🌿 About Me

Hi, I’m Mandy Casteel-Denney—an educator, parenting coach, and speaker who has always believed that the natural world is our greatest teacher.

 

My Story

I grew up finding peace, wonder, and belonging in the outdoors. Whether it was wandering trails, splashing in rivers, or just watching the sky shift colors at sunset, nature was where I felt most myself. It shaped not only how I see the world, but also how I connect with others.

Later, as I became an educator and a parent, I realized something powerful: kids—and adults—thrive when they have space to explore, connect, and be fully themselves. For neurodivergent kids especially, nature offers freedom, calm, and endless possibilities for creativity and authentic connection.

 

Why This Matters to Me

I’m also a neurodivergent adult raising a neurodivergent family. I know firsthand what it feels like to live “outside the lines,” and how isolating it can be when the world doesn’t quite fit. But I’ve also seen the beauty, brilliance, and resilience that comes from those differences.

That lived experience fuels my commitment to creating spaces—whether through coaching, programs, or speaking—where families and kids don’t just get by, but actually feel seen, supported, and celebrated.

 

My Background

• M.Ed. in Education with a focus on inclusive, experience-based learning.
   

• Nearly two decades of program leadership—from reading interventions and afterschool programs to environmental education nonprofits.
   

• Founder of Blue Tulip Inclusive Education, where I combine my passions for teaching, parenting, and the natural world.
   

• Speaker & workshop leader on authenticity, unmasking, and the essential role nature plays in helping neurodivergent kids thrive.

 

My Philosophy

At the heart of everything I do is connection—connection to ourselves, to each other, and to the natural world around us.

I lead with love, because every child and family deserves to feel valued and understood. I infuse my work with joy, because growth and healing should include laughter, curiosity, and wonder. And I rely on resourcefulness, because real life is messy, and finding creative ways forward is often where the magic happens.

 

I believe that when we show up authentically, embrace neurodiversity, and lean into the wisdom of the outdoors, we create families and communities that are not just surviving, but truly flourishing.