Sarah has been involved with Five Acre for over 14 years.  She has been a parent, intern, student teacher, Explorer class teacher, developer and teacher of the Adventure class, Literacy specialist, Social-Emotional learning specialist, lead teacher, mentor teacher, math specialist, and a part of the Transitional Leadership Team before accepting her current role as Director.

Amber worked as a credentialed Art and Ceramics teacher, owned an internet design business with her husband, and worked for the DOJ in California. When her kids began at Five Acre she joined the Parent Service Organization, taught in the Discovery class and was a substitute teacher prior to accepting her current position in Finance and Registration.

Neilu Naini came to Sequim to work at Nash's Organic Produce. She discovered her green thumb and community with the local organic farmers. Her college degree in Physics and MA is Secondary Education for Physics and Math paved the way for her passion to teach. This led to discovering the Japanese martial art of Aikido, which is not only a pastime but a way of life. Neilu has worked in non-profits since 2003.

Rosie has worked at Five Acre since 2008.  She has a degree in both Art and English Literature from the University of Washington, and also attended Penland School of Crafts for two years. She has completed Levels one and two Orff Schulewerk Certification (an innovative approach to teaching music) and plays Fiddle in a Contra Dance Band.Previous adventures include cooking on various boats in Alaska, designing textiles for industry, teaching yoga, and working at Children’s Montessori in Port Angeles.

Emily has been a part of our community since 2011 as a parent and a community supporter . She began teaching at Five Acre in 2021 in the Primary Class and assisted in all other classrooms. In 2022 Emily began teaching Fiber Arts in our K-6 classrooms and has fulfilled requirements to be one of our lead Primary teachers Primary two days a week. She has an undergraduate degree in ‘Women’s Empowerment: Community Development Through Fiber Arts’. Emily has always worked with children from running summer day camps, nannying as well as working abroad facilitating mixed media art with children.

Heidi graduated from Central Washington University in 2006 with a BA in Education and a minor in Early Childhood Education. Her family recently moved

back to the peninsula after a 10-year absence and could not be more excited to reconnect with this beautiful spot! I have two wonderful children and enjoy spending time with them and my husband doing projects around our home. We also love to travel and try to explore somewhere new yearly. 

Terry received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a Chemistry minor from California State University Sacramento in 1986. She worked in the analytical laboratory and Environmental Chemistry field for over 20 years in California.  While working she spent as much time as she could volunteering at her first daughter’s Waldorf school.  This is where she found a love of teaching and working with children. Terry’s youngest daughter attended Five Acre through the 5th grade. Terry began to volunteer in her daughter’s classroom which led to substitute teaching in all the classrooms and taking a position in the Primary Classroom.

Kendra was born in Washington.  She moved to Sequim to do seasonal farm work and fell in love with the Olympic Peninsula. She holds a degree from the University of Washington in Global Studies and Spanish. She worked 13 years for a library system, putting on children’s programs and story times. After library work, she taught English in Spain, and worked as a substitute teacher in California and Washington before finding a job at Five Acre. She feels so content working at Five Acre where she can share her love of Spanish, gardening, and outdoor activities with children and continue learning from her wonderful co-workers.

Dianne was born and raised in Montana.  Her senior year in High School she went to

The Republic of South Africa as an exchange student, an experience that changed her life and inspired a lifelong passion for travel and exploring cultures. Eventually, she landed in Alaska, a place filled with an impossible array of cultures and adventures where she lived for twenty years and began her teaching career at an Expeditionary Learning School in Sitka.  As she has met the staff at Five Acre, she has foundf an abundance of wonderful ideas and she is  confident that she will be exposed to even more as she comes to know the students and families that make up this community.

Heidi has an eclectic work history, which includes being a Wildlife Biological Technician in Olympic National Park and a Licensed Massage Therapist.  Her strengths are in the natural sciences and in somatic awareness. This skillset will serve her well with students interested in the natural environment and in how their bodies work. Heidi is also a Washington State Certified Teacher in high school biology.  However, what most qualifies her for a position at Five Acre School is the seven years that her son, Lucas Pina, attended Five Acre, and the experience she and her husband had as parents in the Five Acre School Community.

After teaching at Five Acre School for 21 years in the Discovery class as well as leading the horse riding program for the lower elementary and primary, and a German language program among others, I took a two year absence from teaching. I am so happy to be back and working in the Primary classroom this year. With a degree in early childhood education I am excited to be a part of the Primary teaching team to support the child centered learning approach. I am looking forward to bringing my love for the outdoors, building, math and projects in general into the classroom to support the children’s curiosity.

I recently moved from San Diego where I worked in early childhood education for over 20 years. I am so excited to begin a new chapter in my life here in Washington and to have such a unique and special place as Five Acre to be a part of.  

Kate is super excited to be joining the Five Acre School team. She grew up in the Midwest and earned her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with a Music Certificate from Eastern Illinois University. She is a wife and mother to three amazing daughters who moved to Sequim in 2014 and absolutely loves the PNW. She loves to read and enjoys helping manage her family's organic farm.

Gwen was born and raised in Montana and recently graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Vermont. She loves doing all things outdoors and is so excited to go on new adventures and explore the area. She was drawn to Five Acre because it seemed like the perfect place to combine her love of working with young children and exploring the natural world. She is excited to join the Five Acre team!

Nellie recently moved back to Sequim and is really looking forward to exploring, observing, and making connections with students. She is a past Five Acre parent and has taught at Sequim High, Jefferson Community School, Roosevelt Innovation Academy in Lima, Peru, and the Anglo-American School in Sofia, Bulgaria. She received her BA from The Evergreen State College in literature and independent publishing, an MFA from New York University in creative writing (poetry), and a teaching certificate from PLU. She especially enjoys practicing creative thinking with students.