About Us

Alanna’s story

Videographer, World Traveler, Parent, Former Nanny

I’ve always been drawn to children and they to me. When I was 17, I went on a cultural immersion/volunteer trip to Nicaragua where I lived in a village with a family. When we came back from our trip, one of the trip leaders created little headlines to describe our impact on the community. Mine was something to the effect of, “wherever Alanna went a group of children followed.”

I love learning! I was a huge bookworm when I was kid. I love figuring out how the world works, especially when it comes to human beings: why we do the things we do; how our brain functions (it’s fascinating!); and the history of thought and progress.

From my experience in childhood, I gained a deep desire for equity and social justice. I remember always having a strong opinion about what was fair and when it came to myself and my siblings the same treatment was NOT equal and that frustrated me. I also grew up in a house of abuse and addiction. Something I had to process and learn from so I didn’t make the same mistakes as an adult and as a parent. Like anyone, I had good role models and bad role models, but as a mother I had to figure out how I was going to parent differently. I do not want to mess up my kids.

Sproutable is the outcome of these desires, to help parents and caregivers offer children opportunities to learn the skills they need in a way that is aligned with their developmental stage and is based on mutual respect. It was a way for me to offer knowledge and tools so anyone can feel successful growing remarkable kids. Ultimately, by teaching and supporting children from a place of knowledge, connection, and respect, I believe we can build a better more equitable future for us all.

Casey’s story

Teen Parent Coach, SUP Fanatic, Dance Floor Enthusiast, Personal Growth Junkie

Hi! My name is Casey. I live in the Pacific Northwest of the United States with my 19-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son, as well as my amazingly supportive partner. I grew up as the oldest of five siblings in a very blended family in the sunshine of Southern California.
My work has connected me with hundreds of families over the past 22+ years. Prior to starting my own business, I was the Family Programs Coordinator at my local YMCA, and before that, an elementary school teacher in the three-room school house in the Cascade Mountains. I earned my Master’s Degree in Education while teaching, and stepped out of the classroom when I had my first child.

I felt fortunate for the opportunity to choose to stay home while my children were young, and I believed, in light of my education background, that I had learned all I needed to show up as calm and connected for my kids… Ha.

The journey of parenting, and the lessons my kids showed up to teach me, took me by surprise.

Prior to having kids, I saw myself as a care-free spirit. But after becoming a mama, I noticed that all sorts of darkness was being stirred up by the challenges of raising my two kids. I was grateful to find the Positive Discipline philosophy when I did. It made such an huge impact on my family that I decided to teach it in my community.

Now, over 14 years later, I have led countless workshops for parents, both in person and online, and I have been walking my talk (mostly 😉 ) through all the trials and development of my two kids. In the spring of 2015, I launched the Joyful Courage Parenting Podcast where my real, raw and creative guest interviews and solo shows are designed to support, inspire and inform others on the parent journey.

The lessons and the learning continue for me. As my children moved into the teen years I was again confronted by challenges that I didn’t see coming… My offers now reflect the transformation that is available within our relationships with our kids, specifically in our relationships with our tweens and teens.. Because it isn’t enough to have the tools; parents must also have an awareness of what is happening for them emotionally as they face the challenges in front of them.

Parenting isn’t about them, it’s all about us.

Joyful Courage is about showing up, grateful for the opportunity to practice being our best selves, even when it is hard to do. My mission is to work with parents in a way that broadens their perspective on parenting, behavior and this lifelong journey we are all walking together; to offer a space for parents to clarify and explore what it means to live and love from their center.

Merging with the mission of Sproutable in 2022 is an exciting elevation, and opportunity to make an even bigger impact!

Julietta’s story

Early Childhood Expert, Retired Dancer, Storyteller, Parent, Former Nanny

From an early age I always loved being with children. I was the one in the neighborhood who started babysitting at age 12 and never stopped. Even in my 20’s waiting tables in the West Village I would end up playing with the kids and getting asked to babysit (which I couldn’t say no to). My graduate degrees in school psychology and school counseling gave me just what I needed to work with and help children: the clinical skills to assess and evaluate, as well as the counseling skills to effectively intervene.

While working in Seattle Public Schools, I was introduced to Positive Discipline in the classroom. The foundation of Adlerian psychology, which reinforces a child’s need for significance and belonging, and the framework Positive Discipline gave me to teach life skills, as opposed to just stopping or changing behavior, proved to be respectful and effective. Working with preschool and elementary ages, I realized that I needed a way to teach their parents too. I became a Positive Discipline educator, growing my business of classes, power workshops, private coaching, teacher trainings and parent education talks all over the city. There was nothing more rewarding than a parent telling me how the experience had changed their family for the better, that they felt rejuvenated and inspired.

Meanwhile, I knew everything about parenting until I actually had my own children! I began practicing Positive Discipline from the time I was pregnant with my first daughter, even starting family meetings when she was in a high chair. It has been a continued messy practice ever since, growing our family into a party of five.

The feedback I always get from my classes are that the “real” stories are the most helpful. The times I am NOT a perfect parent, and how I pick myself up and keep trying, sharing the latest brain research but also the real-life application of a working mom. Adding a deep mindfulness practice to work and home has been a game changer for me and helped me answer “HOW do I implement the tool?” I infused this into my classes and heard parents and teachers say time and time again, “I wish I could have a little Julietta on my shoulder in the moment.” I founded Sproutable to offer a new way of learning where parents can SEE these tools in action right when they need it.

