Meet the faculty & staff at awakening seed school
After School
Elizabeth (Liz) Ventura Ramirez | Toddler 1s Assistant Teacher
About Liz: Liz was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and raised in Arizona. She is the second oldest child of six siblings, and has two beautiful girls, one in high school and her youngest in elementary school. She used to volunteer in a kindergarten class at her daughter’s school and has also babysat newborns and toddlers. She enjoys working with children, especially helping them learn and grow every day. This is her third year at the Seed. It’s awesome to be part of a community that values each child’s unique potential and encourages a love for learning.
Education: Liz is a student at South Mountain Community College, and is working on a degree in education. She has taken a child development class, computer usage & application, and some educational classes. Her goal is to become a preschool teacher.
Free time: Liz enjoys movie nights with her husband and two daughters. As a family they love going camping in Sedona to enjoy the nature and take their two dogs that they love so much. She also enjoys baking, cooking Mexican foods, and listening to any kind of music.
Carsyn Emmett | Toddler 1s Assistant Teacher, After School
About: Car was born and raised in Arizona. They are the oldest of 5 kids and are very close with their family. They have years of experience in programs with individuals with developmental disabilities plus respite care and habilitation. They have always loved learning and helping others learn, too. Car is excited to be assisting in the Toddler 1s class again this year, as well as being in the toddler after school program.
Education: Car is a 2019 graduate from American Leadership Academy. They attended Chandler Gilbert Community College for a year, majoring in psychology and is currently taking classes to become an occupational therapist.
Free Time: In their free time, Car loves rock climbing, crafting and reading. They also love spending time with their cats. They frequently camp, hike, and climb outside when it’s cool outside.
Alex Zapien | Toddler 1s Lead Teacher, After School
Joscelyn Hinkle | Early 3s Assistant Teacher, After School
About: Joscelyn is one of the oldest of six children. Joscelyn started working with children at the age of fourteen when she started babysitting. There she learned patience, adaptability, and empathy. She worked at Småland in IKEA for over two years, and was the assistant in the Preschool 3s class last year. This year she is the assistant in the Early 3s class. She enjoys connecting with the children by helping them learn new skills and creating happy core memories.
Education: Joscelyn is looking into pursuing an associates degree in child development.
Free time: In Joscelyn’s free time, she loves to play with her four cats and take her dog on walks. She also really loves anything crafty, including but not limited to, perler beads, bracelet making and sewing projects!
Cylie Krenkel | Kindergarten Assistant Teacher, After School
About Cylie: Cylie is the second oldest of nine kids, six boys and three girls. Cylie has worked with children as a daycare assistant, a nanny, and as a teacher’s assistant in a special needs classroom. This is Cylie’s tenth year at the Seed, serving as the assistant in Kindergarten, Preschool 4s, Preschool 3s, and an after school staff member. Cylie served as the interim after school director during summers 2017 and 2018, and was the after school coordinator from 2017-2023. She is looking forward to assisting in the Kindergarten again this year. She is a hands-on learner who is always willing to take on anything new. She enjoys teaching children as well as learning from them.
Education: Cylie is a 2013 graduate of Fairfax High School in Laveen and has attended classes at South Mountain Community College.
Free Time: In her free time Cylie enjoys camping, hiking, fishing, and spending time with family and her husband, Josh, and daughter, Kelsea, and baby son, Jason. Her daughter, Kelsea, is a full time Seed in the PreK class this year and her son, Jason, is a student in the Toddler 1s.
Lilian Treacy | Preschool 4s Lead Teacher, After School
About Lilian: Lilian was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Arizona when she was four. She began kindergarten at the Seed and stayed here until 3rd grade. She is still friends with many of her Seed friends and is very excited to be the lead teacher in Preschool 4s, after several years as the assistant in the class.
Education: Lilian graduated from Corona del Sol High School in 2016. In 2021 she completed her bachelors degree in Creative Writing at Arizona State University.
Free Time: Lilian loves to write, and can always be found reading a book. She also likes to hike, paint, and spend time with her dogs, Naya and Millie.
Han Laugharn | After School Coordinator
About Han: Han graduated from Horizon Honors High School in 2017. She attended the Seed from the age of two through fifth grade, and interned in the Preschool 4s class for many years after she left. Han worked in the after school program at Horizon for a year and a half, and started subbing and working in the Seed’s after school program in 2017. This is Han’s fourth year as the after school coordinator. Awakening Seed has taught her to be kind and compassionate, and she is still friends with many of her Seed classmates.
Education: Han graduated from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral health services in 2024.
Free time: Han likes to spend time with friends, making art, and cooking.
Julia Hughes | After School Assistant Teacher
About Julia: Julia was born in Guatemala and moved to the U.S when she was one. She attended the Seed as a child growing up and has come back to help out as a summer intern for many years. During her senior year in high school, she officially started working in the after school program. She had a really fun time for her first year! She’s excited to learn about the students’ interests and get to know the teachers more.
Education: Julia graduated high school in 2026 and plans to attend Mesa Community College with a major in psychology beginning in the fall of 2026.
Free Time: In her free time, Julia I likes to play with her two dogs, hike, go for drives, and shop.
