Awakening Seed School Staff 2008-2009

ADMINISTRATION

Mary Glover, Director/Co-founder
Mary Glover is the Director and Co-founder of Awakening Seed School. She established the school in 1977 when her two daughters, Sarah and Astraea, were young and has been teaching and directing the school ever since. She has a B.A. in Elementary Ed with an emphasis on Early Childhood Ed and an M.A. in Elementary Ed from ASU. Mary has taught preschool through 5th grade, and is now the full time Director. She is also a certified yoga instructor. Mary has published numerous articles and books, including Making School by Hand, A Garden of Poets, and Surprising Destinations. Outside of school, Mary enjoys spending time with her family (especially her husband Bill), gardening, writing poetry, creating art, and practicing yoga.

Bill Glover, Business and Facility Manager
Bill Glover is the Business and Facility Manager. He has a strong background in business and management, and has operated his own business for 38 years. Among his many positions, Bill was the Arizona logistics coordinator for Hands Across America. Prior to becoming the Business and Facilities Manager at the Seed, Bill was in the construction business and took the position at the Seed “for a couple of weeks until we found someone” in 1986. He’s been handling the finances and maintenance ever since. Bill has played a significant part in the Seed’s growth and expansion, and daily continues to see that the Seed is a safe and inviting place for the children and staff. Bill loves spending time with his four granddaughters and grandson, as well as his two daughters and wife Mary. He enjoys helping out with projects that make learning fun and exciting for the students and teachers.

Astraea Rohloff, Assistant Director
Astraea Rohloff is the Assistant Director. Her educational career started in the garage of the Glover house at the ripe old age of six months when Mary decided to start the Seed. Astraea has worked at the Seed on and off since she was fifteen years old. She received her Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education from ASU and her Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. Astraea worked in the public sector teaching 1st and 3rd grade in Kyrene and Chandler. Her primary focus this year is to support the students, staff, administrators, and parents here at Awakening Seed. In Astraea's free time she enjoys spending time with her family, attending ASU football games, and vacationing in Minnesota. Jon and Astraea are the proud parents of Grace-Deb's class, Tre-Jamie's class, and Faith-Sarah's class!

Ana Gutiérrez, Office Manager
Ana came from Guanajuato, which is located in central México, in 1996, and she started working at the Seed right away. Ana worked four and a half years as an aide in the kindergarten class and then she had the opportunity to be the Office Manager, the nurse, the ice pack distributor, the Spanish teacher, the seamstress, the babysitter, you name it. She considers herself a happy and thankful person. She really doesn’t have a hobby but she likes painting, dancing, singing, and she is still learning how to play the guitar. Additionally, Ana became a U.S citizen last April! Every summer and winter Ana goes to her hometown to visit her family and when it is time to come back she is ready because she loves to be part of the Seed community. Ana will be very pleased to serve you and she welcomes you to the Seed!

Sandra Johansson, After School Director
Sandra Johansson became a member of the Seed Staff in the spring of 2007. She was born in Tachikawa, Japan, but was raised most of her life in Phoenix. After spending 7 years in Columbus, Ohio, she moved back to Phoenix and immediately joined the Seed staff upon arrival. In Ohio she worked for two years in the after school program for the Worthington School District as a Recreation Leader and Assistant After School Director. In 1997 she spent a year teaching English to Elementary School Students in Osaka, Japan. She thoroughly enjoys working at the Seed and hopes to foster a sense of community within the after school program by modeling peaceful conflict resolution and providing opportunities for lots of laughter. She is currently pursuing a degree in Elementary Education and looks forward to another great year at the Seed. She has been married for 5 years and shares her home with her cats Casey and Chilli. Sandra always appreciates hearing your thoughts or answering questions that you may be pondering.

Stephanie Peyton,
Resource Cordinator
Stephanie Peyton has been working at the Seed for nine years. This is first year as the Resource Coordinator. Stephanie has taught several classes at this school including the preschool, kindergarten and 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. She has a Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Education. Stephanie has done extensive work with special needs children, especially those with autism spectrum disorders. She has presented her classroom model at several conferences sponsored by the Arizona Department of Education. She has taught special education classes at ASU for pre-service teachers. Stephanie has several additional trainings and certifications that will enhance our new resource program. Stephanie has been married for eight years and has a daughter named Sarah Beth, who is starting at the Seed this fall.

LEAD TEACHERS

Sarah Richeal, Toddler 1's Teacher
Sarah Richeal was a student at Awakening Seed from 1977 to 1985. She has two daughters, Zoë, who is a recent Seed graduate, and Emily, who is a 4th grader at the Seed. 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.

