Staff
Natural Start Preschool At South Bellevue Community Center
The goal of Natural Start Preschool’s teachers and staff is to create a warm, nurturing learning environment that offers young children daily opportunities to explore nature and provides them with a unique, hands-on learning program designed to build a solid foundation for future school experiences. Our staff are certified in First Aid and CPR and have passed a Washington State background check. Our student/teacher ratios are typically 1:7 and never less than 1:10.
Stephanie Hoener, N.D.
Co-Founder, Preschool Director, Classroom Teacher
Stephanie is a Naturopathic Physician specializing in pediatrics and family medicine. She has spent the last 12 years working with children and teaching families about health and nutrition. She has extensive training in childhood health and safety, and has completed additional training in early childhood education and development. Stephanie has a lifetime interest in nature and is an avid hiker, gardener, amateur astronomer, and birdwatcher. In her spare time, she loves reading, bicycling, cooking healthy meals, spending time with family and friends, and going for long nature walks with her wonderful 7-year-old son.
Anita Ensley
Lead Teacher - South Bellevue Community Center
Anita is a certified Montessori Preschool teacher and has been teaching preschool and working with children for 12 years. She is also a singer and guitar player and enjoys bringing her music into the classroom. Anita has an 8 year old son.
Natural Start Preschool
Bellevue, Washington
With two locations in Bellevue, Natural Start Preschool focuses on the whole child through
creative explorations in nature, art, music, play and emergent learning.