Admin & Management:
Genevieve
Founder & Owner
Genevieve has been an early childhood educator for over 25 years. Her first Nanny job sparked a love of teaching that led her to open and run a preschool through ASUM-University of Montana Childcare in 1997 while attending University. She majored in Environmental Journalism and received her CDA credentials as well as her Preschool Teaching certification.
Genevieve was the Assistant Site Director and Lead Preschool Teacher for two early childhood education programs operating through the Seattle Public School system where she developed a groundbreaking pre-k curriculum. She moved back to Montana and opened Advantage Academic Academy Preschool in 2002 where she cared for and taught infants through preschoolers as well as providing before & after school care and summer camps for school-age children up to 6th grade.
Genevieve then accepted a position as the Executive Director of the non-profit Sustainable Business Council where she advanced the vision of helping Missoula become a prosperous, collaborative community that fulfills the promise of the triple bottom line: a healthy society, economy, and environment by promoting a vibrant local economy built on sustainable practices. Genevieve was among the first fellowship cohort with the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, a two-year program designed for leaders who are advancing the development of healthy, equitable local economies. Local Economy Fellows are selected based on their vision, their leadership, and their role as strategic connectors, supporters, and influencers of local entrepreneurs and their businesses. Whether leading entrepreneur networks, community business incubators, or regional economic development initiatives, they are practical champions of new ways of doing business and organizing economies that work for all.
After 4 years at the helm of SBC, Genevieve decided to combine her passion for teaching children with her expertise in the principles of sustainability with the opening of Origins Education in 2011. By supporting families in fostering a solid intellectual, emotional, social and physical foundation, Genevieve believes that we develop a love for life-long learning. She created a eco-literacy and mindfulness curriculum that is both play-based and place-based and is honored to teach young children about the earth, it’s fascinating cycles and how to respect and care for it and all of its inhabitants.
In 2022, Origins Curriculum was launched to the world and is now its own company offering award winning curriculum to the K12 space. Origins won the international Greening Education Solutions Provider Award which was presented during UN Climate week at Cornell University. Origins Curriculum provides year-round, nature-based and mindfulness infused curriculum for the globally for both classroom educators and homeschool families.
Genevieve is passionate about the environment, organic food, gardening, photography, mindfulness and music. When not watching over the magic happening at Origins she is spending time with her family enjoying all the beauty that western Montana offers.
Ashley
Curriculum Creative Director Ashley is a licensed K-12 art teacher and artist originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and Red Lodge, Montana respectively. Ashley has lived in Missoula for the past 10 years and received a Bachelor’s of Fine Art in painting and art education along with her Montana Class 2 Teaching License, from the University of Montana in 2017.
Ashley’s teaching pedagogy is rooted in social-emotional learning, student-student-center learning, and cross-curricular learning. Her focus is to teach to the whole child—building confidence and empowering learners who go on to become global citizens. She strives to meet a child where they’re at and helping them to grow academically, emotionally, socially, and physically. Ashley has been fortunate to assume the position of an assistant teacher at the Children’s Center, a docent for the Missoula Art Museum, a live-in nanny for two Missoula families, a guest artist and volunteer for the Zootown Arts Community Center, and a substitute teacher and paraprofessional for Missoula County Public Schools.
In her free time when she’s not creating art, she enjoys playing in nature, cooking, music, yoga, design, and travel. Miss Ashley values cultivating and sharing her path to wellness with everyone around her. Email Ashley
SeQuoia
Assistant Director and Nutrition & Supply Manager SeQuoia grew up in a preschool setting and has been working with young children her entire life. SeQuoia brings her passion for music, art and creative play to Origins with her unique and effective teaching style.
SeQuoia has her STARS Preschool Teacher certification and has many years of experience with both infants & Toddlers as well as preschool-aged children. She worked as a teachers aide for 2 years at Advantage Academic Academy Preschool previously and has been with Origins since 2011.
When not working with children, SeQuoia enjoys cooking, horseback riding and spending her time outside in her garden, camping and hiking with her family. She creates high-end custom hula hoops and organic bath and body products for clients around the world.
Teaching Staff:
Ashley
Sr Preschool Teacher Ashley was raised in Columbia Falls MT, and moved to missoula after high school to attend the University of Montana.
Ashley has many years of experience in childcare, working in early education facilities since starting college. She got her Preschool Teacher certificate, and is a STARS certified teacher.
Ashley brings a hands on play based atmosphere into the classroom. In her free time she enjoys being outdoors like most Missoulians, hiking, skiing, and mountain biking.
