our teachers

Nurturing Minds. Inspiring Wonder. Growing Aloha.

The women of Earth School are the heart and soul of our community.
Rooted in aloha, guided by deep earth wisdom, and dedicated to nurturing the whole child, each teacher brings unique gifts, passions, and presence to our Ohana.

Together, they cultivate learning environments filled with curiosity, creativity, and compassion where every child is seen, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We are honored to introduce the extraordinary educators who make Earth School Hawaii a place of wonder.

christina zimmerman

Founder

Christina is the founder of Earth School. Originally from Kentucky, she has lived on Kauai for more than sixteen years, developing a deep appreciation for the island’s culture, community, and natural beauty.

She holds a master’s degree in Elementary Education, and her teaching journey has continually reinforced her passion for meaningful, personalized learning.

Christina believes strongly in small-group, relationship-based education where every child is seen, supported, and challenged as an individual. Her philosophy centers on place-based learning, environmental stewardship, and curiosity-driven exploration, values that ultimately inspired her to create a school that honors both children and the land they learn from. She is committed to nurturing confident, compassionate, and resilient learners who understand their role as caretakers of the earth and their community.

She believes education should spark wonder, empower student voice, and connect daily learning to real-world experiences. Christina sees children thrive when they feel connected, purposeful, and safe to take risks.

A mother of three, Christina spends much of her free time exploring nature with her family – hiking, gardening, surfing, swimming, or simply appreciating the small miracles the island offers each day.

Emily Martin

Early Childhood & Elementary Educator

Emily earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Colorado Boulder and began her teaching career at The Boulder Journey School, where she practiced the Reggio Emilia approach.

The Reggio Emilia approach is a child-centered, inquiry-based philosophy grounded in hands-on exploration and collaboration. In 2003, she was recruited to Kauai to bring this approach to Seacliff School in Kilauea.

Seeking to support a broader range of ages, Emily went on to earn a second bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 2009 and a certification in Elementary Counseling in 2012. Over the years, she has taught in public, private, homeschool, and nature-based settings, serving as a teacher, librarian, art instructor, guidance counselor, and tutor for traveling families.

Now in her ninth year with Earth School Hawaii, Emily leads the kindergarten and first-grade classes, offering students a harmonious blend of hands-on learning, music, art, grade-level academics, and social–emotional development.

Kehau Davis

Educator

Kehau is an experienced educator with more than 20 years in the field. She holds a B.A. in English and Psychology and an M.A. in Education, bringing a strong foundation to her work with our students.

Outside of the classroom, Kehau is a proud mother to four amazing adult children. She deeply values time with her ʻohana and friends, as well as traveling, hiking, and walking her beloved dog, Miso.

Kehau’s core values guide both her life and her work: ʻohana, health, kindness, staying strong in one’s beliefs, remaining true to oneself, and appreciating all living beings. She brings these principles into her teaching through a spirit of aloha, compassion, authenticity, and deep respect for every child she serves.

heather adzovich

Creative Arts & Enrichment Educator

Heather is originally from Southern California, where she grew up surrounded by the beauty and richness of diverse cultures. She has lived on Kauai for eleven years and proudly considers the island her permanent home.

Now in her fourth year of teaching at Earth School, Heather brings a vibrant blend of creativity, experience, and heartfelt dedication to her work with children.

She holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies with an extended learning emphasis in Arts and Education, and continued her graduate studies in Single-Subject Art. With parents who both worked in education, Heather has been immersed in school environments her entire life. She began volunteering, substituting, and caring for children at the age of fifteen, developing a lifelong commitment to supporting the keiki collective.

Heather’s passions include nature, art, music, culture, animals, and most of all, children. Her beloved dog, Lola, is her constant companion and often a joyful presence in the learning environment. Heather brings her whole creative spirit into the classroom, weaving her interests into a curriculum centered on conscious creativity, exploration, and meaningful connection.

nur wilson-simon

Early Childhood & Elementary Educator

Nur has been working with children since 2010 and brings a rich blend of training and experience to her role. She holds a B.A. in K–8 Education and an M.A. in Early Childhood Education and Mental Health.

Over the years, she has trained in several educational philosophies and methodologies, including Reggio Emilia, Kumon, Montessori, and Common Core.

Nur approaches her work from a strength-based and trauma-informed lens, prioritizing meaningful, supportive relationships with children and their families. Her commitment to whole-child development guides everything she does in the learning environment.

In her free time, Nur enjoys spending time with her two cats, traveling, and participating in community workdays and workshops.

lindsay clark

Educator

Lindsay holds a bachelor’s degree in Child Development with a school-age emphasis and has spent many years working and volunteering with children across a wide range of settings.

These include hospitals, art classes, traditional classrooms, and the soccer field as a coach. As a mother of two, she brings both professional expertise and a deep personal understanding of how children grow, learn, and thrive.

Lindsay loves being outdoors, swimming in the ocean, baking cookies, and exploring creativity, especially through art. She feels fortunate to teach on Kauai and is grateful for the opportunity to support the island’s keiki as they learn and grow.

Now teaching at Earth School, Lindsay focuses on what she values most: individualized curriculum, small-group learning, and cultivating an environment where every child feels truly seen and supported. She believes in setting high expectations and equipping students with the tools, confidence, and encouragement they need to reach their fullest potential.

Malina Folsom-Perez

Educator

Originally from Kauai, Malina is an educator with passion for place-based learning and hands-on education. She earned her Bachelor’s from UH Hilo and her Master’s in Education from the UH Mānoa.

Malina’s teaching philosophy is rooted in eco-literacy and experiential learning, with a focus on helping students build meaningful connections to their local environment.

