Meet Dani
Co Teacher at Hidden Meadow School
Dani
Co-Teacher
Phone :
(360) 259-7196
Email : contact@hidden
meadowschool.org
Meet Dani: Bringing Kindness, Patience & Understanding to Every Child
Dani joined the Hidden Meadow team with a deep commitment to creating spaces where every child feels seen, valued, and welcome. With 10 years of experience working with children and 3+ years specializing in special education, she brings a unique perspective rooted in patience, compassion, and genuine respect for each child’s journey.
As the big sister to a neurodivergent brother and someone with extensive cross-cultural experience, Dani understands firsthand the importance of creating educational environments where all children belong, regardless of how they learn, communicate, or experience the world.
Her background in Communication Disorders and Deaf Education, combined with years working as a paraprofessional in special education classrooms, has shaped her teaching approach: meet children where they’re at, not where you wish they would be.
At Hidden Meadow, Dani brings warmth, humor, and steady presence to every interaction. Whether she’s helping a child navigate big feelings, facilitating cooperative play, or leading the daily adventure through the forest, she creates an atmosphere where children feel safe to learn, grow, and be exactly who they are.
“I believe that children are the best of us. Their kind and inquisitive nature is open and unassuming, accepting and kind to all.”
Education & Expertise
Bachelor’s Degree
10 Years Experience
Special Education
CPR & First Aid
Fluent in German
Olympia Schools
See Dani in Her Element
Dani’s Teaching Philosophy
How she believes children learn and grow best
Building Trust & Connection
As educators, it’s critical to ensure that children understand we are there to support them in their educational journey and their journey in life.
Meeting Children Where They Are
This approach builds through kindness, humor, compassion, and understanding. It honors each child’s unique starting point and individual path.
Foundational Values
These values aren’t just taught; they’re modeled, practiced, and woven into every interaction at Hidden Meadow.
Nature’s Critical Role
These skills benefit us as we grow in countless ways, from job opportunities to overall confidence in ourselves. Nature is one of the oldest classrooms mankind has to offer.
Why I Chose Outdoor Education
Dani’s path to outdoor education was shaped by deeply personal experiences watching both traditional education succeed and fail the children who needed it most.
The Transformative Power of Nature
Working in special education for several years, Dani witnessed something powerful: the transformative experiences that came from time spent outdoors. She watched children who struggled in traditional classroom settings find peace, curiosity, and confidence when given time to observe and explore in nature.
“Seeing the peace and curiosity that nature time and observation would bring to children convinced me of the critical nature of time spent amongst some of the oldest classrooms mankind has to offer.”
What Frustrated Her About Traditional Settings
In her years working in conventional schools, Dani became increasingly frustrated by the limited and regimented time outdoors. Even more troubling was witnessing the lack of advocacy for neurodivergent students and other children of marginalized status.
She saw firsthand how the rigid structure of traditional classrooms often failed to serve the very students who needed flexibility, understanding, and alternative approaches the most.
“I believe in the healing and restorative properties of nature and firmly believe that we as a society need more time outside appreciating the beauty of this earth.”
A Personal Mission
Dani’s passion for accessible, inclusive education isn’t just professional. It’s deeply personal. As the big sister of a younger brother on the spectrum, she understands the critical importance of creating educational spaces that welcome and celebrate neurodivergent children. She feels passionately about ensuring every child has access to education that honors who they are.
“I was led here after helping my mom navigate the K12 system alongside my neurodivergent brother. I feel very passionately about each child’s chance to access education.”
What She Loves About Teaching Outdoors
At Hidden Meadow, Dani gets to connect real world concepts and learning experiences with time spent outdoors amongst nature. Whenever children learn through real world experience, a deeper and more thorough understanding is applied.
Working at Hidden Meadow has taught her to slow down and appreciate the beauty in the small things. It has shown her that life is a series of smaller events that weave together to form the complex tapestry of our lives.
“Taking things day by day, minute by minute, and breath by breath can be a good thing. Appreciating the beauty in everyday life is the key to loving it.”
What Makes Dani Unique
The perspectives and skills she brings to the Hidden Meadow team
Multilingual
educator
Neurodivergent Advocacy
Patience with Big Feelings
Meet the Heart Behind Our School
Our educators bring passion, experience, and genuine care to every interaction. Led by Ms. Molly, who holds a Master’s in Early Childhood Education, our team creates an environment where every child feels safe, seen, and supported.
Molly O’Rear
Dani T
Jake O’Rear
Wilma
Ready to See Hidden Meadow for Yourself?
Schedule a tour to explore our 16-acre outdoor classroom, see where children learn and play, and discover if Hidden Meadow is the right fit for your family.