Corinne Kuntz
Founder / Village Director
The best way to predict the future is to create it.
-- President Lincoln
Corinne grew up in Anchor Point, Alaska where she learned to appreciate nature, small communities, and indoor plumbing (something many families, including hers, did not have)! After obtaining her Bachelors in Business and spending 15 years in retail management, Corinne found her passion was in raising her girls and the unique developmental needs of young children. In 2014, The Birds Nest was established. In early 2015, Corinne realized there was a vast shortage of high-quality child development programs in the valley and set out on a mission to build a village, while continuously improving the quality of child care across the valley. Since then, Corinne has been blessed to be presented with several opportunities to increase the capacity and quality of The Birds Nest - Early Learning Village. Corinne has a genuine passion for providing not only a high-quality learning environment for the students enrolled, she also strives to provide a high-quality work environment for the talented team of educators that she employs.
Outside of The Birds Nest, Corinne and her husband, Jacob, have two daughters, Jade and Myles. They have a family Boxer-Lab named Mavis and a tuxedo cat named Mr. Peppers. Together they spend as much time going on adventures and enjoying life.
Program Directors
Shaine McMahon
- Preschool Director -
It takes all types to make the world go 'round'.
-- Trent Shelton
Shaine is from Bainbridge Island, Washington and moved to Missoula, Montana when she pursued her degree in Elementary Education. She moved to Montana for the kind people, beautiful hikes, and great opportunity for joining the world of early childhood education. Shaine and her fiance, Cole, are dog-parents to an eight year old Basset Hound named Daisy and a new Golden Retriever named Sunny. Their little family loves to hike and explore as often as possible. Shaine is so excited to continue working with preschool students and joining the Kalispell community.
Shaine loves smiles, animals, hikes, and good food!
Kayla Vernon
Playschool Director
We are what we believe we are.
-- C.S. Lewis
Kayla was born and raised on the central coast of California, and that is where her love of the outdoors blossomed. She recently moved to Montana, after years of visiting family and is so happy to call the Flathead Valley home. Kayla has had the privilege of working in each classroom environment from Preschool to middle school over the past ten years. Her passion for collaboration and community guides her in the classroom and beyond. Kayla believes that children should be respected and nurtured in an environment that inspires creativity. Kayla holds a bachelor degree in Culture Communications and is pursuing her Masters in Early Childhood Education.
When she is not education tiny humans, she enjoys hiking, baking, gardening, and relaxing on the lakeshore. Spending time with her husband, son, and four fur babies brings her immense joy.
Carly Gillott
Playschool-Prep Director
quote
-- unknown
Carly grew up in Foley, Alabama and moved here to Kalispell, Montana in October of 2019. Before working at The Birds Nest, she worked at an elementary school as a teacher's aide for third grade. Carly is in the process of obtaining her associates degree in Early Childhood Development and looks forward to continuing to apply what she learns in the Playschool-Prep program. When she is not at The Birds Nest, learning new things about the students, she enjoys hiking, camping, canoeing, kayaking and just being outdoors. Carly looks forward to meeting everyone and learning a bit more about your family and children every day.
