Sharde is an eclectic craft artist that has enjoyed making a variety of handmade objects since 2017. She also has a BA in criminal justice with an emphasis in sociology. She is certified as a personal care aide and passionate about advocating for inclusivity, especially in consideration of communities with neurodiversity and intellectual disabilities. Combining her enthusiasm for art, ethics, and problem-solving, Sharde loves working with children and helping them develop a well-rounded understanding of themselves and an open-minded appreciation of the world around them.

Meghan has a passion for learning and enjoys teaching within inclusive educational settings. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Elon University and obtained a Master of Science degree, with a concentration in technology for educators, from Johns Hopkins University. Previously, she has worked in Baltimore County and Fairfax County public school systems and dabbled in homeschooling. Currently, she supports students from preschool through sixth grade at a local private school. Meghan enjoys reading, autumnal weather, hiking, teaching with friends, and learning alongside students at NoVaScoop.

Kristy is mom to four bright and inquisitive minds. She holds a BA in Environmental Education from the College of the Environment at Western Washington University. She has nearly 30 years of experience in the fields of wilderness education, outdoor education, experiential education, and environmental education. She has taught at all levels, from pre-K to undergraduate students. She has taught students from many different walks of life in all sorts of settings, from the wilderness of the North Cascades in Washington State to the urban wilds of public school in Washington DC. She enjoys a long list of hobbies and interests, but is most simply characterized by her deep connection to the natural world and endless fascination with human complexity.

Melanie Ells is a homeschool parent of two, with an adult bonus kid. She was a preschool teacher for many years. She loves nature and art, has been a leader in 4-H and La Leche League, and enjoys gardening and cooking. She immigrated from Canada for love, and enjoys traveling throughout the USA and Canada. She enjoys helping out and being a part of the homeschool community.

Ashley is a Mom of 4 kids and a military spouse but her family has finally been able to place roots here in NoVa. She graduated from Butler University with a double major in elementary education and dance performance. She has taught grades K-8 and is passionate about the arts in schools, specifically the use of movement to enforce learning and exploration for children. Ashley loves being outside and having her children in the best classroom of all, outdoors! She looks forward to continuing to learn alongside the children of NovaScoop!

Cullen is a veteran of the Army, and has spent eighteen years working for the federal government. He has published work in both fiction and non-fiction. He graduated from Virginia Military Institute with a BA in History and earned his Masters in Strategic Intelligence from NIU.

Jeneen Piccuirro is a mom (always first!), visual artist, dancer, yogi, sound healer, meditation guide, a lifelong student of all things creative & sacred and above all else: a teacher. Jeneen is passionate about teaching authentic skills while encouraging joyful connection to the heart of creativity, no matter what the modality! She holds an MFA in Painting from AU, a BA in Art from Swarthmore College and many additional certificates/trainings in yoga, dance, energy work, art, meditation and more. Her visual art, like her life, is interdisciplinary and integrative and currently encompasses painting, printmaking, installation and fiber arts and is inspired by Nature. She has literally taught ALL ages from pre-school on up and has been both a visiting artist and adjunct art faculty at American University, Georgetown University, University of MD, Swarthmore College, Dartmouth College and Washington Studio School and has exhibited her work widely at galleries both locally and internationally. She currently is the lead Teaching Artist at the Kreeger Museum, a Performance Artist with Young Audiences of Virginia, Art Integration Specialist with the Village School and leads innovative large scale public programs that include sound healing, meditation, movement and art. A sampling of recent venues she has led events at include: The Phillips Collection, Dupont Underground, Art all Night, National Building Museum, Cherry Blossom Festival, Air & Space Museum, The Torpedo Factory, Life With Cancer and Yogaville. She also leads immersive inter-disciplinary art, yoga, meditation, dance & sound healing workshops/retreats locally and abroad. She is the founder of The Luna Girls, Art-trekking, Yoga.Here.Now, Sound Healing Sangha, Girls with Gongs and Studio in the Woods.

David Przybysz is a home educator and artist in Centreville, Virginia. He is a Virginia Master Naturalist. At Scoop he has taught such classes as Your Watershed & YOU, What is LIFE?, Intro to Studio Art for teens, Heroic Kids tabletop role playing games, Picture Book Workshop, Build Your Own Boardgames, Junior Electrical Engineering, and Flex Lab Plus! David has two homeschooling children: a high schooler and elementary schooler. They all enjoy board games, video games, drawing, nature walks, and roller skating.

Laura is an occupational therapist who has worked in a wide variety of settings with both children and adults. She graduated with her degree in occupational therapy in 2000 from the Jefferson College of Health Sciences. After working in public schools, with students with a variety of struggles, she decided to homeschool her own 3 children. She has now graduated one of her children and has two students in high school. Laura is passionate about working with youth in a developmentally appropriate way, and finding ways for every child to be engaged and challenged in a way that leads them to feeling successful. She writes the curriculum and blogs at Five Senses Literature Lessons. She loves hands on learning with her classes, scout troop, and her own kids. Beyond that her passions include crochet, reading and avoiding housework.