Jamie Larson, Toddler 2’s Teacher
Jamie began working at Awakening Seed in the after school program in 2004-05 school year. She worked for two years as the P.E. teacher and this will be her second year teaching the toddler 2’s. Jamie graduated from ASU in 2007 with a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education and Child Development. Jamie and her husband Erik have a baby boy, Jeremiah, who was born this past December. Jamie’s new found love of becoming a “mommy” has helped spark an enthusiasm for caring for and teaching the toddlers.

Amy Bottani, Preschool 2.5/3’s Teacher
Since she first heard about a school where toddlers do their own gardening, Amy Bottani has been looking for a way to do whatever it takes to be part of Awakening Seed School. She started out as an intern in Kindergarten, worked in the after school program, was a substitute teacher, and an assistant in the Toddler 1’s. She was the lead toddler teacher in summer school and is thrilled to be teaching the Preschool 2.5/3’s class. Amy graduated in December from ASU with a K-8 Teaching Certificate and Early Childhood endorsement. Amy lives in Tempe with her husband and parakeet. Amy loves traveling, reading, and making art.

Kevin Veillette, Preschool 3’s Teacher
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 fifth year working with the preschool 3’s. 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 real-life experiences and while nurturing a foundation of community and overall safety.

Deb Hopkins, Preschool 4’s Teacher
This is Debra’s fourth year at Awakening Seed and she is the lead teacher in the Preschool 4's class. She started in January of 2005 as the assistant in Mary's 4th/5th grade class. Her children, Hayden (age 7) and Hannah (age 9), started at the Seed when they were toddlers. Prior to the Seed, she worked for the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art as curator of exhibitions. She has published numerous essays on art including several catalog essays. She has a BFA in studio art from the University of Arizona and has taught paper making and book binding workshops to children and adults. She recently completed her training as a yoga teacher through Desert Song Yoga in Phoenix.

Kai Strogen , Pre-K Teacher
Kai Strogen is the lead teacher for the Pre-K class this year. This will be her fourth year teaching. She taught at a charter school, Edu-Prize for two years, public school for a year and now joins our staff. Kai grew up in Arizona but has traveled to many places around the world. She has lived in both Israel and Scotland for some time. She is married to Kevin who is a Mesa firefighter. They have one son, Owen, who will be in Sarah’s class this year. Kai graduated from ASU Main with a Bachelors degree in Marketing and decided to go back and get her Masters Degree in Education. She has over ten years of experience working for and with children. She enjoys reading, writing, running, and swimming. She has two dogs at home named Tank and Peanut, whom she and her husband raised as puppies. Her goal as an educator is to work with families to provide the best learning environment for their child and for all children in the class. Kai’s goal this year is to find her place in the Seed community.

Kerri Tornow, Kindergarten Teacher
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 a freshman at ASU and Aaron is a freshman at Arcadia High School. Both boys started their education as preschoolers at Awakening Seed. Kerri graduated from ASU and has many years of experience working with preschoolers, kindergarteners and even 2nd graders. She enjoys art and children’s literature. She also loves to go camping, creating crafts, drawing and traveling with her family and their dog, Buddy. 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, 1st/2nd Grade Teacher
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 20th 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. Her primary interest is for children to love learning and her main focus is for her children to love to read. You may reach her by chatting with her or leaving a note in the office or classroom.

Aimee Benton Arnold,
3rd/4th Grade Teacher
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 a seven-year-old daughter at the Seed. Aimee has taught 1st through 5th grades, and will teach 3rd/4th grade 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 sometimes teaches 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. She is also interested in the work of Dr. Mel Levine, and has attended conferences concerning his work with differences in children’s learning. Aimee is pregnant and expecting her second daughter to arrive sometime in September.

ASSISTANT TEACHERS, AFTER SCHOOL & SUPPORT STAFF

Meryl Cowley, Toddler 1's Assistant/After School
Meryl grew up in Canada and moved to Phoenix in 2006. She received her Bachelors in Sociology from Keene State College in New Hampshire and has spent the last two years working with Arizona’s foster care youth. She loves working with children and currently volunteers as a group support leader at the New Song Center for Grieving Children. She also teaches piano lessons. Meryl strongly believes in the importance of a nurturing and creative learning environment for children and is excited to join the Toddler 1’s teaching staff. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, traveling, playing music with friends, cooking, dancing, and spending time with her family.

