Meet Miss Deanna (pronouns: she/her)

Originally from Seattle, Deanna returned to the Pacific Northwest after a 20-year career in L.A.’s music industry. Once settled in Portland, she began pursuing the work she knew was her life’s passion and pursuing the career path of her university education. early childhood Deanna’s studies and training expanded to include Waldorf Early Childhood Education and Lifeways Early Childhood philosophies. She dreamed of creating spaces for little ones that offered them opportunities to learn and grow through nature-based free play. Remembering the absence of this type of child care option while raising her own children, Deanna recognized a need that wasn’t being filled and went to work filling this need in her own community. Deanna founded Wow and Flutterville with the mission of creating a “home-away-from-home” for infants, toddlers and preschoolers that honors attachment parenting, family nursing choices, Mother Nature, inclusion, community, and a child's most important work: to play.

Music, the arts, yoga, movement, song, and time spent in nature fill each day at Wow and Flutterville Playgardens. Committed to creating a playgarden culture based on kindness, repair, equity, empathy, community and inclusion in beautiful, warm, inspiring home settings, Deanna opened her first playgarden 12 years ago. Since then, her program has expanded to 3 childcare centers, which we call playgardens.

In addition to being the owner of Wow and Flutterville, Deanna enjoys spending time with her husband, her daughters and their dogs and hamster. Her other loves include Kundalini yoga, nature, the arts and music. Deanna looks forward to caring for and inspiring your babies and precious children at times when they can't be under your loving care.

I am Deanna Cohen, it’s nice to meet you,

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher! Children have an amazing sense of curiosity and wonder, getting to observe the way they approach and explore the world inspires me each and every day.

I have been working with children for over a decade. My philosophy of teaching was shaped by working under a mentor teacher in a Reggio Emilia inspired school, as well as in a Head Start Program working with families in agriculture. I began my career at Wow & Flutterville as a Wobbler teacher and moved into the role of Director of the Sellwood location shortly after. While I miss being in the classroom everyday, I love being able to work closely with my team to provide quality care full of love, wonder, curiosity and kindness for the children in our care.

When I’m not working, I love to hike with my family. We’ve spent a lot of time visiting National Parks exploring the parts of the park you can only get to on foot. So far Banff is my favorite. I have a three year old son named Oliver who gets to come to work with me every day. What could be better than that?

I have been working with children since 2008 and loving every minute of it. I love to be a part of their lives while they learn and grow. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

I started as a student teacher while going to school at the University of Oregon. I was an undeclared major at the time. After I started working with kids, I never looked back. I received my bachelor’s degree in Educational Foundations from UO and had my first lead position in a preschool directly after. Since then, I have worked in classrooms of all ages from infants to kindergarten. It is so hard for me to pick a favorite age group because they all have so much to offer at every age. I started to step foot into more administrative roles in 2015. From here I love to support teachers to be the best they can be.

I am continually grateful to have found a home with Wow and Flutterville, and am excited to learn and grow myself.

When not working, I love to cook, go to concerts, and travel as much as I can.

Children are a special gift. I love taking care of them and giving them the love they deserve.

There are many things I love about coming to work – the children, my class, and working with other teachers. But the best part is taking the kids to the park to play together.

From a young age, I cared for and watched over the younger children in my family. I’ve come to understand children and know what each of them needs. Taking care of children makes me feel energized and will help me prepare to be a good mother someday. In the future, I’d love to continue working in childcare and become a professional teacher.

Outside of school, I volunteer in the hospital caring for patients. I also love to read and make sweets.

I truly believe cultivating children's minds at an early age is the best way for me to make a difference in this world. Children have a way of being resilient no matter the circumstance. I love their ability to learn and observe in their own individual ways. The best feeling is when I am home in the evening, and I am able to reflect on my day. I’m able to prepare myself for another great day with the kids.

I have had 23 years of working with children ranging in ages from infant to Pre-K. It all started with me taking care of my brother when he was about 4 years old. I would attend his field trips, and from there stemmed my professional career in Early Childhood Education.

In the past, I volunteered to help the FIlipino group (IBP) on campus when they held huge events. I also volunteered with other cultural groups on campus. I look forward to finding more volunteer opportunities now that I am settled here.

My plan for the future is to buy a house with enough land where I can grow my own fruits and vegetables and surround it with plants. I've always loved photography, and my creative side comes out when I see beautiful landscapes and scenery. I love looking back at my own photos to revisit places through my own eyes.

Mr. Matt (he/him) is a talented, local musician and teacher and composer. He has been making music and bringing Jloie to the children of Wow and Flutterville for seven years!