Our Mission

At Discovery Roots, we nurture curiosity, compassion, and a deep connection to the natural world. Through hands-on, place-based learning, we empower students to grow as thoughtful stewards of their communities and environments. Rooted in the rhythms of nature, our school cultivates academic, emotional, and ecological literacy—fostering resilience, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.

Our Dream

We have a dream to bring kids outdoors and connect with the world around them. In the future we hope to expand the school and find  a location that helps to foster our mission, by providing opportunities for agriculture and forest exploration. 

Location

We are located at the heart of Milton, VT 
29 Middle Rd
​Milton, VT 05468

Meet the Team

Cassidy Nolan
Head of School
​ Cassidy was born and raised in Westford, VT. She loves to spend as much time as she can outside, swimming, hiking, skiing, fishing, and playing with her daughter. She went to Essex High School, where she realized her love for teaching during her preschool internship. She has a BS in Elementary Education with a minor in Child Studies. She has her Teaching License in Early Childhood Education for birth through 3rd grade. She has been a part of the ABC family for years and is excited to help grow and expand programming at Discovery Roots. 
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Grace Klinefelter
Preschool & Kindergarten Educator
Grace graduated in May from Coastal Carolina University with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education. Throughout her college career, she had multiple practicum experiences ranging from Pre-K to 1st grade. This experience sparked her love for teaching Kindergarten. In addition to her college practicum placements, she has spent time in classrooms during her summers off from school. She has worked with children ranging from infants to 12 years old. She grew up in Vermont exploring the outdoors and is excited to be a part of the Discovery Roots team. 

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Hannah Bowes
Elementary Educator
Hannah graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor's Degree in Art Education. She is a licensed Vermont educator in K-12 art. Hannah previously worked as a paraeducator in a K-5 school and has gained a lot of experience working in the age range. Hannah has also been an assistant coach for Girls on the Run. Hannah is passionate about integrating the arts and self-expression in all areas, and she love to create and commission artwork. In addition to working in our elementary classroom, Hannah works closely with Emily to develop and implement program improvements.

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Emily Beaudin
​Middle Level Educator
Emily earned a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Vermont with a concentration in mathematics and American Sign Language. Emily has over a decade of experience in the elementary and early education fields. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing disc golf, broomball, and softball, and cheering on the Boston Bruins. In addition to working in our middle-level classroom, Emily works closely with administrators to develop and implement program improvements and manage day-to-day logistics. 
 

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Nicole LaBelle
Play-Based Nature Instruction
Nicole has been with ABC Academy since it opened in 2011. She has 23 years of experience working with children of all ages and has a Master's Degree in Early Education. She firmly believes that outside play is essential for children's overall development and well-being. As someone who cherishes childhood memories of exploring the outdoors, she has witnessed firsthand how unstructured play fosters creativity, builds resilience, and nurtures a sense of wonder. By prioritizing outside play, we can help children thrive physically, emotionally, and cognitively. 

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