Lyndsy Sprague, Toddler 1’s Assistant
Lyndsy grew up in Tempe, Arizona, and loves Arizona! She is currently attending ASU and pursuing a degree in Family and Human Development, with plans to continue her education to become an occupational therapist. She has worked with children for the last seven years. She is a teaching assistant in the Toddler 1’s class and this is her second year at Awakening Seed.

Krisanne DenBoer, Toddler 2 ’s Assistant/After School
This is Krisanne’s first year at Awakening Seed. She joined the Seed staff this summer. She is originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she earned her BA in Communication and Theater Arts. She was a founding cast member of Opera Theater of the Rockies and performed with the Colorado Opera Festival for several seasons. In 2006, she received her MFA in Acting from the University of Montana. While at UM, Krisanne taught introductory acting classes and volunteered with the Missoula Children's Theater. She came to Phoenix with her husband John, who is completing his first year of residency at Barrow Neurological Institute. Krisanne plans teach in an acting school suited for all ages.

Kelsey Chrystal, Preschool 2.5/3's Assistant, After School Staff
Kelsey Chrystal is originally from Kalamazoo Michigan, coming to Arizona to attend Arizona State University. She currently attends Scottsdale Culinary Institute and is pursuing a degree in Baking and Patisserie. Kelsey has worked with kids the past five years working at The Young Chefs Academy, instructing children in cooking. She has also been a nanny. In her free time she enjoys cooking, traveling and art. Kelsey loves working with children and that is why she decided to work at the Seed.

Emily Murphy, Preschool 3’s Assistant
This is Emily’s second year as the assistant in the Seed’s Preschool 3’s classroom. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from Arizona State University, she married an alumni 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 first moved to Tempe, where she now lives, nine years ago. In her spare time, Emily enjoys cooking, camping, reading and visiting farmer’s markets. Before joining the Seed staff, she spent the summer working as a substitute kindergarten teacher at Laurel Street Preschool in Steamboat Springs, Colo. Emily would love to hear from you.

Billie Cruz, Preschool 4's Assistant
Billie Cruz is the assistant in the Preschool 4's class with Deb. She grew up in Colorado but ended up staying in Arizona after receiving her B.S. at Arizona State University. This is her 6th year working at the Seed. Billie has two sons, Matthew, age 11 and Ethan, age 8. Matthew is a graduate of the Seed and currently attends Arizona School for the Arts and Ethan is a 4th grader in Aimme's class at the Seed. Billie enjoys walking her dog, camping, hiking, music and traveling.

Katie Loughlin, PreK Assistant
Katie is an Arizona native. She received her BA in Anthropology from Arizona State University. She has had previous experience as a teacher's aide for Adobe Montessori and the YMCA. This is her first year at the Awakening Seed and is excited to be a part of an educational curriculum for children that emphasizes sustainability and cultural diversity. 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.

Candice Porter, Kindergarten Assistant/After School
Candice is an Arizona native. This is her first year on the Seed Staff. She graduated from Desert Ridge High School in 2007. She currently attends MCC and hopes to transfer to Arizona State University to receive a degree in Early Childhood Development. She previously worked for Foundation for Blind Children as a preschool teacher’s assistant. She has a passion for working with children and loves watching them grow and discover new things. She hopes to learn from the staff, students, and parents at the Seed to help her develop more as a teacher. When she isn’t working, she spends her time cheering on PACE Phoenix, a world champion all-star cheer team.

Carly Guzman, 1st/2nd Grade Assistant/Student Teacher
Carly Guzman grew up in Orange County, California and moved to Arizona to attend ASU. She is currently completing her B.A. in Early Childhood Education and will be conducting her student teaching this fall. Carly found out about the Seed through one of her courses which was taught by Beth Giacalone. She became very interested in the school and decided to complete one of her internships at the Seed. Every since her internship, she has been involved with the Seed by working during summer school and now during the regular school year. Carly loves being involved in many different areas and is always looking for new experiences to help her grow.

Kaylee Dunlap, 3rd/4th Grade Assistant
Kaylee Dunlap is an Arizona native. She is currently an education major at Mesa Community College with plans of transferring to ASU in the near future. Kaylee discovered Awakening Seed School while doing an observation and was instantly attracted to the school's mission and philosophy. As the mother of a one-year-old girl, she realized what a unique opportunity the school offers its students. She looks forward to growing both personally and professionally with Awakening Seed School. In her free time, Kaylee enjoys spending time with her family, going on bike rides, eating good vegetarian/vegan food, and reading.

