Meet the faculty & staff at awakening seed school

Assistant Teachers

Edie Michelena

Toddler 1s Assistant Teacher, Classroom Substitute

About

Edie Michelena | Toddler 1s Assistant Teacher, Classroom Substitute

About Edie: Edie was born in Phoenix and raised in Tempe. She married her high school sweetheart, and they have two wonderful boys, 15 and 19. She was able to spend thirteen years at home with her boys running an in-home day care. They always had activities going on: tie-dye day, days at the park or zoo, and arts and crafts. She and her husband have always been very active in extracurricular activities, helping to coach t-ball and soccer. When the opportunity came for Edie to come on board at Awakening Seed, she couldn’t say no.

Education: Tempe High School.

Free time: In her spare time, Edia and her family love to connect and be together outdoors. They seize every chance they get to hit a dirt road wherever they are.

Emma Sar

Toddler 1s Assistant Teacher

About

Emma Sar | Toddler 1s Assistant Teacher

About Emma: Emma went to the Seed for six years, and both of her younger siblings attended the Seed as well. She graduated from Arizona School for the Arts in 2019. She has been working with kids for seven years as a nanny, babysitter, and in a nursery.

Education: Emma is currently attending Scripps College where she is studying History and Environmental Analysis. She wants to be a history consultant for TV and film.

Free time: Emma enjoys reading, hiking, sewing, dancing, cuddling her cat, and playing her ukulele

Alex Zapien

Toddler 2s Assistant Teacher, After School

About

Alex Zapien | Toddler 2s Assistant Teacher, After School

About Alex: Alex is an Arizona native. This will be her second year assisting at the Seed. She’s been around the Seed’s community for years and values the philosophy. Alex is excited to be behind the scenes now in the Toddler 2 room and cannot wait to grow alongside the toddlers. Alex will also be leading the toddler after school group. She has always loved taking care of children, and began babysitting/nannying for families, including Seed alumni, at a young age.

Education: Alex graduated from Marcos De Niza and went straight to cosmetology school. She plans on going back to school to further her education.

Free time: Alex has a daughter of her own and loves to spend every second of her free time with her family. She has a passion for all things music. From singing to songwriting, she loves it all!

Bryce Gerrich

Early 3s Assistant Teacher, After School

About

Bryce Gerrich | Early 3s Assistant Teacher, After School

About: Bryce is a native Arizonan and proud Seed alum, lucky to have been taught by Mary when he was in 2nd grade. Now he is blown away by the opportunity to work in the world’s most caring and forward-thinking school! His daughter, Ella, started in Toddler 1s the summer of 2017, and both Bryce and Ella have enjoyed every minute. In 2009 Bryce married his dream girl, Katie Gerrich, who has taught choir at McClintock High School in Tempe since 2005. They live in Chandler with their lovable rescue dog, Ice.

Education: Bryce always thought he would be a teacher. However, in school he was drawn to the allure of the business world and completed his bachelors in business management at the University of Phoenix before pursuing a sales career. Now Bryce is thrilled to return to his true passion and he plans to devote his full-time efforts to helping kids.

Free Time: Bryce loves doing anything that interests Ella, and that changes often! On weekends Bryce loves playing and watching soccer. He is a life-long Sun Devils football fan and since 2007 has worked as “spotter” to his broadcaster father-in-law, Tim Healey. Bryce also lives close enough for Sunday dinners and Waffle Wednesdays with his parents, Pat and Stuart, so he gets to thank them often for introducing the whole family to the Seed!

Emilie Ramirez

Preschool 3s Assistant Teacher

About

Emilie Ramirez | Preschool 3s Assistant Teacher

About Emilie: Emilie is a 24-year-old Arizona native. she grew up in Mesa and has always loved working with kids. She has been a habilitation and respite provider for many years. Emilie is currently married and has a two-year-old daughter who attends the Seed.

Education: Emilie is a 2014 graduate of Red Mountain High School in Mesa.