Brittany
Early Learners & Jr Preschool Float Brittany Brittany loves the outdoors, the mountains, and the colder weather, which is what drew her from the east coast to the northwest! Brittany received her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education in Maryland worked as a teacher before moving to Montana to join Origins Education. She loves working with young children and believes very much in the importance of teaching and seeking mindfulness, especially in children’s younger years.
She has a Tortie cat named Beatrice, who is her whole world, and brings sunshine to her days! Brittany loves animals and has been vegan since 2009. When Brittany is not working with Origins, she enjoys hanging out with Beatrice, watching movies, baking vegan goodies, hiking, doing yoga, and meditating.
Aria
Infant Toddler Teacher Aria brings a grounded presence and a creative heart to her work at Origins. Born and raised in Helena, MT, she has experience in both licensed childcare centers and rehabilitation facilities, giving her a deep appreciation and empathy for the emotional and developmental needs of both young children and adults.
Now recently moved into her new home in Missoula and pursuing a degree at the University of Montana, Aria is excited to grow roots in a new community. She values the small, everyday rituals of early childhood and loves helping children explore their world with curiosity and confidence that will last a lifetime.
In her free time, Aria is a passionate singer, bassist, and artist. She believes music is a powerful tool for expression and connection, and enjoys sharing song, rhythm, and creativity with the world around her—and the classroom!
Jay
Jr Preschool Lead Teacher Jay brings a sweet sense of compassion and a joyful energy to Origins. She has a background both nature conservation and education, and as a dancer and musician she shares her creative movement and musical skills with the children. Jay loves witnessing the budding personalities of the children in her care and watching them learn about themselves and how to adapt to a community.
Jay has a long history of volunteer work, giving her time to animal shelters, homeless shelters, safe houses and helping people in need, bringing a beautiful understanding of diversity, solidarity and inclusiveness. When not at Origins Jay spends time at the River Pines Horse sanctuary where she rehabilitate neglected horses and spending time with her cat named Booker T. And a Dog named Prudence.
Adrienne
Origins Preschool Assistant & Float Adrienne bio coming soon
Sarah
Lead Early Learners Teacher Sarah grew up in a rural area just outside of Missoula with her mom and two sisters. Her time was spent riding horses, reading, creating art, exploring the mountains, and wandering in the swap behind her family's property catching frogs and playing deer.
As a young adult, Sarah became an avid explorer. Some of her adventures included working on a boat in Alaska, traveling across the country, and pulling a garden wagon down the Oregon coast. Though she loved the nomad life, Missoula called her home.
She graduated from the University of Montana with a Bachelor of Science degree in Resource Conservation in 2015. Shortly after that she began teaching and has never looked back. A career teacher she has been working in the early education field for over 10 years and loves the magic that comes with teaching, learning from, and engaging with young children. She is passionate about the natural world, creating community, and helping kiddos develop confidence in themselves. She believes strongly in meeting all individuals where they are at.
When Sarah is not teaching, she can be found hanging out with her family. She loves camping, backpacking, foraging, creating, cooking, and appreciating all that life has to offer.
Support Staff
Isabella
All Classroom Assistant Isabella was born in Michigan but grew up in Kalispell, MT. She moved to Missoula and is currently a Senior at the University of Montana obtaining a degree in Social Work and will continue on working in the field of children’s mental health as a licensed therapist.
In her free time Isabella enjoys hanging out with her friends, creating art, and movie nights. She loves spending time outdoors and working with children.. it has been her passion since she was in elementary school.
Substitute Teachers:
Charlotte
Charlotte grew up in San Diego, California and moved to Missoula to pursue a degree in both Psychology and Sociology. Her goal in life is to become a Specialist in School Psychology, to work with young children struggling through school and provide them with the help they need to become more successful! Charlotte has always loved children and learning everything they have to offer - their humor is her favorite. When she is not at work, you can find Charlotte off on some crazy adventure in the woods with her boyfriend and her dog, Percy.
Khadija
Former Infant & Toddler Teacher and Missoula native Miss Khadija has been a private nanny for 6 years and and worked with both NCBI and GUTS (Girls Using Their Strengths) here in Missoula.
She has had the amazing opportunity to travel overseas where she spent time volunteering in an orphanage in Faridabad, India and is currently in Boston.
Miss Khadija loves to hike, go to concerts, read classic novels and practice yoga. She brings great experience, enthusiasm and love to our littlest ones.
Mr Jay
Mr Jay bio coming soon