Jodi Simpson (she/her/hers) has been teaching for 24 years. She currently teaches kindergarten in a Title I school in rural Colorado. Jodi is passionate about children, play, stories, nature, and butterflies. She is sometimes called the “butterfly teacher” in her school and is now teaching the children of her former students. She is the author of Read, Snack, and Learn with Favorite Picture Books, Circle Time Poetry: Science, Circle Time Poetry: Around the Year, and Circle Time Poetry: Math. She has been a contributor to Scholastic’s Instructor magazine.

You can hear more about nature-based learning and Cottonwood Kingdom by listening to The Outdoor Classroom Podcast, episode 138: “Nature is the Heart of the Story with Jodi Simpson,” and episode 95, “Legacy of Impact: Changing the Face of Public Education through Outdoor Classrooms with Jodi Simpson.”

She shares pictures of her kindergarten adventures on Instagram: @looking.at.photos. You can also reach her at jodi.cara.simpson@gmail.com to continue the conversation, share inspirational stories of your own, or ask questions.