Assistant Teachers / After School / Support Staff

Jenn Taylor returns to the Seed staff this year. She and her family have returned to the desert after an interlude of adventure in such places as The Netherlands and St. Louis, Missouri. Jenn has an extensive background in the performing arts and education. In her previous years at the Seed she worked as the PE specialist, music and movement lead for parent/tot classes and with the three-year-olds. In her hiatus from the Seed her adventures brought experience teaching in the International School of the Hague and working as Director of Education at Emerson Chapel in Missouri. This year she works alongside Sarah and Nancy in the Toddler 1s class.  When she’s not teaching, Jenn loves to spend time with her family, take photographs, read, write, and snuggle with her dog.  Jenn is mama to three wonderful human beings (2 Seed alumni and 1 current Seed!) and 22 years married to a most amazing man. She is thrilled to be here working with the staff, parents and children of Awakening Seed.

Nancy has lived in the valley for a few years. She was raised in Nogales, Arizona. When possible she likes to travel and from the many places she has been, she would like to finish her education in Hawaii. She lived in Hawaii for a year where she took some classes and fell in love with its culture. Currently she is taking a variety of courses at a local community college. Her interests vary from music and the arts to the sciences. She believes that “Knowledge is power.” Nancy has more than 11 years experience working with kids of different ages, where she has learned as much from them as the kids have learned from her. Nancy is excited for her second year here at Awakening Seed.

This is Jessie’s first year as the Toddler 2s Assistant and her second year as a staff member.  A former Seed herself, Jessie feels honored to be working at the school. She is also a Seed parent. Her son, Zeek, attends the school and is in Emily’s PreK class. Jessie obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Northern Arizona University.  During college she took a year long hiatus from school and joined the AmeriCorps volunteer program as a VISTA in the small town of Skowhegan, Maine. Through AmeriCorps she worked for a small non-profit literacy organization called Loving Learning which taught adults how to read to children. They visited schools, day care facilities and churches encouraging the love of reading and literacy. The organization also worked with high risk teenagers giving them volunteer opportunities and leadership skills. During this time she fell in love with teaching and working with children of all ages. Yoga, writing, and being a mom and wife are also important to her.

Emily has been with the Seed for one year now, and works in the Toddlers 2.5/3s class with Danielle.  She also works in the after school program, and enjoys creating fun and inspiring art projects for the older kids.  She is currently in school full-time, working toward her degree in Elementary Education, with a dual endorsement in an English Language Learner’s program.  In her spare time, Emily likes to spend time with family and friends.  She enjoys traveling, and makes the most of her trips to see concerts.  Music and art are two of Emily’s favorite activities, which typically take up all of her remaining free time.  Emily has two dogs, and a boyfriend whom she loves dearly.  Emily chose to be a teacher because she loves kids, and loves the idea that she can positively impact their lives with compassion, commitment, and a fun-loving personality.

Katie is an Arizona native. She received her BA in Anthropology from Arizona State University.  This is her fourth year at Awakening Seed.  Katie has previously worked in the PreK room at the Seed.  She is excited to be a part of the Preschool 3s classroom again with Kevin.  In her spare time Katie enjoys hiking, painting, traveling, cooking, and reading.  Her primary goal is to create a safe and creative atmosphere that will foster educational exploration.

This will be Billie’s fourth year working with Deb in the Preschool 4s class. She has been working as an aide at the school for the last eight years in the preschool and kindergarten classes. Billie has two sons; Matthew, age 14, and Ethan, age 12. They both are graduates of the Seed and currently attend Arizona School for the Arts. When Billie isn’t at school she enjoys taking her dog on walks, camping and traveling with the family.

Deana Hernandez is a former Seed student.  This is her first year at the Seed as an assistant in the PreK classroom. Deana graduated from McClintock High School in 2009.  After graduating she lived in Guadalajara, Mexico for five months with her grandmother.  Upon returning Deana became engaged and set the wedding date for June 1, 2012.  She has a one year old son, Sol, who will be attending the Seed this year.  Deana is looking forward to taking online classes this semester and is very excited to be working at the Seed.

Christine Cleveland is a 1994 graduate from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Hearing Science.  Christine has worked as an Early Childhood Development specialist with children with special needs, age birth to three.  She went into homes and provided therapy in cognitive and social skills.  In addition, she ran a toddler group for two-year-olds.  Christine has also contracted out to local school districts as a Speech Language Therapist assistant.  Most recently, Christine earned her RN degree from Gateway Community College.  Christine loves reading and independent films, as well as spending time with her husband, three children and grandson.

A midwesterner by birth, Dina’s family moved to the east valley in 1979. She completed her B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication at ASU and worked in the architecture industry for 4 years, while also completing her residential real estate license.  She and her husband Steve have been married 9 years and have 2 children, Aria, a Seed alum, and Elyse, a PreK student. Since all the people in their close circle of friends were graduates, or their children were graduates of the Seed, they planned for their children to attend. All the graduates they know are very successful, and they attribute their success to the foundation they developed as young people at the Seed. Dina is absolutely thrilled to be a part of the Awakening Seed team, and looks forward to spending her days building a relationship of safety, trust, and love with the amazing children in the 1st/2nd Grade class and beyond.

This will be Kaylee’s third year working with Aimee in the 3^rd and 4^th grade classroom.  Kaylee is currently a student working toward a degree in elementary education.  She has one daughter, Tobie, who attends the Seed.  In her spare time, Kaylee loves to read, eat and spend time with her family and friends.

Mila was born in New York City in 1990. Three year later she moved to Prescott, Arizona and was raised there. She attended Prescott High School and graduated in May of 2008. Now she is currently attending Arizona State University and working towards a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education. She enjoys teaching and working with children. She is very happy to be a part of the Seed after school program and is looking forward to all the new experiences. Her hobbies are reading, music, theatre, exercising, learning and traveling to new places.

Bonnie was born and raised in Minnesota and came to Arizona in 1983.  This is her first year working at the Seed as the in-house classroom substitute.  She has had many years’ experience with children, mostly as a nanny.  Bonnie is very excited to have this opportunity to grow and expand her career in working with a broader range of children.  Besides her love of children, she enjoys cooking, yoga, photography, camping and spending time with her family, Bob and their three dogs.