Gaia Rossi

Middler Classroom Teacher

Gaia grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Vernon, NJ.  This region yielded Gaia with professional opportunities in farming, lifeguarding, parkour, and coaching (in snowboarding, swimming, and climbing). Gaia completed a B.A. in English Literature with a certificate in Child Advocacy & Policy from Montclair State University and used that knowledge to develop movement education programs for young children in New Jersey, Florida, Oregon, and Melbourne, Australia.

In 2021, Gaia began to feel a call to work with the “whole child” through experiential, Reggio-inspired programming.  Similarly, while “he/him” is understandably expected, Gaia prefers “they/them” when being referred to, as those pronouns more closely embrace the whole person/educator of who they are.

All in all, Gaia is drawn toward places that feel like Care and Intentional Communities, illustrated by a strong support network and a shared living experience. Gaia sees Wildflower Cottage as an educational home for children, parents, and teachers to grow, collaborate, discover, and research this wondrous world together.  

Gaia recently settled into a new home (close to Umstead State Park) with wife and best friend.  Gaia has widely diverse interests outside of teaching:  cooking, gardening, DIY building projects, learning to speak Italian, playing guitar, board games, working as a church youth leader, offering professional life coaching for families/teens, and reading/writing about early childhood education, counseling, spirituality, and Native American studies.

Fun Facts:

• Gaia has a masterful Scottish accent.
• Gaia lived in Australia and New Zealand for a few years.
• Gaia can make a rose out of any paper product!