Literacy | Inquiry | Nature
Words in the Wild makes learning to read and write a joyful pursuit for children and the adults who teach and love them. Our approach develops confidence and critical thinking by sparking innate curiosity — kids become scientists who investigate words in the same ways that they’d investigate the details of a maple leaf or a butterfly.
What We Believe: Deep learning happens by applying literacy skills to meaningful experiences, like exploring and documenting nature. Children and adults learn best in an interdependent, strengths-based environment that values diversity and individual variability. We invite children, families, and educators to build a community of wonder and playful exploration in literacy.
What We Do: WITW develops evidence-based approaches to early reading and writing through our unique literacy lab model. Our team delivers and refines those approaches through reading support services, summer camp, and family programs. We then share them with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities for educators who want to learn the science of reading.
How We Do It: Using a Structured Word Inquiry approach, we guide children to see “data” in the natural world and in spelling patterns, and to use their observation skills to understand how words work, build vocabulary, and bolster their reading skills. Our young scientists investigate a word’s meaning and structure using scientific inquiry - connecting structured literacy with children’s innate curiosity. We also move our bodies, a lot!
Impact: Children become confident, independent readers and writers by developing a deep understanding of the linguistic structure of English. Educators develop the experience and tools necessary to teach reading more effectively, filling the gaps in reading instruction courses offered through teacher training programs. Families nurture their children’s literacy development with less stress and more joy.
Our Team
ALEXIS FILIPPINI
Founder & Executive Director
Alexis started her career as a camp counselor, then taught reading in immigrant communities and supported families as a bilingual behavioral clinician for children with disabilities. She was a reading researcher and taught teachers at San Francisco State University, then became executive director of Mission Learning Center. After all those years indoors, her love of reading, nature, children, and community have come together in Words in the Wild. Alexis earned her PhD in special education with an emphasis in cognitive science from UC Santa Barbara, and also works as a consultant for libraries, schools, and other organizations. She is also a certified word nerd, with a B.A. in linguistics, and is the happy mama of a loquacious little one.
RYAN NEPOMUCENO
Founding Naturalist & Instructional Coach
As a Master Garden Teacher and Science Curriculum Advisor Ryan is key to integrating literacy and the outdoors using scientific observation as well as music, drawing, and cooking. He also teaches experiential environmental education at a school garden in Oakland with kindergarten through eighth-grade students, and has been part of the team since 2016. He earned his B.A. in Environmental Education from Warren Wilson College and has since been teaching in a variety of ecosystems from the sandy coast of North Carolina to the oak woodlands of the East Bay. He is looking forward to being able to explore, read, and write again soon with students in the diverse gardens that Oakland has to offer.
CAROL CARR
Operations Director
Carol comes to Words in the Wild with 20 years of experience in nonprofit administration and leadership and a passion for supporting the work of visionaries and program staff who are making a difference in the world. Carol has a B.A. from Western Washington University in Organizational Communications and Political Science, a certificate in FundRaising Management from Indiana University School of Philanthropy and completed post-bacc work at Northern Michigan University in adult learning, training and development. When not poring over spreadsheets and reports, Carol can be found in her garden, hiking with her family or traveling to new places around the globe.
PRISCILA LOPEZ URZUA
Administrative and Marketing Assistant
Priscila holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from San Jose State University as well as a Certificate in Marketing Management and Graphic Design from De Anza College. She joins Words in the Wild with over 7 years of administrative experience. She is proficient at coordinating tasks and keeping records. As a previous Academic Consultant, she loved working with students and their families to establish and commit to their goals. She truly believes that learning can be an exciting and fun experience for everyone. Priscila enjoys arts and crafts, traveling, and spending time with her family. Her little toddler and 2 dogs brighten her home every day.
LINDI SHEPARD
Fellowship Director
Lindi is pursuing a PhD in Education at Johns Hopkins University where she conducts research at the intersection of the learning sciences and environmental education at Dr. Hunter Gehlbach’s Social Psychology in Environmental Education Lab. Lindi developed an interest in the learning sciences as a teacher, inspired by watching students play and co-construct knowledge in community. After 15+ years in the classroom, she moved into curriculum development and teacher education, supporting teachers across the globe as an instructional coach with the Center for the Professional Education of Teachers. She brings this passion for educator learning to her work with Words in the Wild, as the director of our teaching fellowship program. Lindi holds a B.S. in Special Education from the University of Georgia and a M.A. in Cognitive Science in Education from Columbia University. When she isn’t knee-deep in research, you can find her doing yoga, poking around her garden, or exploring wild spaces with her best (four-legged) friend, Lu.
LEAH MILLS
Learning Specialist
Leah holds a masters in Educational Therapy from Notre Dame de Namur University and a B.A. in Deaf Studies with a concentration in Education from CSU Northridge. Leah grew up in the Bay Area and has worked with students from preschool through high school, with experience as teacher and paraprofessional, providing support for students with various disabilities. She volunteered as a tutor and assistant teacher at the California School for the Deaf and is fluent in American Sign Language, which she frequently incorporates in her work with students. After completing our 2-year teaching fellowship she joined Words in the Wild as a full-time learning specialist, supporting students through small-group and individual reading & writing intervention. She is passionate about making education accessible and engaging to all students and incorporating their strengths and interests into their learning. She enjoys musical theater and spending time with her adorable nephew.
