NEST
COMMUNITY
SCHOOL
Our Team
PENNY MACKIE
Director & Lead Teacher
As our Director, Penny is committed to helping children explore and learn in a hands-on environment. Nothing brings her more happiness than seeing the growth and evolution of her students. She sees these years as a special partnership with parents, expanding the child's community. Penny received her B.A. in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood. She has been working with young children for the past 36 years, trusting her instincts and following philosophies that honor childhood. She found her philosophical match teaching preschool and school-aged children at a local social constructivist school. Her time there solidified for her the value of play-based outdoor learning environments. A new vision for a backyard early childhood program was set in motion just as Covid-19 was beginning to shape the ECE landscape, challenging programs and providers to create opportunities and spaces where children could thrive. Penny is now more confident than ever in the mental and physical benefits of the outdoor classroom. She is excited to meet like-minded families and share in this special partnership
DARA DAVIDSON
Teacher
Dara is drawn to creative environments where collaboration and community are highly valued and she is delighted to be part of the staff at Nest. She started her career in marketing, where she developed an understanding of people and put her strong organizational skills to work. She also put these skills to work as a busy mom of three (including a set of twins!), helping her children through school and up the ranks of the club soccer circuit. Dara discovered her calling as an educator when she started working as an assistant teacher at her children’s constructivist elementary school. During her time there, she developed and honed her ability to elicit ideas from young children around their thinking. Dara has a knack for encouraging children to bring their visions to life through extended project work. She is excited to be working with young children and their families in the great outdoors at Nest. Her patience and playful personality are a perfect fit for the joyful learning we try to cultivate here.
CAT MACKIE
Assistant Teacher
We are thrilled to have Cat assisting at Nest! With over six years of experience in early childhood education and her current studies in biology, Cat brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to our team. Her gentle nature and sense of humor allow her to connect with and understand young children, creating a nurturing and engaging learning environment. Her passion for plants and animals further enriches the experience for our little learners, making her a wonderful addition to our educational community.
YICHING GRACE
ECE Professor
The first time Yiching set foot in an early childhood classroom, she knew she had found her calling and, for the past 20 years, she has been answering that call. Her journey in the ECE field began at the UCLA Infant Development Program, where she discovered her passion for working with young children and families. After several years of teaching, Yiching went back to school to earn her M.Ed. and Ph.D in Human Development and Psychology. As a graduate student, she contributed to several research projects and publications through her involvement at the Harvard Laboratory for Developmental Studies, the UCLA Center for Improving Child Care Quality and the UCLA Lab School. Now, as a professor at Santa Monica College, Yiching finds great joy in providing guidance to aspiring ECE teachers and is dedicated to advancing the ECE field through teaching, advocacy and leadership. At the Nest, Yiching looks forward to mentoring practicum students and facilitating Parent & Me classes. She is excited to provide a supportive experiential learning environment where children, students, teachers, and parents can learn and grow together.