Meet the faculty & staff at awakening seed school
Assistant Teachers
Elizabeth (Liz) Ventura Ramirez | Toddler 1s Assistant Teacher, After School Toddlers
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 second 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.
Car Emmett | Toddler 1s Assistant Teacher, After School Lead
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 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 have plans to return to school soon.
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.
Sonia Roger | Toddler 2s Assistant Teacher
About Sonia: She was born and raised in Arizona but lived in Virginia for three years and loved it. She has five children and loves having a big family! Two of her children are special needs, and she admits to having a special place in her heart for special needs kids. After being a stay-at-home mom for many years, she went on to becoming a one-on-one instructional assistant for a special needs child in kindergarten and 1st grade through her local school district. Sonia also became an assistant preschool teacher in a general education atmosphere as well as at a Montessori school. She truly enjoys working with children and is super excited to begin at Awakening Seed!
Education: Sonia is a graduate of Shadow Mountain High School in Paradise Valley.
Joscelyn Hinkle | Preschool 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. Her most recent job was at the Småland in IKEA for over two years. Joscelyn was responsible for creating a safe, fun environment for the children to play. This will be Joscelyn’s first year at the Seed where she will be working along side Miss Erin in the Preschool 3s classroom, and she is super excited to be a part of the family! 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!
Lilian Treacy | Preschool 4s Assistant 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 back as an assistant teacher in the Preschool 4s 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. She is currently pursuing her masters in Library and Information Sciences at The University of Arizona.
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.
Eveline Felix | PreK Assistant Teacher
About Eveline: Eveline is passionate about nurturing and supporting children. As a dedicated mother, she has gained invaluable experience in understanding the unique needs and joys of raising her own children. Her love for children extends beyond her family; she has also worked in group homes, where she provided care and guidance to young residents, helping them navigate challenging circumstances. Additionally, she has served as a case aide at a behavioral health clinic, offering compassionate support to children and families dealing with emotional and behavioral challenges. Through her diverse experiences, Eveline has developed a deep empathy and commitment to helping children thrive in all aspects of their lives.
Education: Eveline attended Pima Community College, where she completed nursing preparatory courses. She paused her studies to relocate to Phoenix, focusing on raising her children and managing her small business.
Free time: In her free time, Eveline enjoys spending time with her family and taking her Heeler for walks, while listening to fantasy books or house music.
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 ninth 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 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 Preschool 3s class.
Saki Nabeshima | 1st-2nd Assistant Teacher
About Saki: Saki was born and raised in Kumamoto, Japan. Saki has taught private and group piano lessons since 2000. Saki has worked in the early childhood field since 2005, and has been a Seed staff member since 2012.
Education: Saki received Master of Arts in Liberal Studies with concentration in Theology from Valparaiso University, and Bachelor of Music in Piano Pedagogy from Hastings College. Other relevant trainings include Musikgarten (Early Childhood Music & Movement program for ages 0-9) and Children’s Yoga Teacher certifications.
Free time: Saki finds joy in mindful practices through yoga and Qigong, playing in a guitar ensemble, and spending quality time with her husband, David.
Denyse Carrillo | 3rd-4th Grade Assistant Teacher, After School
Julian Jacobs | Classroom Sub Assistant Teacher
About Julian: Julian moved from upstate New York to Phoenix four years ago, braced for the desert heat. For five years, he worked as a summer lifeguard, supervising children of various ages. This is Julian’s fifth year as an assistant teacher and he is excited to get to know all the students in his capacity as a floating sub and working in the after school program.
Education: Julian is a graduate from Oberlin College and Conservatory in Ohio where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Bachelor of Music in Jazz Drums Performance. He is currently in a masters program in the school of music at ASU.
Free Time: Julian enjoys running, skiing, and traveling, and is always on a quest for the best coffee shop in Phoenix.