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About Us
Keepers of knowledge, community, environment, and faith
The Outdoor Learning School Team
Logan Harris
Jennifer Sheriff
Logan Harris
Director
Logan Harris has been a part of The Learning Tree Academy, our partner and founding school since her mother opened the center in 1993. She began working as a lifeguard at The Learning Tree Academy at the age of 16. She continued to work as a lifeguard at The Learning Tree during the summers while pursuing her Bachelor's Degree
Director
Logan Harris has been a part of The Learning Tree Academy, our partner and founding school since her mother opened the center in 1993. She began working as a lifeguard at The Learning Tree Academy at the age of 16. She continued to work as a lifeguard at The Learning Tree during the summers while pursuing her Bachelor's Degree in Spanish at Presbyterian College. After graduation, Logan and her husband Kyle returned to Toccoa. At this time, she began working as a counselor during the summer program and in the fall of 2010 assumed the role of Assistant Director. Logan quickly recognized her passion for early childhood education and assumed the role of Director in 2015. She now has her Master's Degree in Applied Psychology with a focus on Childhood Development from Liberty University. The Learning Tree is a part of so many of her childhood memories and is the place where she learned much of what has made her into the person she is today. Logan considers it a blessing to be able to share her love for LTA with her husband and three children. As a family, they enjoy traveling and spending time being active outdoors.
Kyle Harris
Jennifer Sheriff
Logan Harris
Director of Outdoor Learning
Kyle Harris began working at The Learning Tree Academy (our partner and founding school) in 2010 when he and his wife, Logan, returned to Toccoa. With a Bachelor's Degree in Religion from Presbyterian College, Kyle watched The Learning Tree Academy grow while serving as Head of Grounds and Maintenance and op
Director of Outdoor Learning
Kyle Harris began working at The Learning Tree Academy (our partner and founding school) in 2010 when he and his wife, Logan, returned to Toccoa. With a Bachelor's Degree in Religion from Presbyterian College, Kyle watched The Learning Tree Academy grow while serving as Head of Grounds and Maintenance and operating his construction and landscaping business, Northeast Georgia Helping Hands. He assumed the role of a supervisor in 2019, preceding his move to the role of Assistant Director of The Outdoor Learning School and Extended Day Program in 2022. Kyle has a passion for supporting wellness and nutrition and serves as the leader of the Farm to School Program. His background in gardening/farming, sports, and certification as a CrossFit Instructor provide him with a wide range of knowledge which he uses to develop programming that supports the holistic development of the child. Kyle enjoys coaching and spending time with his wife and three children exploring the outdoors.
Jennifer Sheriff
Jennifer Sheriff
Jennifer Sheriff
Assistant Director of K-5th
Mrs. Jennifer has 27 years of service in the public education sector. She has taught first, second, third, and fourth grades. She has also taught self-contained emotional behavior disordered students in 3rd through 5th grade. Her years in the classroom were spent in Hart, Franklin, and Stephens County, alon
Assistant Director of K-5th
Mrs. Jennifer has 27 years of service in the public education sector. She has taught first, second, third, and fourth grades. She has also taught self-contained emotional behavior disordered students in 3rd through 5th grade. Her years in the classroom were spent in Hart, Franklin, and Stephens County, along with serving as a Literacy Coach in Franklin County for the National Reading First Educational Movement. During this time she had the honor of teaching the Reading Academy for the Georgia Department of Education at the Classic Center in Athens. She then became an academic coach for all content areas in Franklin County. Along the way, she has served in administration as an Assistant Principal in both Franklin and Stephens County. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, and a Specialist Degree in Teaching and Learning. She also holds K-12 Leadership Certification from the University of West Georgia.
She is excited to be joining the private education sector and looks forward to being able to use her skills to openly serve the Lord by serving our community and the children at The Outdoor Learning School. In her free time she enjoys spending as much time outside as possible swimming, walking her dog in the park, and exploring unique areas on day trips with her husband and four children.
