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 nineth year in administration at the Seed and her sixth 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 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. All five of her grandchildren attended the Seed, and her great-granddaughter is now a student in the Early 3s class.
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.
Debbie Moody | Office Manager
Sarah Balluff | Accounts Manager
About Sarah: Sarah has been a part of Awakening Seed since the start, and attended the Seed through 5th grade. Sarah inspired Awakening Seed to open up enrollment to toddlers and helped shape the program it is today. Nine years ago, Sarah “retired” from teaching to further her education. She works as the school’s accounts 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.
Education: Sarah is an Awakening Seed Alum as well as a graduate of Tempe High School. She went on to receive her CDA from Central Arizona College, with a focus on Infant/Toddler Development. She loves learning, and has continued her education by enrolling in courses at MCC, such as Ceramics, Biology and Mathematics.
Free time: Sarah quilts, crafts, and creates. She and her husband enjoy traveling, off-roading and being outdoors. They live in Mesa with their granddaughter, Ellie.
Bill Glover | Maintenance and Facilities Manager
About Bill: Bill is the maintenance and facilities manager. He has a strong background in business and management, and has operated his own business for over 50 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 handled the finances and maintenance until a few years ago when he retired from the business manager part of his job. 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, great-granddaughter, and his two daughters, and wife, Mary.
Lead Teachers
Ashley Ruiz | Toddler 1s Lead Teacher, After School
About Ashley: This is Ashley’s seventh 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 teacher in the Toddler 1s class, as well as help out at the front desk after school.
Emily Cleveland | Toddler 2s Lead Teacher
About Emily: Emily has lived in Tempe her whole life. She discovered her passion for becoming a teacher by interning as a teenager for many years at the Seed summer art camp. 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 in spring of 2021 completed her associates degree in early childhood development at Mesa Community College. She will continue workin on her bachelors degree at Northern Arizona University. She is thrilled to be leading the Toddler 2s 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.
Sarah La Benz | Early 3s Lead Teacher
Free time: Sarah enjoys board games, crochet, science & astronomy, puzzles, a good book, daydreaming about traveling, and being with close friends. And of course, being with her two girls and husband.
Erin Kelly | Preschool 3s Lead Teacher
About Erin: Erin is the mom of two grown children, Briana and Brendan. She has lived in south Scottsdale since she was nine years old. Her mom, sister, and brother all live within five minutes and her kids went to the same high school as she attended. Erin always knew she would work with kids, and once she observed a preschool class, she was certain that was the right path. She has always had a special love for teaching the 2s, but has taught every age of preschool at some point.
Education: Erin started taking early childhood courses at Scottsdale Community College right out of high school, took a break while her kids were young, and finished her associates degree once they were both in school. She has taken many extra training courses to continue her learning, as well as teaching some parent education classes. Erin is so excited to continue her adventures here as the lead Preschool 3s teacher. With her close to thirty years in the field, she was drawn to Awakening Seed because the school shares so many values.
Free Time: Erin enjoys shopping, movies, sleeping in, family time, and definitely the company of her little dog, Nala.
Deb Hopkins | Preschool 4s Lead Teacher
This is Deb’s 17th 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 21) and daughter Hannah (age 23), both proud Seed graduates, first attended the toddler class at age two, have worked at the Seed as summer interns and, her daughter Hannah was hired as an after school staff member in 2017. 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 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!
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 sons Easton and Remy.
Kerri Tornow | Kindergarten Lead Teacher
About Kerri: Kerri, who grew up in Michigan, is the Kindergarten teacher. She has been part of the Seed staff since 1984. That’s over 35 years of teaching academics and art to young children. 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 (32) and Aaron (28). Andrew is a graphic designer, happily married to his lovely wife, Nicole. Aaron has a degree in kinesiology and now works in medical sales. Both boys started their educations as Seed preschoolers and graduated from ASU. Kerri enjoys crafting, collaging, camping, hiking and kayaking with her family. She also adores her two beagles, Daisy and Dunkin. Kerri and Roger became first time grandparents in September 2021 when Andrew and Nicole welcomed the birth of grandson, Carter. Kerri loves her role as Nana and looks forward to Carter coming to the Seed in October 2022!
