We are a small teaching team of talented professionals with a wide range of skills and experience. We love what we do, and we do it with passion. We look forward to working in process honoring daily practice with your child and family community. Thank you to the following alumni and current Klahanie School families for sharing their perspective learning and growing together in our school. community. Huge hugs friends.
Kristine Kernz
Klahanie School Mama & Class Helper
Our family feels so fortunate to have found Klahanie Preschool. Klahanie is a magical place for our daughter where she is made to feel special every day when she arrives, learns about nature, and gets to play in the garden with her friends. In our 4 year old daughter’s own words, “Teacher Emmy is the best because she gives me hugs and sings beautiful songs.”
Emmy has been deemed “the child whisperer” by others and we concur! Emmy’s heart is found in every corner of Klahanie, her energy is felt the moment you arrive and she is the earth that grounds the children and makes them feel safe.
The other teachers also add so much value to the program. My daughter is always so excited to tell me about the big push on the swing that Teacher Austin gave that day, being excited that it is Teacher Laura’s day, the art project she did with Teacher Jordan or the owl wings she was able to touch with Teacher MoMo.
I am confident that my daughter will be ready for kindergarten not only academically, but most importantly emotionally, because she will know how to interact with others by being empathetic, using words to express her feelings and adapting to a variety of teaching styles.
Heidi Grimsley
Klahanie Grad Mama and Class Specialist
When I was thinking about preschool for my 3 year old son, my friends told me I should check out Klahanie School. They knew I wanted a school that is based in compassionate teaching with a lot of time spent outdoors. Within minutes of meeting Emmy, and watching my son roam around the garden, I knew we did not need to look further. Emmy leads with patience, grace, warmth, love, respect, compassion, boundless energy, and excitement. Emmy incorporates music, art, self-guided exploration, math, languages, and so much more into each lesson. The few times I was lucky enough to assist in the classroom; I was amazed out how engaged and interested each child was in their task at hand. The skill at which Emmy can get a room full of early learners to sit still and listen is incredible. Emmy makes learning fun and nurtures the love for learning into each child that crosses her path. I wish I could spend my days at Klahanie Preschool: learning about other cultures, the natural world, Vashon-Maury history and how to be a good human being. The world could use many more people like Teacher Emmy.
Allison Krutsinger
Klahanie School Parent
Our child joined Klahanie School in the fall of 2019, his first preschool and care experience outside our home. I have been in the early care and education field for most of my professional life in a variety of roles focused on quality improvements and access. Finding the right place for my preschooler was not going to be an easy task. I knew too much and my standards were very high for what I expected in an environment and from staff. Within moments of meeting Ms. Emmy and being in the Klahanie space I knew I found the place that would meet and exceed my expectations. At every step of the way, during our two years at Klahanie, Ms Emmy and Teachers proved me right. Our child thrived. He was cared for, nurtured, challenged, held accountable and built foundational skills that will serve him well through the rest of his life. One story stands out – to this day we use a talking rock in our house, because our 3 year old taught the adults in our home how to show respect for each other while talking about our days at the dinner table.
Klahanie School exceeded our expectations, in the foundational commitment to talking about race and racism. These are tough topics for anyone, especially small children. The staff at Klahanie tackle this topic head on, with grace and honesty. My, now six year old, has the confidence and skills to stand up to injustices when he sees them, calling out wrongs in the world, and supporting his friend as an ally.
Our two-years at Klahanie were foundation setting for the entire family and I cannot say thank you enough for the time and investment in our child. We will continue to go back for summers and special visits as long as Ms Emmy will have us.
Gillan and Nick Simmons
Klahanie School Parents
We find great comfort and excitement in knowing that our two children are being taught to be compassionate, empathetic and brave leaders. Klahanie School teaches our children about the natural world, important figures and life issues in a way that resonates with the children. Klahanie is like a second home and what a magical second home to have. We are so grateful! Thank you!
Sue Day
Klahanie School alumni Parent
Emily Graham and the Klahanie School teachers have been an integral part in Zea’s development. Zea has grown tremendously with Emily and her son Fin. With Emily’s guidance and through positive interactions she has learned a tremendous amount about independence and self-assuredness, being gentle, having patience, using her manners, and treating others with respect. I think the thing that stands out the most in Emily’s teaching philosophy is the incredible respect she affords the children. Her patience seems to be boundless and her speech gentle. I would recommend Emily and Klahanie School to the highest degree.
Montessori “Follow the Child” Kindness and Anti-Bias Education Focus
Our honored teaching job is to witness, support and celebrate the students we are honored to learn beside. We rely heavily on pause of observation to assess void of judgment and keenly on physical, emotional, social and cognitive responses to experiences sensorially. Klahanie School teaming teams seek to walk parents to supportive resources and professional referrals when needed. We value working in teams with our highly skilled Maury-Vashon Island schools, counselors across the board and support focused local organizations that nurture woven support for children, youth, families. We are a child-family advocate based school and find great solace in the connection with amazing community members who offer our budding school volunteer-ship and fiscal donation to supplement the highest experience Early to all that seek and those who need our supports. We are a safe space for solution.
Our school year daily focus on Peace Maker and Kindness Acts with Anti-Bias foundations in our Montessori classroom offers hopeful glimpse in the capabilities of civic-social connecting and create a space of equitable discussion and reflection by teachers, students and families.
Please email us to become involved: klahanieschool@gmail.com
Klahanie School 