Co-Director of Flagstaff Preschool
Chief Operator of Flagstaff Gymnastics
Hi, I'm Shawna. I have lived in Flagstaff since I was three years old. This is a community that I have lived in and learned from for so long I feel blessed to be giving back to it! I started gymnastics at just two years old and trained right here at Flagstaff Gymnastics through level 8. I am a two-time Arizona State Champion; first taking the overall title for level 5 in all age divisions and then Level 6 for my own age division. I have always loved to spend my summers traveling and have trained at several different camps throughout the country. In addition to training in gymnastics I pursued my love of dance with the Royal Academy of Dance and Tempe Dance Academy. I have danced with the Boston Ballet, the American Ballet Theater, the Malibu Ballet, and the RAD Ballet in Long Beach, CA. I was one of three in the nation to take the RAD's prestigious Solo Seal Examination. With all of these accomplishments and training, my love of coaching is second only to my family. In 2011 my husband and I had our first child, Jason. Jason has been such a wonderful blessing to us and has only increased my love of children!! I am blessed to have the privilege of pursing my dream of working with children! I have a passion for inspiring little minds and love working with children. When I began coaching in 2005, I fell in love with preschoolers! I have seven years’ experience working with children and love every moment of it. God gave me a dream of starting a Christian preschool here in Flagstaff that offered a solid foundation of Biblical Truths that would follow our children throughout childhood into their adult lives. In 2010, God helped me achieve my dream, and I assisted in the founding of Flagstaff Christian Preschool. I have since had two more handsome boys, Troy and Ethan that have added to the love and desire of children.
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Language and Literacy
My name is Yazmin, I was born and raised in Flagstaff, AZ. Since I was little, my dream has been to become a teacher. I went to Coconino Community College and started my studies in elementary mathematics. I got married in 2011 and took a break from school. I had a little boy in 2016. I had friends who worked in a preschool setting and convinced me to try it out. I instantly fell in love working with the 3-5 years old and decided to go back to school. I graduated from Central Arizona College with honors receiving my associate in early childhood education. During my teaching career I took courses and became a coach in Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, promoting safe social and emotional support. I have Child Care Certifications which include Administering Medication, helping children cope in a crisis and traumatic events, CPR/ First Aide, Child Abuse awareness.
Math and Science
My name is Destiny, and I am the math and science teacher here at Flagstaff Christian
Preschool. I have been teaching in the preschool setting for about two years. I love connecting
with and supporting my students. I find their thinking process fascinating. They are active
learners who are constantly questioning the world around them and trying to figure out how
things work. When I teach, I love to see the children understand the concept and are excited to
answer my questions. Watching them grow emotionally, socially, and educationally is an honor.
Some info about me is that I am currently an NAU student majoring in Psychology with a
minor in Spanish. I was born and raised in Flagstaff and am the oldest of 9 kids. In my free time,
I love reading and doing puzzles. I also enjoy spending time with my friends and family.
I am excited to meet everybody this upcoming school year!
Science
Hello! My name is Shelby Speerstra and I am currently the science teacher at Flagstaff Christian Preschool. I am also a full-time student at NAU getting my bachelor's in secondary education in biology with the hopes of teaching in high school. My interest in teaching began when I was in fifth grade when I looked at my teacher and thought, “This is what I wanna do when I grow up.” Ever since that day, my passion for teaching and my love of education only grew. My goal as a teacher is to give my students that same love of learning I have and provide them with a space that meets their needs where they feel comfortable and can flourish. In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with friends, reading, and going on hikes in Sedona. I am originally from Southern California and I am the youngest of three children. My love for science comes from camping with my family and traveling around California as a child. My favorite thing about being a science teacher at FCP is the excitement I see anytime I bring in a new science experiment; their eyes light up and the children always compare it to “magic.” As we explore the world of science together, I am thrilled to inspire a new interest in your children.
Physical Activity and Gymnastics Coach
USA Gymnastics Certified Instructor
CPR and First Aid Certified
Course instruction from USA Gymnastics University and USA Gymnastics National Congress
Fundamentals of Gymnastics Instruction
Child Care Certificates
Communicable Disease Prevention in Child Care
Keeping Our Children Safe
Nutrition and Physical Activity
Safe Sleep
Understanding Child Abuse
Traveling with Precious Cargo