Homeschool Collective

Teacher Heather knew since a child she wanted to be an elementary educator. She worked hard starting at age 13 to 22 teaching hundreds of kids to swim until she graduated from UCSC in 2011 with her teaching credential and masters. Since she has taught K-5th grade all over the county. She holds a Reading Recovery Certificate from St. Mary's and has been a well cherished teacher in the public schools starting reading, garden and mindfulness programs. Through heatlh issues and chaos during the pandemic she developed a strong desire to teach in a softer setting where children's needs can really be honored and looked after. She has been so relieved and inspired to be part of the growing homeschool community and help pioneer more possibilities for children to be their authentic selves. Heather truly believes that learning starts with tending to the heart and spirit of a child. Helping facilitate safety and growth by helping children and people feel connected to community is one of her greatest passions.

 Teacher Angela is a passionate Waldorf trained and certified teacher with over 8 years of experience guiding children through a balanced, creative, and heart-centered curriculum. After completing her Waldorf teacher training from the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training in 2015, she has worked in both classrooms and homeschool settings, weaving together rich academic content with art, music, movement, mindfulness and nature-based learning. Inspired by Rudolf Steiner’s vision of educating the whole child- head, heart and hands- Angela strives to foster a strong sense of rhythm, reverence, and connection in the learning environment. With a calm and nurturing presence, Angela supports children’s individuality while cultivating a healthy community.

Angela was born and raised in San Diego, California. Following high school, she moved to San Francisco to attend the University of San Francisco, graduating with a BA in Communications with an emphasis in Journalism and a minor in Philosophy. After working some years in the office, she returned to school and studied Early Childhood Education at San Francisco Community College. There she learned about Waldorf Education, Montessori, and quickly went to pursue and receive her Waldorf teaching certificate from a 3 year program.

In her free time she loves to surf small waves, run in the forest, hike with her puppy, backpack, paint, garden, cook, read, and meditate.She joined the Wildflower Learning Circle as a supporting teacher to Heather in the spring 2025.

Teacher Dawn Castello has been teaching since 1998. She is the mother of two children. She has seen them through academic challenges and been their steadfast advocate.  She is relentlessly optimistic. Her son (22) just graduated from UCSC and our daughter (16) is a junior at Pacific Collegiate School. She has a keen attention to detail to see a child and support their needs. She brings her effectiveness in education, compassion, and enthusiasm to meet each child where they are at and advance their development. 

Teacher Yoriela Lemons is from Lima, Peru.  She studied Early child education at the University in Peru and has being working with children in different pre-school settings since then.  She also has an Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education in USA.  She likes different languages and traveling.  For these two reasons, she learned English and is learning French. 

As a dedicated teacher, she has a deep love for nurturing young minds. She believes in the magic of learning through nature, encouraging children to explore and discover the wonders around them. Her way of teaching is by creating a vibrant space where curiosity thrives, and every day is an adventure in growth and exploration. 

"Together, we’ll cultivate a love for learning that lasts a lifetime!"🌞