About Lilyposa Schoolhouse
We are a husband and wife team who both bring a diverse array of skills to the table. While we have different education and professional backgrounds we have bonded in the ability to joyfully spend time with children. Our house has always been a gathering place for neighborhood children, whether it is an after dinner game of tag or pumpkin carving in our front lawn. We both enjoy curating experiences for the children in our lives. We are in the State of Oregon Central Background Registry, CPR and First Aid Certified and have met all training and educational requirements towards licensure. You can view a little more about us and our experiences individually below:
Meet Jenny, MSW
Jenny has been working with children since she was 14 years old as a summer camp leader. She then worked for a before/after school program during the years she was in school for her Bachelors in Sociology. Prior to receiving her Masters in Social Work she worked as a teacher at Learning Springs Preschool in California. After completing her Masters in Social Work (with a concentration in Children, Youth, and Families), she had many roles in social work and community health including work with hospice, child protective services and community health advocacy nonprofits. She realized that she missed the direct connection with children that she had in her early career and that early childhood education has always been the right fit. Luckily she and Chris were able to find not only a beautiful home but an opportunity to create the early learning experience that they have been dreaming of.
When Jenny is not working she loves to spend time with her nephews (who live next door) and take plenty of trips to California to see her family and nieces. She loves crafts, reading, interior design and attempts to regularly hike and work out (this is a moving goalpost). She also assists with Chris’s photography business and helps out on wedding, elopement, portrait and family photo shoots.
Meet Chris
Chris’ connection with kids began while working at a neighborhood children’s store in Oakland, California. He managed the daily operations of the store, curating the inventory to include educational and engaging toys, and providing knowledge and resources to new parents on car seats, strollers, and other baby accessories. It was also the perfect environment to pursue his interest in family photography. Prior to moving to Oregon, Chris completed a Bachelors in Community Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz and worked at a nonprofit serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Chris continues to photograph weddings and families here in Portland and in his free time loves spending time with his niece and nephews. He loves gardening, baking bread and pizza, working on his model railroad, and decorating for Halloween.
What does “Lilyposa” mean?
We knew that we wanted a business name that was unique and meaningful. Jenny was very close to her maternal grandparents and learned to be proud of her Italian heritage. Jenny’s father is from Cuba another core piece of her identity. Combined with her appreciation for flowers and natural beauty, “Lilyposa” blends Lily (the national flower of Italy) and Mariposa (the national flower of Cuba) to create a name that represents family. We hope that our community enjoys not only how fun the word feels rolling off your tongue but also the history and heritage associated with it.