Team Wild Roots

Michal Miller developed Wild Roots Nature Based Learning to offer nature-based learning and community experiences for youth. Two years later, Wild Roots Montessori School co-founders and teacher-leaders, Jess Croft and Vanessa Souliere joined the team. These three dynamic educators set out to create a Montessori school that is inclusive and affirming for all bodies and brains. The Wild Roots team is comprised of educators and support staff with a broad range of experience and a passion for inclusive and child-centered learning environments.

Ashton Stier (she/her), B.S.
Primary Teacher Co-lead
Elementary Teaching Support

Hello, I am Ashton Stier and I have been an educator for 6 years. I have my Bachelor's of Science in Elementary Education with a minor in Mild Intervention Special Education. I am also trained in emotional regulation, trauma-informed practices, and phonics. I have a beautiful little family including two children and my fiance. We are proud to call Fort Wayne home and live in a historic century-old house in the ‘07. In my free time I love to spend time with my family outdoors: hiking, fishing, swimming, gardening, etc. I spent my summer working with our campers during Wild Roots Summer Camp. It was an amazing experience to connect with each of them and watch their minds run free! I am excited to help build the Wild Roots community, it is such a special and unique place!

Jess Croft (she/her), B.A.
Co-Founder
Elementary Teacher-Leader

My path to teaching is paved with a passion for lifelong learning. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Purdue University Fort Wayne, with a minor in Sociology. I earned my Lower Elementary Montessori certification in 2016. I have also completed specialized Forest School training and am currently pursuing my Master of Science in Education at Purdue Fort Wayne to further deepen the support I offer our community.

As I head into my tenth year as a Montessori educator, I remain deeply inspired by this philosophy. At the heart of my approach is a belief that education should be child-led and rooted in the natural world. I strive to honor the "whole child" by nurturing their social, emotional, and cognitive growth. I see my role as a guide who helps unlock the world for our youth as they shape the future. In our classroom, curiosity is always welcomed; I believe that every "setback" is simply a setup for a comeback, and that our mistakes are beautiful opportunities for discovery.
As a mother of two and a partner of twenty years, I understand the importance of creating a space where everyone feels safe, seen, and supported. My life is built on family, tradition, and connection. I love honoring my Irish heritage, weaving music and self-regulation into daily life, and embracing Mother Nature as a core teacher. I am honored to share this grounded wisdom with the children at Wild Roots.

Kim Myers (she/her), M.A., M.S.
Project Manager/Administrative Support

I first became part of this community as a mama and am thrilled for my daughter to be a student at Wild Roots. My background is largely in curriculum development, assessment, project management, instructional design, communication and marketing, post-secondary education and strategic planning. I earned a Master of Arts in Communication and a Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology from Purdue University, with research primarily focused on intersectional marginalized identities and mass media. I taught for 20 years, helping students at the high school level build college success skills, and guiding undergraduate students in sociology and communication courses. Additionally, I spent nearly two decades as a communication consultant, managing projects, and educating staff on building intersectional and LGBTQ+ inclusive and affirming organizational climates. I also did similar work for nearly 15 years in postsecondary education as an academic advisor, program developer, instructional designer, and assessment coordinator.

While my role at Wild Roots is primarily administrative support (other duties as they arise, perhaps), I am deeply committed to bringing my diverse experience and skill set to serving students, staff, and families by doing meaningful work that helps this amazing community grow. Montessori education is well-aligned with my personal and professional philosophies on social justice; empowerment; education as a tool to make meaningful social change; reciprocal learning; and serving others in ways that honor intersecting and/or marginalized identities. As part of a racially and ethnically diverse, neurodivergent, LGBTQ+ family, I am honored to be part of building a community of folks who value learning through experience, environmental stewardship, following one’s interests, and demonstrating the empowering effect of a fully affirming, inclusive, and accommodating academic environment for all! My wife and I live in a creaky 102 year old house in north central Fort Wayne (hey, ‘05!), where we are moms to an eight-year-old daughter, two adorable Doodle mutts, and a couple of ornery cats.


Michal Miller (she/her), B.A.
Co-Founder
Elementary Teacher-Leader

I graduated from Ball State University in 2011 with a degree in Elementary Education. With over 15 years of comprehensive experience teaching kindergarten through third grade across both public and private sectors, I bring a wealth of expertise to the field of education. My professional expertise is anchored by an extensive foundation of specialized certifications and training, including Montessori Elementary I Certification in 2017; STEAM training in 2019; and Forest School training in 2020. Furthermore, I am Dual Language Immersion trained and have developed a Dual Language Spanish Immersion classroom and curriculum. After a decade of dedicated Montessori teaching, five years of experience in public schools, and years of additional specialized training, I co-founded Wild Roots to bring this diverse pedagogical vision to life.

As a dedicated Montessorian, I am a firm advocate for "whole child" teaching, which seeks to address the academic, emotional, physical, social, and mental needs of every student. My pedagogical philosophy is centered on child-led, hands-on learning environments where students are empowered with choice, purpose, and agency in their own educational journeys. I am committed to cultivating lifelong learners by integrating conflict resolution skills, problem-solving strategies, and deep critical thinking into every learning experience. I place a heavy emphasis on the value of a strong, collaborative community, believing that learners must grow together for the collective betterment of the group. Guided by constant observation and reflection, I continually adapt my methods to meet the evolving needs of each individual learner and the broader learning community.

I am a queer cisgender woman and a proud autistic educator deeply invested in my hometown community of Fort Wayne. As the mother of two neurodivergent children, my mission to create meaningful and inclusive spaces is driven by a personal commitment to advocacy. My work is characterized by a dedication to listening, reflecting, and evolving in direct response to community needs. I believe whole-heartedly in building environments where all children, including my own, can truly thrive.

Vanessa Souliere (she/her), B.A.
Co-Founder
Primary Teacher-Leader

I am a lifelong learner who grew up in many different cities in Ontario, Canada and have always called Toronto home. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care from Toronto Metropolitan University, as well as a graduate certificate in Autism and Behavioural Science from George Brown College and my AMS Early Childhood certificate from Trine University. I am also certified through LaGrange parks and recreation in Grow up WILD, a nature-based forest school program designed for ages 3 to 7 years old.

I began my Montessori journey in 2020 when my oldest child was just starting his Montessori journey. As an educator for Primary learners, I am very loving while also maintaining a firm interpersonal approach. Early in the school year, I work with the Primary students to communicate and reinforce clear expectations and guidelines.. You can expect me to provide lessons while also allowing your children to explore self-selected materials after they have shown that they know what they used for. This is the age where students are learning about order, concentration, coordination and lastly independence. The Primary years are the age of “help me help myself,” and I am passionate about guiding my students on that journey.

I am an Indigenous woman who grew up surrounded by forests, rivers and plenty of being outside in all kinds of weather in Northern Ontario. I knew that when I had children that I would want them to experience the outdoors the way I had. I am a mom to two boys as well as two beautiful huskies. My husband (Max) and I are big champions of the “1000 Hours Outside” movement, and firmly believe there is no such thing as bad weather! You can always find our family outside, hiking the state parks or planning vacations that encompass the outdoors.