Star Child Nature School

Melissa Sheppard

Founder/Director/Pre-Kindergarten Teacher. Melissa has her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Management and attended William Paterson University for Early Childhood Education. She found her passion while working in daycare and preschool settings and obtained her CDA (Child Development Associate Credential). After falling in love with Waldorf education she and began her journey towards becoming a Waldorf Early Childhood Educator completing her Foundations Studies at The Waldorf School of Princeton and graduating from both LifeWays North America and the Sophia Institute with her ECE Teacher Certificate and Waldorf Education ECE Teacher Certification respectively. Melissa planned to teach at the Waldorf School of Princeton but decided instead to bring nature-based education to the children in her area starting Star Child Nature School out of her home in 2017. Melissa is a Third Level Nature Based Educator certified with the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools (ERAFANS), a National Geographic Certified Teacher and is Adult/Pediatric BLS CPR/First Aid certified. She fully believes in the benefits of a nature immersive program and what it offers children physically and emotionally. She founded Star Child Nature School to offer children a place they are respected, can embrace the fleeting years of childhood and connect to nature through imaginative and creative learning that develops the whole child.

Kelly DelPalazzo

Co-founder, Pre-K Class Teacher, 3-4 Year Old PM Class Teacher. Kelly joined Star Child in 2018. She holds her Associates of Science in Nutrition and is a Certified Holistic Health Coach graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Kelly is CDA (Child Development Associate Credentialed) and a First Level Nature Based Educator certified with the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools (ERAFANS). A believer in the importance of the outdoors, nature and free creative play in the lives of young children, Kelly is a natural teacher bringing a nurturing and calm disposition and the ability to ask perfectly open-ended questions that promote thought, wonder and imagination. Providing the scaffolding, her class is child-led allowing her students the space to discover, explore and create based on their interests. Kelly is Adult/Pediatric BLS CPR/First Aid certified.

Allison Vogel

2-turning 3 Year Old Class Teacher. Allison joined Star Child in 2021 and attended Rider University where she played Division 1 field hockey and focused her studies on early education and liberal arts. Her love for teaching young children began with coaching summer camps and helping guide elementary aged players both on and off the field. After taking time off from her studies to travel, she found a new love for teaching and connecting with children through the practice of yoga. In 2017, Allison completed her 200hr Yoga Teacher Training as well as 25 hours of focused study on teaching babies and children ages 0-5. Alongside her husband, she owned Zephyr Yoga studio in New Egypt where she fulfilled her passion in teaching kids yoga and meditation as well as co-facilitating a child and caregiver program called Growing Minds for young toddlers. Through the studio, they were able to offer children the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities, mindfulness and develop an early love for learning. As a mother of two toddlers, Allison has developed a deep passion for child-centered, nature-based education. She believes all children, and all humans, can thrive from spending more time immersed in nature and that children are natural learners when given the space and freedom to explore, connect with and observe their natural surroundings. Nature has proven to be the best classroom and playground for her own children as she strives to teach them about emotional and physical awareness. Allison plans to further her studies in Nature Based Education as well as continue to explore the field of conscious connection through connected play with children. She believes it is part of her life's purpose to offer any child she crosses paths with the space to feel seen, heard and loved. Allison is Adult/Pediatric CPR/First Aid Certified.

Alyssa Huston

3-4 Year Old Monday-Friday Class Teacher. Alyssa graduated cum laude from Holy Family University in Philadelphia with a bachelor’s degree in Early and Special Education. (Graduated in 2014). Alyssa has over 10 years of experience in the educational field with a variety of ages and abilities. Previously Alyssa has worked as an Applied Behavior Analysis Therapist/Registered Behavior Technician and Preschool Teacher. She also obtained her 200 hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training Certification in 2019. In her spare time Alyssa enjoys spending time with her 4 year old son and husband, hiking/camping, and reading. Alyssa is Adult/Pediatric CPR/First Aid/AED certified.

