Welcoming New Team Members for 2022-2023!

 

We are excited to introduce our new team members—Guides and admin—for the 2022-2023 School year!

Please join us in welcoming Maria, Ana, Eleah, Kat, and Re’jene!

Read their bio’s below…


Eleah McClamb

upper School Guide

Eleah is a Georgia native, and a true Georgia peach! Born in Atlanta, and raised in Fayetteville, she graduated from Sandy Creek High School. From there, she moved to Virginia to attend Hampton University, and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Marketing . After undergrad, she moved back home to Georgia, and quickly realized the corporate world was not for her. She followed her mother's footsteps in education, and attended Mercer University, where she received her certification, and Masters of Arts in Middle Grade History. It was in graduate school that she realized the realm of educating youth was her calling. She wanted to learn as much as possible her first year of graduate school, so she volunteered at a charter school in Atlanta, and helped to open its doors. She volunteered there for a year, and was eventually offered a job. When she graduated from Mercer University as a certified educator, she began her calling in Cobb County teaching 8th grade History, fell in love with the students and her content, and remained there for the last 9 yrs. Eleah has worked in Atlanta, Cobb, and Fayette County public schools, and is just now feeling like "she’s home" here at the Forest School.

Eleah loves to play tennis, indulge in profound conversations over good food, and creating... (anything).

She has a hope for the future, a vision filled with Gen Zers being caring, kind, compassionate, empathetic, self-disciplined, hard- working world leaders, and she feels she has finally found where they are housed!

Eleah will work closely with our high schoolers but will have connectivity to the Middle School as well, floating in and out from time to time for various learning experiences or collaborations.


Maria Covaci-Druhora

Assistant Spark Guide

Born in the sprawling hills of the Transylvanian countryside, Marias’ parents immigrated to the US in the late 80’s to escape the Romanian communist regime in search of a better life for their eight children.


Her family made their home in Great State of Texas where Maria became, a Texan. Maria received her BA from The University of Texas and begun a 15 year career managing businesses and property investment portfolios in Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, and Europe.
After moving to Georgia in 2020 and becoming her boys’ sole educator, she developed an admiration for educators but also realized a great need in the standard and dated education system. Discovering The Forest School this past year and familiarization with the self directed learning program, this partnership was a no brainer.


Having lived in several major cities in the past 17 years with her husband Samuel and three boys, She has never failed to find a place to plant a garden, pitch a hammock, and read a good book while sipping the local coffee, because the simple pleasures in life can be found all around us.
Her door is always open, lawn chairs are always out and coffee is brewing till five.


Re’Jene Moore

upper School Guide

Re`Jene Moore was born in Philadelphia, PA, and was raised in Atlanta, GA. She attended Savannah State University and graduated from Clayton State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science Minor in Education. She always had a passion for education and what it brings out of people. She has worked with Atlanta Public Schools and Clayton County Public Schools as Paraprofessional Teacher and Substitute Teacher. She also branched off and gained some experience in Early Childhood Education with Sheltering Arms as a Teacher for Infant/Toddler ages birth to 2 years old. Her goal is to be certified in all aspects of education because there is always room to grow in the field. She has been in education for four years since graduating college. Her hobbies include Dance, Mass Communications (Media), Photography and Nail Creations. Re`Jene is an ambitious and creative team player who is excited to join the Forest School.

Re’Jene will work closely with our middle schoolers but will have connectivity to the High School as well, floating in and out from time to time for various learning experiences or collaborations.


Kat Stuehrk

online High School Guide

Kat Stuehrk is a youth worker and educator with a decade of experience in the field of mentoring, violence prevention, community education, and youth development.

She studied the arts and humanities and social work at Michigan State University and received her MSW from University of Illinois Chicago’s Jane Addams College of Social Work. Kat is also a pastry chef, and owns a cottage bakery called Butter Bird Bakery. She spends her free time gardening, cooking, hiking, and reading.


Ana Garcia

office manager

Ana’s life has taken her to live on three continents. Originally from Colombia, Ana graduated from Saint Thomas University with a degree in International Trade. Early in her career, she worked in the fast-paced logistics industry in Colombia. In 2008 she moved to the UK. Ana continued to work in her profession as an account manager, assisting businesses, including some of the biggest US household names, with expansion into new markets globally. In 2015, she made Georgia, USA, her family home.

Ana brings to the table strong managerial, organizational, and budgeting skills. Thanks to her work experience and dealing with people from vastly different cultures, she learned to respect others and their beliefs and understand that everybody has a different way of interacting and communicating. She always aims to keep a positive and professional attitude, no matter the situation or challenge.

She loves spending time with her husband and their two kids, growing her spiritual life, traveling, and learning about new cultures. She enjoys exercising, volunteering as a catechist at her local church, and living every day to the fullest.

As Office Manager, Ana will add tremendous value to our team as we grow into our next phase of operations and administrative complexities.


Be sure to say hello to these new team members at our upcoming Welcome Party on Sunday, July 31, from 4-5pm by the lake at Trilith!

 
Tyler Thigpen