KIKUYE KIMURA
Teaching Fellow
Kiku is an avid reader, writer, and advocate for Environmental Justice. They graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and an emphasis in sustainability and social justice. This informs their passion for building community and ensuring that resources and support are distributed equitably within the education system. Kiku has a background in organizing for social causes, such as alleviating student debt and educating youth in the Bay Area about Environmental Racism and Injustice. They find joy in working with kids and building meaningful connections with people from all walks of life. Kiku believes that everyone has the capacity to express their brilliance, each just as valuable and admirable as the next. Compassion and empathy are qualities that Kiku is ecstatic to lead their classroom with as a first-year teaching fellow. They enjoy going on walks, binge-reading a good book, spending time with friends, and cuddling with their cat.
NATHALIE HITES
Teaching Fellow
Nathalie’s passion for learning can be traced back to her childhood, when reading the dictionary or gathering intriguing rocks sounded like fantastic ways to pass the time! Her keen interest in the world around her led her to complete a B.S. in Biology and an MS in Zoology at the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium. Finding research to be too confining, she returned to her roots 17 years ago and never looked back; she has been working to inspire generations of children and adolescents as a Montessori guide ever since. Nathalie believes that, when given the opportunity, all children are eager to learn and have immense strengths to share with the world. As a second-year teaching fellow, Nathalie supports students in individual and group settings by honoring and following student inquiries to the many surprising, joyful places they lead. When she isn’t teaching, Nathalie can most often be found with her four bright and quirky children, ideally out in the backcountry.
ZAINAB ALRASHID
Teaching Fellow/Program Coordinator
Zainab is a “teaching ecologist” who holds a Bachelors of Art in Biology from Mills College. Born and raised in Oakland, Zainab has worked with local communities exploring animal behavior and outdoor education. She has a background in non-profits, helping things run smoothly on the programmatic and administrative side. Zainab is passionate about providing space for “the outdoors” to be accessible and centering interdisciplinary approaches to the sciences. In her free time, Zainab enjoys hiking, writing short stories, and reading sci-fi and horror books.
Board of Directors
ANNIE CRANGLE
Board Secretary
Annie is a team leader, strategist, and coach. She utilizes her experiences in education, business, and athletics to facilitate inclusive and inspiring strategic planning processes. Her ability to work across sectors and with diverse leaders stems from years of advising social impact organizations and businesses, playing Division I college basketball, and teaching elementary kids.
Annie has worked and consulted in public education as a Teach for America alumnae, former Minneapolis Public School District curriculum and data consultant, and strategic advisor to over thirty public schools across the country, including KIPP St. Louis during their regional expansion.
She is a former Big Ten Conference athlete, a current member of the San Francisco Olympic Club Women’s National Basketball team, and serves as a member of the Northern California Board of Directors for Playworks.
GRETCHEN MACCHIARELLA
Board Treasurer
Gretchen’s expertise is on emerging technologies in storytelling, digital journalism, and innovative business models. She is an assistant professor at CSU Northridge, where she teaches Design Thinking in her courses and through applied programs such as the Internal Entrepreneurship desk in student media.
She is also one of our parents, with two curious kids who are huge fans of Words in the Wild, and holds a B.A. in Mass Communications and an M.A. in Digital Journalism and Design.
Advisors
TAMI WEISS
Strategic Planning & Communications
Tami supports a variety of wellness, education, and food system organizations with strategy, operations, and communications. With a background in environmental policy and experience as an environmental educator and curriculum developer, Tami uses her quantitative and qualitative skills to design, implement, monitor, and evaluate impactful programs while keeping an eye on organizational goals. Basically, she helps WITW look great (she took most of the photos on our site) while running smoothly. She earned an M.A. in Environmental Policy & Management from Middlebury Institute of International Studies and a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Biology from UC Santa Cruz.
Alumni
ELLA HOLTON-MCCOY
Teaching Fellowship Graduate
Ella joined Words in the Wild as a teaching fellow in our inaugural Summer Institute (2019). After completing a 2-year teaching fellowship with Words in the Wild, she helped lay the foundation for our cycle of educator and student support as a Words in the Wild Learning Specialist. She currently supports East Bay students and families as an Executive Function Coach, incorporating her knowledge of special education, neuroscience, strengths-based teaching practices, and mindfulness to create individualized learning pathways. She holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Literacy and a focus in Special Education as well as a minor in Child and Family Development from San Diego State University. She earned her M.A. in Educational Therapy from Holy Names University.
PAIGE HARRINGTON CLARK
Teaching Fellowship Graduate
Paige first joined Words in the Wild as a volunteer supporting remote WordLab in 2020, which influenced her decision to pursue a reading specialization through her graduate studies. She earned her M.A. in Teaching Reading at the University of San Francisco and holds a B.A. in English with a concentration in Literature. As an educator, Paige is committed to creating a nurturing and community-oriented environment in which every student can learn. A lover of books and baseball, Paige has been to nearly every bookstore in San Francisco and many, many Giants games.
After completing a 1-year teaching fellowship with Words in the Wild, Paige accepted a full-time position teaching Kindergarten with SFUSD and continues to support both teachers and students by creating joyful, inclusive learning communities.
The team from left to right: Gretchen Macchiarella, Annie Crangle, Ryan Nepomuceno, Alexis Filippini, Tami Weiss, Ella Holton-McCoy, Kenton Young
Words in the Wild began as the popular Readers and Writers in the Garden at St. Paul’s Episcopal School in 2013. The organization was established in 2016 as a California Public Benefit Corporation.
Corporation no. C3915393 | EIN 81-2951256 | IRS federal tax exempt 501(c)(3)