Meet the faculty & staff at awakening seed school
Who Will Teach My Child?
Awakening Seed teachers are experienced, highly trained education professionals who care about the well-being of future generations. They’re compassionate educators striving in a spirit of cooperation to perfect their craft and bring excellence to all learning experiences.
University professors select Awakening Seed as an observation site because of the school’s unique teaching and learning approach. Awakening Seed is the choice of many Arizona State University, Rio Salado College, and South Mountain Community College students for internships or their student teaching experience.
Administration
Danielle Dueppen | Executive Director
About Danielle: This is Danielle’s fifth year in administration at the Seed and her second as executive director. Prior to being part of administration, she was an assistant in the Toddler 1s and PreK, the lead teacher in the Preschool 2.5/3s, and the lead in the 3rd/4th grade class. She is thrilled to be part of a school where children learn rich academic content as well as how to be compassionate citizens of the world.
Education: Originally from Pittsburgh, Danielle graduated from Allegheny College with a degree in psychology and elementary education. Danielle finished her master’s degree in educational leadership through Northern Arizona State University in May 2013. She is a certified principal and holds a K-8 teaching certificate with an endorsement in early childhood education.
Free time: Danielle’s husband, Eric, is a school district administrator, and they have two children, Madeleine and Connor. Outside of school, Danielle enjoys marathoning and staying active with her family.
Mary Glover | Founding Director/Co-founder
About Mary: Mary is the founding director of Awakening Seed School. She and Anne Sager established the school in 1977 when Mary’s two daughters Sarah and Astraea were young, and she has been teaching and directing the school ever since. Mary has taught preschool through 5th grade, and is now the founding director.
Education: Mary has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with an emphasis on early childhood education, and a master’s degree in elementary education from ASU. She is also a certified yoga instructor. Mary has published numerous articles and books, including Making School by Hand, A Garden of Poets, and Surprising Destinations.
Free time: Outside of school, Mary enjoys spending time with her family (especially her husband Bill), gardening, writing poetry, creating art, and practicing yoga. Keep up to date on Mary’s thoughts by reading her blog posts.
Bill Glover | Business and Facility Manager
About Bill: Bill is the business and facility manager. He has a strong background in business and management, and has operated his own business for over 40 years. Among his many positions, Bill was the Arizona logistics coordinator for Hands Across America. Prior to becoming the business and facilities manager at the Seed, Bill was in the construction business and took the position at the Seed “for a couple of weeks until we found someone” in 1986. He’s been handling the finances and maintenance ever since. Bill has played a significant part in the Seed’s growth and expansion, and daily continues to see that the Seed is a safe and inviting place for the children and staff. He enjoys helping out with projects that make learning fun and exciting for the students and teachers.
Free time: Bill loves spending time with his four granddaughters and grandson, as well as his two daughters and wife Mary.
Debbie Moody | Office Manager
Sarah Balluff | Accounts Receivable
About Sarah: Sarah has been a part of Awakening Seed since the start. She attended the Seed through 5th grade. Sarah inspired Awakening Seed to open up enrollment to toddlers and helped shape the program it is today. Five years ago, Sarah “retired” from teaching to further her education. She works part-time as the accounts receivable manager while continuing with her other life goals. Sarah is familiar with many aspects of the day-to-day events of Awakening Seed and is always happy and willing to answer questions or make you feel at home.
Free time: Sarah lives in Phoenix with her husband and one of her two daughters.
Priscilla Bendorovicz | After School Director
About Priscilla: Priscilla is a native Arizonan. She is an artist, specializing in portrait painting as well as still-life. Priscilla loves creating art with the kids. It brings her joy to watch them play and share her art expertise with them through projects. Priscilla has worked in the after-school program, assisted in numerous classes, served as a lead teacher in the Seed’s summer art camp, and this year begins her third year as the after school director.
Education: Priscilla has an associate’s degree in fine arts from Mesa Community College and a bachelor’s degree in art education from Arizona State University.
Free time: In her free time she likes to bake, garden, go to movies and travel. Her future plans are to teach secondary art and/or teach privately.
