Keeli McKern
Seedlings Teacher & MAC Teacher
Keeli McKern is overjoyed to be joining the Seedlings and Magic Art Club teams this fall at wBees! Growing up in the small town of Walla Walla, Washington, Keeli developed a love for the outdoors at an early age. She grew up spending lots of time exploring her mom’s garden and the forest in the small mountain range outside town. In 2023, she graduated from Whitman College with a degree in Art-Environmental Studies. For five years she worked as a farm hand on a family-owned vegetable farm in her hometown. It was here she honed her passion for outdoor education, organizing and leading nature-based art education experiences for elementary school children.
Keeli moved to Brooklyn in 2024 and was eager to extend her work with children through Montessori education. She taught at Central Park Montessori School in the 2024-2025 academic year, and can’t wait to lean into the nature curriculum at wBees. In her free time she creates visual and textile arts, enjoys finding bright colors in nature, and spends time exploring the city. She’s excited to get to know your little ones!
10 Questions with Keeli!
What's your favorite part of the wBees day?
My favorite part of the wBees day is when our bodies slow down enough for conversation to develop. I notice lots of interesting stories and questions come up during snack time! Questions like: “What is flan?” “What does it’s not time yet mean?” “What’s a unicycle?!”
What's your favorite New York City spot? Why?
1915 Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Noodles is my favorite restaurant right now! I just think it’s so yummy!
What's a skill, hobby, or passion of yours that you pursue outside of work?
I love to hand sew! I really enjoy mending holes, covering stains, and adding colorful shapes and faces onto old t-shirts and sweatshirts.
What's your favorite thing to do during school breaks?
I love to go camping and spend as much time outside as possible. Recently, I have really enjoyed beach combing! I collect as many colors and shapes of rocks and shells as possible, then spend hours arranging and rearranging them in patterns on the beach.
What's one thing you think adults can learn from young children?
How to communicate directly and honestly!
Where is your favorite place to connect with nature? Why?
The Umatilla Forest in the mountains outside of my hometown Walla Walla, Washington! As soon as I could walk, my parents began taking me foraging for morel mushrooms. I have always loved observing the little creatures and worlds of the forest floor!
What is your favorite part of working in early childhood?
I love having a daily structure at school, yet each day is filled with new questions and stories. The consistency of working with the same group of children all year allows for such strong and dynamic relationships between students and teachers:)
If you could learn anything new right now, what would it be?
How to use a sewing machine proficiently.
Is there a memory, teacher, or experience from your own education that impacts the way you approach teaching?
On the farm I worked at, the family’s children were often running around as we worked. They were 5, 9, and 11 at the time and were always so eager to share what they knew about the plants we were working with and the creatures we saw. I learned a lot from them about the excitement of knowledge exchange and how fun it is to learn from people of all ages.
What's your favorite children's book? Why?
I asked my mom (because I couldn’t remember my favorite book as a child) and she said it was the board book The Lady with the Alligator Purse.