Meet the faculty & staff at awakening seed school
Assistant Teachers
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.
Saki Nabeshima | Toddler 2s 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.
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!
Sonia Roger | Preschool 3s 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 be at Awakening Seed again!
Education: Sonia is a graduate of Shadow Mountain High School in Paradise Valley.
Eveline Felix | Pre4s 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.
Elizabeth Johnson | PreK Assistant Teacher
About Elizabeth: This is Elizabeth’s first year at the Awakening Seed School. She is very excited to join the community. Before this she worked as a certified tutor, specializing in reading intervention groups with grades Kindergarten-4th grade. She also has 11 years of experience working as an elementary classroom teacher. She enjoys working with children, and loves to watch them grow socially and academically.
Education: Elizabeth graduated from Arizona State University in 2012 with a degree in Bilingual Elementary Education.
For fun: Outside of the classroom, she likes to stay active and spend time with family, friends, and her two wonderful pets, Lilly and Sophie. When relaxing at home, you will usually find her baking something sweet or listening to a good audiobook.
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.
Julian Jacobs | Classroom Sub Assistant Teacher
About Julian: Julian moved from upstate New York to Phoenix five 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 sixth year as an assistant teacher and he is excited to get to know all the students in his capacity as a floating sub.
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. In 2026, Julian earned his Master of Arts from 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.
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.