Emily Niewald is the Founder and director at New Forest Collaborative Microschool, a unique learning environment that blends the best of outdoor education, Montessori and Waldorf principles, and child-led exploration. A devoted mother of three daughters (ages 3, 6, and 9), Emily is passionate about creating enriching educational experiences that honor each child’s individual learning style.

With degrees in Childhood Development, Business, and Psychology, along with a decade of childcare experience, Emily has dedicated her career to fostering meaningful learning opportunities. She has received specialized training through the Missouri Department of Conservation to educate children about nature and has also taught Tinkergarten, an outdoor early childhood education program.

Emily founded New Forest Collaborative Microschool to provide a bridge between traditional public schooling and homeschooling, seeking a middle ground that nurtures curiosity, independence, and a love of learning. What started as a solution for her own children has blossomed into a thriving community resource, offering families an alternative path to education.

Currently, Emily is working to establish a nonprofit and scholarship program to ensure that every child, regardless of financial background, has access to a quality education tailored to their needs. She firmly believes that learning should be engaging, accessible, and deeply connected to the world around us.