Meet our Team
Chelsea Inman
Co-owner, Director and Pedagogista
Hi, I’m Chelsea, I’ve been an early educator for the last 14 years. My passion for the Reggio approach evolved from my education studying brain science, fine arts, and child development. I am inspired by how children weave artistic languages like painting, dance, humor, mark-making, and storytelling into every fiber of their being. I am honored to document and tell the stories of children’s thinking, learning and play. The Nest Community School began as one dream weaved with another. I imagined building a beautiful school, sparked by this educational philosophy, where my son Arthur could thrive. That dream wove together with Heather's passion for creating a community space that would end the isolation of parenting, and build a community of support. What began as a school for Arthur has grown into a school for so many more children in Spokane. When I'm not wearing the many hats of my many roles, I find creative outlets in watercolor painting, crochet and digital art, exploring the outdoors and cozying up with a board game with my husband David and our two sons: Arthur and Arlo.
Heather Villa
Co-owner, Business Manager, Music Director
Hello, I’m Heather! I graduated from Whitworth University in Arts Administration and Theatre. I previously worked for a local, independent newspaper for 6 years, and retail management for 15 years before that. I am a proud wife and mother of three with ages ranging from 6-16yrs! In addition to co-founding the Nest Community School with Chelsea, I founded and manage several successful businesses including: Bella Cova/The Nest (a natural family center offering classes, gifts and support), Songbird Consulting (marketing/pr) and Songbird Music & Arts Studio (Director of Music Together classes, movement and arts). You'll see me singin' in my bands, Villa Blues n' Jazz and the Ukuladies of Spokane in my evenings and around town. My civic and social devotions have connected me with many local non-profit and arts organizations, of whom I have had the pleasure of serving on fundraising and event boards including: The Spokane Woman's Club, Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, Interplayers Professional Theatre, Blue Prints for Learning, Highland Sanctuary, Girl Scouts and the Spokane Arts Commission Performing Arts Task Force.
Jada Bellrose
Assistant Director and Mentor Teacher
Hi there! My name is Jada. I am a mother of two giant teenage boys, a lover of dogs, and an early childhood education expert. I’m the Assistant Director and a Mentor teacher here at The Nest, and I also work as an assistant instructor for the Early Childhood Education program at SFCC. I have a degree in Early Childhood Education, and I had the good fortune of doing my practicum and student teaching at a Reggio Inspired school. I have a deep love of and passion for early education, and I value the Reggio Emelia approach as the pinnacle of what an early education can be. I’ve been teaching young children for over 20 years (!!) and I absolutely love it. I take deep and true inspiration from Mister Rogers and Frog and Toad.
I also enjoy camping, hiking, kayaking, roller skating, biking, fly fishing and all things nature. I love reading, singing, and yoga, and I jump at any chance to joke and be silly. Favorite animals (aside from dogs): elephants, squirrels, and blue whales. Favorite color: teal. Favorite food: peanut butter. Favorite shape: triangle.
Kimbi Beckley
Program Supervisor
​I’m Kimbi and I have 20 years of experience as a Reggio-inspired lead preschool and toddler teacher, all while balancing my role as a mother of six children and soon-to-be two grandchildren! I hold an AA in Early Childhood Education and am deeply committed to supporting the social and emotional development of young children and their families.
My passion lies in fostering strong, nurturing relationships that help children grow and thrive in meaningful ways. After many years with The Nest, I am thrilled to be stepping into my role as Program Supervisor, where I focus on ensuring that all parts of our program work together harmoniously, creating an environment where children, families, and teachers feel valued and supported. In my personal life, I find joy in nature, animals, gardening, mindfulness, meditation and yoga. I spend my weekends with my family and Shih Tzu, Posey, watching football or basketball or playing games together. Cooking is another favorite activity, and we all share a love for sushi and super spicy food!
Andrea Laventzis
Sparrow House Coordinator & Sparrow Teacher
Hello everyone, I’m Andrea! I was born and raised in Central Florida, and in 2016 my husband and I moved to Washington State, sight unseen, and four months pregnant with our oldest Bob. In 2020 we had our second, Falco, and the rest is history. While I have worn many hats in the past, all seem to have revolved around my passion for people, inclusion and diversity, body positivity, the environment and looking for the good in everyone. My passion for teaching has launched from a love of seeing each child on their journey and working with families to create conditions for each child to thrive. I love partnering with families in their child’s education and celebrating their leaps in learning and development. I love developing projects with hands-on science, experimentation, sensory play and joyfully getting messy in the mud with preschoolers. In my free time my family and I love to do all things involving nature; hiking, camping, biking, kayaking, foraging, mushroom hunting, swimming, snorkeling, the list goes on. We've been a part of The Nest family for over five years and it truly feels like home.