Andrea Hipple

3-4 Year Old Class Teacher. Andrea is a strong advocate for child-led activities and believes in the power of play for both learning and development. Andrea is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she earned her Masters in Social Work from Stockton University and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Rutgers University. Her love for teaching grew after having her first daughter. And now with three kids, Andrea is always finding ways for learning to take place in everyday life with her kids. Whether cooking in the kitchen and learning to measure out ingredients, naming all the blue cars they see on their drive, or having her kids help pay for items at the farmer’s market, Andrea finds endless opportunities to embrace learning in everyday moments. She is passionate about fostering independence and confidence in children through hands-on learning experiences.
Andrea is dedicated to creating an environment where children can thrive and grow by providing them with opportunities to explore, create, and imagine. She understands the importance of allowing children the freedom to learn through their own experiences and believes this is key to fostering a love of learning and a sense of autonomy. Andrea believes in letting kids be free to discover, play and learn in a messy, fun, creative and curious environment. She strives to instill a deep sense of wonder and respect for nature in her students. In Andrea’s class, children are encouraged to follow their interests, ask questions, and engage in self-directed learning experiences that allow them to grow at their own pace.
Andrea finds joy in spending time outdoors with her three amazing children and wonderfully supportive husband: whether it’s hiking, gardening, caring for their backyard chickens, or embarking on new adventures with her family. She believes that cultivating community is essential for fostering connections and learning from one another, and she values the power of shared experiences and collaboration. Passionate about holistic healing and living, Andrea is constantly seeking to expand her knowledge in this area and explore new ways to promote wellness and balance in her life and lives of those around her. As an avid cook, she delights in experimenting with new recipes and flavors, often welcoming her children into the kitchen to share in the joy of cooking and creating together. Andrea is Adult/Pediatric CPR/First Aid Certified.

Andrea Manka

5-10 Year Old Class Teacher. Andrea joined Star Child in 2022 and has a Bachelor's Degree from The College of New Jersey in Mathematics Education and a Master's Degree from the University of Houston in Curriculum and Instruction. Andrea has previously volunteered as a Forest School facilitator and as a daycare classroom assistant. Additionally, she has taught high-school mathematics as well as designed curriculum for a variety of courses. Andrea has over 15 years of experience working with students ranging in age from 2 years old through adulthood. In her off time, Andrea enjoys creative projects, hiking, reading and traveling. As an educator she has witnessed the benefits of time in nature on students' engagement and learning. Further, she looks forward to the opportunity to witness the children’s growth first hand. Andrea is Adult/Pediatric BLS CPR/First Aid certified.

Cassie Burns

3-turning 4 Year Old Class Teacher. Cassie joined Star Child in 2021 and attended Camden County College where her studies included early education and child psychology. After college, she worked as a Project Manager helping develop and maintain registration/data collection systems for late-stage clinical trials for a clinical research organization. She has also worked as a specialist at a conference planning organization, specializing in duties on both the planning and registration side of the business. In addition to her professional work, she has also volunteered with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program having always felt an inherent ability to not only understand, but to also connect with children. After the birth of her first child, Cassie decided to take a break from her professional life and re-focus on her family. While exploring educational options for her son, she began doing research regarding different educational models and philosophies. The idea and benefits of play-based education really resonated with her and she began her search for schools that aligned with those values. In 2017, Cassie visited Star Child and instantly feel in love with Melissa’s teaching model and philosophies. With the discovery of nature-based education, Cassie began to implement these values and learning methods into her own life. Wanting to continue down this path and educate herself further to promote these values, she received her First Level Nature-Based Teacher Certification from the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools (ERAFANS). Cassie will focus on providing a nurturing environment where children will feel comfortable expressing their true selves. While play-based learning will be an important part of her curriculum, she will also encourage your child to love and appreciate not only their own uniqueness, but also ensure they promote the same kindness towards others through their words and actions. Her students will also be taught to show love for the Earth and experience all the wonder and magic that nature has to offer. Cassie is Adult/Pediatric BLS CPR/First Aid Certified.