Samantha Purcell
Samantha Purcell
Jennifer Sheriff
Assistant Director of Administration
Mrs. Samantha began attending The Learning Tree Academy, our partner, and founding school as a 2nd-grade student. During her senior year of high school, she began her career at LTA as a teacher in the afterschool program. While attending the University of Georgia, Samantha completed an internship at U
Assistant Director of Administration
Mrs. Samantha began attending The Learning Tree Academy, our partner, and founding school as a 2nd-grade student. During her senior year of high school, she began her career at LTA as a teacher in the afterschool program. While attending the University of Georgia, Samantha completed an internship at UGA's McPhaul Child Development Lab. Shortly after, she obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Child and Family Development. After graduation in 2012, Samantha returned to LTA as the lead Pre-K teacher. The following year, she became a kindergarten teacher until she assumed the role of curriculum supervisor in 2014. In her leisure time, Samantha enjoys baking, crafting, attending Georgia games (Go Dawgs!), and spending time with her family. "I enjoy helping to enrich the lives of our LTA students, watching them grow physically, socially, academically, and spiritually; and I anticipate their future successes.”
Samantha Purcell
Alexis Estrada
Alexis Estrada
Samantha Purcell
Alexis Estrada
Financial Management Consultant
Ms.Alexis is originally from Tijuana, Mexico. She started at The Learning Tree Academy (our partner and founding school) as a volunteer for a couple of summers where she learned and had the opportunity to increase her proficiency in English. Alexis holds a B.S. from the University of the Ozarks, where she do
Financial Management Consultant
Ms.Alexis is originally from Tijuana, Mexico. She started at The Learning Tree Academy (our partner and founding school) as a volunteer for a couple of summers where she learned and had the opportunity to increase her proficiency in English. Alexis holds a B.S. from the University of the Ozarks, where she double majored in Management and International Business. She loves education, and she believes in the potential for kids to learn through interactions with people and nature. Alexis has ten years of experience in different business settings highlighting her organizational experience through different positions within Spectrum Ministries, a Christian nonprofit serving and loving inner-city children in her hometown. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her parents and siblings. Alexis returned to Toccoa in January of 2023 as a Financial Management Consultant as part of our administrative team where she combined two of her passions- business and education.
Ashton Wages
Christina Wilson
Christina Wilson
Kindergarten Teacher
Mrs.Ashton lives in Carnesville, GA with her husband and two daughters. She attended the University of Georgia and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She has taught 3rd and 5th grades in the public school system and is happy to be a part of The Outdoor Learning School team to teach Kinderg
Kindergarten Teacher
Mrs.Ashton lives in Carnesville, GA with her husband and two daughters. She attended the University of Georgia and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She has taught 3rd and 5th grades in the public school system and is happy to be a part of The Outdoor Learning School team to teach Kindergarten. Ashton loves to garden and go on hikes looking for unique plants and mushrooms. She also loves to craft and make up silly songs. She is very excited to join the OLS team and get her hands in the garden with her class!
Christina Wilson
Christina Wilson
Christina Wilson
Kindergarten Teacher
Mrs. "Tina" has been working in early childhood education for 27 years, and she obtained her degree in Early Childhood Education from Lanier Technical College. She has been an important part of The Learning Tree Academy's team for almost four years and has enjoyed her journey from the Younger Three's Class to the Pre-
Kindergarten Teacher
Mrs. "Tina" has been working in early childhood education for 27 years, and she obtained her degree in Early Childhood Education from Lanier Technical College. She has been an important part of The Learning Tree Academy's team for almost four years and has enjoyed her journey from the Younger Three's Class to the Pre-K Class and now to the Kindergarten Class as part of The Outdoor Learning School. Mrs. Tina has two adult children, Jessica (32) and Jeremy (29), as well as two wonderfully rambunctious grandsons, and she has a "kind and loving" husband. Her favorite part of The Outdoor Learning School is having fun while learning and building meaningful relationships
Kelly Thigpen
Christina Wilson
Kelly Thigpen
First Grade Teacher
Mrs. Kelly has been an elementary school teacher for 5 years. She graduated from Reinhardt University in Northwest Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education in 2018. She has taught a variety of grades including 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th. She has known from a very young age that she wanted to work with yo
First Grade Teacher
Mrs. Kelly has been an elementary school teacher for 5 years. She graduated from Reinhardt University in Northwest Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education in 2018. She has taught a variety of grades including 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th. She has known from a very young age that she wanted to work with young children. She believes she has been called to serve young children and their families. She feels honored to partner alongside families to help each child learn and grow into the unique person they were created to be.
