Loryn, Executive Director, Co-Owner
Loryn joined Nestling House in September 2019. She earned a B.A. in History from UWM in 2009. Prior to joining Nestling House, Loryn worked at Marquette University Child Care Center for over a decade, a majority of that time as an infant teacher. She grew up in Bay View with two younger siblings where she resides to this day with her husband Al, and their two dogs, Wyle and Willa. She enjoys board games, video games, and making crafts! Loryn is a big proponent of children learning through play and by watching the adults around them. She very much wants the children in her care to feel safe and loved for who they are as individuals. While she can be serious when she needs to be, she prefers to be silly and relaxed around the kids. She’s always up for a dance party or a PJ day! She feels immensely grateful for the relationships she’s made while at Nestling House and says, “Nothing beats coming to work to see my friends, both children and adults alike! Nestling House is such a special community, and I am proud to be part of it!”
Fun fact: “Music makes me happy—there's a song for every situation and mood! I grew up listening to 90's Country music and Garth Brooks is my favorite artist, but you'll catch me listening to Taylor Swift, Josh Groban, or the Soundtracks from Hamilton, Frozen, and Encanto frequently!”
Janelle, Assistant Director, lead teacher, co-owner
Janelle originally joined Nestling House in September of 2018, and, after leaving at the end of 2019, returned in January of 2023. She earned an M.A. in Early Childhood Education from UC Denver, and a B.A. in philosophy from NYU. She has over five years of experience in formal group-care settings and over a decade including babysitting and nannying. Additionally, she taught English in China for a year to children three years old and older. She is especially interested in and passionate about outdoor play and risky play. Janelle believes that in the care of trusted adults, children feel safe and have the confidence to explore their environment and learn! Janelle grew up in Texas and moved to the Milwaukee area in 2018. She, her husband Calvin, and their dog, Nessie, now live in the Hawthorn Glen neighborhood. She enjoys live music, knitting, camping, cooking, and traveling.
Sara, lead teacher, co-owner
Sara joined Nestling House in 2018. Prior to joining Nestling House, Sara worked at another center in the Milwaukee area where she fell in love with childcare and early childhood education. Sara’s education includes studies in sociology, art, and design. She is most inspired by Waldorf and Reggio Emilia philosophies in her caregiving. “For even the wisest can learn incalculably much from children.” —Rudolf Steiner. Sara says, “I like this quote because I’ve been doing this for nearly ten years, and I continue to learn so much from the children. They teach me as much as I teach them.” Sara grew up in Greendale and now lives in Cudahy with her husband, Austin, and their two cats, Big Tuna and Dracula. She enjoys gardening, reading, birding, baking, biking, and crafting.
Fun fact: “Winter is my favorite season!”
Lindsay, lead teacher, co-owner
Lindsay joined Nestling House in 2021. She has over seven years of experience with children of her own as well as having started an in-home daycare during the pandemic. Lindsay believe strongly in the power of nurturing and responsive care to build strong and positive attachment relationships. She is a big proponent of nature play, free play, and individualized interest exploration, and appreciates the value of including children in caretaking routines to help foster independence and self-confidence. Additionally, she aims to offer a safe place to get creative, messy and be a kid! Lindsay is originally from Waukesha. She moved to Bay View in 2017 where she now lives with her husband, kids, mother-in-law, and dog. Her hobbies include gardening, cooking, puzzles, yoga, hiking, and visiting northern Wisconsin.
Fun fact: “I was a Nestling House parent for four years prior to working at Nestling House, and now I am a proud co-owner.”
donna, lead teacher
jazmin, lead teacher
Jazmin joined Nestling House in Fall of 2022. She has an Associate’s in Liberal Arts, and prior to working at Nestling House was a camp instructor and paraprofessional at Fernwood Montessori School. Jazmin enjoys creating hands-on, age-appropriate activities for children. She believes children learn best through play, and art happens to be her favorite method, as it allows children to build confidence and creativity. Many of the activities she leads are based on the children’s interests, such as building recycled toilet paper tube haunted houses, making crayons, mini Wookies, a koi fish pond, and clay seashells. She also recognizes the importance of process-based projects in which the art of making, experimenting, and discovering are the focus rather than the end product. Jazmin’s hobbies include arts and crafts, reading, thrifting, listening to music, and dancing.
