Misty Meredith

I was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Throughout my life, I’ve had the opportunity to live in a variety of places, including Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Angola (Africa), Montevideo (Uruguay), Valledupar (Colombia), Marbella (Spain), and even on cruise ships for five years!

My full name is Misty Dawn Meredith - my middle name, "Dawn," was chosen because I was born early in the morning.

I’ve been drawn to teaching for as long as I can remember. As a child, I loved playing school and taking charge as the "teacher" with my sisters during dramatic play. I’ve always enjoyed being around younger children, especially those in the early childhood years.

Sports were also a big part of my life growing up, and coaching later on gave me another outlet to connect, guide, and mentor young people. That natural progression led me into the classroom.

Teaching Kindergarten at the Farm Campus, I look forward to blending academics, nature-based exploration, and community connection every day

My heroes and mentors include my parents, grandparents, husband and children. I’m also incredibly grateful for the close friends who feel like family and have walked alongside me in different chapters of my life.

I think, in many ways, we’re all just kids who’ve grown up. Life’s experiences shape us and teach us about resilience, perspective, and beauty - but our core often remains the same. I strive to be a lifelong learner and to stay physically active, grounded, and open to growth.

When I’m not working, I love spending time with my husband, Max, and our two children, June (5) and Foster (3). As a family, we enjoy gardening, hiking, music, sports, good food, reading, traveling, and connecting with friends.

I speak Spanish fluently and have a basic understanding of Portuguese. I also view teaching as an art - balancing creativity, intuition, and structure.

Pretty much everything! I definitely have a sweet tooth, and I love how food connects us to culture and memory. Travel is a huge passion of mine, and I often associate places I’ve visited with the foods I tried there. Mexican food is always a favorite go-to!

I love blue and green - colors of the land, sea, and sky. They remind me of nature, which brings me peace and inspiration.

I’d love to pursue a Master’s Degree that blends nature education, sustainability, and Spanish language immersion. Combining those passions would be incredibly meaningful to me both personally and professionally.

I’m an early childhood educator with over 20 years of experience in education, youth programming, and immersive learning environments. I believe children are naturally capable and curious, and I’m passionate about nurturing future global leaders. Most recently, I served as Director and Lead Teacher at a Spanish and nature-based school in Atlanta, where I integrated play-based learning with language, culture, and environmental education. That blend of purpose and passion continues to guide my work at A New Leaf.