Stephanie Regina Grades 5 and 6 Language Arts and Social Studies

After a challenging and rewarding semester this past spring as the 7th and 8th grade language arts teacher, Stephanie has returned for her first full year at Green Woods. This year she is teaching 5th and 6th grade language arts and social studies. Stephanie greatly enjoyed getting to know the Green Woods community last year, and she’s excited to be back and to work with a new group of students.

Before coming to Green Woods, Stephanie was a substitute teacher in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs, which provided her with the opportunity to work with students of many ages and backgrounds. Before moving to Roxborough from the suburbs of Long Island, New York in 2006, Stephanie worked in public relations and did freelance writing for her county newspaper. It didn't take long for her to realize that the career path she had chosen was not satisfying and it was time for her to return to her old childhood dream of becoming a teacher.

Stephanie earned her BA in English at Geneseo State University in New York, and recently completed her certification in secondary education at Chestnut Hill College.  She is currently pursuing her MA in humanities at Arcadia University. She spends most of her free time hiking around Wissahickon Creek, painting, writing, and playing with her cat, Bella. She is looking forward to working with the 5th and 6th graders on meeting the academic challenges of middle school.

I first stumbled across Green Woods last summer when looking for a new place to enjoy the outdoors. Having only lived in Philadelphia for just about a year, I had no idea there was a little charter school nestled in a beautiful 340-acre nature reserve right in my own neighborhood. Imagine my excitement last year when I heard there was a position available in what I thought pleasantly of as "the school in the park"!

I can't imagine a better place to be. The intimacy between students and faculty that result from the small class sizes and subject integration creates not only a comfortable, positive atmosphere, but also allows teachers to better understand the needs, strengths, and weaknesses of each individual student. I am excited about the impact I can make as a teacher, especially at such a closely-knit school as Green Woods!

Jean Wallace, Academic Director

As the Academic Director and CEO, Jean is responsible for guiding the design and implementation of our unique K-8 curriculum and for supporting the direction of all areas of school life. Jean works in collaboration with the Board of Trustees and Green Woods' Business Director to build on our successful past toward an even greater future.

Jean is responsible to the Department of Education for ensuring that Green Woods students are receiving a standards-based learning experience within the guidelines and mandates of Federal, State, and Charter School Law. In addition to the many responsibilities associated with curriculum and instruction, Jean supports Green Woods through successful grant writing, ongoing website communication, developing our student voice through the Jr. SLT, and by networking with key partners from within and outside the Green Woods community.

Jean's volunteer efforts as a member of the Governor's Council for Environmental Education provide a rare and exciting opportunity to work with many of the state's environmental experts and agencies. "By working collaboratively with the Department of Education and the many outstanding environmental agencies throughout our state, Green Woods is able to gain both valuable resources along with well-deserved recognition for the exceptional work being done by our teachers and students," Jean said. "Our innovative curriculum design allows us to use environment and ecology as the theme for integrated learning. Receiving the 2007 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence was proof of our success in delivering a high quality educational program at Green Woods."

In addition to the daily interactions with Green Woods dedicated staff and parents, Jean enjoys those special times when she gets to trail along on hikes with our budding naturalists. "Hiking with even our youngest students and seeing how they interact with the natural world is always an incredible learning experience for me. While many young children enjoy walking in the woods, Green Woods students are skilled observers, able to take in the big picture of the field ecosystem while at the same time patiently exploring the leaf litter in search of the smallest signs of life."

Jean holds a PA Certification for Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction and dual Pennsylvania teacher certifications, which recognize her ability to teach both K-12 Environmental Education and Elementary Education. She holds an Associate Degree in Health Science from Gwynedd Mercy College; a BA in Elementary Education from Beaver College, and a MAEd in Environmental Education from Arcadia University. Jean is currently enrolled in a post-graduate School Leadership Program at Arcadia.

Jean lives in Flourtown with her husband Frank, her mom Mary, her daughter Mary who attends the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State University, and their black lab, Murphy.