Jessica Clayton runs a licensed home-based nature play school in Brick called Riverside Rhymes. She is a certified teacher in New Jersey for preschool through third grade and Kindergarten through fifth grade and currently serves on her local board of education. She volunteers as an assistant leader for two Girl Scout troops in town and is also moderator of the Facebook group Nature Preschool Ideas & Community which promotes nature-based education.

 

She graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in both History and English and did graduate work at Montclair State University in early childhood education, completing a P-3 certification program. She taught as a certified teacher in bilingual public preschool inclusion programs in both New Brunswick and Trenton for 6 years before opening up her own state licensed home daycare ten years ago.  She has worked with children for over 17 years in various capacities including as an assistant in a classroom for students with autism, a camp counselor, a nanny, a para-professional, a substitute, a tutor, & a professional development consultant.  

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She is an award winning teacher, having earned the Wonder Award from the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools (ERAFANS) in 2017. She currently serves on their board as a secretary.