Our Team
Teacher Sara (She/Her)
Sara was born and raised in California, spending most of her life in the Bay Area before moving to Humboldt for school, then Santa Cruz, and eventually settling in Sacramento. She has eight years of experience working with youth of all ages in classrooms, summer camps, and on travel trips, and she finds joy in supporting children as they grow and learn through open-ended art and nature play. Sara enjoys camping, hiking, paddleboarding, and other outdoor activities, along with creative pursuits like dance and crafting. One of her most memorable adventures was exploring Hawaii’s Na Pali Coast by boat, where she admired the breathtaking landscape and vibrant marine life.
Teacher Shumaila (She/Her)
Shumaila has been working in preschool education for over 10 years, bringing her passion and experience to every classroom she enters. She enjoys spending quality time with her family and has a love for vibrant colors like red and purple. Her favorite children’s books are from the Pete the Cat series, and she fondly remembers her own childhood filled with artistic activities. One of her favorite things to do with children is art, where she inspires creativity and expression. Shumaila believes that one of the greatest lessons she has learned from children is the value of honesty. Outside of work, she enjoys adventures like paragliding and delights in flavorful dishes like vegetable chow mein.
Teacher Brooke (She/Her)
Brooke an ECE educator with deep roots in California, having lived there since age three. Originally from Dunwoody, GA, Brooke grew up in the East Bay and now resides in El Dorado Hills. An only child with a close-knit family, Brooke’s passion for working with children began at age 10 and evolved into a professional career at 16.
Her credentials include an A.S-T in Child Development, a CAP-8 Certificate, a B.A. in Early Childhood Studies with a Psychology minor, and she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Child Development at Sacramento State, focusing on Emotion Coaching and co-regulation for preschoolers.
Brooke enjoys video games, arts and crafts, sitcoms, pop culture, and exploring graphic design. As a child, she loved searching for bugs, swinging, reading, and sensory play—activities she now shares with children, along with her love for books and art projects. Children have taught Brooke to embrace life’s simple joys, a lesson she carries on adventures to places like Seattle and Cape Cod.
Teacher Marissa (She/Her)
Marissa is a dedicated mother of two with a deep passion for nature, wildlife, and all living things. With ten years of experience in childcare, she has worked in both licensed facilities and in-home settings, taking on roles at every level in preschool environments and with all age groups, from aide to director. Coming from a family passionate about child development, she finds immense joy in witnessing children discover something for the first time and supporting teachers as they make meaningful breakthroughs with their students. Marissa enjoys hiking, swimming, and spending time with her family, drawing inspiration from her childhood love of art, which she now incorporates into her work by exploring expressive arts with children to nurture their creativity. She believes children teach the value of silliness and cherishes her greatest adventures: becoming a mother and aunt. A favorite family memory is a road trip to Washington, where they explored countless waterfalls, an experience she found freeing and unforgettable.
Teacher Irma (She/Her)
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Teacher Alexis (He/Him)
Alexis identifies himself as a quiet and calm individual who enjoys peaceful walks through tree-lined trails and cherishes time spent with family, especially over good food. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Child Development from Sacramento State and has been working with children for over a decade. For the past seven years, he has been a dedicated team member at Waking the Village, where he has supported children and families in meaningful ways. Throughout his career, he has worked with infants through preschoolers in various early childhood settings, learning from each unique experience and applying that knowledge to his current work.
In his free time, Alexis enjoys watching movies and TV shows, going on walks, visiting the beach, and cooking. As a child, he loved playing with different types of balls, from soccer balls to bouncy balls. His favorite activities with children include sensory play and cooking, embracing the joy and messiness of hands-on experiences. One of the most valuable lessons he has learned from children is their ability to weave stories in unexpected and imaginative ways. One of his most memorable adventures was flying to San Diego with his family to explore a new city together.
Teacher Bianca (She/Her)
Bianca is a passionate individual with a love for music, travel, cooking, and the performing arts. With 17 years of experience in early childhood education, she has dedicated over a decade of her professional life working with children from infancy to kindergarten entry. Her journey led her through various programs in Sacramento before finding a perfect fit at Artenia Beast Academy in 2015. When Art Beast Child Development Center opened in 2017, she became the preschool program lead, later transitioning into a directorship role in 2020. In 2022, she helped open Art Beast Studio as a licensed child care facility and now serves as the Program Director for all preschool sites at Waking the Village, overseeing both Art Beast Preschools and Muck and Wonder Farm School.
Passionate about play-based learning and child development, Bianca believes that children thrive through exploration, meaningful relationships, and developmentally appropriate expectations. Being a preschool teacher is her first love and an identity she will always cherish. In her free time, she enjoys karaoke, traveling with friends, pop culture, music, concerts, nature, and cooking. As a child, she loved making "soup" with her toys in a water basin. One of her greatest joys is conversing with children, hearing their perspectives on both the small and big things in life.
Through her work, she has learned that the little moments often hold the most meaning. To her, life itself is the greatest adventure—one that moves quickly, making it all the more important to pause and appreciate each moment.