Ces martin

5-10 Year Old Class Teacher. As a Rider University graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree majoring in Liberal Studies and minoring in Psychology Ces comes to us with more than 20 years of experience working with children in varying degrees. She’s worked as a Teacher’s Assistant for various daycares, a one-on-one Aide and Program Coordinator for an inclusive recreation program for children with disabilities. Ces taught Spanish at Urban Promise summer programs to children ages 5-10 and co-led retreats for adolescents and young adults ages 11-19. Most recently she led Spanish, Yoga, Art, Latin Dance, Junior Warriors (exercise/obstacle course training) and Music classes for children 3-10 years old. Ces is a Second Level Nature Based Educator certified with the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools (ERAFANS) and is most excited to use this training to further encourage, support and foster children’s instinctual connection and desire to explore and wonder in a natural setting. She is truly inspired and energized by teaching alongside children and does so in a fun and compassionate way. Ces is BLS CPR/First Aid certified and last but not at all in the least is mom to Calloway and Calliope who you will be sure to see in and around our campus.

Colleen Goldstein

2-3 Year Old Class Teacher. Colleen attended Drew University and graduated in 2017 with a degree in Women’s Studies with the idea of moving on to a graduate degree in Social Work. After graduating school, she briefly worked with Center for Family Services in Youth Violence Prevention in Camden. After leaving CFS, Colleen worked at a holistic wellness practice and fell in love with the natural healing world. Working here sparked her interest in maternal health and wellness so she pivoted to completing a Full Spectrum Doula training program with Doula Training International. When Colleen isn’t hiking and exploring with her husband, Jared, and 2 year old daughter Eva, you can find her working at Root & Restore (a holistic family wellness practice) and helping new mothers as a postpartum doula. Colleen is passionate about alternative learning experiences for children and a nature based school like Star Child is a dream. Spending time in nature was a huge part of Colleen’s childhood, with yearly camping trips to different National Parks and summer camp. She is excited to foster a love for nature and learning with the 2-3 year old this coming year. Colleen is Adult/Pediatric CPR/First Aid certified.

Corinne Cargen

Art Teacher. Corinne joined Star Child in 2021. She graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Fine Arts from Camden County College. A lover of acrylic painting, plants, film photography, animals and crocheting, to Corinne, art lives within the veins and branches of our woods. She is a believer of children connecting and exploring through outdoor play. Corinne shows a natural ability to provide compassion and empathy to the children. Learning and laughing with them is what she loves most. Teaching her students to love and express kindness to everything around us and showing how to appreciate the beauty and importance of the nature world is her passion. Corinne is Adult/Pediatric CPR/First Aid certified.

Corinne Lomsky

2-turning 3 Year Old class Teacher. Corinne went through many different schools as a child, experiencing Montessori, Quaker, homeschool, co-op and public school curriculums and philosophies. While in high school Corinne found BCA, an alternative school based on credits so she graduated with a high school diploma a year and half early to quote her, “because of that wonderful program”. Deciding to leave home after graduation, at 16 she went to live and work in upstate New York at Omega Institute for Holistic Studies. She was able to take courses on health, wellness, mind body connection, all while living on an intentional community. She began traveling across country up and down the west coast, through the WOOFing program living outside and working on organic farms. At age 18 Corinne went to Maui, Hawaii living at Hale Akua Garden Farm for one year training in permaculture and living on the land. She then went to Kauai and fell in love with a community farm focusing on biodynamics living off grid with no electricity in a tent for five years. Corinne is very passionate about biodynamics and was introduced to Waldorf schooling at that farm because both are created by Rudolf Steiner. The farm had multiple children on it ranging from age 8 to the youngest born in the tent next to her. Corinne got to see this child grow for three years. While not a “teacher” and not yet a mom she learned the essence of “it takes a village” and that all of life is a learning experience, on that farm. She loved having children help with the harvest and farmers markets and cooking dinners. They made the farm, and everyone on it made the children a priority, they were to be involved in all aspects. Corinne stayed on Kauai another five years getting her yoga teacher certification. She also worked on a horse and cattle ranch as a tour guide. Corinne loved being able to share her extensive knowledge about the native plants trees and flowers with tourists. Embracing all weather with people that worked 9-5 jobs and kids that had never hiked in their lives, she set the tone making their experience fun. All the while being sure the behind the scenes safety protocols were being met. Corinne started teaching yoga at resorts and then after ten years on Kauai left to explore New Zealand and work on many different farms there. Corinne loves being outside, loves to get down on the same level as kids and lives for the present moment. She is playful, fun, loves plants, growing food and foraging and fully embracing all that life has to offer from a non-dualistic mindset. Corinne is Adult/Pediatric CPR/First Aid Certified.

