Since I can remember, it has been a dream of mine to have a little brick and mortar. My sister and I used to play “store” in our backyard almost every day, trading each other little creations made out of colorful flowers, leaves and sticks. I’ve carried this dream with me throughout my life while deepening passions for education and support for kiddos, food and nourishment for loved ones, and community that holds us all together.
At The Little Minnow, my hope is to provide a vibrant space that encapsulates the intersection of education, food and community. With many education offerings and opportunities, a continuation of The Book Peddler library, and a local farm store, I am excited to give back to the incredible Gorge community that has supported me and has always made me feel truly at home. I hope to offer a space that feels like home for all the little minnows!
I look forward to seeing you and collaborating with you at The Little Minnow!
Meet Siena Ballance
As an educator, my goal has always been to help students feel excited and supported in their learning. Every student has beautiful differences; I work with each student to embrace their unique skillset, build self-confidence, and craft creative techniques to learn difficult material in a way that fits their needs. In a time when school can feel overwhelming and stressful, I hope to make learning fun for all students, while helping to build healthy life skills and mindsets along the way!
My goals as an educator
I have worked as an educator in a variety of subjects and environments throughout my life. I started tutoring in high school and deepened my love for teaching in college as a teacher’s assistant in Oceanography, private tutor in Mathematics, and instructor for whitewater kayaking and outdoor leadership. After graduating from Bowdoin College with a BA in Earth and Oceanographic Science and Mathematics, I furthered my skills as an educator at Little Oak Montessori. I have continued to build relationships with local schools, currently leading a stream survey program where Whitson and Little Oak students have the opportunity to apply in-class learning to the field! In addition to program offerings, I have been a private tutor in the Gorge for the past 6 years and am excited to expand my offerings. I am grateful for my diverse background that allows me to offer a broad skillset to students of all ages with help in all subjects!