Free time: In her spare time Emilie loves to do creative crafts like sewing, crocheting, and writing. She’s also an huge self proclaimed nerd, and regularly attends comic cons in costume.

Saki Nabeshima

Preschool 4s Assistant Teacher

About

Saki Nabeshima | Preschool 4s Assistant Teacher

About Saki: Saki unexpectedly fell in love with the world of early childhood education during a 12-month internship at a transitional housing program, offering preschool music and movement classes. Her passion for sensibly nurturing young minds and souls has developed through teaching in early childhood classrooms since 2006. This is Saki’s eighth year at the Seed.

Education: Saki received her master’s degree in theology from Valparaiso University in 2005 and her bachelor’s degree in music from Hastings College in 2002. She has received extensive training in early childhood music education from Musikgarten, 95-hour children’s yoga teacher training, and 200-hr yoga teacher training from Desert Song.

Free time: Saki finds balance in life through yoga, essential oils, and spending quality time with her husband, David.

Nicole Plehn

PreK Assistant Teacher

About

Nicole Plehn | PreK Assistant Teacher

About: Nicole is a third generation native of Arizona. Her family has long ties with the Seed, and her husband is an alum. Over the last few years she has fallen in love with the Seed because of the love, devotion, and respect that is given to every child. She has two children who attend the Seed.

Education: Nicole has a bachelors degree from ASU in communications and spent the beginning of her career in the hospitality and real estate industries. She is looking forward to continuing her adventure as a Seed staff member.

Free Time: Nicole spends her time with her husband Patrick and their two children, Jack and Stella. They love doing anything outdoors and spend many hours at the karate studio with their son Jack.

Cylie Krenkel

After School Coordinator, Kindergarten Assistant Teacher

About

Cylie Krenkel | After School Coordinator, Kindergarten Assistant Teacher

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 fifth year at the Seed as the Kindergarten assistant and after school staff member. Cylie served as the interim after school director during summers 2017 and 2018, and the 2017-2018 school year. She is looking forward to spending time laughing and learning with the students, and leading the after school program. 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 will eventually pursue a degree in education, as she wants to become a teacher one day herself.

Free Time: In her free time Cylie enjoys camping, hiking, fishing, and spending time with family and her husband, Josh.

Hannah Laugharn

1st/2nd Grade Assistant Teacher, After School

About

Hannah Laugharn | 1st/2nd Grade Assistant Teacher, After School

About Hannah: Hannah 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. Hannah 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. The Awakening Seed taught her to be kind and compassionate. She is still friends with many of her Seed classmates.

Education: Hannah is attending South Mountain Community College working towards a psychology degree.

Free time: Hannah likes to spend time with friends, making art, and cooking.

Makenna McMillan

3rd/4th Grade Assistant Teacher

About

Makenna McMillan | 3rd/4th Grade Assistant Teacher

Bio: Makenna was born and raised in Southern California and moved to Phoenix in June 2018. Most of her family still resides in California. Before coming to the Seed, Makenna worked in a high school in their counseling office and there, learned to love working with students.

Education: Makenna earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Brigham Young University Idaho in 2017. In May of 2020 Makenna completed her master’s degree in social work from Arizona State University.

Free time: Makenna enjoys reading, trying new restaurants, traveling, spending time with family, and being outside or at the beach. She and her husband love visiting their seven nieces and nephews.

Emily Richeal

Classroom Assistant Teacher

About

Emily Richeal | Classroom Assistant Teacher

About Emily: Emily attended the Seed from time she was 18 months old through 5th grade. Emily was one of the original toddlers in the Seed’s toddler program, taught by her mom, Sarah Balluff, and Kerri Tornow. She is the first second generation alum to be on the Seed staff. The most important thing that Awakening Seed brought her is friendships and how to be respectful. Emily is still friends with some of her classmates from the Seed. She likes working at the Seed because everyone is really friendly and exciting to be around.

Education: Emily is a 2017 high school graduate. She is currently a student at Mesa Community College, studying graphic design.

Free Time: In her free time Emily likes to be with friends, go on hikes, and eat food.