Polly Pfau, Preschool Teacher
Polly Pfau brings a lifelong love of nature and the outdoors with her to Glen Urquhart School. She began her career in environmental education as the Assistant Curator at Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory and then as a herpetologist/educator for Rainforest Reptile Shows. While leading these programs, she decided to become a classroom teacher to better form relationships with students. Polly received her Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from Lesley University with a yearlong associate teacher internship at Belmont Day School. She taught Kindergarten at The Advent School in Boston for 7 years where she became inspired by designing emergent curriculum and project work. In 2013, Polly relocated to the North Shore to explore her interest in place-based education. Using the outdoors as an extension of the classroom, she worked for 3 years as the Lead Transitional Kindergarten Teacher at Parker River Community Preschool in Rowley. On a journey of meditation and mindfulness in her own life, Polly also regularly incorporates mindfulness into daily routines in the classroom. In her free time, Polly enjoys yoga, walking in the woods, kayaking, and reading.
Janelle Young, Preschool Teacher
Janelle Young brings a unique combination of experiences working in outdoor education, classroom teaching, and child-centered program development. For seven years, Janelle worked with the Newburyport YWCA school-aged programs, as an administrator and early childhood lead teacher for a vast array of students. Prior to that, she worked for the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan and Fenner Nature Center, sharing her passion for the outdoors with groups of all ages, from toddlers through adults. Janelle recently completed her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Creative Arts through Lesley University.