Faith Twarowski

Faith joined Star Child in 2022 and has been working with children as a nanny for many years. She has a love for nature and connecting with children of all ages. She is a mother of two, an aunt to 4, a plant mom, dog mom, and cat mom. She devotes her time to taking her kids outdoors and exploring no matter the weather. You’ll see her in the dirt, mud, and jumping in puddles right along side the children. If it’s summer time, you can find Faith and her kids at the beach or hiking. She’s passionate about holistic health care, arts and crafts, and podcasts. Faith has a calming presence and connects to everyone. After completing her degree in Opthalmic Science and having her own little ones she realized her passion is to be a teacher. She enrolled in elementary education classes at Rowan this past spring. Faith is Adult/Pediatric CPR/First Aid Certified.

Faith will be on maternity leave as she welcomes the birth of her third child. We can't wait to have her back in December!

Jennifer Galati

5-10 Year Old Homeschool Class Teacher. Jennifer joined Star Child in 2022. She holds a Masters Degree in Art and Education from Tyler School of Art, Temple University. Jennifer’s passion and respect for the outdoors was discovered after a month long backpacking trip as an adolescent and during her undergraduate studies at Ithaca College where she lived in beautiful Central New York. There she worked with many nature preserves and wildlife refuges to enhance classroom opportunities for her students. Jennifer’s art has always been inspired by nature and during her eleven year public school teaching position in Burlington County she heavily integrated math and science into the curriculum. She believes nature and art are both great vehicles for learning and is deeply passionate about facilitating experiential learning opportunities that weave curriculum content into a child’s innate expressivity. Jennifer disembarked from mainstream education in order to provide an alternative learning experience for her daughter. She currently resides in Salem County on a mini farm raising chickens and tending to her large-scale garden where she hopes to explore more aspects of homesteading with her family. Jennifer is Adult/Pediatric CPR/First Aid certified.

Jess Durdin

Child and Caregiver Class Teacher. Jess is thrilled to be joining the Star Child community this year leading the Child and Caregiver classes. With a variety of experiences in and out of the classroom, she looks forward to applying what she has learned to support the community of the youngest explorers and their families in the Child and Caregiver class. From a young age Jess has been drawn to the beauty of the outdoors and its impact on a person’s development. From her first teaching experience volunteering abroad at English camps or leading a VBS class at her local church to pursuing a formal education, she knew teaching was something she felt passionately about.
Jess graduated from Eastern University with a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education with a minor focus in ESL. After graduation she taught in private schools for 7 years in the classrooms supporting Kindergarten, Pre-K and then Preschool. In the last classroom she led, Jess supported the preschool team in building an outdoor-focused and play-based program until she had a little one of her own. She became even more passionate about the joy and importance of these factors in the growth and development of all learners and carries that practice in her parenting journey. Jess loves time with her family, traveling, reading, digital artwork, the beach, ice cream and music! She, her husband and daughter can often be found going on hikes, bike rides, swimming or off on some adventure. Jess looks forward to the adventure of joining the team and growing with the community and is Adult/Pediatric CPR/First Aid Certified.

