About Me

Hello, my name is Jessica. I am the owner of Taproots Schoolhouse and I want to welcome you to our website.

At a very young age, I grew up spending my school breaks hiking and camping. It was an opportunity getting to wake up early in my tent, smelling the morning moisture and pine trees, not knowing what I was going to get into that day.

I remember thinking how much I couldn’t wait to bring my friends out to discover the awesomeness I was experiencing. When I was pregnant with my first child, all I could think of was how exciting it would be to introduce her into the wilderness, so she could feel the cool gentle breeze across her face. It’s so important to me to raise our children with that same passion for nature that my parents instilled in me while I was young.

I always knew that I wanted to create a space for children to slow down, think and allow for nature to bring them to a place of peace and wonder. A place for them to run, jump, scream or not. A place where they can truly express their curiosity for textures and smells, throw things that looked interesting… or just lay on the ground and watch the clouds move across the sky. I wanted to develop an environment where our children could create experiences interacting in the present moment, not just through toys, books and screens.

Consequently, Taproots Schoolhouse was born.

I obtained my degree from Oklahoma State University in the College of Agriculture, with a BA in Natural Resource Ecology and Management, option in Wildlife Management. For several years I worked intermittently with the Tulsa Zoo Education Department, then began my professional career with the Bureau of Land Management as a Natural Resource Specialist. After my second child, I decided to work more in the field of education, working in early childhood then moving forward to High School AP Environmental Science. While I do not have a degree in early childhood education, I have always stayed close to professions surrounding the environmental management and education field. I hold myself to the standards I would hold another educator for my own children.

It is my belief that providing the highest level of education for children outside of an educational institution is not only possible, but it also offers children many unique opportunities otherwise inaccessible in a conventional school setting.

Please reach out to me if you have any questions, or would like to schedule an evening tour to see our program in person.

I hope to meet you and your little one one day.

Testimonials

“

Jessica has always created a really cozy, welcoming space in her home. She is extremely patient with her children, taking time to validate their feelings and encourage critical thinking. Jessica has always valued self-sustainability, growing her own vegetables, buying from local farms, and preferring organic foods over processed.

”

Melik C.

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Jessica has always been very focused on her children’s feelings and how they process and feel their feelings… finding solutions and self empowerment.

”

— Sanders Family