Gabbi Behnke | 1st/2nd Grade Lead Teacher
About Gabbi: Gabbi is an Arizona native who grew up camping in the pines or at the lake most weekends. She always knew she wanted to be a teacher but felt that she finally found her true passion once she discovered the Seed. She feels fortunate to have found a school that provides such rich learning opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom. 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 looks forward to continuing work and play alongside children throughout their learning experiences.
Education: Gabbi graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and an early childhood endorsement. She holds an Arizona teaching certificate and also has an SEI endorsement. She joined the Seed staff in 2017 as a teaching assistant, then assumed the lead position with the Early 3s in January 2018, before becoming the lead teacher for the 1st/2nd grade class.
Free Time: Gabbi enjoys traveling, camping, being outside, reading, and spending time with loved ones. She and her husband, Justin, love taking their two dogs on outdoor adventures, going on road trips over the summers, and having game nights with family and friends.
Bianca Lopez | 3rd/4th Lead Teacher
About Bianca: Bianca was born in California and raised in Arizona. She grew up in Tempe with her mom, dad, two sisters, and brother. She is the oldest of four. As a child she was quiet, enjoyed collecting stickers, and loved creating crafts with her mother in the hot Arizona summers. Bianca lives in Mesa with her husband, Shayne and their four-year-old son Zion.
This is Bianca’s fourth year as lead teacher, first in the Early 3s class and now with the 3rd/4th graders. She has worked in a public school setting for twelve years. She first discovered the Seed as an intern from Northern Arizona University, and interned in the Preschool 4s class. She fell in love with the Seed almost instantly.
Education: Bianca graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2018. She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a certification for early childhood education.
Free time: On the weekend you can find Bianca trying new recipes, creating another Pinterest craft project, and decorating her planner.
Stephanie Peyton | Resource Coordinator
About Stephanie: Stephanie has worked at the Seed for 21 years and has been the resource coordinator for thirteen 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 a freshman at Arcadia High School, and Hillary, a recent Seed graduate, is in 5th grade at Echo Canyon Elementary School. Their youngest, Catherine, is the last of the Peytons remaining at the Seed in the 2nd grade class.
Assistant Teachers
Emily Richeal | Toddler 1s 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 has been a student at Mesa Community College, and plans to return there soon.
Free Time: In her free time Emily likes to be with friends, go on hikes, and eat food.
Alex Zapien | Toddler 1s Assistant Teacher, After School
Anyssa Saenz | Toddler 2s, Assistant Teacher
About Anyssa: Anyssa is a native of Arizona. One fun fact about her is that she grew up on one of the small farms down the street from the Seed. She is also a Seed alum. She has been fortunate to remain close friends with families from the Seed and they have become like a second family to her. Anyssa loves children and loves to spend time watching and playing with her baby cousins.
Education: Anyssa loves learning. She graduated from Moutain Pointe High in 2021, and then continued her education by becoming a licensed yoga instructor.
Free time: Her hobbies are practicing and teaching yoga, helping her grandparents with their animals, carefully tending her plant babies, roller skating, spending time with her doggies, and exploring Arizona and its beautiful sights (she especially loves Sedona and the Rim country). Anyssa is happiest when she is spending time and making memories with her family and friends.
Saki Nabeshima | Early 3s Assistant Teacher
About Saki: Saki was born and raised in Kumamoto, Japan. Her childhood memories are filled with nature play surrounded by rice fields and green mountains. She came into the world of early childhood education during her internship at a transitional housing program, offering music and movement classes for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers sixteen years ago. For the last ten years, she has enjoyed the supporting role of an assistant teacher for the three and four years olds at the Seed. Saki is thrilled to be teaming up with Sarah and working side by side with all the families to celebrate the children’s play and learning in Early 3s this year!
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.
Alondra Almodova | Preschool 3s Assistant Teacher, After School
About Alondra: Alondra was born in California and lived there for a couple of years until her family moved to Arizona. She she had experience working at a tutoring center with kids of all ages. She is in her third year of working at Awakening Seed. She will be working in the Preschool 3s class and is the proud mama of a beautiful baby daughter, Skarlett.
Education: Alondra graduated from Verrado High School in Buckeye and now lives in Chandler. She received her Associate degree from Estrella Mountain Community College in the spring of 2020. She is continuing her education at Arizona State University majoring in Psychology.