Samantha Baluta, After School
Samantha spent the majority of her life in the suburbs of Chicago and then moved to Tucson in 2005. She loves Arizona and is currently attending Arizona State University working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. In her free time she loves to go to ASU football games, play soccer, and go to concerts. This is her first year on the Seed staff. Before joining the Seed she worked at a preschool on the ASU campus. She loves being around children and seeing how different all of their creations can be. She looks forward to learning more about the Seed’s educational opportunities.

Jenna Hoppe, After School staff
Jenna was born in the Phoenix area and has lived in town all her life. She graduated from Dobson High School in May 2008 and is currently attending Arizona State University with a major in Mathematics. Jenna has been around the Seed since she was 3. She is a Seed alumnus, former intern, and has been a summer assistant. She is very excited to be a part of the After School program. In her spare time, she enjoys riding her horse, playing cards, reading, and spending time with her friends and family.

Melanie Raquel Solarez, After School staff
Melanie is actually an Arizona native, born and raised in Phoenix. She is currently working on her Elementary Education degree at South Mountain Community College and plans on attending NAU in the Fall. Melanie has only been at The Seed since the Fall of 2008 but already feels that she has learned a lot about the teacher that she wants to become because of her time here. She believes that it is imperative for children to be taught in a creative and nurturing environment and loves the thought of having children more in tuned with nature. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her loved ones, reading, going dancing, baking, trying new foods, and even traveling.

SPECIALS TEACHERS

Diane Hughes, Spanish Teacher
This is Diane's second year as the Spanish Teacher at Awakening Seed. She previously worked at the Seed for seven years while pursuing her teaching certification. She has a B.A. in Fine Arts and Spanish, a minor in Latin-American Studies and a Post-Baccalaureate certificate in Elementary Education, all from ASU. Her goal is to teach Spanish in a meaningful way for all the students at the Seed and support the staff in their Spanish language development as well. In her spare time she loves to knit, draw, crochet and is currently learning jewelry making. She also loves to spend time with her husband and children, both of whom are very happy attending the Seed.

Anna Blocher-Rubin, P. E. Teacher
Anna Blocher-Rubin is joining the Seed team with spunk and pride for P. E. So far her teaching career has consisted of working as a special education teacher in both a regular school setting and virtually, and has been a children’s yoga instructor for both regular and special needs children, for just over a year. She graduated from ASU in 2004 with Bachelors in Special Education, and then completed her yoga certification through South West Institute of Healing Arts in 2007. Currently she is working on her masters through Grand Canyon University in Education and Technology. Anna is married and has two children at the Seed, ages 2 and 4. She has always loved working with children and enjoys sports, yoga, Tai Chi, hiking, dance, traveling, music, movies and exploring other cultures. Her goal is to expose children to a healthy lifestyle through being physically active in team collaboration, yoga, creative movement, techniques to decrease everyday stress, and learn about healthy choices when eating.

Sariah Sharp, Music Teacher
Sariah Sharp just started here at the Seed after hearing about this unique school from a friend. Sariah has a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Idaho and an Associate of Arts in Music Performance from Ricks College. She has taught band, orchestra, and choir, been a substitute teacher, and was both choreographer and instructor for color guards (in marching bands) in Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona. This is her third year in Arizona, and Sariah is still not used to this heat! Sariah grew up all over the US and came to Arizona most recently from Reno, Nevada and Preston, Idaho. Sariah is married to Ches, a band and orchestra teacher, and they have three very active sons (Aiden, Dallin, and Parker). Bedsides music, Sariah loves dancing, writing, reading, and is currently preparing for the 3-Day Walk for Breast Cancer Research. She thrives on having a busy life!



