Wild Oak Faculty

Lindsay Jalonen, Head of School

Lindsay holds a B.A. in psychology from Elon University and has extensive experience working with children and mental health across various settings. Her professional journey consistently revealed a central truth: strong relationships are the foundation for learning and growth. She believes that when individuals feel deeply connected to themselves, to others, and to their community, they can develop into confident people who live their best lives.

Recognizing that children are naturally their most authentic selves, Lindsay believes the one of the most effective ways to foster healthy people is by creating school communities that honor a child’s authentic nature and seeing the natural stages of child development as a gift and a strength. As an original founder of Wild Oak, she considers it a great honor to collaborate with the people and experts who bring this community to life daily.

In her personal time, Lindsay is focused on living presently with her three children, dog, cat, and chickens in Hendersonville, NC. She finds joy and restoration through laughing with loved ones, spending time in nature, making messy art projects, cooking, and enjoying a good hike, waterfall shower, or lake swim.

Allison Horsch, Director of Elementary

Allison holds a Master’s degree in Education and Human Resource Studies from Colorado State University and a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies. She is passionate about creating learning communities where children are known, valued, and trusted as capable thinkers, creators, and contributors. Her own childhood was shaped by time spent outdoors in Kansas, the Pacific Northwest, and Colorado, and she carries that sense of wonder, curiosity, and connection to place into her work at Wild Oak.

With a background in human development, early childhood education, inquiry-based learning, and social-emotional development, Allison brings more than 12 years of experience working with children and educators from early childhood through college. She is especially interested in the ways children learn through relationships, meaningful questions, hands-on experiences, and connection to the natural and broader community.

At Wild Oak, Allison is committed to protecting the wonder and joy of childhood while ensuring that children receive thoughtful, intentional, and research-informed instruction. She believes that strong teaching requires both curiosity and rigor, and she works alongside teachers to cultivate a culture of reflection, collaboration, and continuous growth.

Allison is grateful to be part of a school community that believes children deserve both deep roots and room to grow. She is excited to continue building a community of teacher-researchers who listen closely to children, learn from one another, and continually ask how we can make learning more meaningful, joyful, and connected to the world around us.

Kari Rogers, Seedling Lead Teacher

Kari holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a concentration in Child Development from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. She brings over nine years of experience working with children of all ages in a variety of settings, including childcare, foster care case management, in-home mental health services, and as a foster parent.

Kari believes young children learn best when they are given the freedom to be themselves, explore their interests, and learn through play and hands-on experiences. As a preschool teacher, her goal is to create a safe and nurturing environment where every child feels accepted, valued, and comfortable expressing who they are. She strives to follow each child’s interests, honor their individual pace of learning, and provide encouragement and gentle guidance along the way.

Kari was drawn to Wild Oak because she believes the natural environment is one of the best classrooms for young children and that strong connections are at the heart of childhood. She wants children to feel confident exploring the world around them, asking questions, making mistakes, and trying new things while developing a sense of wonder and connection to nature.

Outside of Wild Oak, Kari loves being a mama (and dog mama)—especially hiking, traveling, and adventuring with her son.

Berkeley Mitchell, Seedling TK/K Lead Teacher

Berkeley is excited to be part of the Wild Oak community. Originally from Greenville, South Carolina, she earned her degree in Recreation Management from Clemson University and later continued her education in Special Education at Western Carolina University.

Berkeley has always loved working with children and creating environments where they feel comfortable being themselves, exploring their interests, and learning through creativity, curiosity, and hands-on experiences. She believes that some of the best learning happens when children feel known, valued, and excited to discover something new.

Outside of Wild Oak, Berkeley is a mom to two wonderful boys and lives on North Mills River. She enjoys spending time outdoors, fly fishing, mountain biking, seeing live music, and being with family and friends. She is looking forward to a wonderful year of learning, exploring, and growing alongside her students.

