A smiling man with a beard and short dark hair wearing a light blue button-up shirt stands outdoors in a green garden with trees and foliage.


  • Founder & lead teacher

    Some people find their calling early in life—for me, that calling has always been nurturing the growth, curiosity, and well-being of children.

    A lifelong Oregonian, I was raised in an immigrant community and culture that encouraged curiosity, critical thinking, and seeing the world as a place of open questions rather than fixed answers. That upbringing shaped my belief that learning is not about memorizing facts or following a single “right way,” rather exploring, wondering, and discovering together.

    I hold a Bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in psychology, along with post‑graduate Early Childhood Education from Portland State University. I am Step 10 in the Oregon Registry and have extensive experience working in industry-leading group care settings, including the Helen Gordon Child Development Center and the Stringer Center, part of Nike’s former childcare program. This background, paired with several years in a kids product development deepened my understanding of natural movement and development—philosophies I carry into creating learning spaces that enable children to move, grow, and develop with freedom.

    After over a decade in corporate America, Nurtured Nature was inspired by my values, my educational background, and my earliest days of fatherhood—particularly a deepened understanding that a baby’s first language is connection and that emotional responsiveness and secure attachment are the foundation from which confidence, empathy, and curiosity grow.

    As I work toward becoming a Master Trainer in my free time, I’m committed to inspiring both children and fellow educators to embrace a world where learning is lifelong, curiosity is celebrated, and every child’s voice—in all its languages—is heard and valued.

    In my free time, I enjoy soaking up time with my wife and two young kids, tinkering in the yard and on endless home projects, and making new friends wherever I go.

A young woman with long brown hair, smiling and wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, sitting on a gray couch with pillows, against a yellow wooden wall in an indoor setting.


  • Teacher

    Jordan (“Jo Jo” to many of the children she adores) has a gift for connecting with little ones in a way that makes them feel truly seen, heard, and valued. Our resident child whisperer, Jo Jo brings a calm, joyful, unruffled presence that puts children instantly at ease. Music is one of her favorite ways to build that connection—and it’s not uncommon to find her with her ukulele, leading sing-alongs that fill our space with laughter, movement, and shared delight.

    Jo Jo has been a childcare provider since 2020, nannying for families in Minneapolis, Denver, and Portland. While earning her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance at the University of Minnesota, she interned with the Minnesota Opera’s education department, sharing her love of music with high school students. That experience sparked a passion for teaching, and when the pandemic hit as she graduated, she followed that calling, choosing to devote herself to working with children full-time.

    A lifelong learner, Jo Jo is deeply passionate about child development and is always exploring new ways to nurture respectful, responsive relationships with children. She draws inspiration from leaders in the field, especially Janet Lansbury’s Unruffled podcast, which informs her gentle, thoughtful approach to guiding young learners.

    When she’s not inspiring children, Jo Jo is a proud dog mom to Goose and Peach, an outdoor enthusiast, a bookworm, and a foodie. She loves sharing her passions for music, nature, cooking, and reading with the children in her care. Her unique blend of patience, playfulness, curiosity, and musical talent brings a special magic to our preschool community—one that children feel the moment they walk through the door.