Meet the Teachers

smiling woman with red hair and large glasses

Maggie Hopersberger

Hi, I’m Maggie! Education is my second career, and I’ve loved being a teacher for the past 10 years. My most recent role has been acting as a one room schoolhouse teacher and care provider, caring and teaching children ages 2-12 in a group setting. When the Covid pandemic began, I shut down my daycare and began building an outdoor space so we could come back together safely, sooner. This was how my love of environmental education and forest school began- seeing the benefits of learning outside full-time was undeniable! And the fun?! Unrivaled. Over the years I’ve taught dozens of classes in my own program and for my secular homeschooling co-op and love teaching all ages of children. I have a degree in Early Childhood Education, and I’m also a certified children’s yoga instructor, teach mindfulness and kindness classes, and a member of the NYSAEYC (New York State Association for the Education of Young Children). When I’m not teaching other children, I’m homeschooling my daughter, taking care of my pets, and reading Icelandic sagas.

Jamie Walerko

I’m Jamie! I’m a 10 year summer camper/counselor, homeschooling mom of two, and life long lover of curiosity, teaching, and nature. The path here has been winding but now it seems it couldn’t have been any other way. After graduating with an AFA from Warren County Community College and a BA from Monmouth University I began moving through an alternate route to teaching program at Brookdale Community College near Red Bank, NJ. Then, life led me to the Binghamton area where I worked as a substitute for BOCES, started a family and found an amazing homeschooling community…and met Maggie! Over the last 10 years she and I have dedicated ourselves to learning about child development, neurodivergence, sensory needs and more. I have trusted Maggie with teaching my own kids outdoors in all kinds of spaces and weather and their growth has been tremendous. That’s how I know The Moss House will be amazing and I am so excited create this special experience for kids over and over again.