Elena Schreiner

pronouns: she/her

Elena has been owner and lead teacher of the Peanut Garden Playschool since it began as an afternoon play group for 12 to 18 month olds in January of 2005.  Originally from New York, Elena relocated to Portland in 1997.  She and her husband, Keith, moved into the Cully neighborhood in 2002 and a year later, welcomed their daughter, Nova.  

Elena holds an undergraduate degree in fine art and a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Early Childhood Education.  

Amelia Walsh

pronouns: they/them

For the past several years, Amelia has gifted us with their passion for self-expression, creativity and social consciousness.  Through their eyes, children see themselves celebrated for their uniqueness and their inclusion of others.  With a degree in biology and studio art, Amelia's background in scientific inquiry and artistic expression makes for a magical combination in the classroom.

Kira Cruz-Uribe Brown

pronouns: she/her

Kira has been working with children for several years, and brings her gifts for working with young children to our classroom. In Kira’s free time, she enjoys cosplay and making costumes from scratch, using her skills as a seamstress and fabricator. She is excited to use her creative talents in the classroom.

Becky Barwick

pronouns: she/her

Many moons ago, we had the joy of having Becky’s twin sons in our classroom. We are delighted to have her joining us summer of 2023 with seven years of preschool teaching under her belt and a certification in teaching yoga to children.