About Us

Locations

a young man sitting in front of a flower bed.

Jack Byers (he/him/his), Support Teacher

Jack's greatest passions in life are conservation and ecology. He is experienced in childcare, this being his fourth such job. Jack is a current Wright State University student in Earth & Environmental Science. One of his great loves is dendrology-the study of trees. He is truly overjoyed to get to share nature and his love of plants with our future generations. As a Support teacher Jack will be joining the team on Friday afternoons and when full time teachers are out. Jack will also head up our Toddler Trail Tots class this fall with Alivia.

Meredith Florkey (she/her/hers), Lead Teacher, Weaver and Executive Director

Meredith is committed to supporting early childhood learning and well-being through year-round outdoor learning and play. Beginning her 18th year in education, her recent projects include founding one of the areas first nature preschools in 2016, establishing Ohio Naturally LLC a company that advocates, coaches, creates programs and delivers professional development. She holds a MA in Nature-Based Early Childhood Education and a MA Cert in ECE Leadership and Advocacy. Meredith serves on the boards of Miami Valley Leave No Child Inside Collaborative and the Ohio Nature-Based Early Childhood Education Collaborative. While you might find Meredith advocating at the statehouse or serving on a committee, her first love is making mud pies on a creek bank or creating a messy art project with children.

a woman standing in a forest in front of a tree

a young woman sitting in front of a flower bed

Dawn Johnson (she/her/hers), Support Teacher

Dawn is Support teacher for Wildflower CFC this year. She has worked in the preschool arena for about 5 years now. Dawn is currently enrolled at the University of Cincinnati for my Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. She lives in Piqua Ohio with her husband, their daughter and 2 sons. They enjoy spending our free time camping and exploring new places. Her love for nature stems from her parents raising her in and around the woods and creeks and she can't wait to share this love.

Erin Lehrian (she/her/hers), Lead Teacher & Growth Caretaker

Along with lead teacher responsibilities, Erin will be responsible for child screening, curriculum, and assessment coordination.
Erin has been working in Early Childhood Education since 2016, after graduating from Miami University with a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education. Shortly after graduating, she had the privilege to teach as an Intervention Specialist with BCESC within Lakota Schools. Erin also served as a preschool teacher at First School Preschool. Erin joined WCFC in 2023 and gained experience working in nature-based education right away! Erin and her three-year-old daughter thrives in nature and love a good mud puddle to splash in. Together with her husband and daughter, she loves to spend time outside with our two dogs in the garden!

a young woman standing the forest in front of a tree branch.

Career Opportunities

We are growing! Find out more about our employment opportunities here!

We love volunteers and have established the Karen A Florkey Volunteer Program. Volunteers are matched with activities anywhere from one time to weekly volunteer spots at Wildflower Child & Family Center. Depending on your level of involvement there may be training and background check requirements.

We are always on the look out for fantastic support teachers (subs)! This support can make or break a program and we value these folks so much. This is a great role for retired teachers or those who are getting back into teaching and love the outdoors.

We also are able to support pre-service and student teachers or those who need hours in early childhood education programs.

Have a resume and want to be considered for future hiring? Please send them out way! Building a professional community in nature-based education is a continual process and something that makes us unique.

For inquiries about all of the above, please email our Weaver, Meredith Florkey, at meredith@wildflowercfc.org.

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