Lead Teachers
Andrew Olsen | Preschool 3s Lead Teacher
About Andrew: While attending NAU, Andrew was placed at Awakening Seed to complete his coursework and immediately knew where he wanted to teach. This will be Andrew’s first year at the Seed, although he has been teaching children for nearly fifteen years. After instructing swim for many summers, Andrew started his own business teaching children swim lessons in their home pools. Andrew has taught gymnastics lessons to preschoolers and kindergarteners, and even lived in Lake Tahoe, CA for a ski season, teaching children to snowboard.
Education: Andrew earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education and early childhood education from Northern Arizona University. He also has an associate’s degree in psychology from Scottsdale Community College.
Free Time: You can see Andrew riding his mountain bike on South Mountain or shopping at any local hardware store. His hobbies include cycling, dirtbiking and building just about anything. Andrew and his wife, Madison, recently celebrated their one year anniversary and plan to start a family next year.
Gabbi Horst | Early3s Lead Teacher
About Gabbi: Gabbi was born and raised in the Valley of the Sun. She knew that teaching was her calling from a young age. She has worked as a nanny and has spent several years in different classrooms as a volunteer and for practicum experiences. She believes that her diverse experiences have helped her grow as an educator immensely. She finds joy in working with children, watching them learn and grow. She is inspired by their honest and open minds that are full of infinite creativity and possibility. She feels fortunate to have found a school that provides such rich learning opportunities and loves being a part of the Seed community. She looks forward to continuing work and play alongside children throughout their learning experiences.
Education: Gabbi earned her Associates in Arts from Mesa Community College in 2014 along with an Arizona General Education Certificate. She will be graduating from Northern Arizona University in December of 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with an early childhood endorsement.
Free Time: Gabbi enjoys being outdoors, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She loves coffee, U of A baseball, making art, listening to music, and roadtrips. Over long weekends and breaks, you can usually find her relaxing at the beach or exploring in the forests up north.
Mindy Bender-Webster | PreK Lead Teacher
About Mindy: Mindy, a native Arizonan, has always had a passion for working with children. At fifteen, she was an assistant teacher at her family’s dance studio and by eighteen was teaching and choreographing for her own dance classes. In 2003, as a senior at Mountain Pointe High School, she volunteered her afternoons working in classrooms at an elementary school. Over the next few years Mindy continued her hands-on training as a classroom assistant at The Chrysalis Academy, a private school for children with autism. In 2009, she became a certified yoga instructor and in 2010 started her journey at the Seed teaching physical education. She has since been the toddler after school lead, assistant in the Toddler 2s, Preschool 2.5/3s lead and is now the PreK lead teacher.
Education: Mindy holds a Child Development Associate credential through the Care Courses program.
Free Time: In her free time Mindy likes to spend time with her husband Alex and baby son, Easton.
Lesley Chamberlain | 3rd/4th Grade Lead Teacher
About Lesley: This is Lesley’s sixth year on staff at the Seed and her fifth year teaching the 3rd/4th grade class. She previously taught fourth grade for eight years in the Alhambra Elementary School District in Phoenix.
Education: Lesley received her M.A. in Educational Technology from Northern Arizona University and a B.A. in Elementary Education from Arizona State University. She also holds an Arizona teaching certificate with an ESL endorsement.
Free Time: Lesley and her husband, Paul, are Seed parents as well. Their daughter, Berkeley, and son, Reese, are each former Seeds and currently attend school in their Ahwatukee neighborhood. In their spare time, Lesley and her family enjoy traveling, reading, swimming, and spending time together with their two mischievous mutts, Stella and Roo.
Krina Gobster | Toddler 1s Lead Teacher
About Krina: This is Krina’s fifth year as a lead teacher. It it her third year in the Toddler 1s after two years in the Preschool 3s. Prior to teaching, she worked eight years as a lifeguard, five of which she spent teaching swimming lessons during the summers. She spent two years studying at the Seed as an intern and student teacher in both the Preschool 3s and Kindergarten classes. After being hired as an additional part-time assistant and personal assistant in the Kindergarten class, she became the assistant in the 1st/2nd grade class for one year.
Education: Krina graduated with her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from ASU in December of 2011. She is an Arizona certified teacher.
Free time: When she’s not neck-deep in art projects with your children, Krina likes to be making a fun mess at home with her two kids. Both of her children attend the Seed. Her daughter, Georgia, is in 3rd grade and her son, Jaxen, is in kindergarten. Krina and her fiancé, Chester, take the family to Missouri each summer to enjoy some country living before returning back to this amazing school and community.
