Leslie grew up with great appreciation and admiration for the earth. She is fascinated by how simply the beautiful earth’s systems work. She is deeply aware of the need for humans to better adapt to the sustainable way the earth works. Many young students have developed a deep connection with the earth through Leslie’s inspiration and in-depth teaching. She received her master’s degree in environmental education from Acadia University in Pennsylvania, and has been working in education since 1984. Before settling in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, Leslie was the science teacher and environmental educator at Center School in Pennsylvania, where she developed many award-winning gardens with her students. 

Carly Sherbert has delighted in teaching littles since 2014.  She earned a degree in Studio Art from Indiana University in 2011, and a Child Development Associate Credential in 2017.  Inspired by her love of nature, Carly was trained and earned a certificate in nature-based teaching from the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools in 2019.  Carly first began guiding the Little Seedlings at Wind Dance in the summer of 2019.  She took a break from teaching to care for her precious baby boy Graham, who was born in November 2021.  Carly returned to Wind Dance in fall of 2022 to continue guiding our early learners.  In addition to teaching littles, Carly also works with her husband, Greg, on their farm and nursery, Forest Shepherd Farm, in Berkeley Springs.

Elisha Marie Garcia is a Reggio-Inspired, and Nature-Based early childhood educator, education consultant, homeschooling mother and business  owner. She lives in the beautifully mountainous Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia where the best days of her childhood were spent running  barefoot on the mountainsides and exploring the rivers and streams. She loves to take adventures with her family hiking, camping, kayaking,  snowboarding, traveling and stargazing. 

Elisha is a 2009 graduate of Indiana University with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Over the course of her teaching  career, she studied the progressive and student-centered Reggio Emilia Approach to education. During this experience she also became a Reggio  and nature-based mentor and education consultant for public and private schools collaborating with colleagues, parents and community on  child-led and inquiry-based learning, fine arts education, nature-based learning, indoor and outdoor classroom design, as well as observation  and documentation of the process of learning. 

It has been Elisha’s passion to bring children and families, not only closer to nature, but closer as a community which values the image of the  child, educating through child-led interests, being good stewards of the earth and building a love of play and learning that will last a lifetime. She admires the similar vision that she shares with Wind Dance Farm and is overjoyed to join such an incredible mission while guiding the  youngest nature explorers!

 John is a traditional musician whose strong, gentle voice and extraordinary rhythmic talents on the guitar have been loved by followers of traditional music and dance for over forty years.  At Wind Dance John plays fiddle for lively and fun dancing and shares his love of singing with all groups.  His repertoire includes original songs and tunes, as well as songs from old-time and folk traditions. John has performed from east coast to west, into Alaska, and across the Atlantic.

Maureen Nisch comes to Wind Dance Farm as a clinically trained Reading Specialist who specializes in working with students with language-based learning differences such as dyslexia, hyperlexia, and students with executive function challenges.  Maureen is a 2005 graduate of Radford University in Radford, Virginia with a degree in English Education.  Maureen attended graduate school at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City, and received two master’s degrees in English Education (2008) and the Reading Specialist Program (2011).  Over the course of her career, Maureen has taught elementary, middle, and high school students remedial reading and study skills using systematic research-based approaches adhering to the Science of Reading field. Maureen spent 12 years teaching at Eagle Hill School in Greenwich, CT, a school that is considered to be one of the best schools in the country for students with language-based learning disabilities.   Maureen has always had a love of literature and believes it is every child’s right no matter what their skill level to experience the wealth of information one can learn from the power of language and literature.   Maureen is fascinated with how the brain works and how the brain processes and categorizes language.  In addition, Maureen has always had an appreciation for what nature can offer the mind, body, and soul.  Maureen’s hobbies include being in her garden, hiking with her dog, stargazing, being with family and friends and just loving life!  It has been a long-time dream for Maureen to inspire children along their journey to be lifelong learners of literature and the Earth.  To Maureen, being at Wind Dance feels like a match made in heaven!

A native of Maryland, Frosty holds a bachelor’s degree in Art and Design from Towson University. She has completed course work at Maryland institute College of Art and Outward Bound. Her long teaching career in early childhood and elementary education is rooted in sharing love for art, play and children’s literature. At Wind Dance she guides students in creative exploration using a wide variety of art materials and techniques. She is delighted for the opportunity to pass down traditional handwork skills through sewing, knitting, and fiber art projects. 

Frosty lives in West Virginia with her dog Homer and cat Maui. She enjoys practicing simplicity, taking long walks and writing. Currently, she’s focused creatively on making functional art, using up- cycled materials and exploring the intersection of Making and Meditation.