Sarah K. WHitaker, Ph.D.

Founder, Executive Director (she/her)

ExecutiveDirector@AthensForestKindergarten.org

Dr. Whitaker has spent her career studying, practicing, and promoting holistic education. She received her B.A. from the University of Kentucky where she studied Psychology, with an emphasis on Developmental Psychology. After working and living abroad for some time, she returned to the States to pursue an M.A. and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at The University of Georgia. She has previously worked as a substitute teacher, an English teacher in French public schools, a tutoring coordinator at a literacy nonprofit, a pediatric neuroscience research assistant, and a part-time faculty member teaching both Educational Psychology and Psychology classes. Her doctoral research examined the role of mindfulness practices in promoting student self-regulatory skills. She continues to work as a consultant promoting social-emotional wellbeing in schools through facilitating reflective programs on attachment, mindfulness, and play.

Dr. Whitaker completed a Certificate in Nonprofit Management during her graduate work at UGA and completed a Level 1 Forest Kindergarten Teacher Training at Wauhatchie School in Tennessee.

When she’s not overseeing AFK or consulting in schools she loves to teach and practice mindful movement, learn new fiber art skills, and ride bicycles and camp with her family of five.