Danielle’s story

Nanny, Former Teacher, Reader, Positive Discipline Fanatic

I’ve known since childhood that I wanted to work with children when I grew up. I remember
begging my teachers for extra copies of worksheets, so I could bring them home for the
pretend “school” I had set-up in my garage for the other neighborhood kiddos! I started
babysitting the moment I could, and I got my first paying job the week I turned 15 at a
children’s nursery. My love of working with children has only grown from there. I went to
the University of Northern Colorado and graduated with degrees in both Elementary
Education and Psychology. I enjoyed being a classroom teacher for years (experienced in
preschool, kindergarten, and 2nd grade classrooms), but I was craving a closer connection
with children & their families and fell into nannying. Nannying is truly my dream career! I
know so few people who actually look forward to work every morning, but I sure do.
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When I started nannying, I was reading every parenting book, blog, and article I could get
my hands on. I was taking bits & pieces from many authors and resources, but everything
changed when I found Positive Discipline! Finally, a philosophy that aligned with my beliefs
and also worked effectively & consistently. I fully believe in respecting children and treating
them with kindness while encouraging respect for myself and the environment, too. I was
hooked. Soon after, I found myself attending a live Sproutable class with Julietta and
haven’t looked back since! I was so excited to find two amazing women who loved Positive
Discipline as much as I do, and working for a small, female-led business here in Seattle is
just a dream. I love being part of Sproutable and happily balance that with my full-time
nanny position.

I have a voracious appetite for learning. You can often find me curled up with my cats and
reading the latest parenting book. In addition to Positive Discipline, I’ve completed trainings
on Montessori, Conscious Discipline, Attachment Theory, RIE, Sleep Consulting, Certified
Passenger Safety Technician, nutrition & more. I am an INA credentialed nanny and have
my NCP certification from the USNA. I’m a proud member of the Positive Discipline
Association, the US Nanny Association, and the International Nanny Association. I’ve been
featured on The Nanny Endorsements and Nanny ABCs podcasts. A recent highlight of my
nannying career was being a top five finalist for the INA’s 2023 Nanny of the Year.
Nannying, Positive Discipline, and Sproutable truly are my passions, and I’m so glad to be
here!

Alexis’ story

Social Worker, Parent, Positive Discipline Educator

I have been working with families for years- first through my career as a social worker in pediatric oncology living in Los Angeles and then supporting parents both locally and virtually after moving to Seattle.

My daughter was born in 2017 and the baby phase was relatively straightforward. She didn’t nap all that well but otherwise was a pretty easy going baby. Then she became a toddler and WHOA was my world rocked. I began to read everything I could about parenting and the idea of connection before correction and putting the parent/child relationship first stuck with me. I didn’t know the term Positive Discipline yet but I was using some of the tools with my daughter and later my son.

I started sharing my parenting experience online back in 2018 and found the community of others moms to be so supportive, uplifting and caring. I started leading newborn parent support groups, participating in an online mentoring program for new moms and earning a certification in Perinatal Mental Health.

At the same time, I started going through some health issues and learning about the impact of the mind on our bodies and about nervous system regulation. I believe that for parents to help their children regulate their emotions, we have to learn how to calm our own nervous systems. It was crucial for me to learn this to be better able to support parents and to be a better parent myself.

I had the opportunity to be trained as a Positive Discipline facilitator and it supported everything I have been working towards for the last few years both in my own family and in supporting other families.

I am a HUGE supporter of parental mental health, advocate for moms and believer in the mind body connection. I am grateful to be a part of a team who is working to change the way we parent for the better.

Jade’s story

Pediatric Sleep Coach, ECE Teacher, Parent, Former Nanny

I have always loved being a part of a child’s life as they navigate the whirlwinds of childhood. I started babysitting as a young teen, which I now see as the initial spark that ignited my deep passion for nurturing and empowering young minds, and basking in their immense power and creativity.

I continued on my path as I nannied my way through college, while earning a degree in environmental education. After years of professional nannying after college, I became a preschool teacher at T.E.A, a little Wallingford preschool that will forever have a special place in my heart. This is where I began my journey of Positive Discipline (thanks to the preschool’s close relationship with Sproutable), and I loved finding meaningful solutions for children and families.

But it was during these experiences that I couldn’t ignore a common thread of exhaustion that was impacting the parents and children alike. It became clear to me that sleep, or rather the lack of it, was a crucial factor affecting emotional well-being, and despite all my efforts, I was struggling to find solutions to this overarching problem.

This realization led me to researching childhood sleep development and ultimately pursuing a career as a sleep coach. In 2022, I became certified as a Pediatric Sleep Coach, and I chose to specialize in attachment-based pediatric sleep consulting, with a strong foundation in Positive Discipline. I am passionate about educating families on how to obtain sleep while supporting the attachment needs of our littlest loved ones.

And now as a parent myself to a sweet and wild baby, I can fully understand and appreciate the immense energy that goes into parenting and personally attest to the need for sleep!

I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest City of Tacoma, and work virtually with clients all over the world. When I’m not talking about sleep, I enjoy baking, gardening, beekeeping, and spending time outside or at home with my Spouse, our baby, and our spirited rescue chihuahua.