She is married to Gordon Thigpen, who teaches and coaches here in Stephens County. In her spare time, Mrs. Kelly loves to spend time with her family, spend time outdoors, cheer on the Georgia Bulldogs, and create crafts with her Cricut. She loves to be part of The Outdoor Learning School and serving this community!
Lydia Welborn
Christina Wilson
Kelly Thigpen
Second Grade Teacher
Mrs. Lydia has been a part of The Outdoor Learning School's family for a while now, and she is diving into her first year being the second-grade teacher! Mrs.Lydia graduated from Brenau University with a bachelor's in Science and an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. She loves spending time outdoors with her family
Second Grade Teacher
Mrs. Lydia has been a part of The Outdoor Learning School's family for a while now, and she is diving into her first year being the second-grade teacher! Mrs.Lydia graduated from Brenau University with a bachelor's in Science and an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. She loves spending time outdoors with her family, which includes her husband and her two young children, Everly and Ellis. Mrs. Lydia is eager to share her love for nature and learning with the second-grade class!
Maggie Hornick
Maggie Hornick
Maggie Hornick
Second Grade Teacher
Mrs. Maggie has been part of The Learning Tree Academy Family for several years and loves to be part of The Outdoor Learning School now too. She has a daughter, Bailey. In May 2009, Mrs. Maggie graduated from Stephens County High School. She attended North Georgia Technical College in 2011 with her Associate's degr
Second Grade Teacher
Mrs. Maggie has been part of The Learning Tree Academy Family for several years and loves to be part of The Outdoor Learning School now too. She has a daughter, Bailey. In May 2009, Mrs. Maggie graduated from Stephens County High School. She attended North Georgia Technical College in 2011 with her Associate's degree in Applied Business Technology with a concentration in Para Professionalism. Mrs. Maggie prides herself in her second-grade classroom being filled with love, laughter, learning, and growth.
Mary McSherry
Maggie Hornick
Maggie Hornick
Third Grade Teacher
Mrs. Mary McSherry is a Michigan native who moved to Toccoa in 2009 to become a summer camp counselor. She met her now-husband in the summer of 2009, and the rest is history. Mrs. Mary and her husband, Kyle, own Crossfit Yona and reside in Toccoa with their son, Alex, and foster children. In the past, Mary has had a
Third Grade Teacher
Mrs. Mary McSherry is a Michigan native who moved to Toccoa in 2009 to become a summer camp counselor. She met her now-husband in the summer of 2009, and the rest is history. Mrs. Mary and her husband, Kyle, own Crossfit Yona and reside in Toccoa with their son, Alex, and foster children. In the past, Mary has had a short stint working at The Learning Tree Academy in the 3-year-old room. You may recognize her from her last thirteen years of leading overnight and summer day camp programs, locally, along with many other community and youth development programs. Prior to moving to Georgia, Mrs. Mary earned her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Concordia University. Mrs. Mary is excited to be a part of The Outdoor Learning School now and cannot wait to work with your child!
Jina Harris
Maggie Hornick
Jina Harris
Fourth Grade Teacher
Mrs.Jina is a familiar face at The Outdoor Learning School as she has supported her son Kyle in the establishment of our beautiful butterfly and vegetable gardens, enjoyed being "Mama J" to her grandchildren here, and taught several beekeeping lessons to our children. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology fr
Fourth Grade Teacher
Mrs.Jina is a familiar face at The Outdoor Learning School as she has supported her son Kyle in the establishment of our beautiful butterfly and vegetable gardens, enjoyed being "Mama J" to her grandchildren here, and taught several beekeeping lessons to our children. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Furman University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Emmanuel College. Mrs. Jina taught several years at Royston Elementary, and in most recent years she has enjoyed working and spending time on their family farm with her husband, David, and relishing time with their 9 grandchildren. Mrs. Jina loves participating in our Farm to School and Fitness programs and loves the fun and adventure that comes with teaching our students.
