Lori grew up in a farming family in southern Georgia where she developed a deep love of plants, animals and the outdoors.  It's only fitting that she would grow up to found a forest school.  She completed her Bachelor of Arts in psychology at the University of Georgia before moving to Atlanta to join the commercial real estate and development industry.  Shortly before the birth of her oldest daughter, she left the corporate world.  As her two daughters, approached school age, Lori discovered her true passion of working with children through the homeschool community.  She has been a homeschool educator and Girl Scout Troop Leader for the past seven years.  She is influenced by the natural elements, artistic expression, and simplicity of Waldorf as well as the practical application of Montessori.  She is a fervent advocate for dyslexia awareness and designed Flora & Fauna as a learning environment in which struggling readers can flourish.   Lori lives with her husband and daughters in Smoke Rise along with their many pets including dogs, a cat, Guinea Pigs and rabbits.   She enjoys long walks in nature and baking with her daughters.  

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Kristi holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Mercer University and is trained in Orton Gillingham and reading intervention strategies.  She is well-versed in private, public, and homeschool environments. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in the development of successful, well-rounded individuals. She is dedicated to nurturing students' heart, mind, and spirit, aiming for holistic engagement both academically and behaviorally. In her classroom, Kristi employs diverse learning strategies and individualized instruction while encouraging active involvement and collaboration with families. Beyond teaching, Kristi is an artist who enjoys creating and teaching jewelry making. She cherishes time with her family and their rescue dog, and her favorite color is orange. She is excited to meet your student!

Deedra is a homeschooling mom who has a passion for teaching and exploring the natural world. Engaging children as they learn and grow fills her with energy and joy. She has over 25 years of experience exploring, learning, discovering, creating, teaching, and walking alongside children and youth. She holds degrees in biology, chemistry, and math, along with a small handful of graduate degrees. What can we say, she loves to learn! Deedra uses her passion for learning to cultivate curiosity and enthusiasm for learning in others. Her latest project is to cultivate a STEAM lab here at Flora & Fauna.  Deedra is also an avid gardener and former Garden Site Manager at the Friends of Refugees Community Gardens in Clarkston, GA. Her two daughters have grown up digging in and tasting the garden. They know that spring is here with the taste of sugar snap peas and strawberries. Summer savors the flavors of beans, okra, and tomatoes, and cucumbers - to name a few. Most recently she is beginning to explore the beauty and variety of shade plants.  

Vanessa is a dedicated and passionate educator with a PhD in Integrative Biology. With 14 years of experience teaching at the university level, Vanessa brings a wealth of knowledge and a love for learning to her students. Six years ago, she moved to Georgia and began homeschooling her daughters (9 and 14), discovering a new joy in teaching them and exploring new subjects together.  She creates engaging Anatomy and Physiology curriculum for kids, making complex topics accessible and fun. Her enthusiasm for teaching extends beyond her home through her YouTube channel, where she continues to inspire and educate others about the wonders of the human body. Vanessa is excited to share her expertise and passion for science with your children, fostering a love of learning in every lesson. She believes that by learning more about ourselves, we can make better, healthier decisions for our future. When she's not busy with scientific discoveries, she swaps her lab coat for an artist's smock. Nearly an art major, she channels her creativity into painting, pottery, and charcoal sketches, crafting some stunning masterpieces. Her home is a mini zoo, bustling with a dog, a bird, a duo of leopard geckos, a pair of crested geckos, and a bearded dragon.  Her family shares a special fondness for reptiles.  A select few of their menagerie just may visit for show & tell.