	Staff Links: Administration Mary Glover, Director/Co-founder Bill Glover, Business and Facility Manager Astraea Rohloff, Assistant Director Ana Gutiérrez, Office Manager Sandra Johansson, After School Director Stephanie Peyton, Resource Coordinator Lead Teachers Sarah Richeal, Toddler 1’s Jamie Larson, Toddler 2’s Amy Bottani, Toddler 2.5’s/3's Kevin Veillette, Preschool 3’s Deb Hopkins, Preschool 4’s Kai Strogen, Pre-K Kerri Tornow, Kindergarten Becky Lewis, 1st/2nd Grade Aimee Benton Arnold, 3rd/4th Grade Assistant Teachers/ After School/Support Staff Meryl Cowley, Toddler 1’s/After School Lyndsy Sprague, Toddler 1’s Assistant Krisanne DenBoer, Toddler 2’s Assistant/ After School Kelsey Chrystal, Preschool 2.5 & 3's Assistant Emily Murphy, Preschool 3's Assistant Billie Cruz, Preschool 4's Assistant Katie Loughlin, PreK Assistant Candice Porter, Kindergarten Assistant Carly Guzman, 1st/2nd Grade Assistant/ Student Teacher Kaylee Dunlap, 3rd/4th Grade Assistant Melanie Solarez, After School staff Jenna Hoppe, After School staff Specials Teachers Diane Hughes, Spanish Teacher Anna Blocher-Rubin, P. E. Teacher Sariah Sharp, Music “I remember how often the teachers said yes. I felt like once I came here my voice started to be heard. Everyone listens to you here. “ — Aimee	Awakening Seed School Staff 2008-2009 ADMINISTRATION Mary Glover, Director/Co-founder Mary Glover is the Director and Co-founder of Awakening Seed School. She established the school in 1977 when her two daughters, Sarah and Astraea, were young and has been teaching and directing the school ever since. She has a B.A. in Elementary Ed with an emphasis on Early Childhood Ed and an M.A. in Elementary Ed from ASU. Mary has taught preschool through 5th grade, and is now the full time Director. She is also a certified yoga instructor. Mary has published numerous articles and books, including Making School by Hand, A Garden of Poets, and Surprising Destinations. Outside of school, Mary enjoys spending time with her family (especially her husband Bill), gardening, writing poetry, creating art, and practicing yoga. Bill Glover, Business and Facility Manager Bill Glover is the Business and Facility Manager. He has a strong background in business and management, and has operated his own business for 38 years. Among his many positions, Bill was the Arizona logistics coordinator for Hands Across America. Prior to becoming the Business and Facilities Manager at the Seed, Bill was in the construction business and took the position at the Seed “for a couple of weeks until we found someone” in 1986. He’s been handling the finances and maintenance ever since. Bill has played a significant part in the Seed’s growth and expansion, and daily continues to see that the Seed is a safe and inviting place for the children and staff. Bill loves spending time with his four granddaughters and grandson, as well as his two daughters and wife Mary. He enjoys helping out with projects that make learning fun and exciting for the students and teachers. Astraea Rohloff, Assistant Director Astraea Rohloff is the Assistant Director. Her educational career started in the garage of the Glover house at the ripe old age of six months when Mary decided to start the Seed. Astraea has worked at the Seed on and off since she was fifteen years old. She received her Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education from ASU and her Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. Astraea worked in the public sector teaching 1st and 3rd grade in Kyrene and Chandler. Her primary focus this year is to support the students, staff, administrators, and parents here at Awakening Seed. In Astraea's free time she enjoys spending time with her family, attending ASU football games, and vacationing in Minnesota. Jon and Astraea are the proud parents of Grace-Deb's class, Tre-Jamie's class, and Faith-Sarah's class! Ana Gutiérrez, Office Manager Ana came from Guanajuato, which is located in central México, in 1996, and she started working at the Seed right away. Ana worked four and a half years as an aide in the kindergarten class and then she had the opportunity to be the Office Manager, the nurse, the ice pack distributor, the Spanish teacher, the seamstress, the babysitter, you name it. She considers herself a happy and thankful person. She really doesn’t have a hobby but she likes painting, dancing, singing, and she is still learning how to play the guitar. Additionally, Ana became a U.S citizen last April! Every summer and winter Ana goes to her hometown to visit her family and when it is time to come back she is ready because she loves to be part of the Seed community. Ana will be very pleased to serve you and she welcomes you to the Seed! Sandra Johansson, After School Director Sandra Johansson became a member of the Seed Staff in the spring of 2007. She was born in Tachikawa, Japan, but was raised most of her life in Phoenix. After spending 7 years in Columbus, Ohio, she moved back to Phoenix and immediately joined the Seed staff upon arrival. In Ohio she worked for two years in the after school program for the Worthington School District as a Recreation Leader and Assistant After School Director. In 1997 she spent a year teaching English to Elementary School Students in Osaka, Japan. She thoroughly enjoys working at the Seed and hopes to foster a sense of community within the after school program by modeling peaceful conflict resolution and providing opportunities for lots of laughter. She is currently pursuing a degree in Elementary Education and looks forward to another great year at the Seed. She