My name is Michelle Mathews, I am beyond excited to be back in the Gan classroom after two years off with my son. My passion is getting children excited about the world around them, exploring nature, and showing them that they have the power to change the world for the better.

I was born and raised in the Santa Cruz mountains where I grew a love for nature and animals. I received my bachelor’s degree in child and adolescent development from SJSU and then my master’s degree at UCSC. After which I taught a year of kindergarten at Boulder Creek Elementary and then 4 years here at Yavneh. Prior to that, I taught preschool for multiple years while nannying and volunteering at the local elementary school.

In my spare time, you can find me outside in the garden, caring for our numerous animals, or riding horses. I live in Boulder Creek with my son and my husband and we often take a drive to the beach to check out the tide pools.