Free time: Alondra likes to go on jogs and also enjoys hiking in the early mornings.
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.
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.
Bryce Gerrich | PreK Assistant Teacher, PE, After School
Julian Jacobs | PreK and Kindergarten Assistant Teacher, After School
About Julian: Julian recently moved from upstate New York to Phoenix, braced for the desert heat. For five years, he worked as a summer lifeguard, supervising children of various ages. This is Julian’s first year as an assistant teacher and he is excited to get to know the students as he begins his new journey in the southwest.
Education: Julian is a recent 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.
Free Time: Julian enjoys running, skiing, and traveling and will be on a quest for the best coffee shop in Phoenix.
Cylie Krenkel | After School Coordinator, Classroom Support
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 seventh year at the Seed, serving as the assistant in Kindergarten, Preschool 4s, and after school staff member. Cylie served as the interim after school director during summers 2017 and 2018, and has been the after school coordinator since the 2017-2018 school year. She is looking forward to spending time supporting all of the teachers, 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 is currently pursuing her Child Development Associate credential, 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, and daughter, Kelsea. She looks forward to her daughter starting in the Toddler 1s class in October.
Peyton Gibbons | Kindergarten Classroom Assistant
About Peyton: Peyton is joining us from Southern California where she grew up! Nine years ago she decided to attend the University of Arizona and never went back to California. She graduated from the U of A with a degree in Elementary Education. Since then, she taught for five years, one year as a 5th grade teacher, and the last four as a 2nd grade teacher, before coming to the Seed. Peyton has always wanted to teach at the Kindergarten level, and she is now in her second year as the assistant and substitute lead teacher in the kindergarten class. She couldn’t be more excited!
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 working on a bachelor’s degree in behavioral health services at Northern Arizona University.
Free time: Hannah likes to spend time with friends, making art, and cooking.
Specials Teachers
Bryce Gerrich | PreK Assistant Teacher, PE, After School
Jay Cleveland | Music Teacher
About Jay: This is Jay’s fourteenth 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 sixteenth 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.
After School
Ashley Ruiz | Toddler 1s Lead Teacher, After School
About Ashley: This is Ashley’s seventh 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 teacher in the Toddler 1s class, as well as help out at the front desk after school.
Alex Zapien | Toddler 1s Assistant Teacher, After School
Alondra Almodova | Preschool 3s Assistant Teacher, After School
About Alondra: Alondra was born in California and lived there for a couple of years until her family moved to Arizona. She she had experience working at a tutoring center with kids of all ages. She is in her third year of working at Awakening Seed. She will be working in the Preschool 3s class and is the proud mama of a beautiful baby daughter, Skarlett.
Education: Alondra graduated from Verrado High School in Buckeye and now lives in Chandler. She received her Associate degree from Estrella Mountain Community College in the spring of 2020. She is continuing her education at Arizona State University majoring in Psychology.
Free time: Alondra likes to go on jogs and also enjoys hiking in the early mornings.
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.
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.
Bryce Gerrich | PreK Assistant Teacher, PE, After School
Julian Jacobs | PreK and Kindergarten Assistant Teacher, After School
About Julian: Julian recently moved from upstate New York to Phoenix, braced for the desert heat. For five years, he worked as a summer lifeguard, supervising children of various ages. This is Julian’s first year as an assistant teacher and he is excited to get to know the students as he begins his new journey in the southwest.
Education: Julian is a recent 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.
Free Time: Julian enjoys running, skiing, and traveling and will be on a quest for the best coffee shop in Phoenix.
Cylie Krenkel | After School Coordinator, Classroom Support
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 seventh year at the Seed, serving as the assistant in Kindergarten, Preschool 4s, and after school staff member. Cylie served as the interim after school director during summers 2017 and 2018, and has been the after school coordinator since the 2017-2018 school year. She is looking forward to spending time supporting all of the teachers, 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 is currently pursuing her Child Development Associate credential, 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, and daughter, Kelsea. She looks forward to her daughter starting in the Toddler 1s class in October.
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 working on a bachelor’s degree in behavioral health services at Northern Arizona University.
Free time: Hannah likes to spend time with friends, making art, and cooking.