjoys gardening, spending time outdoors, and hanging out with his marvelous cat. Sam is passionate about blending creativity with academics and is committed to fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and a love of learning in all subject areas.
Dena Delaney
Dena is an education specialist supporting exceptional learners in the primary grades 1st through 6th. She has a background beginning in Early Childhood Education from San Diego then completed her BA in Elementary Education from HSU. Three years ago, she joined the Laurel Tree staff while she obtained her teaching credential in Special Education from CalPoly Humboldt. Two years ago she obtained her regular education teaching credential, and this year she will teach 4th. She enjoys animals of all kinds, travel, camping, hiking, beaches, and swimming in rivers with family and friends.
Noelle Lake
Noelle will be joining the 1st-3rd graders this year on Forest Fridays for deep nature connection and outdoor skills. She became a certified Forest School technician through UC San Diego and has been a part of the Laurel Tree staff since 2018. Noelle has 11 years of experience teaching preschool in Arcata and has been a camp counselor in Tahoe, Santa Cruz, Donner Lake, and Arcadia Maine teaching Wilderness First Aid, horseback riding, stained glass/mosaics, dance, weaving, farm care, and wilderness cooking. She has also studied Art History and Studio Arts.
Amber Ryno
Amber has been happily employed at Laurel Tree since 1999. She received her teaching credential through CalState Teach in 2007. She is passionate about local food production and education and while not at school she helps run Woody Ryno Farms with her family. This year she is heading up the 2nd-8th grade Independent Study Program, and developing and implementing our exciting Edible Education program. She also works on grant writing and management. Several exciting grants are in the works this year including a native pollinator habitat-building project at our Murray site and a local food procurement and education project through the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Ali Hale
Ali started her teaching career in San Diego twenty-five years ago and has been lucky to live and teach in many beautiful places before landing in Humboldt County. She is the SPED director, part of the 4th-6th grade teaching team and has a passion for poetry, literature, and creative writing.
Maya Rossi
This year, Maya is teaching 6th grade math, and Edible education. She is 130 years old and has been teaching at Laurel Tree for twenty years. Her favorite things are graphing, sunshine, gardens, and rivers.
Max Garrison
Max is in his eleventh year teaching at Laurel Tree as a special education teacher. Outside of school, he is interested in spending time with his wife and two kids. He also enjoys gardening, going for walks, and playing records on his turntables occasionally DJing in the community.
Max is excited to be a part of the Laurel Tree staff. This year he will teach a math group. As a special education teacher, he will also be monitoring and supporting his caseload of students' work toward achieving the goals of their Individualized Education Plans. Max is happy to continue as a part of Laurel Tree's staff and community.
Gwendolyn Campbell
Gwen received her BA from the University of California at Santa Cruz in Cultural Anthropology and Education. She received her teaching credential from Humboldt State and has been working for Laurel Tree since 2010. She is excited about the upcoming school year and will be teaching middle and high school English and history.
Gwen loves hanging out with her two young kids, playing games with her family, drawing, cooking, and walkabouts. Both of her children graduated from Laurel Tree’s Forest School program and are continuing to be awesome kids at LT. She loves being part of the Laurel Tree community where the focus is on student as a whole person.
Colby Dobson
Colby earned his BA at the University of California Santa Barbara and his teaching credential at Long Beach State. He has lived in Humboldt County for fifteen years working in the education field. He is thrilled to have found a home at Laurel Tree as the secondary math teacher and the proud parent of two Laurel Tree students. In his spare time, he enjoys working in the garden, building things, and playing games of all types.