Lead Teachers

Sarah was a student at Awakening Seed from 1977 to 1985. She lives in Phoenix with her husband Rich, two daughters, Zoë and Emily, both Seed graduates, and two dogs and a bunny. In 1998, Sarah submitted a proposal to begin a toddler program at the Seed. Two years later, the toddler program began and Sarah was one of the teachers. She strives to provide a child-centered and developmentally appropriate toddler program. Sarah believes the experiences young children have will define them as individuals and impact them as learners, friends and citizens. Her goal is to nurture, support, foster independence, and aid in the growth of the children. In order to do so, she takes the perspective of a parent, and focuses on providing an environment much like the home. She currently holds a CDA credential with birth to age three specialization and is completing her bachelor’s degree in Family and Human Development.

Jamie began working at Awakening Seed in the after school program in the 2004-05 school year. She worked for two years as the P.E. teacher and this is her fifth year teaching the Toddler 2s. Jamie graduated from ASU in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Child Development. Jamie and her husband Erik have a son, Jeremiah, who is attending the Preschool 4s class, and a daughter, Payden, who is attending the Toddler 1s. Jamie’s love of becoming a “mommy” has helped spark an enthusiasm for caring for and teaching the toddlers.  The Seed is her home.

This is Danielle’s first year as a lead teacher at the Seed.  SHe was an assistant in the Toddler 1s and PreK, and is certified to teach K-8, with an endorsement in Early Childhood Education.  Prior to coming to the Seed, Danielle taught four-year-olds for one year, and Kindergarten and First Grade for five years. After leaving the classroom, Danielle worked as an instructional coach and consulted on the development of her school’s improvement plan. Danielle is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Allegheny College with a degree in Psychology and Elementary Education. Danielle is currently working on her master’s degree in Educational Leadership through Northern Arizona State University.  She is thrilled to be part of a school where children learn rich academic content as well as how to be compassionate citizens of the world. Danielle looks forward to the learning this year will bring and hopes her prior experience will be an asset. Danielle’s husband, Eric, is a school principal and their children, Madeleine and Connor, both attend the Seed.

Kevin Veillette moved to Arizona from Connecticut in 2000 and graduated ASU’s Elementary Education program with his Bachelors degree. It was his professor who referred him to the Seed. Kevin has served as an intern, student teacher, substitute teacher and assistant teacher and now this is his eighth year working with the Preschool 3s. He chooses to teach at the Seed because of the conscious effort to encourage leadership toward a more humanitarian view of the world. He also enjoys being surrounded by the teachers who are his mentors who deepen his experience by sharing their insight and wisdom. His goals are to provide age-appropriate experiences while nurturing a foundation of community and overall safety.

This is Deb’s seventh year as lead teacher in the Preschool 4s class. Her career at the Seed began the winter of 2004 when she was persuaded to assist in Mary Glover’s 4th/5th grade class. Her life at the Seed began when her children were two years and attended Sarah’s toddler class. Her son Hayden (age 10) and daughter Hannah (age 12), recent Seed graduates, took their first steps toward independence in Sarah’s toddler class at age two.  In her former life, Deb worked as curator for many years at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. She has published numerous essays on art including several catalog essays. She has a BFA in photography from the University of Arizona and has taught papermaking, book binding, and photography to children and adults. She has a passion for cooking, gardening, art, photography and yoga. The Seed is her family’s second home.

This is Emily’s fifth year at the Seed, and her second year as a lead teacher. Previously she has been the assistant in the Preschool 3s classroom. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from Arizona State University, she married an alumnus of Awakening Seed and traveled with him through 14 countries over three years. While traveling, she rediscovered her desire to teach. Emily was born and raised in Wisconsin and moved to Phoenix 12 years ago. In her spare time, Emily enjoys cooking, riding her bike, reading and yoga. She completed Rio Salado’s Early Childhood Certification Program two years ago, and has enjoyed the continuing education she’s received by working at the Seed.

Kerri Tornow is the Kindergarten teacher this year. She has been part of the Seed staff since 1984. She grew up in Michigan and is married to Roger. They have two sons, Andrew and Aaron. Andrew is in the graphic design program at ASU and Aaron is a senior at Arcadia High School. Both boys started their education as preschoolers at Awakening Seed. Kerri graduated from ASU with a degree in art education. She also has an elementary education certificate and early childhood endorsement. Kerri has many years of experience working with preschoolers, kindergarteners and even 2nd graders at the Seed. She enjoys art and children’s literature. She also loves to draw and create crafts, as well as camp, hike and travel with her family and their dogs, Buddy and Dazee. Her focus is on providing a safe, happy environment in which young children can explore their world and influence their own learning with rich oral expression, purposeful experiences and strong social connections to their peers and teachers.

Becky Lewis spent her childhood in small upstate towns of New York. She began teaching in 1969. She taught first grade for one year, and she taught second grade for 14 years at a school on Long Island, New York. Becky started working at Awakening Seed in 1987. She worked two years as an aide to further her understanding of education, and one of those years was with Mary Glover in a first grade class. This is Becky’s 23rd year of teaching at the Seed. Becky has her Masters degree in Elementary Education from Adelphi University in New York. Becky is here because the school community is so supportive and nurturing. She never stops learning here. She has a passion for gardening and she enjoys helping her students grow vegetables that they eat for snack.  Swiss chard has been a favorite one.  Her primary interest is for children to love learning and her main focus is for her children to love to read.

Aimee has been working as a lead teacher at the Seed since 1999, after student teaching with Mary. She attended the Seed as a child in the mid-eighties, and now also has two daughters: a three-year-old and a ten-year-old. Aimee has taught 1st through 5th grades, and will teach 3rd/4th grades this year. Aimee graduated from the University of Arizona in 1998 with a B.S. in Psychology, and finished up her post-Baccalaureate degree and certification in Elementary Education a year later. She received her Masters degree in Curriculum & Instruction-Science Education, and has taught classes for pre-service teachers at ASU. Aimee has a strong interest in helping children to learn through experience, ask questions, and discover how to find their own answers.  Aimee loves Love & Logic, and is working to implement their strategies in her classroom and at home. She is the primary Love & Logic trainer at the Seed.

Stephanie Peyton has been working at the Seed for eleven years. This is her fourth year as the Resource Coordinator. Stephanie has experience teaching in several classes at the Seed, including the preschool, kindergarten and elementary grades. She has a Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters degree in Education. Stephanie’s passion is supporting the families and students of the Seed through her job as Resource Coordinator.  Outside of school, Stephanie has done extensive work with special needs children, especially those with autism spectrum disorders and visual impairment. She has presented her classroom model at several conferences sponsored by the Arizona Department of Education and works with the Seed teachers to support classroom management. She has taught special education classes at ASU for pre-service teachers. Stephanie has several additional trainings and certifications that enhance the school’s resource program. Stephanie has been married for eleven years and has a daughter, Sarah Beth, who attends Awakening Seed and the Foundation for Blind Children.  Stephanie is expecting her second child, a daughter, in late December.