About Us

KinderSpirit birth story

Following an injury that ended her professional massage career, and as a single mother, Kristine immediately realized the importance of pivoting to best support her family. She drew on her degree in Social Sciences and Child and Family Studies, her love of children, and the Waldorf/ Lifeways model of childcare. Kristine then began developing the building blocks that would soon become KinderSpirit by first offering up Parent and Child classes that proved to be incredibly popular in the SouthWest Portland neighborhood where she and her son were living.

Searching high and low for preschool families to join in the fall of the 2017, it soon became apparent to Kristine that the clarion call for care in her community was for children 3 and younger. So she then then moved to a larger home and was licensed with the state of Oregon to offer child care for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years.

The first year of KinderSpirit was marked with the enrollment of three children, the youngest of which being only 8 months! It was also marked with the coming together with the love of her life and long time friend, Russ McGarry. They both recognized how their collective creative energy was the spark in the school’s success and growth they would see in the next year.

KinderSpirit is now located on Capitol Hwy very near Multnomah Village and is an amazing in-home program with a dedicated floor to just the school! 

Read more on Kristine, Russ and the rest of the KinderSpirit team here

This KinderSpirit crew is our original 8! They have grown up in our in-home program and moved with us to our little certified center! Russ and I are so blessed to be part of this amazing community!