Samantha Vanaman

3-turning 4 Year-Old Class Teacher. Samantha has been volunteering intermittently for the past few years at Star Child and we are thrilled to have her join us this year. Samantha has a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy (OT) from Elizabethtown College and has a passion for nature-based treatment and teaching children. Her professional career has included working in hospitals, pediatric outpatient clinics, Early Intervention, and public schools as an OT since 2018. Her treatment specialties include sensory processing and integration, activities of daily living, visual motor skills, motor planning, and overall motor development. Samantha has a heart for serving others and spreading joy, as well as a passion for doing medical missions work in Guatemala alongside her husband, Ben, through their church. Here, they assist missionaries with providing medical care to local communities in need. She and Ben recently got married and they have future hopes of starting a family and homeschooling their children. Samantha also desires to further her OT career in the field of nature-based therapy. She especially loves working with young children and their families to learn, grow, and live as meaningfully and independently as possible. In her free time, Samantha enjoys swimming, hiking, dancing, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends. She looks forward to working with you and your children! Samantha is working on her Level 1 Nature-Based Teaching certification through (ERAFANS) and is BLS CPR/First Aid certified for Adult/Pediatrics.

Sherri Edwards

5-10 Year Old Class Co-Teacher. Sherri comes to Star Child with a passion for both artistic expression and human behavioral studies. She joins us in our mission to facilitate a unique learning experience in alignment with the seasons and it's many thriving ecosystems.
Sherri comes from a behavioral health background and has a strong love for assisting young human beings with building the skill set they need to express themselves and navigate their emotions while learning and interacting with their surroundings. All human behavior in some fashion is a means of communication or an attempt to meet a need. She believes in the philosophy that compassion, patience and consistency can help give young people the components in their toolbox to build a strong foundation for growth, expression and learning.
With a vast skill set in de-escalation, functional communication training, and understanding of sensory needs, Sherri is ready to help our students navigate big emotions that the day may bring and empower them to effectively and compassionately use their voices.
Sherri has been an artist from a young age, and has always drawn inspiration from nature in her works. She often incorporates elements and natural specimens that she salvages from her times spent appreciating nature on hikes. She looks forward to empowering children with new and exciting means of expression through the arts and new ways of finding beauty in all phases of nature's many life cycles.
She is excited to combine her passions for pollinators and decomposers, introducing young people to the fascinating manner in which we are connected to even the smallest of lifeforms around us, and how to identify and protect them. In her personal time, Sherri enjoys exploring and protecting local wildlife, and unearthing local remnants of lost history, artifacts and indigenous peoples while accompanying the local search engineers at Finder Binders on historical investigations. She is excited to help enhance the understanding that young people have about the indigenous peoples that lived in New Jersey and further connect them to the grounds on which we will learn, laugh and play. Sherri is Adult/Pediatric CPR/First Aid certified.

Stephanie Sottolano

Pre-Kindergarten Class Teacher, 3-4 Year Old PM Teacher, 2-3 Year Old PM Teacher. Stephanie joined Star Child in 2022. Along with all of her accumulated knowledge as an herbalist, forager, gardener, multidisciplinary artist, and lover of holistic health, she also brings with her the credence that nature wants to heal us. Mom to four snails, two cats, a dog, and a home full of plants, Stephanie is a natural caretaker and aspiring strega nonna who won’t rest until the needs of everyone are provided for. A staunch believer in connecting with the inner child, she knows the power that lies in the curiosity of children and is perpetually chasing that sense of wonder that allows her to see the world the way kids do: with no judgment and endless empathy. Stephanie is Adult/Pediatric CPR/First Aid certified.

Taylor Smith

3-Turning 4 Year Old AM Class Teacher. Taylor graduated from Rutgers University where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. She is a mother to a toddler boy and prioritizes time outdoors, nature, Montessori and learning through play. She believes that Nature is the answer - all children truly are happier & do better outdoors. Taylor enjoys being outside with her son & dog, exploring, hiking, and traveling the world. When she became a mother her priorities and perspective on life changed. Although coming from a traditional background, she decided to pursue an organic holistic lifestyle practicing positive reinforcement & gentle parenting - the opposite of how she was raised. Prior to becoming a mother, Taylor has fulfilled babysitting gigs and duties as a short-term & long-term nanny and continues to do so alongside motherhood. Taylor is Adult/Child/Pediatric CPR/First Aid certified.

Tell me and I'll forget; Show me and I may remember; Involve me and I'll understand

All Star Child School staff are CPR, AED and First Aid Certified