Beth Crespan
Sparrow Teacher and
Music Together Specialist
I moved to Spokane from El Cerrito, CA, with my husband Steve in 2020. I have an adult son named Logan who recently got engaged and lives in San Francisco. Before that, I served as the Director of Music Together of Marin for 18 years. Following my retirement from directing, I continued teaching Music Together across the Bay Area and in various preschools. Upon arriving in Spokane, I started teaching the Music Together program for Heather online and also took on the role of a preschool teacher at the Nest. (I had been a preschool teacher for several years before venturing into music education.) In my leisure time, I teach Ukulele and enjoy playing music with my friends. My hobbies include kayaking, camping, cooking, and beading. Reflecting on my college days at Western Washington University, I recall having my astrological chart read and being told that I would have many children come into my life. It's remarkable how accurate that prediction turned out to be!
Nicole Broeckling
Sparrows Teacher
My name is Nicole Broeckling, and I'm excited to be starting my third year as a teacher at The Nest and my fourth year as part of this community, which I first joined when my daughter Mia was a preschooler here. Mia is now starting second grade, and I’m eager to continue growing alongside your children. Before joining The Nest, I worked as a paraeducator with Spokane Public Schools for three years. I hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Washington. My family and I moved from Seattle to Spokane in 2013, and we now live on the South Hill with my husband, Chris, our daughter, Mia, and our three cats. I love teaching young children and find great joy in guiding their exploration of the world around them and supporting their budding curiosity. I have a deep love for art and nature, and I enjoy integrating these elements into our classroom experiences. I’m particularly interested in learning about children’s theories and ideas, and I cherish the deep conversations that unfold as they express their unique perspectives. I look forward to another year of discovery, creativity, and connection at The Nest!
Sumara Sloan
Sparrows Teacher
Hello, my name is Sumara. I grew up on the west side of Washington in Bellingham and moved to the Spokane area 7 years ago for school and to live close to my family. I grew up in a big family and always felt comfortable working with children. Working with young children has always been a passion of mine and led me into the early education field here at the Nest. I’ve been working with children nannying, tutoring, and working with toddlers making music and art. I am working on continuing my education, studying music and psychology. I especially love incorporating music in early childhood education as it is such a great way to make connections and build relationships. I love making art, roller skating, going outdoors for a hike and nature photography and spending time with my friends and my cat, Nora.
Rose Snyder
Intern and Aid
My name is Rose and I have always wanted to work with children. I love young minds they have so many things going on at once - everything they see, hear, and learn is a magic moment of wonder and curiosity for them. When I was in school I felt like I needed to learn in different fun ways that made life colorful, I want to be that person who makes learning fun and really validate every inch curiosity they could have. The world is bright and learning is one of the most fun things anyone could do. I grew up around many young minds and no matter if I was babysitting, playing with my siblings, cousins or peers, I loved being that safe person for those around me. In my work with children, I noticed something important, when we are young we have a thousands feelings and they all seem so big at that age, but those feelings are crucial to the development of our entire beings. I just turned 18 and am excited to learn more about this early education. I love swimming and my favorite animals are sharks!
Tali Peterson
Robins Teacher
Hey! I'm Tali and I am so honored to support your child & family during your time here at The Nest. I have been teaching for three years, and for the six years before that I worked closely with a small group of children providing specialized care. I teach because I love to learn. I believe a true learning environment means children and teachers are learning side by side through collaboration and community. Building connections with students is the foundation of my teaching, so I find it vital to understand the uniquenesses of each of my students. I have lived here in Spokane for past two years with my partner Jacob and our two cats. I love spending time in nature, crafting, or trying out new restaurants. Please feel invited to come to me with questions, concerns, or just to connect. I want you to feel confident trusting your child in my care. (p.s. I have my BA in Early Childhood Education that I obtained June 2024).
Kara Weisenburger
Robins Teacher
Hello! My name is Kara. I have lived into Spokane all of my life, and I am currently working on a degree in Early Childhood Education. I have been working with preschool aged children since 2023. I came to the Nest in 2024 after falling in love with the school during the time that my own child attended.
