Abbie Nieuwstraten
Lead Educator, Geneva Classroom (she/her/hers)
I have wanted to be a teacher ever since I can remember. I was the child who made all the other neighborhood kids sit in a circle so I could “teach” them. With this in mind, it was a no brainer for me to get my undergrad in education. Shortly after graduating with my Bachelors in elementary education, I began the process of getting my Masters in Early Childhood Education through CU Denver. I graduated in 2023 and have spent the last two years working with children 2 months through 3 years! I am trained in the Reggio Emilia philosophy but am also familiar with Montessori, Waldorf, and RIE. My teaching philosophy tends to be an organic blend of all four philosophies based on the children and their needs, wants, and desires.
My passion is tiny humans and advocating for them, and their rights. I believe that respect is a fundamental human right and that starts with our youngest citizens. To me, respecting young children means honoring their ideas, emotions, and questions. I try my best to individualize care for each child and I truly love the magic and learning that takes place in early childhood education. I am often the teacher who is bringing in random bugs and fun pieces to add to our material selection. In my opinion, our greatest teaching moments come from random events where we follow the child’s lead. I hope to help your child gain confidence in themselves, their relationships with others, and their relationship with the world around them. I also hope to encourage healthy independence with self care and conflict resolution.
When I’m not working with children I can often be found spending time with my fiance and our two cats. We love camping, hiking, gardening, and eating good food! We are also about to take on our biggest project yet, a house remodel.