Deanna Graycheck, MEd, Forest school teacher institute certified

Co-Director of Preschool & Educator

Before joining AFK in 2023, Deanna spent four years as the Program Manager of Wimberly’s Roots, a non-profit community farm where she developed educational programs that give participants of all ages the opportunity to learn about growing, cooking, and enjoying healthy food in the garden and kitchen. In 2021 she earned a master’s degree in Education for Sustainability at Antioch University, a unique program focused on educational methods rooted in community, culture, and the natural environment. Deanna’s approach to teaching is hands-on, immersive, and fun with a focus on providing spaces that encourage children to play and explore and learn through their own experiences. She prioritizes community-building and strives to create a collectivist environment where students support one another and feel a sense of belonging. She believes that nature is a wonderful teacher and never ceases to  engage our sense of wonder and curiosity. While she teaches people of all ages, she believes that childhood experiences leave a lasting imprint that forms a foundation for the things that we value and care about into adulthood. Spending time outdoors and in nature, enjoying healthy food from the garden, and having the chance to explore and create as a child establishes a lifelong  connection and love for the natural environment.

Deanna lives with her husband and two children on a small piece of land where they grow fruits and veggies, raise chickens, and play in the woods. She is especially passionate about birdwatching and growing native plants for pollinators.