Meet our Team

Azalea - TK, Kindergarten,
and Juniper Meadow Nature School

Azalea's passion for nurturing young minds has been a constant throughout her career. Armed with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and a Masters of Arts in Education, she champions the uniqueness of every child. A perpetual student herself, Azalea aims to instill a love for learning in her students.

After years in public education, Azalea embarked on the homeschooling journey with her own children in 2020. Here, she discovered the profound satisfaction of tailoring education to fit each child's individuality. Now, she eagerly joins the Juniper Hollow community as a Kindergarten teacher, relishing the opportunity to foster learning through play and exploration of the natural world.

Beyond the classroom, Azalea cherishes time with her bustling family—her spouse, three kids, four dogs, two cats, and five chickens. She finds solace and adventure in backpacking, kayaking, hiking, gardening, reading, travel, and yoga. Azalea is also a certified yoga instructor and UC Naturalist.

Diane - TK and Kindergarten

Diane has always been passionate about nurturing young minds, which led her to pursue her dream of teaching. In 2014, she earned a bachelor's degree in Human Development with a minor in Spanish from UC Davis. Her career began as a preschool teacher in various educational settings, where she built a strong foundation in early childhood education. When she became a mother, Diane was inspired to create a nurturing home environment that combined her teaching expertise with her values of love, beauty, and a deep appreciation for the world around us. This experience prompted her to homeschool her daughters, fostering a holistic approach to learning.

Diane is excited to bring her experience and passion to Juniper Hollow, where the Waldorf philosophy aligns closely with her belief in the importance of nature, imagination, and hands-on learning. She looks forward to contributing to a joyful and enriching experience for children, nurturing a lifelong love of learning and discovery.

Sara S - 1st and 2nd Grade

Sara has a deep passion for helping people and working with our youngest learners. Over the past few years, she has thrived both as a substitute and as a co-director in Waldorf-inspired classrooms, bringing creativity and care to her teaching approach.

Sara holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and gained extensive experience in early childhood development and autism research while working at the UC Davis MIND Institute. During her time there, she played a pivotal role in a groundbreaking autism study, where she demonstrated her commitment to supporting families and understanding the complexities of autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

In addition to her professional achievements,

Sara is the proud mother of two daughters and is deeply involved in their education and extracurricular activities. She serves on their school's Family Leadership Council and leads their Girl Scouts troop as the Cadettes leader. Outside of the classroom, Sara channels her creativity into baking, running a successful side business designing and crafting beautiful cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. Sara is excited to bring her passion, experience, and enthusiasm to the Juniper Hollow team as she embarks on teaching first and second graders this year.

Sara C - 3rd Grade, 4th Grade,
and Juniper Meadow Nature School

Sara Crane is thrilled to support students on their unique journey at Juniper Hollow. She studied child development in college and continues to dedicate ongoing self-study on the developmental needs of children in education, recognizing that every child learns and grows at their own pace. As a native of the Sacramento area, she also spent several years on the East Coast, where she and her husband welcomed their first child. Wanting to be closer to the community and family they moved back home.

Her own homeschooling journey began in 2020, when she started educating her two children in a non-traditional setting. Seeing firsthand the profound impact this approach had on their growth and development sparked a passion for teaching and a deepened understanding of the importance of fostering a sense of curiosity and creativity in young minds. As she dove deeper into Waldorf-inspired teachings, She discovered an education that aligns with her family on a daily basis.

Now, as a teacher at Juniper Hollow, She is overjoyed to welcome her children and other students to join her on this educational journey. Outside of work, Sara cherishes time spent in the garden, nurturing life and growth in all its forms, as well as sharing laughter and memories with loved ones.

Lucia - Spanish

Lucia was born and raised in El Salvador. She moved to Sacramento in 2009. Lucia attended American River College and UC Davis to complete her undergraduate education with a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design and a minor in Art History. Lucia’s research and design was mostly based on sustainability and cultural elements.

Maintaining the connection to her roots, Lucia began teaching her children how to read and write in Spanish. They are both fluent Spanish speakers. She believes each person has an individual personality and wants to encourage her children to develop their own identities while connecting with nature and the world around them. This is what led her to finding Waldorf education.

Lucia’s hobbies include reading, going on bike rides with her family, doing art, singing karaoke, gardening and traveling to warm beaches.