I am passionate about roller derby, and am also a coach of the Cherry Bomb Brawlers jr. Roller derby team. I have been teaching 5-18 year olds this sport since 2016.
I have a deep love of nature and a background in Arboriculture that I love to incorporate into my work with children. I love that working at the Nest provides me an opportunity to incorporate ecological education into my practice.
I love my family dearly- my daughter Lyra is the light of my life. I look forward to the opportunity of getting to know your children and your family.
Olivia Obrenno
Robins Teacher
Hello! I’m Olivia and I am so excited to be a part of the Nest Community. I recently moved back to the Spokane area after living in Seattle closer to my family for the past two years. After graduating from Washington State University in 2020 with a Bachelors in Human Development and a certificate in Early Childhood Education, I jumped right into my teaching career here in Spokane. Continuing my career as I moved to Seattle I worked the past two years in a Pre-kindergarten classroom. I am so happy to be back in Spokane with my Fiance Nick and our dog Lucy. Together as a family we spend most of our time outside hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, swimming and much more! As a teacher I find joy in watching young children learn about the world and environment around them, and sharing my knowledge and love of nature. I can’t wait to see what we learn about this year together as a community!
Alma Angulo-Rice
Quails Teacher
Hello, my name is Alma. I graduated from Eastern Washington University with my Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education. I have taught a preschool and a mixed K-3rd grade class prior to working at The Nest. I am deeply inspired by the way children learn through their environment and community. I am bilingual in Spanish and English and I am excited to integrate Spanish (my first language) into the classroom. My husband Austin and I moved to Spokane 6 years ago from a small town in Oregon to attend EWU and Whitworth. Since it is still just the two of us, during our spare time, we enjoy hanging out with family and friends, going to concerts, sports games, cooking, bike riding, hiking, swimming, and truly just any outdoor activity. It is an honor to be a member of the Nest Community and I am thrilled to get to care, support, teach and learn from your child.
Mickey McPherson
Quails Teacher
Hi there! My name is Mickey and I am 25 years old. I am so excited to be working in the Quails classroom this year! Alma and I worked together all of last year and are very excited that Cait has joined our team! I have been teaching at the Nest for over a year now, and working as a caregiver for children in my community for as long as I can remember. I feel I have found my passion in working with young children and cannot wait to pursue my Early Childhood Education certificate from SFCC this fall. I graduated from Gonzaga University with a sociology degree in 2023, and am eager for my return to school. I strive to create a respectful and supportive environment for children to learn and grow. I feel passionately about integrating Reggio practices into the structure of my classroom and believe all children have the right to play. I am honored to be a part of this tender journey as children expand their community and learn they have a village working to ensure they are safe and loved. In my spare time, I enjoy outdoor adventures with my loved ones and my dog named Sassy.
Cait Stanley-Larson
Quails Teacher
Hi there, I'm Cait! I joined the Nest in Summer of 2024 and am so excited to get to be in the Quails Room with Mickey and Alma this year! I've always loved getting to work with children and experience joy alongside them, and I cherish getting to connect with children through stories, silliness, and exploration. I was most recently an Assistant Teacher at another Reggio-inspired school for almost 3 years, and feel a very strong connection to the philosophy and look forward to deepening my knowledge about Reggio practices. I received my Associates in Early Childhood Education from Spokane Falls Community College in 2023. In my free time, I love listening to music, doing lots of different crafts, nurturing my houseplants, and getting outside however I can. I believe children are some of our very best teachers, and I can't wait to learn with and from the children at the Nest! I'm so grateful to have been welcomed so warmly into this community, and can't wait to keep learning and growing with the children and families here.
Elliot (L) Villa
Custodial Care Specialist and Aid
​Hello! I’m Elliott or L! I’m 16 years old. I’m Heather Villa’s oldest child. I have 2 cats named Dusty and Suzie, and 2 dogs named Stella and Fezzik. I like to hangout with my friends and read. My favorite movie is The Lego Batman movie. My favorite bands are Panchiko and Radiohead. Making art is a passion of mine and I like to use a lot of different mediums. I do prop making, pottery, water color, and most other forms of traditional art. I’m currently a Junior in high school, and I’m doing the college running start program at Spokane Falls Community College. I had a 3.8 GPA last year and am aiming for a 4.0 this year. I like to dye my hair a LOT so it’s forever changing. I’ve been babysitting since I was 12, and cleaning since a lot longer. I’m very excited to work here!