I was born and raised in Oakland California and have always committed myself to the betterment of my city and the children within. My mother was an influential childcare owner in Oakland and a pillar of the community. Growing up I was artistically inclined and became a playwright, poet, musician, actor and performer. My art always dealt with the struggles of inner city youth and making my community a better place.
After high school, I majored in theatre attending California College of the Arts and Laney College. Upon graduation, I became a Drama teacher in a Berkeley elementary school and an Oakland middle school. This was a great experience that allowed me to see that I genuinely wanted to work with children as a career. I wrote and produced many plays and productions during this time working with students from Kindergarten through 8th grade. I grew especially fond of the youngest students and began my path into becoming a classroom teacher.
Years passed, I got married and started a family and when the daughters were 2 and 3 I attended Cal State East Bay to earn my Masters in Liberal Studies. I graduated Magna Cum Laude while I attended Cal State Teach through Cal State Monterey and earned my teaching credential. Shortly thereafter, I worked in my own children’s amazing preschool for two years to see the ends and outs of a successful, large center and earned my Child Development Site Supervisor Permit.
After several years within the public and charter sectors, I saw many things that brought me to the decision to create my own preschool. The main reason for my transition was the desire to give quality child care to underserved families. My dream was to create a diversified community of learners within a harmonious nature infused environment. This became The Learning Forest Academy.
We are a healthy, loving, foundational-building preschool! I believe a strong preschool foundation is the key to a child’s success in future education. My goal is to teach my preschoolers confidence and build their character. When they walk into elementary school they will be proud scholars who understand who they are and are ready to lead!
My students call me Ahma, which means Mother in several languages (my reference is Hebrew). I am the “Ahma” at The Learning Forest…we love your child like our own.
Moreover, we now have 4 children of our own and are a proud homeschool family.
The Learning Forest:
Together we will grow these beautiful seeds into the strong trees of the future!
❤️OWNER & DIRECTOR:
Amaris Yashar’el (aka Artemis Minor)
My name is Amaris Israel and I am the owner & director of The Learning Forest Academy. Students affectionately call me Ahma, which means mother. I love to encourage, teach, inspire and uplift the beautiful youth In Dana Estates. I am a mother of three and former teacher in the Oakland Unified School District, likewise I taught theater for over 5 years throughout the Bay Area and now I am utilizing my variety of experience to create an amazing fun-filled educational daycare for my preschool students.
I was born and raised in Oakland California and have always committed myself to the
betterment of my city and the children within. My mother was an influential childcare
owner in Oakland and a pillar of the community. Growing up I was artistically inclined
and became a playwright, poet, musician, actor and performer. My art always dealt with
the struggles of inner city youth and making my community a better place.
After high school, I majored in theatre attending California College of the Arts and
Laney College. Upon graduation, I became a Drama teacher in a Berkeley elementary
school and an Oakland middle school. This was a great experience that allowed me to
see that I genuinely wanted to work with children as a career. I wrote and produced
many plays and productions during this time working with students from Kindergarten
through 8th grade. I grew especially fond of the youngest students and began my path
into becoming a classroom teacher.
Years passed, I got married and started a family and when the daughters were 2 and 3 I attended Cal State East Bay to earn my Masters in Liberal Studies. I graduated Magna Cum Laude while I attended Cal State Teach through Cal State Monterey and earned my teaching credential. Shortly thereafter, I worked in my own children’s amazing preschool for two years to see the ends and outs of a successful, large center and earned my Child Development Site Supervisor Permit.
After several years within the public and charter sectors, I saw many things that brought me to the decision to create my own preschool. The main reason for my transition was the desire to give quality child care to underserved families. My dream was to create a diversified community of learners within a harmonious nature infused environment. This became The Learning Forest Academy.
We are a healthy, loving, foundational-building preschool! I believe a strong preschool foundation is the key to a child’s success in future education. My goal is to teach my preschoolers confidence and build their character. When they walk into elementary school they will be proud scholars who understand who they are and are ready to lead!
My students call me Ahma, which means Mother in several languages (my reference is Hebrew). I am the “Ahma” at The Learning Forest…we love your child like our own. Moreover, we now have 4 children of our own and are a proud homeschool family.
Together we will grow these beautiful seeds into the strong trees of the future!
❤️OWNER & DIRECTOR:
Amaris Israel (aka Artemis Minor)
