founder/Director and lead teacher
Meg Neal (they/she)
A midwest native, I grew up romping in the deciduous forests around our family home and swimming along the shores of Lake Erie. In the fall of 1999, I attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio and graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Subsequent years were spent teaching in small democratic based elementary schools, working on farms and in bakeries, and traveling a fair bit around our country from Maine to Maui. In 2008, I found Portland and fell in love with the grit, charm and quirks that made up this city. I first taught Kindergarten and then preschool at Trillium Public Charter School. After three years with Trillium I took a one year sabbatical and lived at Yasodhara Ashram in the Kootenay Mountains of British Columbia - studying yogic philosophy and practicing karma yoga. Upon returning to Portland, I taught preschool at Helen Gordon Child Development Center and simultaneously attended Portland State University to receive my Masters in Sustainability Leadership, Policy and Education.
It’s been my dream to open a preschool built on the foundation that play is at the core of childhood. Since the dream was conceived I’ve spent the better part of these past years preparing for this by learning skills and trades that allow me to feel capable of directing a preschool that I can proudly stand behind. One where children are encouraged to create their own theories of the world, spend time in the ecological environment around them and learn how to navigate conflict with compassion and awareness. One where families feel a part of a greater community. And one where teachers, families and children know they are held and supported by one another.
Time away from PPP is spent in the garden, at the yoga studio, playing with my pups, studying + visiting plants, cooking, thinking about garden/interior design (+ real estate + where + how to buy a cabin on a river), and hanging with my partner and her 12 yr old kiddo.
Lead + mentor teacher
colleen d. (she/her)
My name is Colleen and my family and I recently moved to Portland from Chicago, where I was the Curriculum Design Manager for a small play-based, nature-loving school. Over the course of my education journey (20+ years!) I’ve been a classroom teacher, a center director, a curriculum manager & mentor, and a preschool parent! As an educator, I see myself as a co-learner alongside the children, and a facilitator of play & exploration. I hope to work in collaboration with families, as you are your child’s first and most important teacher. I hope to learn about the children, to discover their play patterns, their interests, and the joy they find through playful learning.
When I am not teaching, you can find me in the woods with my five year old son (finding and arranging natural treasures into satisfying patterns), riding my bike through the city, or sipping on all the wonderful coffee that Portland has to offer. I am excited to learn, grow, and play with each of you!
assistant teacher
caely b. (she/her)
I’m an East Coast transplant thriving in the fertile soils of the Pacific Northwest. After leaving a career in nonprofit fundraising, I started teaching preschool almost by accident when my son’s school was short-staffed, and I’ve never been more fulfilled at work. I am a gentle presence in the classroom, meeting children where they are with empathy, patience, and a keen sense of wonder.
I live with my husband, my six-year-old son, and our two guinea pigs in a vibrant cohousing community just around the corner from PPP. When I’m not teaching, you can find me camping, crafting, playing board games, and sharing good meals with good friends.
assistant Teacher
corinne b. (she/her)
I inherited my mother’s bony wrists and long fingers and use them every day to speak in the language of creation: sculpting, painting, sewing, strumming, weaving, writing. Making things with my hands is a daily practice for me, a rich well that everything else springs from. I believe that creative play is integral to a happy life so being able to facilitate that for kids who are just discovering each new medium is a dream come true. I have a BFA in Studio Art from Western Washington University and have spent the past year working at an arts-centered preschool where I lead weekly projects for the students. Their fresh approaches and willingness to experiment are incredibly inspiring for me. I can’t wait to share in the joy of creating with a whole new community at Portland Play Project!
When I’m not teaching, I love keeping up with the local art scene in Portland and try to attend as many new gallery and museum exhibitions as I can. I am also an avid reader (and napper), and love going on adventures in nature with my partner and our sweet pup, Red.
assistant teacher
Molly d. (she/her)
A beginner’s mindset has kept me very busy in the decade since graduating from Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s in Design. Upon moving to Portland in 2014, I worked in creative agencies as a UX designer and design researcher for about 7 years. In that time, I took a sabbatical to work at Camp Stomping Ground in upstate New York–I had years of previous experience working as a counselor at the YMCA summer camp I went to as a kid. My time at Stomping Ground really connected me to my purpose, and after that 2018 summer, I continued to be involved in their community on the side. I helped lead Zoom programming during the early days of COVID lock down (dance parties! craft sessions!), and eventually I went back to Stomping Ground in 2022 to be a Village Director and Teen “after party” planner.
After stepping away from the professional design world during the pandemic, I chose to make a firm pivot away from the world of desks. For about two years, I split my time between being a Substitute teacher for PPS, working in a small restaurant, and building my ice cream catering business.
In my role as an assistant teacher at PPP, I am excited to bring a patient and playful child care approach, one centered around collective problem solving, conflict resolution, and creative freedom. I am always trying to find a way to engage children’s imagination, and usually find myself getting immersed in play right alongside them, dirty feet and all.
Our Program
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See what we care about and how it's done at PPP.
Testimonials
Our praises.
Our families love us and we love them! See their stories.