Meet Our Staff
Jessie Adams-Weinert
Lead teacher & Executive Director
A Bit About Ms. Jessie
Jessie made her way to Haines from Arizona, where she spent a significant amount of time outdoors, engaging in activities such as rock climbing and hiking. Her initial role in Haines was as a raft guide, but she made the decision to settle year-round after earning her Bachelor's degree in Family Studies and Human Development from the University of Arizona.
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Taking on the role of director and lead teacher at CVP has been both challenging and immensely rewarding for Jessie. From 2020 to 2021, she pursued a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education, focusing on leadership. This journey, combined with her extensive professional development and hands-on experience in preschool education, has shaped her well-defined philosophy of early childhood education.
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Jessie firmly believes in the transformative power of play, the importance of outdoor experiences, and the nurturing of social-emotional development in young learners. Her educational approach is centered around building strong, trust-based relationships with her students. Alongside this, she incorporates her expertise in yoga and mindfulness teaching, along with her passion for nutrition, dance, and outdoor adventures, into the classroom each day.
Gely Diaz
Teacher
A Bit About Ms. Gely
Gely is a heartwarming addition to our team! Originally from Guatemala, Gely's journey in education began with primary teaching in the city of Chiquimula. After a stint in business administration and working in an orphanage, she embraced her role as a homemaker while raising three children.
Her path eventually led her to become a Special Needs Assistant in Klukwan under the Chatham district. It was there that Gely discovered her true passion for teaching small children. Her background as a summer educator for the Takshanuk Watershed Council brings exciting ideas for connecting children with gardening during the summer months.
Gely's unique touch lies in her bilingual skills, which she lovingly shares with the children in the classroom. Her work at CVP is imbued with compassion and sensitivity, creating a warm and welcoming environment for our little learners.
Tiaya Ruggirello
Assistant Teacher
A Bit About Ms. Tiaya
Tiaya, our newest teacher was raised right here in Haines, Tiaya's journey led her to Hawaii, where she earned her associates in liberal arts. Her career path took an inspiring turn when she worked as a registered behavior technician, helping children on the autism spectrum with behavior challenges.
Returning to Haines in 2021, Tiaya's passion for working with children continued to grow. She's worked as a paraprofessional at the Haines School and mentored the summer work program at SAIL. Currently pursuing her bachelor's in Family and Human Development with a minor in Applied Behavior Analysis, she's a dedicated lifelong learner.
Tiaya's love for the outdoors, combined with her educational background, makes her an incredible asset to our team. She can't wait to ignite the joy of learning in our students while sharing her love for the outdoors, climbing, biking, and aerial dancing!
