Hypatia Luna, Director
hypatia@desertspringschool.org
Bio Coming Soon!
Sara Van Slyke, Founding Director and Acting Atelierista
The oldest of four children Sara was born and raised in Tucson by Minnesota parents. Her childhood was happily spent enjoying her fun loving family and exploring the incredible desert with its ancient ruins, pottery chards, and unique ecosystem. As a teenager she played hundreds of hours of tennis, and rode her Palomino through monsoon swollen arroyos and cactus covered hills. Sara graduated from Sahuaro High School and the U of A with a major in Sociology and minors in Religious Studies and Business. Sara also was very fortunate to travel for a semester on World Campus Afloat.
After college Sara taught in after school programs and four different preschools, and went back to school to pursue a nursing degree. When she finally finished all the prerequisites and started nursing school she realized that her real passion was Early Childhood Education, so she was inspired to open Desert Spring Children’s Center with co-founder Jan Kinkade. Sara and Jan started the planning process in 1985 and opened the doors in May 1987. The last 35 years has been an amazing joyous journey. Sara is grateful everyday for the children and their families that bless her life.
Kiana Solis, Sun Room Educator
sunroom@desertspringschool.org
Bio coming soon!
Carina Kealey, Sun Room Educator
Bio Coming Soon!
Dee Altuna, Mountain Room Educator
mountainroom@desertspringschool.org
Dee was born and raised in Arizona. She holds degrees from the University of Arizona in Journalism and from Pima Community College in Early Childhood Education. Dee believes that children learn through exploring the world around them. Dee plans learning activities that provoke creativity, imagination, play, and time in nature.
Fanny Brown, Mountain Room Educator
Bio coming soon!
Andrea Padilla, Monsoon Room Educator
monsoonroom@desertspringschool.org
Bio coming soon!
Bernadette Tellez, Monsoon Room Educator
Bio Coming Soon!
Emma Collier, Rainbow Room Educator
Bio coming soon!
Karis Roeske, Rainbow Room Educator
Bio Coming Soon!
Marissa Hernandez, Support Staff
Bio Coming soon
Isabella Coronado, Support Staff
Bio Coming soon