Lori Davis
Maggie Hornick
Jina Harris
5th Grade Teacher
Most of you know me as "Farmer Lori," however, this year, I am excited to be your fifth grade teacher for Math and English/Language Arts! Since 2019, Mrs. Lori and her husband have lived in Georgia serving as the managers of the farm at Toccoa Falls College. Mrs. Lori have a master's degree in Elementary Education from
5th Grade Teacher
Most of you know me as "Farmer Lori," however, this year, I am excited to be your fifth grade teacher for Math and English/Language Arts! Since 2019, Mrs. Lori and her husband have lived in Georgia serving as the managers of the farm at Toccoa Falls College. Mrs. Lori have a master's degree in Elementary Education from Regent University and a bachelor's degree with a middle school math endorsement from Oklahoma State University. Prior to coming to Georgia, Mrs. Lori taught in private and public elementary and middle schools for approximately 8 years. Mrs. Lori thought she had retired from teaching, but after working with the students and staff of LTA and OLS this past year, she is more excited than ever to be back in the classroom! Mrs. Lori loves the goal of combining education, gardening/nature, and God's truth in everything we do at The Outdoor Learning School.
Program Information
Weekly Tuition $160 (7am-3pm) Extended Day Program $45 (3pm-6pm)
About our program
Morning Devotion
Children will start their day with a daily devotion time, which allows them to begin the day with an opportunity to develop their faith through activities such as worship, Bible studies, and skits. Character education is incorporated throughout the day in organic teaching moments. The goal of our program is holistic development which includes supporting social-emotional and spiritual growth. By being given a range of experiences in a loving, stable environment, children explore their own interests and capabilities and gain heightened confidence in themselves, while also promoting their social and emotional development and well-being.
Math
We believe that children learn best through modeling and practice of skills in authentic application. Math concepts are best grasped through the use of concrete manipulatives with early exposure to new concepts. Students can then transfer their learning to pictorial representations of their physical problem solving construction and finally are ready to learn the algorithm for solving a problem. Approaching math in this way results in the highest level of understanding for each concept as well as situations where each concept could be applied and used in real life.
Outdoor Learning
At OLS we believe that learning is not bound by classroom walls. Nature is the greatest classroom available for students to engage in true experiential learning. Our students can often be found using higher order thinking skills to problem solve around the campus of OLS in a variety of outdoor settings. Students learn in our many garden spaces, in the mud kitchen, in the villages, in the pollinator garden, on the nature trail, and at the creek. Students are able to put into application the knowledge and skills they gain inside the classroom as well as develop a deeper understanding of and greater appreciation for our environment and its care.
Nutrition and Health
Students will receive meals that include whole foods and locally grown produce to give their bodies the nutrients they need to learn and grow. Our programs also emphasize the importance of nutrition and health throughout the entire school day in various modes. Focusing on Outdoor Learning provides educators with constant opportunities to passively and directly encourage healthy choices for our bodies and minds.
Reading and Literacy
Balanced literacy is an approach to teaching reading that allows for a combination of the science of reading and whole language. Within the balanced literacy program students are exposed to daily phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension learning opportunities. They are also taught how to apply context to construct meaning in what they read as well as just being encouraged to read for fun. Our goal is to develop a lifelong love of reading both for enjoyment and gaining information. In matching students to text we consider their interests, motivation, and academic reading level.
Place Based Learning
Place based learning is an educational approach that “immerses students in local heritage, culture, landscapes, opportunities, and experiences, using these as the foundation for the study of language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, and other subjects across the curriculum” as defined by the Center for Place-Based Education at Antioch University. Students have the unique opportunity to see that they can be change agents right in their own local community as well as making an impact in a more broad scale way. They learn that what they do matters as they take on inquiry based, learner centered projects.
ELA/Writing
Students are engaged in writing for authentic purposes as they learn the three domains of writing: narrative, informational, and persuasive. Students learn to read like writers and write like readers by making connections between the two processes allowing writing for a variety of purposes to come to life. Grammar and sentence structure are taught in the context of writing so that they are not seen as stand alone skills but as skills that aid students in expressing their thoughts and communicating with a broad audience.
Field Trips
Students engage in various field trips throughout the year that expose them to nature experiences as well as provide opportunities for exposure to the arts. Field trips are another way that we extend learning outside of the classroom walls at OLS. Field trips often bring learning to life for students by providing them with a deeper understanding of topics by allowing them to experience learning in a different context.
Community
Community is the heartbeat of OLS. Our OLS tribe is made up of our faculty and staff, students, parents, and business partners. Many community engagement events take place throughout the school year that allow parents and community members the opportunity to partner and fellowship with us. We always look forward to these opportunities and continue to seek new and exciting ways to work together.