Deb Hopkins | Preschool 4s Lead Teacher
This is Deb’s 12th year as lead teacher in the Preschool 4s class. Her career at the Seed began the winter of 2004 when she was persuaded to assist in Mary Glover’s 4th/5th grade class. Her life at the Seed began when her children were young. Her son Hayden (age 16) and daughter Hannah (age 18), both proud Seed graduates, first attended the toddler class at age two, have worked at the Seed as summer interns and, recently, her daughter Hannah was hired as an after school staff member. In her former life, Deb worked as curator for many years at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art where she planned, organized and curated exhibitions and wrote about art and contemporary artists such as James Turrell, Wolfgang Laib and others. Deb’s art background influences her multi-disciplinary approach to teaching, at times turning the classroom into an immersive experience. Over the years, the preschoolers have delved into an array of subjects including the Middle Ages, food and culture of the world, the Ice Age, the Amazon rainforest, space, and dinosaurs. The Seed is her family’s second home.
Education: Deb earned her bachelor of fine arts degree in photography from the University of Arizona and has taught paper-making, book binding and photography to children and adults.
Free time: Deb has a passion for cooking, gardening, art, photography and yoga. She’s slowly learning how to play the guitar!
Jenny Limburg | Toddler 2s Lead Teacher
About Jenny: Jenny grew up in Southern California and moved to Arizona in 2009 when a job opportunity brought her family to Phoenix. Jenny and her husband, Daniel, have three children: Megan, Connor, and Mallory (a Seed alum.) This will be Jenny’s thirteenth year teaching preschool and her fifth year teaching in the Toddler 2 classroom. She loves the nurturing environment and creative atmosphere of the Seed.
Education: Jenny graduated from Cal State Long Beach in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in child development and family studies.
Stephanie Peyton | Resource Coordinator
About Stephanie: Stephanie has worked at the Seed forseventeen years and has been the resource coordinator for nine years. She also has a wide range of experience teaching almost all of our grade levels. Stephanie has done extensive work with special needs children, especially those with autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, and visual impairment. She has presented her classroom model at several conferences sponsored by the Arizona Department of Education and works with the Seed teachers to support classroom management and work modifications for students with special needs. She has taught special education classes at ASU for pre-service teachers. She also serves on the board for the Foundation for Blind Children.
Education: Stephanie has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in education focusing on curriculum and instruction. She is an Arizona certified teacher.
Free time: Stephanie and her husband, Justin, have three daughters. Sarah Beth, their oldest, is in the 4th grade at Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center in the Life Skills Program and Hillary is in kindergarten at the Seed. Their youngest, Catherine, is also at the Seed in the Early 3s class.
Kerri Tornow | K-1 Lead Teacher
About Kerri: Kerri, who grew up in Michigan, is the kindergarten teacher. She has been part of the Seed staff since 1984. Kerri has many years of experience working with preschoolers through 2nd graders at the Seed. She also teaches art at the Seed summer art camp. Kerri enjoys children’s art and literature. Her focus is on providing a safe, happy classroom environment in which young children can explore their world and influence their own learning with rich oral expression, creative opportunities, purposeful experiences and strong social connections to their peers and teachers.
Education: Kerri graduated from ASU with a degree in art education and has an Arizona elementary certification with an early childhood endorsement.
Free time: Kerri is married to Roger. They have two sons, Andrew and Aaron. Andrew works in the field of graphic design. Aaron studied kinesiology and now works as a physical therapy technician. Both boys started their educations as Seed preschoolers and graduated from ASU. Kerri loves to draw and create crafts, as well as camp, canoe, hike and travel with her boys and their dogs.
Hanna Beels-Barfoot | 1st/2nd Lead Teacher
About Hanna: Hanna grew up in Tempe and discovered the joy of working with kids at a young age. While in school, she experienced the excitement of the Seed summer art camp working as an assistant. While living in Flagstaff she worked at a Montessori school where she fell in love with elementary school learning. Two years ago she returned to the Seed and was pleased to fill a position as an assistant in the Toddler 1 classroom. This is Hanna’s first year as the lead teacher in the 1st/2nd grade class. She is excited to learn and explore along with her students.