Tracy Eldred, Adventure Coordinator & Afternoon Friends Lead

Tracy Eldrid holds an Associate of Arts from Greenville Technical College and has professionally trained in facilitating outdoor programs with Boy Scouts of America, Greenville County Recreation Department, and the American Red Cross.

She is passionate about developing programs that spark creativity and has adapted activities for special needs, elderly, and early childhood populations. In her roles as a childcare director, elementary school receptionist, and teacher’s assistant, she always enjoyed helping children connect with the environment and their communities. While searching for a summer camp position, Tracy came upon Wild Oak and was immediately drawn to the school’s philosophy and child-led approach.

Outside of school adventures, Tracy is a mother of 4 and a grandmother of 7. She loves crafting, reading, gardening, and spending time with nature.

Liz London,4th/5th Grade Teacher

Liz holds a B.A. in Fine Art from Pace University and an M.A. in Art Education from the School of Visual Arts. She brings over five years of classroom experience working with students in grades K–12, with a background in art education, classroom teaching, and interdisciplinary learning. Her teaching practice centers on creating a student-centered classroom where curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking are woven into everyday learning, encouraging students to make meaningful connections across subjects.

Liz believes teachers are guides in the learning process, creating space for students to discover, question, and make meaning for themselves. She is especially passionate about creating learning environments where students can bring their own interests and experiences into what they are learning. She values process over product and believes meaningful learning happens when students are given the freedom to experiment, take risks, and find their own way through a problem.

Liz was drawn to Wild Oak because of the school’s emphasis on curiosity, connection, and student-centered learning. After moving from Boston to Western North Carolina to trade city life for the mountains, she is excited to continue putting down roots in the community and become part of a school whose values align so closely with her own. She hopes to contribute creativity, curiosity, and joy to the Wild Oak community while helping students feel confident exploring their ideas, discovering their strengths, and connecting what they learn to the world around them.

Outside of Wild Oak, Liz enjoys backpacking and hiking, making art, and writing children’s books, which she hopes to one day have published. She is excited to share her love of the arts, the outdoors, and creative exploration with the Wild Oak community while continuing to grow alongside her students, fellow educators, and the Western North Carolina community.

Madison Walicki, 2nd/3rd GradeTeacher

Madison holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology of Families from Appalachian State University and brings five years of experience working with children aged 1–14. Her background spans Montessori early childhood education as well as elementary and middle school settings.

A firm believer that students should be active participants in their own learning, Madison is especially passionate about integrating art into core subjects to help students create visual representations of their knowledge. She strives to cultivate learning environments that foster curiosity, independent decision-making, and creativity.

Madison was drawn to Wild Oak for its emphasis on the outdoors as a vital tool for both education and emotional regulation. She is excited to nurture her students’ creative spirits and maintain a welcoming space where every child feels free to express themselves.

Outside of the classroom, Madison enjoys practicing yoga at studios around Asheville, painting, drawing, and hiking with friends. Having grown up in the area, she deeply appreciates the opportunity to live and work in the mountains.

Abbey Waldrop, Afternoon Club & Camp Director

Abbey holds a BA in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education from Brevard College and brings 6 years of experience working with K-5th grade students. She has experience in outdoor education, summer camp leadership, and afterschool programming. 

She believes that children should be given the chance to be children, have the opportunity to explore the natural world around them and create community with others their age. She is especially passionate about teaching children about the outdoors, connecting with nature and enjoys creating environments where children feel comfortable to not be afraid to try new things, and create independence. 

Abbey was drawn to Wild Oak because she has a passion for working with kids and believes in the importance of connecting classroom learning with outdoor learning. She is excited to allow kids to have freedom to be themselves and create a strong community within the school. 

Outside of Wild Oak, Abbey enjoys hiking, whitewater kayaking, and spending time outside with her cat, Daisy. She loves to explore Pisgah National Forest and Dupont State Forest to see waterfalls and to get outside.