She strives to create a positive, inclusive classroom where every student feels supported, valued, and inspired to learn. She believes that strong partnerships with families and the community are essential to student success.

Outside the classroom, Malina enjoys horseback riding, practicing yoga, and spending time outdoors with her family.

Pink flowers on branches with palm leaves, exuding a vibrant tropical vibe.

Jina Thompson

Educator

Jina earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from UH Mānoa, and her approach to education and years of experience are rooted in creativity, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for the natural world.

Jina has many years of experience teaching preschool through fifth grade, as well as developing curriculum. She thoughtfully integrates art and nature into the daily rhythm of the classroom, creating meaningful opportunities for exploration and learning.

She’s passionate about recognizing the unique gifts within each child and helping those gifts come forward so every student feels seen, supported, and able to flourish.

A Kauai resident for 30 years, Jina has raised five children on the island. She lives in ʻŌmaʻo with her husband, Gabriel, where they enjoy gardening, homesteading, and crafting together.

Nia Civil

Educator

Nia is a passionate educator that holds a B.A. in Child Study & Teaching with an emphasis in Spanish from St. Joseph’s University, and a Master’s degree in Curriculum Design from Pepperdine University.

From Los Angeles by way of New York, she has spent her career as both a classroom teacher and private educator teaching students from a wide range of backgrounds, including children with special needs, students with literacy/language challenges, those learning English as a new language, and students whose education was interrupted due to life’s changes and challenges.

Nia believes that every child deserves to be met where they are, with compassion, curiosity, and empowering expectations. She strives to inspire and help children recognize their own potential. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in whole-child education while mixing in literacy acquisition, drawing from inquiry-based learning through a constructivist approach. She values learning experiences that encourage critical thinking, creativity, and real-world connection.

Outside of the classroom, Nia enjoys spending time in nature, painting, yoga, and spending time with family and friends. She is grateful for the opportunity to teach on Kauai and looks forward to learning and growing alongside the island’s keiki.

heaven hurley

Educator & Emotional Wellness Guide

Heaven Hurley is dedicated to supporting educators, children, and families within her community. Her work centers on guiding families into deeper awareness, emotional presence, and heart-centered connection.

Through her approach, Heaven helps parents understand the root of their child’s behavior so their true needs can be met – transforming the home into a space of safety, clarity, and love.

She provides emotional support for families navigating separation, conflict, or significant transitions, offering tools for responding to behavioral challenges, setting healthy boundaries, communicating clearly, and resolving conflict with compassion. Heaven’s methodology integrates nervous system regulation, subconscious reprogramming, and grounded, practical parenting tools. The space she holds brings forward a parent’s own inner wisdom – the wisdom that becomes most essential in real-life moments with their child.

For children, Heaven teaches emotional intelligence: the ability to understand, manage, and respond to feelings in healthy, empowered ways. She supports young learners in developing conflict-resolution skills, building self-confidence and a strong sense of agency, and staying connected to who they are and why they are here.

kat Brickner

Nature Educator

Kat has spent her life in and around the ocean, developing a deep connection to marine ecosystems from an early age. She loves working with children and nurturing their curiosity, and connection to the natural world.

As a young adult she worked at an aquarium, caring for habitats and animals, supporting youth education programs, and eventually becoming head aquarist. She later lived abroad on research vessels, where she learned the art of sailing and participated in both individual and collaborative marine research. In college, she pursued a degree in environmentalism with a special focus on plastic pollution. Now she serves as vice chair of Surfrider Kauai chapter.

Since 2012, Kat has taught surf lessons with an emphasis on working with children. She has also served as a camp counselor for a variety of youth programs, including Reef Guardians Hawaii. In addition to completing past lifeguard training, she currently holds certifications in First Aid and CPR.

Kat has also studied organic agriculture and soil science, apprenticed with herbalists, and taken Hawaiian lā‘au lapa‘au courses. She knows much about local flora and relationships between ecosystems. Kat believes that time spent in nature fosters self-assurance and contemplative thinking – skills that support children throughout their lives.

cheyenne Atkins

Nature Educator

Cheyenne, who has spent the last seven years on Kauai, is our Nature Educator here at Earth School. She has spent most of her life learning from the natural world and exploring the interconnectedness that we all share.

Cheyenne graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies. She went on to work as a camp counselor for No Barriers Youth, a program dedicated to supporting at-risk youth by using nature-based experiences to build social and emotional resilience.

Since moving to Kauai, Cheyenne has served as the Director of a Nature Enrichment after-school program at a Waldorf school, as well as the Garden Teacher Assistant. Her work is grounded in her passion for mālama ‘āina (caring for the land) and nānā i ke kumu (looking to the source and reconnecting with one’s roots).

She brings this philosophy into every learning experience, guiding children to deepen their relationship with nature, themselves, and the island community.

chelsea wallace

Assistant Director of Operations

Chelsea supports the day-to-day operations and continued growth of Earth School Hawaii, working closely with the founder to turn ideas and priorities into organized, actionable projects. Her role spans grant development, communications, social media, website management, administrative systems, community outreach, and organizational coordination.

With a background in operations, project management, executive support, and environmental education, Chelsea brings both structure and creativity to the work behind the scenes. Her previous experience includes garden education, community-based food systems, aquaponics, and supporting mission-driven organizations and founders across a variety of operational roles.

Deeply committed to supporting environments where children and educators can thrive, Chelsea approaches every project with heart, care, and a quiet determination to make things easier for everyone involved. At Earth School, Chelsea helps connect the many moving pieces of the organization so that educators and leadership can stay focused on creating meaningful experiences for Kauai keiki.