Lara is a teacher at our Meaford and Collingwood locations. She graduated from Circle in the Square Theatre School in NYC, has a BSc in Nursing from the University of Victoria and a Montessori Casa Teachers Diploma from The Foundation for Montessori Education in Toronto. Since 2012 She has been working with children in a Montessori environment, a Waldorf inspired environment, and nature, science and music camps. She owned and operated a daycare for 3 years where she spent the majority of her days outside playing and exploring with the children.
Lara grew up with adventurous parents, travelling to various places in the world, and exploring British Columbia via trail, ski, canoe, kayak, snorkel, and sail boat. She moved to Ontario in 2011 and fell in love with the incredible variety of spring and summer wildflowers, as well as the immense backcountry canoe scene. Lara’s favourite outdoor activities to do in Ontario are backcountry canoe camping, hiking, jumping on her bicycle, cross country skiing in Kolapore, and downhill skiing at Blue. She started supply teaching for Free Spirit in 2022 and realized how much she loved the program, the people and smelling like a campfire at the end of the day. What gives Lara great meaning in life is understanding children, fanning the flames of their interests and being a loving, encouraging and supportive adult in their lives.