has been married for 5 years and shares her home with her cats Casey and Chilli. Sandra always appreciates hearing your thoughts or answering questions that you may be pondering. Stephanie Peyton, Resource Cordinator Stephanie Peyton has been working at the Seed for nine years. This is first year as the Resource Coordinator. Stephanie has taught several classes at this school including the preschool, kindergarten and 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. She has a Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Education. Stephanie has done extensive work with special needs children, especially those with autism spectrum disorders. She has presented her classroom model at several conferences sponsored by the Arizona Department of Education. She has taught special education classes at ASU for pre-service teachers. Stephanie has several additional trainings and certifications that will enhance our new resource program. Stephanie has been married for eight years and has a daughter named Sarah Beth, who is starting at the Seed this fall. LEAD TEACHERS Sarah Richeal, Toddler 1's Teacher Sarah Richeal was a student at Awakening Seed from 1977 to 1985. She has two daughters, Zoë, who is a recent Seed graduate, and Emily, who is a 4th grader at the Seed. 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. Jamie Larson, Toddler 2’s Teacher Jamie began working at Awakening Seed in the after school program in 2004-05 school year. She worked for two years as the P.E. teacher and this will be her second year teaching the toddler 2’s. Jamie graduated from ASU in 2007 with a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education and Child Development. Jamie and her husband Erik have a baby boy, Jeremiah, who was born this past December. Jamie’s new found love of becoming a “mommy” has helped spark an enthusiasm for caring for and teaching the toddlers. Amy Bottani, Preschool 2.5/3’s Teacher Since she first heard about a school where toddlers do their own gardening, Amy Bottani has been looking for a way to do whatever it takes to be part of Awakening Seed School. She started out as an intern in Kindergarten, worked in the after school program, was a substitute teacher, and an assistant in the Toddler 1’s. She was the lead toddler teacher in summer school and is thrilled to be teaching the Preschool 2.5/3’s class. Amy graduated in December from ASU with a K-8 Teaching Certificate and Early Childhood endorsement. Amy lives in Tempe with her husband and parakeet. Amy loves traveling, reading, and making art. Kevin Veillette, Preschool 3’s Teacher 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 fifth year working with the preschool 3’s. 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 real-life experiences and while nurturing a foundation of community and overall safety. Deb Hopkins, Preschool 4’s Teacher This is Debra’s fourth year at Awakening Seed and she is the lead teacher in the Preschool 4's class. She started in January of 2005 as the assistant in Mary's 4th/5th grade class. Her children, Hayden (age 7) and Hannah (age 9), started at the Seed when they were toddlers. Prior to the Seed, she worked for the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art as curator of exhibitions. She has published numerous essays on art including several catalog essays. She has a BFA in studio art from the University of Arizona and has taught paper making and book binding workshops to children and adults. She recently completed her training as a yoga teacher through Desert Song Yoga in Phoenix. Kai Strogen , Pre-K Teacher Kai Strogen is the lead teacher for the Pre-K class this year. This will be her fourth year teaching. She taught at a charter school, Edu-Prize for two years, public school for a year and now joins our staff. Kai grew up in Arizona but has traveled to many places around the world. She has lived in both Israel and Scotland for some time. She is married to Kevin who is a Mesa firefighter. They have one son, Owen, who will be in Sarah’s class this year. Kai graduated from ASU Main with a Bachelors degree in Marketing and decided to go back and get her Masters Degree in Education. She has over ten years of experience working for and with children. She enjoys reading, writing, running, and swimming. She has two dogs at home named Tank and Peanut, whom she and her husband raised as puppies. Her goal as an educator is to work with families to provide the best learning environment for their child and for all children in the class. Kai’s goal this year is to find her place in the Seed community. Kerri Tornow, Kindergarten Teacher 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 a freshman at ASU and Aaron is a freshman at Arcadia High School. Both boys started their education as preschoolers at Awakening Seed. Kerri graduated from ASU and has many years of experience working with preschoolers, kindergarteners and even 2nd graders. She enjoys art and children’s literature. She also loves to go camping, creating crafts, drawing and traveling with her family and their dog, Buddy. 