top of page
About Us
Locations
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.
Alivia Fergus (she/her/hers), Lead Teacher & Land Caretaker
Alivia will be responsible for the management of our outdoor spaces. This includes managing our efforts to reduce waste and build our outdoor classroom garden spaces. Alivia graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Biology, focusing in Ecology and Conservation. She discovered her love of nature-based education while working as a seasonal park Naturalist. She went on to gain an internship with Glen Helen's Outdoor Education Center where she received further training in nature-based education. Alivia joined WCFC in 2024 and was incredibly excited to start her next chapter in nature-based education.
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.
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!
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!
Amy Kronberg, PhD
Board President
Amy devotes her seemingly endless energy to supporting playful learning for children and their adults. Amy believes that play can happen anywhere and is passionate about
making learning accessible to everyone—the greatest play spaces are just outside your window!
Amy is driven to demystifying early learning—opportunities to play and learn are more accessible than we think.
A model of our learning and growing value, Amy holds a
PhD in Educational Leadership, PK-12 administration, a MSEd in Early Childhood Leadership and Advocacy, and a BA in Early Childhood Education.
making learning accessible to everyone—the greatest play spaces are just outside your window!
Amy is driven to demystifying early learning—opportunities to play and learn are more accessible than we think.
A model of our learning and growing value, Amy holds a
PhD in Educational Leadership, PK-12 administration, a MSEd in Early Childhood Leadership and Advocacy, and a BA in Early Childhood Education.
Saralinda Blanning, Board Secretary
Saralinda Blanning is a naturalist with Centerville City Schools who teaches Kindergarten and First Grade nature classes. Having studied English, Rhetoric, and Community Literacy as an undergraduate and graduate student, she began her career teaching college composition and has also worked as a grant writer. Becoming a parent and volunteering in her children’s schools led to a new career in nature education. Saralinda earned an undergraduate degree from The University of Michigan and a master’s degree from Michigan Technological University, but credits growing up close to nature in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula and spending summers in Colorado’s Grand Mesa National Forest as the source of many of her most profound educational experiences.
Joel D. Siefert, CFA
Board Treasurer
Joel joined Johnson Investment Counsel in 2011. He is a Senior Portfolio Manager in Wealth Management in Dayton, Ohio, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation. Joel is also a shareholder of the firm. Prior to joining the firm, he worked for KeyBank as a Senior Portfolio Manager. Joel is passionate about education and making nature-based education more accessible to children and families. Joel values how nature promotes educational development, improved health and well-being and environmental stewardship. Joel holds a Bachelors in Finance and MBA in Finance from the University of Toledo. Joel currently resides in Englewood with his wife Mindy and two children, Kara and Luke. Joel is actively engaged in his community including as a club soccer coach and a participant in his local Church.
bottom of page