Education: Hanna graduated from NAU in May 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in speech and hearing sciences. In the spring of 2017 she completed a second bachelor’s degree in elementary education, as well as completing her Arizona teaching certification.
Free time: Hanna loves finding hole-in-the-wall coffee shops, cooking and gardening. When she’s not working or doing homework, she enjoys running and camping with her husband and their two dogs.
Assistant Teachers
Madiha Shakeel | Toddler 1s Assistant Teacher
About Madiha: Madiha Shakeel is a very new seed in the Awakening Seed’s garden. Her roots go back to Pakistan and she came to the USA in 2003. Madiha is a passionate individual who is always striving for the best in the field of educating young brains. She started teaching high school students back in 1999 and from then onward has been eager to improve her skills in this field. Early childhood education has inspired her more than anything else. Madiha has been teaching kindergarten and Montessori for a couple of years. She was involved in the YMCA program at Virginia Tech University, in Blacksburg, Virginia, and participated in the English language conversation program on campus. Additionally, she helped with youth programs in Torrance, California, and was an honorary visitor to assisted living residents in Chicago, Illinois on a volunteer basis.
Education: She has completed her master’s degree in English literature.
Free time: She loves cooking, gardening, and traveling.
Darlene Cardon | Toddler 2s Assistant Teacher
Mary Vaughan | Preschool 3s Assistant Teacher
About Mary: Mary grew up in Tempe. She and her husbandhave been married for 29 years and have three grown children. She has worked in preschools since 2005 and is so happy to have found the Awakening Seed School, where she will be starting her third year. She loves to sing and read with the children, plus get messy with glue and glitter and explore and play in the garden areas.
Education: Mary graduated from Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe, and then Arizona State University.
Free Time: In her free time Mary loves to cook, write, and travel.
Emily Richeal | Toddler 1s Assistant Teacher, After School Staff
About Emily: Emily is a 2017 high school graduate. She 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 plans to go to college in the near future to become a teacher.
Free Time: In her free time Emily likes to be with friends, go on hikes, and eat food.
Ashley Ruiz | 1st/2nd Assistant Teacher, After School Toddler Lead
About Ashley: This is Ashley’s second year working at the Seed. She has always found joy and laughter when it comes to engaging with children. She was very young when she learned how to take care of children and their needs in education. Since then, she’s come to learn that there is no greater feeling than to see the impact you have on the kids with whom you have grow close. Ashley is very excited to be the lead in the toddler after school program and assisting in the 1st/2nd grade classroom.
Emily Cleveland | Early 3s Assistant Teacher, After School
About Emily: Emily has lived in Tempe her whole life. She discovered her passion for becoming a teacher by interning at the Seed summer art camp during the summers. As an intern, she could not wait until she was able to become a teacher.
Education: Emily graduated from Tempe Preparatory Academy in the spring of 2016 and is now attending Mesa Community College to receive her degree in early childhood development. She is thrilled to be working in the Early 3s and after school program this year!
Free time: In her free time Emily enjoys hanging out with her friends, spending time with family, going on bike rides, and hiking.
Cylie Krenkel | K-1 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 second year at the Seed as the K-1 assistant and after school staff member. She is looking forward to spending time laughing and learning with the students. She is a hands-on learning who is always willing to learn and take on anything new. She enjoys teaching children as well as learning from them.
Education: Cylie is pursuing 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.
Lisa Gatchalian | 3rd/4th Assistant Teacher, After School
About Lisa: Lisa will continue as the assistant teacher this year in the 3rd/4th grade classroom. She worked in Major League Baseball for ten years prior to staying home with her young children. Her son, Ashton, is in the 1st/2nd grade class, and her daughter, Gwenyth, is in PreK. Lisa enjoys working with children and has worked on and off with them since she began babysitting in junior high school.
Missy Green | PreK Assistant Teacher
About her: Missy was born in Killeen, Texas, and moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, with her family when she was seven. Most of her family still resides in Texas but she does have some family in Arkansas, which is where she gets her love for the Arkansas Razorbacks. This is Missy’s third year at the Seed and in the PreK classroom. Before finding the Seed, Missy taught at Rockhouse Preschool in Flagstaff. She also worked for Universal Cheerleaders Association teaching summer cheerleading camps all over the west coast for eight years. During that time she coached cheer at Flagstaff High School. While being here at the Seed her love for teaching and education has grown and she is thankful for the opportunity to work here and with such great teachers.
