Nest Academy was born from a desire to create and safe and nurturing environment for children where they had the possibility to follow their dreams and discover their passions. Our team is dedicated to guiding the children at Nest on their journey to greatness.
Owner / Founder / Head teacher
Nicole Lidberg
I opened Nest Academy in the fall of 2024 after many years of dreaming of another way to be an educator.
I was born in England, but have lived in 8 countries and 4 continents giving me a wonderful wealth of experiences from different cultures. My family moved to the US, from Sweden, in June 2023 and we love it here!
I live in Alpharetta with my husband and youngest daughter, while my older children are back in Sweden at university.
Teacher's Assistant
Audrey Battersby
I have 6 years of experience working with children in various roles, including an assistant at Acton Academy, a teacher at Primrose Daycare and a nanny to 6 year old twin boys!
I have a passion for exploring the outdoors and creative play.
Middle school teacher/guide
Rosenarie Beyea
Rosemarie “Rose” Beyea is an educator of ten years, who spent most of her career teaching in Gwinnett County. She graduated from the University of North Georgia with a bachelors degree in general education and special education in 2015. She now lives in Forsyth County with her high-school-sweetheart husband and their two children. When she’s not teaching, you can find her crocheting, reading, or exploring a walking trail.
Spanish Teacher
Anna Danel
I grew up in Mexico and later have had the opportunity to live and work as a Spanish teacher in 4 different countries for the last 15 years. I believe that learning a second or third language is one of the most enriching experiences a person can undertake. I am passionate about sharing my hispanic culture with my students and love having fun in class. I recently moved to Georgia and live with my husband , daughters and a beagle dog named Julio Benito.
K-2 Teacher/Guide
Toni Samuelu
I am a mom of five, former teacher, and passionate advocate for meaningful, hands-on learning. With over 20 years of experience working with children and families, I love helping kids grow in creativity, curiosity, and character. At Nest Academy, I lead monthly Parent Coffee gatherings, coordinate volunteer connections with a local senior center, and happily join students on field trips to spark wonder in real-world learning adventures.
Nicole's Story
Having worked in the public education system for nearly 25 years in Sweden, England and Hong Kong, I slowly became more and more disenchanted with the government run programmes and have seen first hand how children's curiosity and lack of love for learning increases as they move through school. The enthusiasm for coming to school and the comment, ‘School is boring’, begins so early now. Kids as young as 9 are just tired of school and don't want to go.
The learner led environment is so totally different. The children are excited to come to school. They love the stress free space where they are able to work towards their own goals at their own pace. There are no tests, no grade levels to achieve at a certain time and yet they are motivated and engaged! It is remarkable to see.
Working in this type of educational environment has been eye opening. Seeing kids, today, who 6 months ago were unable to read or write back in, loving their new found reading and writing abilities is nothing short of a small miracle! And the amazing thing about this is that they did this on their own, at their own pace, with only the gentlest of guiding nudges along the way!
Through project based learning I have seen how children are much more engaged in what they are doing and how they are excited to learn as they can relate what they are doing to the real world. To feel that what they are learning is relevant and having freedom to make their own choices about what they focus on creates motivated and creative kids, who are a joy to be around.
Working for over 25 years in 4 continents has meant that I have been able to pick up a great deal of wonderful experience from each culture and have found, in Nest, a place to incorporate the best of all these worlds!
Nicole Lidberg