Our Staff
Denise Matthews
Director and Lead Educator
Denise Matthews is the director and lead educator for Worms and Wildflowers Nature School. Denise is passionate about helping children experience the wonder and awe of nature through hands-on, playful, experiences. Denise has taught environmental education for 20 years in both Oregon and New Mexico. She has her masters degree in science education, is a certified science and ESOL teacher, and taught at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center for 5 years as their play-based education specialist.
Denise is trained as a Forest and Nature School Practitioner through the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada. Denise enjoys tending to her garden and going on outdoor family adventures that may include camping, canoeing, backpacking, and skiing.
Topher Matthews
Farm Manager
Topher Matthews (Mr. T), Denise Matthews's husband, quickly came to understand the importance of outdoor experiences for children after they had two children of their own. While Topher works as a nuclear engineer during the day, he finds time to support the nature school in many ways including building structures, gates, and furniture, fixing the many things that go wrong on a farm, tending to our beehives and assisting with website design.
Topher’s light-hearted sense of humor and positivity are a natural fit for working with children. Topher will be in and out of the classroom and serve as an occasional guest teacher. Topher is a Los Alamos native and spent his winters skiing at Pajarito mountain and canoeing on the Rio Grande, which he continues to enjoy with his family.
Megan Urbane
Early Childhood Educator
Megan received her Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and her Early Childhood Development Certificate from Central New Mexico Community College. She taught children and adults ocean and atmospheric sciences for 10 years in Hawaii, San Diego and Florida. After moving back to NM she taught at a Reggio Amilia inspired preschool in Albuquerque teaching children years 2-6. She believes all children are capable of great things and helps to support this through encouraging creativity, connecting with nature and learning through self-discovery and community involvement.
Megan took a break from teaching to start her own family and is excited to get back into it. In her free time Megan enjoys camping and playing in the mountains, paddle boarding, and traveling with her family. When she's not chasing her 3 year old and almost walking 10 month old around she'll try to squeeze in some reading and yoga.
Sheena Stachelek
Educator
Sheena earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Science from the University of Maine and then began her journey of cross country travels and career exploration. Through her work at a fisheries laboratory, aquarium and Montessori school she discovered her love of education. She is especially passionate about guiding students to help them follow their interests, which has included leading cooking and baking classes, backpacking with students and being able to share her love of nature. Sheena spends her free time cooking, hiking and exploring New Mexico with her family.
Darcy has been with Worms and Wildflowers Nature School as an educator since it opened in 2022. She is currently also a substitute teacher for Los Alamos Public Schools. Darcy grew up on the Mississippi River where she discovered her love of nature and her passion for caring for animals. She has volunteered at local animal shelters since she was 16, fosters animals and pet sits for a variety of animals, including our chickens and goats!
Prior to becoming a stay at home mom and working as an educator Darcy worked as a nursing assistant for the U of M pediatric BMT unit and obtained her real estate license and sold real estate in California. Darcy enjoys spending her days with her husband, three children and their sweet pup.
Darcy Clark
Educator