Fun Fact: “I have a sassy cat named Cazador.”
jen, lead teacher
Jen joined Nestling House in February of 2023. She has a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and over 20 years of experience in the field. Her favorite thing as a teacher is simply being in the moment with children. She loves watching each child find their natural spotlight and enjoys watching them turn curiosities into discoveries! Jen has two adult children of her own. In her spare time, she enjoys playing games and watching movies with family and friends, as well as going for walks and on hikes to explore nature.
Fun Fact: “I find painting very relaxing, as well as snuggling and playing with my puppy, Norm.”
Angela, Lead teacher
Angela joined Nestling House in June of 2023. She holds a B.F.A. in Industrial Design from UW Stout. Her projects were always geared towards creating products that would elevate a person’s mental or physical well-being. After graduating, she knew she wanted to continue these efforts, and found purpose for her empathy, curiosity, and creativity in working with children! She began this work in 2018 at a Montessori preschool in South Minneapolis, and then, prior to finding Nestling House, worked at a traditional daycare, as well as the nature-based learning center in Milwaukee, Tiny Green Trees. Angela sees children as having limitless potential and intrinsic interests and believes her role is to identify their needs in any given moment, and to guide them so they are using their innate potential in a productive or developmentally progressive way. She believes every child has a light and gift to share with the world! Her favorite ways to play with young children are to engage in sensory play, motor skill development, and music. She also enjoys imaginative play! Angela grew up in Wisconsin in a cute farm town called Milton, where her parents still reside in her childhood home. She now lives in Milwaukee with her daughter, Dahlia. Her hobbies include baking, taking care of her home, thrifting, hiking, and arts and crafts. She also enjoys reading, researching topics of interest, and journaling when she has time to herself.
Fun Fact: “I can do a one-handed cartwheel! I also did theater and show choir when I was younger, so I love to sing and be silly with children!”
Morgan, lead teacher
gabbi, assistant teacher
Jess, assistant teacher
ada, assistant teacher
Betsy, Transportation specialist, floater, co-owner
Betsy joined Nestling House in September 2020. She earned a B.A. in International Politics with a focus on Latin America & Asian Studies from UW-Milwaukee where she was also a Rotary Exchange student to Belgium. Betsy grew up in Milwaukee and has been teaching dance lessons to children of all ages since 2007. She and her husband, Matt, are the owners of Mezclando Milwaukee Dance Co. and currently teach Salsa Dancing at Delaware House in Bay View where they reside with their three wonderful children. Betsy is also a fluent Spanish speaker! About Nestling House, she says, “It’s the only place in the world where my singing is enjoyed and encouraged!”
Fun fact: “I can wiggle my nose!”
john, cook
John joined Nestling House in January 2022. He is a retired MPS Chemistry Teacher and veteran College for Kids instructor. John studied Ecology and Evolution at Earlham College, SUNY Stony Brook, and Indiana University. He grew up on the East Side of Milwaukee and now resides in Bay View with his wife. His hobbies include exploring and relaxing in nature. In his own words, “I support children in their work by the bellyful.”
Fun fact: “After taking a summer workshop with Friends Mime Theater I thought I could pay for college using my juggling and balancing skills. Ha!”
Sarah Barton, Co-Founder
Sarah co-founded Nestling House in 2016 with her husband Eric out of the desire to bring a unique child centered care option to the Bay View neighborhood. Sarah has gained extensive experience in early childhood education as a teacher, trainer, and leader. She earned a master's degree in education with a focus on early childhood education and urban school leadership from Temple University. Sarah's lifelong passion for all things related to babies and early brain development has been one of the driving forces behind Nestling House.
Eric Busiek, Co-Founder
Eric co-founded Nestling House along with his wife, Sarah Barton in 2016. He served as the director of the center for it’s first two years. With a master's degree in Education & Human Development from George Washington University, and experience in student-centered learning and special education, Eric brings expertise in child development and a deep belief in the value of child centered, play based learning. In addition to his role as administrator, Eric transports children to Nestling House from neighborhood schools.