Kailey Huizenga

I was born and raised in a western suburb of Chicago. I moved to a small town in Texas called Abilene for college to pursue a social work degree. After completing my degree, I moved around a bit before settling in Nashville. 

My parents liked Kailey, and I have met many!

I grew up in a home filled with children, my mother ran a daycare long before I was born, so caring for and exploring the world alongside young children has always been a part of my life.

After high school, I became a teacher’s assistant at a school for children with autism, where I worked for over two years. The experience was both challenging and deeply rewarding, and it inspired me to pursue a degree in social work to continue my path of supporting children and families.

After earning my degree, I returned to the school setting to continue working with children, building on my passion for fostering growth and connection in their learning journeys.

 I am the educator of the Juniper classroom!

Stanley Greenspan , the founder of the DIR Floortime model, has been a hero to me. I have studied and explored this methodology greatly and have enjoyed the principles it teaches such as the value of interactive play, relationships and following a child's lead.

A mentor of mine is my mom. She has taught me to work hard, but also to enjoy the many small blessings in life. Another way she has mentored me is by her care for others around her. She demonstrates extending support and empathy to all that she comes to meet.

As life moves on, I have really come to notice that each human is so valuable on their own journey. Listening and learning from those around me brings so much richness to my life! This has been heightened by traveling, experiencing new cultures, and trying new things.

I enjoy doing puzzles, cooking new recipes, playing board games, and watching sports. Soccer is my favorite sport to play and watch, but I enjoy many others as well. Any excuse to be outside is fun for me whether that be camping, hiking, swimming, or fishing!

Gardening is a language that I grew up learning as young as I can remember with my siblings, parents, and grandma. Completing the cycles of planting, growing, harvesting, and cooking is such a wonderful process.

I am very interested and passionate about human development and psychology. I love to learn about the brain and why people behave the way they do.

I love many different foods! As someone from the Chicago area, I love pizza :) That being said, I value healthy balanced meals, and enjoy cooking new recipes all the time such as curries, stews, and soups.

Aqua and teal are my favorite colors. I enjoy colors that remind me of water. I enjoy bodies of water like oceans, lakes, and rivers because they give me a sense of peace.

Go on a safari in Kenya!

I’m always eager to learn and grow with each new day. I have a passion for exploring different cultures, meeting new people, and uncovering knowledge I hadn’t encountered before. A New Leaf is the perfect place to continue this journey of discovery with the children. Helping children explore and navigate their own learning journey is something I find deeply meaningful.