trinette terry-carlson

owner/lead teacher

Trinette founded BYC Kids with a vision of creating a warm, engaging, and child-centered learning environment inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach. With a deep passion for early childhood education and hands-on learning, she developed a program that nurtures curiosity, independence, and creativity through play, exploration, and meaningful connections.

BYC Kids began as a small community of families looking for an alternative to traditional childcare—one that valued each child’s unique interests and abilities. Trinette wanted to create a space where children could take the lead in their own learning, where creativity flourished, and where the classroom extended beyond four walls into nature, art, and the world around them.

From its early days, BYC Kids has been built around the idea that children learn best when they are actively engaged in their environment. Trinette designed the program to integrate a variety of enriching experiences, including art, theater, photography, yoga, baking, gardening, and nature-based play. She believes that education should be hands-on, joyful, and full of opportunities for self-expression.

Under Trinette’s leadership, BYC Kids has grown into a thriving preschool, pre-K, and after-school program in Ballard, welcoming children of all backgrounds to learn, explore, and connect. Her dedication to fostering a sense of community is reflected in every aspect of the program, from collaborative art projects to nature walks to student-led performances.

Every day, Trinette’s classroom is fun and full of opportunities for exploration. Whether they’re making kale chips from their garden, directing their own play, or capturing the world through a camera lens, the children at BYC Kids are supported in discovering who they are and what they love to do. Trinette’s passion for child-led learning has shaped BYC Kids into a place where education is not just about acquiring knowledge—it’s about experiencing the world with wonder, creativity, and joy, encouraging lifelong learners. Trinette is passionate about connecting children with each other, their community, and the environment, believing that these connections are essential to their growth. Her thoughtful approach and dedication to making learning joyful make BYC Kids a place where children can thrive as they develop into confident, thoughtful individuals.