Our Team

  • Francine Cortes

    DIRECTOR

    I am a childhood advocate and a proud mother to a 13-year-old boy who has always thrived in alternative, play-based educational environments. My own journey in education began as an ESL teacher within the public school system. However, during the pandemic, I had the opportunity to serve as Co-director of Kidwings Nature School in San Diego, CA where I was able to combine my passion for Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, and Montessori principles with a completely outdoor curriculum. Now, I am committed to creating a similar environment in Lexington, KY, where each child's curiosity is nurtured and nature is a daily part of their lives.

    I feel blessed to have had many childhood memories of spending hours a day outdoors in the mountains, and I believe it is crucial to give our children the time and space to do the same.

  • Woman and child outdoors in nature

    Adriana Silva

    NATURE EDUCATOR

    I am from Bogota, Colombia, and Spanish is my mother tongue. I'm a happy mother of four children and also have two grandchildren. My educational background is in holistic nutrition, and I have many years of experience working with children as a teacher's aide in Montessori and Nature Schools. I strongly believe that immersing ourselves in nature and grounding our bodies is as important for our well-being as nourishing ourselves with healthy foods. Nothing brings me more joy and peace than creating a safe and nurturing environment for children to connect with nature.

  • Karla

    LEAD NATURE EDUCATOR

    My name is Karla, and I’m originally from Mexico. I grew up in Texas, where I earned my undergraduate degree in child development. I have several years of experience working with children of all ages, and I’m thrilled to be in my second year at Evergreen.

    This role blends two of my greatest passions—teaching and the outdoors. As a forest teacher, I love witnessing children’s curiosity bloom and their problem-solving skills evolve in real-time. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing kids connect with nature while growing in confidence and independence.

    When I’m not at Evergreen, you’ll often find me exploring state parks and hiking with my dog.