Education: Missy is in the process of finishing her bachelor’s degree in early childhood/elementary education at Northern Arizona University through the distant learning program.
Free Time: In her free time you can find Missy at the gym, out exploring, or at the movies.
Helen Mendizabal | Toddler 1s Assistant Teacher
About Helen: Helen was born in Guatemala, but she’s lived in Arizona since she was seven years old. Throughout her life, Helen has worked with children in many ways, as a nanny, in infant care, and working with kids with special needs.
Education: Helen is working on her associate’s degree in early childhood education and eventually plans to pursue a B.A. in early education.
Free time: Helen enjoys reading, playing video games and spending time with her husband, Estevan, and her 17-year-old dog, Mimi.
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 sixth 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.
Yolanda Ruiz | Substitute Teacher
About Yolanda: Yolanda was born and raised in Valencia, Spain and has lived in Phoenix since 2001. She speaks five languages, as many Europeans do, and loves the adventure of traveling. Yolanda has been to many places around the world, including Peru, Paris, Central America, Europe, Indonesia, Morocco, and China. This is her sixth year as a staff member and she is the parent of a Seed alum. She heard of the Seed through friends and the first things she noticed were the close relationship between the staff and students, the gardening, recycling, compost, and the respect and love of the caring teachers. Yolanda hopes to contribute to the school environment through her rich multicultural experiences.
Education: Yolanda graduated in industrial design in Valencia and has a bachelor’s degree in hotel management from University of Nevada Las Vegas. She is currently working on her Child Development Associate credential.
Free time: Yolanda enjoys cooking, skiing, organizing trips, painting, restaurants, been in the board of directors of the Giant Schnauzer Rescue, and spending time with family, friends and pets.
Specials Teachers
Jay Cleveland | Music Teacher
About Jay: This is Jay’s ninth 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: Diane is returning for her eleventh year as the Spanish teacher at Awakening Seed. She has two children, one who is a student in the 3rd/4th grade class and one who is a recent Seed graduate!
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.
After School
Hannah Laugharn | After School Assistant Teacher
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 this past summer. 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 in the fall working towards a teaching degree.
Free time: Hannah likes to spend time with friends, making art, and cooking.
Emily Richeal | Toddler 1s Assistant Teacher, After School Staff
About Emily: Emily is a 2017 high school graduate. She 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 plans to go to college in the near future to become a teacher.
Free Time: In her free time Emily likes to be with friends, go on hikes, and eat food.
Ashley Ruiz | 1st/2nd Assistant Teacher, After School Toddler Lead
About Ashley: This is Ashley’s second year working at the Seed. She has always found joy and laughter when it comes to engaging with children. She was very young when she learned how to take care of children and their needs in education. Since then, she’s come to learn that there is no greater feeling than to see the impact you have on the kids with whom you have grow close. Ashley is very excited to be the lead in the toddler after school program and assisting in the 1st/2nd grade classroom.
Emily Cleveland | Early 3s Assistant Teacher, After School
About Emily: Emily has lived in Tempe her whole life. She discovered her passion for becoming a teacher by interning at the Seed summer art camp during the summers. As an intern, she could not wait until she was able to become a teacher.
Education: Emily graduated from Tempe Preparatory Academy in the spring of 2016 and is now attending Mesa Community College to receive her degree in early childhood development. She is thrilled to be working in the Early 3s and after school program this year!
Free time: In her free time Emily enjoys hanging out with her friends, spending time with family, going on bike rides, and hiking.
Cylie Krenkel | K-1 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 second year at the Seed as the K-1 assistant and after school staff member. She is looking forward to spending time laughing and learning with the students. She is a hands-on learning who is always willing to learn and take on anything new. She enjoys teaching children as well as learning from them.
Education: Cylie is pursuing 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.
Lisa Gatchalian | 3rd/4th Assistant Teacher, After School
About Lisa: Lisa will continue as the assistant teacher this year in the 3rd/4th grade classroom. She worked in Major League Baseball for ten years prior to staying home with her young children. Her son, Ashton, is in the 1st/2nd grade class, and her daughter, Gwenyth, is in PreK. Lisa enjoys working with children and has worked on and off with them since she began babysitting in junior high school.