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, 1st/2nd Grade Teacher 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 20th 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. Her primary interest is for children to love learning and her main focus is for her children to love to read. You may reach her by chatting with her or leaving a note in the office or classroom. Aimee Benton Arnold, 3rd/4th Grade Teacher 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 a seven-year-old daughter at the Seed. Aimee has taught 1st through 5th grades, and will teach 3rd/4th grade 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 sometimes teaches 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. She is also interested in the work of Dr. Mel Levine, and has attended conferences concerning his work with differences in children’s learning. Aimee is pregnant and expecting her second daughter to arrive sometime in September. ASSISTANT TEACHERS, AFTER SCHOOL & SUPPORT STAFF Meryl Cowley, Toddler 1's Assistant/After School Meryl grew up in Canada and moved to Phoenix in 2006. She received her Bachelors in Sociology from Keene State College in New Hampshire and has spent the last two years working with Arizona’s foster care youth. She loves working with children and currently volunteers as a group support leader at the New Song Center for Grieving Children. She also teaches piano lessons. Meryl strongly believes in the importance of a nurturing and creative learning environment for children and is excited to join the Toddler 1’s teaching staff. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, traveling, playing music with friends, cooking, dancing, and spending time with her family. Lyndsy Sprague, Toddler 1’s Assistant Lyndsy grew up in Tempe, Arizona, and loves Arizona! She is currently attending ASU and pursuing a degree in Family and Human Development, with plans to continue her education to become an occupational therapist. She has worked with children for the last seven years. She is a teaching assistant in the Toddler 1’s class and this is her second year at Awakening Seed. Krisanne DenBoer, Toddler 2 ’s Assistant/After School This is Krisanne’s first year at Awakening Seed. She joined the Seed staff this summer. She is originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she earned her BA in Communication and Theater Arts. She was a founding cast member of Opera Theater of the Rockies and performed with the Colorado Opera Festival for several seasons. In 2006, she received her MFA in Acting from the University of Montana. While at UM, Krisanne taught introductory acting classes and volunteered with the Missoula Children's Theater. She came to Phoenix with her husband John, who is completing his first year of residency at Barrow Neurological Institute. Krisanne plans teach in an acting school suited for all ages. Kelsey Chrystal, Preschool 2.5/3's Assistant, After School Staff Kelsey Chrystal is originally from Kalamazoo Michigan, coming to Arizona to attend Arizona State University. She currently attends Scottsdale Culinary Institute and is pursuing a degree in Baking and Patisserie. Kelsey has worked with kids the past five years working at The Young Chefs Academy, instructing children in cooking. She has also been a nanny. In her free time she enjoys cooking, traveling and art. Kelsey loves working with children and that is why she decided to work at the Seed. Emily Murphy, Preschool 3’s Assistant This is Emily’s second year as the assistant in the Seed’s Preschool 3’s classroom. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from Arizona State University, she married an alumni 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 first moved to Tempe, where she now lives, nine years ago. In her spare time, Emily enjoys cooking, camping, reading and visiting farmer’s markets. Before joining the Seed staff, she spent the summer working as a substitute kindergarten teacher at Laurel Street Preschool in Steamboat Springs, Colo. Emily would love to hear from you. Billie Cruz, Preschool 4's Assistant Billie Cruz is the assistant in the Preschool 4's class with Deb. She grew up in Colorado but ended up staying in Arizona after receiving her B.S. at Arizona State University. This is her 6th year working at the Seed. Billie has two sons, Matthew, age 11 and Ethan, age 8. Matthew is a graduate of the Seed and currently attends Arizona School for the Arts and Ethan is a 4th grader in Aimme's class at the Seed. Billie enjoys walking her dog, camping, hiking, music and traveling. Katie Loughlin, PreK Assistant Katie is an Arizona native. She received her BA in Anthropology from Arizona State University. She has had previous experience as a teacher's aide for Adobe Montessori and the YMCA. This is her first year at the Awakening Seed and is excited to be a part of an educational curriculum for children that emphasizes sustainability and cultural diversity. 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. Candice Porter, Kindergarten Assistant/After School Candice is an Arizona native. This is her first year on the Seed Staff. She graduated from Desert Ridge High School in 2007. She currently attends MCC and hopes to transfer to Arizona State University to receive a degree in Early Childhood Development. She previously worked for Foundation for Blind Children as a preschool teacher’s assistant. She has a passion for working with children and loves watching them grow and discover new things. She hopes to learn from the staff, students, and parents at the Seed to help her develop more as a teacher. When she isn’t working, she spends her time cheering on PACE Phoenix, a world champion all-star cheer team. Carly Guzman, 1st/2nd Grade Assistant/Student Teacher Carly Guzman grew up in Orange County, California and moved to Arizona to attend ASU. She is currently completing her B.A. in Early Childhood Education and will be conducting her student teaching this fall. Carly found out about the Seed through one of her courses which was taught by Beth Giacalone. She became very interested in the school and decided to complete