Aderra - Movement and Physical Fitness

Aderra has called the Sacramento area home for the past fifteen years. During this time, she has dedicated herself to homeschooling her two children for the last eight years, nurturing their growth with a hands-on approach to learning. Aderra's love for the outdoors shines through in her hobbies, which include camping, embarking on adventures, practicing yoga, and even completing several marathons.

Aderra is deeply passionate about instilling a love of fitness in children. She believes that physical activity should be both enjoyable and empowering, helping kids develop confidence through body awareness and cooperative games. With a focus on creating a positive and inclusive environment, Aderra is excited to bring her expertise to Juniper Learning, where she will introduce students to a blend of organized sports play, fun personal fitness goals, and engaging challenges designed to make fitness an enjoyable part of their lives.

Jennie - 5th Grade, 6th Grade, and Upper Grades (Thursdays)

As a homeschooling mom of five years, Jennie is a passionate advocate for hands-on, creative education. She loves bringing learning to life through engaging experiences, projects, and experiments, with a special focus on immersive history and creative writing.

Born and raised in Sacramento, Jennie graduated from UC Davis with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. She quickly built a career in communications, managing public affairs, press, social media, and marketing communications for a variety of nonprofit organizations and local businesses.

Jennie's passion for education grew as she raised two active boys, becoming an advocate for a slow, creative, and outdoor childhood that fosters organic learning. She has taught in co-ops, outdoor programs, and other homeschool settings, always challenging herself to engage students in exciting new ways.

In her free time, Jennie enjoys traveling (only 1/3 of the National Parks left to go!), camping, baking, and snuggling with her dog, Maverick. A storyteller at heart, she continues to write and enjoys capturing family narratives through lifestyle photography

Lindsay - 5th Grade, 6th Grade, and Upper Grades (Mondays)
Co-Director

Lindsay has always been passionate about education and technology. After nearly a decade of teaching Technology at a high school in New York, she moved to California with her family, embracing the opportunity to homeschool her two children using a Waldorf curriculum. This experience has deepened her love for hands-on, holistic learning and strengthened her connection to the Sacramento homeschool community.

Lindsay is excited to bring her skills and enthusiasm to Juniper Learning, where she looks forward to being an active part of the vibrant homeschool community. When she's not teaching, Lindsay enjoys spending time with her husband, kids, and their many pets. She loves the outdoors, often spending weekends camping, hiking, or exploring new places on road trips. In her spare time, she can be found gardening or tackling creative DIY projects around the house.

Lindsay holds a bachelor’s degree in Business and Information Technology Education from the University of Montana and a master’s degree in Technological Systems Management, with a focus on Educational Technologies, from Stony Brook University.

LeeAnn - Director

LeeAnn is a dedicated lifelong learner and educator, committed to creating inclusive spaces where children can cultivate a passion for learning. She holds a BA in Business Education and has 6 years of experience homeschooling her children using Waldorf methods. LeeAnn emphasizes the importance of nurturing children's confidence, community connections, and self-discovery, promoting a slow-paced childhood rich in wonder and curiosity. She believes that all children are unique and have something beautiful to offer.

While she claims to be introverted, LeeAnn loves community and getting to know those around her. She can often be seen somewhere in the Land Park area enjoying the California sunshine alongside her three children or on the local club soccer fields where she coaches. If you ever spot her around town please introduce yourself! She is honored to partner with you in pursuit of an excellent educational experience for your student.

Melynda - Substitute

Melynda began homeschooling in 2020 and found herself drawn to Waldorf curricula and how it resonates so well with her family’s values, parenting, and teaching philosophies. The focus on balance between head, heart, and hands really spoke to her, and she loves how Waldorf inspires a love for learning and creativity. Through stories, nature, and celebrating annual festivals, Waldorf shines as it creates an environment of magic, curiosity, and connection to the world around us.

Melynda began teaching enrichment classes for fellow homeschoolers in 2023 and is currently pursuing a degree in childhood development with the goal of earning her teaching credential. The opportunity to share her love of teaching and learning with her students has sparked so much joy and inspiration in her life. Children hold such light within them, and Melynda feels fortunate to be a part of their world, getting to know each one, discovering what interests they are enthusiastic about, and enkindling their sense of wonder. She is thrilled to join the Juniper Hollow team and collaborate with fellow teachers as they build a beautiful community, cultivate connections, and foster friendships.

In her spare time, Melynda enjoys hiking, reading, traveling, and engaging in Waldorf handwork such as baking and needle felting. She also enjoys researching homeschool curricula, sharing her homeschool experiences, and supporting others on their homeschool journeys.