Cultivating Clarity classes currently held at Sedona Birth and Women’s Health in Sedona, AZ.
my journey as maestra
my journey as maestra
When I walked into my first classroom in 2009, I was filled with a sense of great responsibility. I knew I would spend the rest of my life as an educator. The magnificence lies in the fact that so far in my “educator” experiences, I become the learner as I grow personally and professionally through the interaction with my students and their communities. Although the classroom settings and ages have varied, my passion remains steadfast.
When I learned of the Teach for America program as an undergraduate student, I immediately felt energized by the talented and motivated people working in our schools. Teaching elementary students in downtown Phoenix required daily problem solving and intense commitment. I earned my Master’s Degree in Education from ASU and became well–versed in the process of curriculum design, setting objectives and assessing mastery. But it was the qualitative data and personal story of each student that captured my heart. I transitioned to a role in the Child Nutrition Department to design programs that bridged the classroom and the cafeteria. This farm-to-school work put a spotlight on the interconnectedness of our complex societal systems. The desire to be a bilingual in Spanish took me to Ecuador and Mexico where I lived for two years and learned invaluable lessons in global perspective, cultural connection, environmental stewardship and sustainable community development.
A strong communal spirit has always guided me. While living in an intentional community in Spain, I watched how individuals intimately supported one another through life’s transitions. This included childbirth, and I read every book in that section of their library long before I became a mother. Our family moved to the Verde Valley in July of 2020, four months postpartum, and full of change. I knew two things were true: I wanted to surround myself with amazing women, and I wanted to be around birth. I am grateful to the team at Beginnings Birth & Wellness Center who became my stewards as I entered the world of birthwork. I began as a birth assistant in the fall of 2020, where I met Fabiola Merchant, CNM. I joined her team at Sedona Birth & Women’s Health in 2023. Thank you to each family who has welcomed me to your birth experience.
Trust building, connection and active listening are the root of everything I do. I am grateful for authentic interactions that provide a safe space to be vulnerable. It is in these spaces of opportunity where we can explore what we value as a community. When we focus on what unites us, sustains us, heals us and brings us joy, we GROW.