About The Barn School

Kara von Behren (she/her) co-founded The Barn School in 2016. Kara has a passion for individualized learning and child honoring and has a background working in Early Childhood Education, as well as teaching at the high school and college level. As a mom and educator, Kara knew there had to be a schooling system that would truly awaken students’ spirits and passions, and thus opened The Barn School. When children have the chance to be the leaders of their learning, they can take ownership and become truly immersed.  Their learning unfolds and they can become their best selves when we trust them, treat them as responsible and capable beings, and when we help them to understand who they are and what makes them so wonderful.  When we teach children what they want to learn and in the methods that they excel in, we give them the opportunity to know their own greatness and reach their potential.  In order to do this, we must provide opportunities and invitations for children that are rich in sensory experiences, that explore and encapsulate the beauty of the natural world, and that surround children with the comfort and security they need to feel emotionally and physically safe enough to explore the world around them.  We teach children first by connecting through the heart, and only then can we connect through the mind.  As Aristotle says, "Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all."

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Cece VeStrand (she/her) recently graduated from The University of Vermont with a degree in Early Childhood Education. As an educator, it is her goal to provide rigorous, interactive and developmentally appropriate instruction to children of all abilities. She also believes in the use of outdoor spaces as an extension of the classroom. She loves exploring and spending time outside; if she is not inside reading, drawing or painting, you can find her hiking, kayaking or gardening! She views children as capable individuals, and she is thrilled to begin learning alongside them in the coming school year.
 

Lee Ruark (he/him) graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 2007 with a degree in History and is a licensed teacher for both elementary and secondary grades. He taught students in grades 1-4 in the Baltimore-Washington DC area for six years of his teaching career and also taught high school Earth and Space Science for three. He has also specialized in teaching enrichment courses in social studies, science, and math both online and in-person. Lee’s mission is to provide each child with a challenging learning environment that encourages creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking. He enjoys outdoor experiences, including walking his dogs, skiing, kayaking, hiking, and viewing the night sky with a good telescope. He enjoys sharing his love of learning with students and fostering a positive and exciting learning environment.

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Hannah Assefa (she, her) is an Elementary Educator who has worked with children for most of her life whether it be through private instruction in traditional fiddle or as an educator in the classroom. She graduated from Saint Michael's College in 2013 with degrees in Music Performance and Elementary Education and is a licensed educator for grades K-6. Hannah is currently pursuing a PhD in Educational Leadership with research interests in supporting pre-service teachers developing necessary skills to work with diverse populations. Hannah has taught in various classroom settings from Early Childhood Education to Elementary and, in each environment, she has worked to make a classroom community in which each student is celebrated, nurtured, seen, and heard. Most importantly, she ensures that students see her as a partner on a journey of learning that is fun and exciting. Hannah loves exploring the world with children whether that be in nature, in the kitchen, or through the arts and looks forward to doing that at The Barn School this coming school year! Hannah joins The Barn School team for the 2022-2023 school year.

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The Barn School also utilizes community members and views the whole world as our classroom. We often go to bakeries, farms, theaters, and so forth and regard each expert in the field who we meet as a teacher. Our learning is not limited to four walls. We also have weekly lessons in Spanish, Sustainability, Art, Music, Cooking, Yoga, and Physical Ed taught by other teachers as well.

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All of our teachers are passionate and excited to be here. We ask that our teachers attend and respond to their students with love, understanding, and humor. The relationships built at The Barn School are strong and deeply rooted in kindness and respect.