The Kalamazoo Nature Center is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create relationships and experiences that welcome and inspire people to discover, enjoy, value, and care for nature. Because we value the strength diversity brings to the workplace, KNC is committed to the recruitment, retention, and development of a workforce that reflects the society in which we live.
Learn more about our Nature’s Way Preschool staff below; teachers are listed by classroom.
2 day South ClassroomHolly Morris
Holly (she/her) has been a teacher at Nature’s Way since 2006, when our school was a small log cabin in the woods. She has a BS in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood Endorsement from WMU. She loves exploring nature with young children, especially her daughter Wren, age 7. In her spare time, she also enjoys creating music with her husband Mark in a couple of local indie bands: Tambourina and Overly Polite Tornadoes.
Michele VanAllen
Michele (she/her) has been teaching preschool at NWP since 2018. She was a reading tutor for Kalamazoo Public Schools before joining our team. Formerly she was an environmental policy consultant and has a BS in Environmental Science from Michigan State. She completed a Master of Early Childhood Education from WMU in 2020. She has been married to Erik for 31 years and is mom to Kara, who lives and works in Seattle, and Mia, a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh. She has a dog named Daisy and a cat named Ozma, enjoys quilting, and loves to garden.
2 day North ClassroomShannon Ladouceur
Shannon (she/her) joined the Nature’s Way team in 2016. She has a BS in Zoology from MSU, an Early Childhood/Elementary teaching certification, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Miami University. Shannon has worked as a zoo educator at Binder Park Zoo and taught kindergarten in Texas. She loves working with young children and sharing her enthusiasm for animals, nature, and the outdoors with her students. Shannon is the NWP Parent Green Team coordinator and is passionate about promoting conservation values. In her spare time, she loves traveling the world with her husband, exploring local trails with her dog, running, and spending time with her nieces and nephews.
Meri Morrow
Meri (she/her) graduated from Western Michigan University with a BS in Education with minor in Art, Science and Early Childhood Education. She has over 20 years of experience teaching children of various ages, PreK through eighth grade. Meri’s son PJ attended Nature’s Way Preschool which started her love of nature-based learning. She has been subbing and teaching at Nature’s Way Preschool since 2018. She is looking forward to watching your children learn and grow in nature.
3 day South ClassroomKaitlin Lindahl
Kaitlin (she/her) joined the NWP team in 2019. She has a BS in Biology from GVSU and a Master of Arts in Environmental Education with Concordia University. She came to us from the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery where she was a Natural Resource Educator for 6 years. She has been a substitute teacher in several local school districts and was an assistant preschool teacher for 2 years. In her spare time, she enjoys cross-country skiing with her husband Travis, hiking, kayaking, dancing and playing hockey. They have two young children, Rory (born in 2021) and Henrick (born in 2023).
Holly Morris
Holly (she/her) has been a teacher at Nature’s Way since 2006, when our school was a small log cabin in the woods. She has a BS in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood Endorsement from WMU. She loves exploring nature with young children, especially her daughter Wren, age 7. In her spare time, she also enjoys creating music with her husband Mark in a couple of local indie bands: Tambourina and Overly Polite Tornadoes.
3 day North ClassroomLaura Sacha
Laura (she/they) joined the NWP teaching team in 2021. In addition to teaching preschool at Nature’s Way, Laura teaches in our Sprouts and Homeschool Forest Friends programs. She is also a former Environmental Educator at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. They have a bachelor’s degree in Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University and have taught students of all ages in various roles for almost a decade. Laura approaches education with a strong belief in student-lead, experiential learning and a commitment to fostering a connection to nature for all.
Shannon Ladouceur
Shannon (she/her) joined the Nature’s Way team in 2016. She has a BS in Zoology from MSU, an Early Childhood/Elementary teaching certification, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Miami University. Shannon has worked as a zoo educator at Binder Park Zoo and taught kindergarten in Texas. She loves working with young children and sharing her enthusiasm for animals, nature, and the outdoors with her students. Shannon is the NWP Parent Green Team coordinator and is passionate about promoting conservation values. In her spare time, she loves traveling the world with her husband, exploring local trails with her dog, running, and spending time with her nieces and nephews.
Heather (she/her) became director of Nature’s Way Preschool in 2011. She has a BS in Early Childhood Education from MSU and a Master of Education from GVSU. She has been a Young Fives teacher and a Headstart Director. Her children, Paige (a student at MSU), Ella (a student at NMU) and Spencer (14) are all proud alumni of Nature’s Way Preschool. She and her husband Nick, a teacher in Mattawan, spend their free time hiking and mountain biking. Her love for NWP began as a parent and continues as an educator, experiencing the power of nature play every day.
