Meet our Team

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.

Lindsay - Co-Director

Lindsay brings her passion for education, innovation, and holistic learning to the Juniper Learning community. Originally from Montana, Lindsay earned her bachelor’s degree in Business and Information Technology Education before moving to New York to complete her master’s in Technological Systems Management, with a focus on Educational Technologies. She spent nearly a decade teaching high school technology before relocating to California with her family.

Once in Sacramento, Lindsay embraced the opportunity to homeschool her two children using a Waldorf-inspired curriculum. This shift sparked a deep appreciation for hands-on, child-centered education and led her to become an active member of the local homeschool community. She believes in nurturing curiosity, creativity, and connection through meaningful, real-world experiences—both in the classroom and beyond.

At home, Lindsay enjoys life on her small farm-style sanctuary, where she cares for a variety of rescued animals. She finds joy in gardening, DIY projects, and exploring the outdoors with her husband and children. Whether she’s building something new, tending to animals, or creating engaging learning experiences, Lindsay is always guided by a deep commitment to thoughtful, purposeful education.

Angel - TK, Kindergarten,
and 1st/2nd on Wednesdays

Angel is a certified Education Specialist, dance instructor, and choreographer. She has choreographed musicals for children and adults, church productions, recitals, and dance studios. With a Bachelor’s degree in Special and Elementary Education and additional certifications in Environmental Education and Music Education from Arizona State University, Angel has spent the last seven years teaching K–3 Special Day Classes. Her experience also includes serving as a Dance Educator (Ballet, Tap, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Parent & Me, and competitive team), performing as a Princess and Character Entertainer, and contributing to more than 30 productions both onstage and behind the scenes.

Angel’s passion as an educator is creating friendly, welcoming spaces that are inclusive, imaginative, and empowering. At Juniper, her teaching methods are rooted in hands-on, multi-sensory projects and play-based experiences. She loves to teach through inquiry, art, movement, song, rhythm, collaboration, and time in nature. Angel believes every child has an innate sense of wonder, and she aims to spark curiosity, build confidence, and nurture the whole child in a positive environment.

When not teaching at Juniper, Angel enjoys teaching dance, gardening, playing with her pets, exploring local classes and adventures around Sacramento, and spending quality time with her husband.

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.

Stephanie - 1st and 2nd Grade

Stephanie is thrilled to bring her passion for teaching and her deep love of learning to the Juniper Hollow community. After moving to Davis, California at the age of nine, Stephanie’s lifelong interest in child development grew into a true calling. She earned her B.S. in Psychology with a focus on child development and later returned to school to obtain her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential.

She spent many years teaching second grade before transitioning into a role supporting homeschool families through a local charter school. This experience opened her eyes to the richness, flexibility, and creativity of the homeschooling community and inspired her to begin homeschooling her own children when they reached school age.

Drawn to the beauty and depth of the Waldorf philosophy, Stephanie has since embarked on a self-guided journey to explore this approach more deeply in her home life. She is passionate about nurturing the whole child—head, heart, and hands—and believes deeply in the power of the natural world to inspire meaningful learning.

Outside of teaching, Stephanie enjoys life on her family’s small farm, where she is learning to care for goats and chickens. She loves being outdoors, reading, and spending time with her husband, their two children, and their beloved dog.

Sara - 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.

Mel - 5th Grade, 6th Grade, and Upper Grades

With a heartfelt commitment to inclusive education and a reverence for the wonder of childhood, Mel brings warmth, curiosity, and intention to her teaching at Juniper Hollow. Born and raised in Hawai’i, she studied art and business in college. During her subsequent time in business management, she worked closely with RCSD, providing work opportunities to high school students. Witnessing the power of mentorship, community involvement, and real-world skills sparked a passion for supporting this age group as they navigate a pivotal time in life and discover their place in the world.

When Mel had her own children, they were raised with the slow rhythms of Waldorf learning. She saw firsthand the impact of a nurturing, intentional environment where imagination, connection, and developmental readiness guide learning. Inclusion is at the core of Mel’s teaching philosophy, ensuring all learners feel seen and valued. She believes that when wonder is awakened in a child’s heart, meaningful learning and deep understanding naturally unfold.

At home, Mel is a passionate learner herself and loves reading about entomology and world history. She enjoys cooking, gardening, playing taiko drums, and creating art. She also tends a mini-farm—home to chickens, ducks, and a peacock—focused on biodiversity and blending native habitat with edible gardening.

Rachel - Performing Arts

Sacramento born instructor, Rachel, received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance from California State University Sacramento in 2020. Rachel grew up in a small town where dance was taught outside of her Orangevale perimeters, yet her Tap instructor mother would foster Rachel’s passion for the Arts. Rachel received training from multiple professional dancers which continued to cultivate her experience in Contemporary, Modern, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet and African Caribbean aesthetics.

Alongside dance, Rachel has a deep love for the Performative Arts as a whole thanks to her Sacramento State exposure working on multiple sets, designing set pieces through state craft, working in the costume lab, and taking acting classes to experience a more versatile education within the field.

Having taught for many studios and programs such as FancyFeet, PGY, and Sacramento Ballet, Rachel is excited to bring a Performing Arts program to a Waldorf inspired education system. Rachel believes more curriculums should include these subjects as Performing Arts promote cultural awareness and critical thinking, while complementing academic learning.

When Rachel is away from the classroom, she finds time to indulge in her many hobbies such as reading, drawing, playing the guitar and ukulele alongside her husband, kayaking, cuddling her two cats, gaming and even participating in MTG duels with family and friends.

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.

Ezra - Student Support

Ezra brings a genuine passion for learning, compassion for students, and a joyful enthusiasm for being part of the Juniper community. Born and raised in Sacramento, he is himself a product of a Waldorf education and deeply values nature-centered, hands-on learning. His background includes working with children of all ages, from serving as a camp counselor and sports specialist to mentoring high school students and teaching English to both children and adults.

A recent college graduate, Ezra has returned home after living abroad for the past five years and is excited to be working in an educational setting that reflects his values.

Outside of Juniper, Ezra enjoys reading, hiking, spending time with friends, and playing just about any team sport.