Your teachers
Teacher Alex
photo by Kaelee Denise Photography
Teacher Rivers
photo by Kaelee Denise Photography
Teacher Jamie
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Alex Toenniges (she/they)
aka Teacher Alex
Picture
photo by Roam & Howl Photography
Co-Owner, Director, Teacher
Librarian, Program Developer, Systems Designer; Culture, Equity, & Inclusion​

​Alexandra Elisabeth is a Queer, Autistic-ADHD, German-English-American educator. They co-founded Ripple Forest School after teaching for several years at Firefly Forest School, Wild Nature Project, and Nature Learning Community. Alex is a Wilderness First Responder, Guild Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner, and holds a Master of Music degree. In addition to forest school, Alex teaches Awareness Through Movement® classes and works with clients individually to help them improve their movement and live easier.

Alex loves teaching social-emotional skills, movement exploration, sensory awareness, songs, bird language, and edible & medicinal plants. Her teaching style is influenced by her understanding of neuroplasticity, learning, & development from the Feldenkrais Method.
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Both in her outdoor and somatics work, Alex's passion is helping people connect with themselves, others, and the natural world in an embodied and experiential way. Alex feels most at home barefoot in the forest, is a lifelong learner and voracious reader, and loves to sing, dance, and move.
Rivers Whitson (he/him)
​aka Teacher Rivers
Picture
photo by Roam & Howl Photography
Co-Owner, Lead Teacher, Head of Games, Bookkeeper

Rivers co-founded Ripple Forest School in 2022. Known for his enthusiasm, leadership, and never-ending patience, Rivers loves working with children outdoors and is a favorite teacher among our students. As a child, Rivers struggled with traditional education and understands first-hand the value of alternative and experiential learning. Rivers feels that every student should feel free to explore what works for them. He enjoys mechanical learning and adores the curiosity children have for how things work.

Rivers has 12 years of leadership and management accomplishments in the bike industry as a talented mountain bike racer & instructor, service technician, salesperson, store manager, and general manager. Rivers is a NOLS-certified Wilderness First Responder, a Professional Mountain Bike Instructor, and holds an Associate's Degree in Business Management. Rivers also loves backpacking and leading backpacking trips, testing his luck fly fishing, working on cars/motorcycles, and tackling house renovation projects. When he's not at Ripple Forest School, you can find Rivers riding his bike or fixing bikes with his Mobile Bike Repair Service, Ripple Bikes.

Substitute Teachers

Jamie Dysart (he/him)
​aka Teacher Jamie
Substitute Teacher

Jamie is a North Carolina native originally from Forest City. He moved to Brevard in 2015 and graduated from Brevard College with his Bachelor’s of Arts in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education in 2017. He enjoyed many of the outdoor recreation opportunities available in the area during his time in college including mountain biking, whitewater canoeing, and rock climbing.

Jamie loves to learn about human impact in nature. He has a passion for teaching how we can minimize harmful impacts and what we can do to improve and develop a positive relationship with the land that we call our home.

Jamie is passionate about teaching and helping children by fostering an atmosphere that allows children to get to know themselves better through child-directed learning. He believes that meaningful change in how we care for nature and our communities starts with teaching these values at a young age and will lead to a healthier and happier future for everyone. Jamie homeschools his son, who is also a Ripple Forest School student.

Jamie loves spending time outdoors, cooking for his family, and listening to live music of any kind!
Nicolai Sobieski (​he/him one/one's)
​aka Teacher Nick
Nicolai Sobieski is a Queer Trans Polish American with Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.  He is a creative writer and teacher with a focus on therapeutic methods that support special needs, diversity, and spirituality in a holistic education that nurtures every human being's right to be heard and seen in their true heart's expression.

Nicolai transitioned from a career in project management and the legal field to pursue his love of education as his own kids were born and molded his work to support their diverse special needs and the healing of his family line.  His Bachelors in legal studies is from the University of Pittsburgh with Highest Honors.  His first Masters in Language Arts Education is from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg where he focused on holistic experiential language arts education for twice exceptional, gifted, and special needs students.

While home schooling his two children, now with Ripple Forest School, in a nature immersive and holistic way, Nicolai teaches when he can in a wide range of educational models from college through the grades as a licensed teacher in multiple states.  Through his practice he incorporates and sees the therapeutic results of holistic teaching methods that support the special needs of children and their families. With his experience in diverse world cultures and a background in spirituality, he focuses on expanding his work in healing educational approaches in his second Masters of Education from Antioch University of New England in progress.  He plans to continue his research in a Doctorate of Education focusing on trauma healing in transitions through therapeutic painting and pastel drawing, healing story telling and writing, handwork, clay sculpting, and spiritual practices for children and adults.
Ali Jean Beatty (she/her/hers)
​aka Teacher Ali
Substitute Teacher
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Ali is an experienced environmental educator, a homeschooling mom, and creator of Grubby & Co homeschool co-op. Ali holds a Bachelor's Degree in Non-Profit Administration from Cleveland State University. 
Interested in joining our team as a teacher, substitute teacher, admin/business support, or other role?
Email Alex at [email protected] and share a little about yourself, your values, what you're looking for, and why you want to be a part of Ripple.
​Or, click the link below to schedule a phone call.
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