one of her internships at the Seed. Every since her internship, she has been involved with the Seed by working during summer school and now during the regular school year. Carly loves being involved in many different areas and is always looking for new experiences to help her grow. Kaylee Dunlap, 3rd/4th Grade Assistant Kaylee Dunlap is an Arizona native. She is currently an education major at Mesa Community College with plans of transferring to ASU in the near future. Kaylee discovered Awakening Seed School while doing an observation and was instantly attracted to the school's mission and philosophy. As the mother of a one-year-old girl, she realized what a unique opportunity the school offers its students. She looks forward to growing both personally and professionally with Awakening Seed School. In her free time, Kaylee enjoys spending time with her family, going on bike rides, eating good vegetarian/vegan food, and reading. Samantha Baluta, After School Samantha spent the majority of her life in the suburbs of Chicago and then moved to Tucson in 2005. She loves Arizona and is currently attending Arizona State University working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. In her free time she loves to go to ASU football games, play soccer, and go to concerts. This is her first year on the Seed staff. Before joining the Seed she worked at a preschool on the ASU campus. She loves being around children and seeing how different all of their creations can be. She looks forward to learning more about the Seed’s educational opportunities. Jenna Hoppe, After School staff Jenna was born in the Phoenix area and has lived in town all her life. She graduated from Dobson High School in May 2008 and is currently attending Arizona State University with a major in Mathematics. Jenna has been around the Seed since she was 3. She is a Seed alumnus, former intern, and has been a summer assistant. She is very excited to be a part of the After School program. In her spare time, she enjoys riding her horse, playing cards, reading, and spending time with her friends and family. Melanie Raquel Solarez, After School staff Melanie is actually an Arizona native, born and raised in Phoenix. She is currently working on her Elementary Education degree at South Mountain Community College and plans on attending NAU in the Fall. Melanie has only been at The Seed since the Fall of 2008 but already feels that she has learned a lot about the teacher that she wants to become because of her time here. She believes that it is imperative for children to be taught in a creative and nurturing environment and loves the thought of having children more in tuned with nature. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her loved ones, reading, going dancing, baking, trying new foods, and even traveling. SPECIALS TEACHERS Diane Hughes, Spanish Teacher This is Diane's second year as the Spanish Teacher at Awakening Seed. She previously worked at the Seed for seven years while pursuing her teaching certification. She has a B.A. in Fine Arts and Spanish, a minor in Latin-American Studies and a Post-Baccalaureate certificate in Elementary Education, all from ASU. Her goal is to teach Spanish in a meaningful way for all the students at the Seed and support the staff in their Spanish language development as well. In her spare time she loves to knit, draw, crochet and is currently learning jewelry making. She also loves to spend time with her husband and children, both of whom are very happy attending the Seed. Anna Blocher-Rubin, P. E. Teacher Anna Blocher-Rubin is joining the Seed team with spunk and pride for P. E. So far her teaching career has consisted of working as a special education teacher in both a regular school setting and virtually, and has been a children’s yoga instructor for both regular and special needs children, for just over a year. She graduated from ASU in 2004 with Bachelors in Special Education, and then completed her yoga certification through South West Institute of Healing Arts in 2007. Currently she is working on her masters through Grand Canyon University in Education and Technology. Anna is married and has two children at the Seed, ages 2 and 4. She has always loved working with children and enjoys sports, yoga, Tai Chi, hiking, dance, traveling, music, movies and exploring other cultures. Her goal is to expose children to a healthy lifestyle through being physically active in team collaboration, yoga, creative movement, techniques to decrease everyday stress, and learn about healthy choices when eating. Sariah Sharp, Music Teacher Sariah Sharp just started here at the Seed after hearing about this unique school from a friend. Sariah has a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Idaho and an Associate of Arts in Music Performance from Ricks College. She has taught band, orchestra, and choir, been a substitute teacher, and was both choreographer and instructor for color guards (in marching bands) in Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona. This is her third year in Arizona, and Sariah is still not used to this heat! Sariah grew up all over the US and came to Arizona most recently from Reno, Nevada and Preston, Idaho. Sariah is married to Ches, a band and orchestra teacher, and they have three very active sons (Aiden, Dallin, and Parker). Bedsides music, Sariah loves dancing, writing, reading, and is currently preparing for the 3-Day Walk for Breast Cancer Research. She thrives on having a busy life!
	© Awakening Seed School
	Curriculum \| Teachers \| Parents \| Calendar \| Tuition & Fees \| School Info