Meet the faculty & staff at awakening seed school

Specials Teachers

Bryce Gerrich

PE, Specials Teacher

About

Bryce Gerrich | PE, Specials Teacher

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. Bryce will be teaching PE, supporting classrooms, and working a few days after school.

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. To continue his learning and growth in this career field, he completed his Masters of Early Education with a Leadership Emphasis in Spring of 2023 from NAU.

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!

Jay Cleveland

Music Teacher

About

Jay Cleveland | Music Teacher

About Jay: This is Jay’s sixteenth year teaching music at the Seed. Jay hopes to share with students his knowledge of music, as well as his love of music and guide them in their use of music in their everyday lives.

Education: Jay graduated from Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri, with degrees in music therapy and music education in 1992. Jay completed his music therapy internship at the Children’s Center for Neurodevelopmental Studies, a school for children with autism and other spectrum disorders.

Free time: When he isn’t working, Jay enjoys reading and spending time with his family, including his wife, Christine, and kids, Emily and Jack. Outside of the classroom, he teaches guitar and other music lessons.

Diane Hughes

Spanish Teacher

About

Diane Hughes | Spanish Teacher

About Diane: Diane is returning for her eighteenth year as the Spanish teacher at Awakening Seed. She has two children who are both Seed graduates!

Education: Diane has a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and Spanish, a minor in Latin-American studies and a post-baccalaureate certificate in elementary education, all from ASU.

Free time: When she isn’t at school, Diane enjoys spending time with her family.