Valdeane’s favorite activities include spending time with her family and close friends, deepening her mindfulness practices, listening to podcasts, expanding her knowledge of Hawaiian and Ryukyuan culture, volunteering in her community, and exploring new places.
In 2005, Valdeane and her family exchanged the congestion of Oʻahu for acreage (and unending yard work), in the rainforests of Hawaiʻi Island, where she currently resides with her daughter, son, two dogs, and an assortment of her late husband’s goldfish.
Favorite books she read to her children: Moo, Baa, Lalala by Sandra Boynton and The Story of Hina by Patrick Ching
Sara has lived in Watsonville, CA, for more than 30 years, graduated from Brandman University in 2015 and obtained a BA in Early Childhood Education. With more than 20 years of experience in the Child Development field, she has served the community and families in many different roles such as Home Visitor, Early Head Start Teacher, Preschool Teacher, Parent Educator, Child Development Screener and Early Interventionist. The targeted population that has assisted has been low-income families, high risk, and children with disabilities. She enjoys walking in nature, listening to instrumental music and eating Mediterranean and Mexican food. She is native Spanish Speaker, and her passion is supporting families and children to overcome obstacles, and to help them develop to their maximum potential.
Favorite Book: The Napping House by Audry Wood
Chara started her career in education as a classroom teacher and then quickly moved into a reading intervention role. She was also a site based literacy coach for several years. Feeling like she could make more of a difference, she started Inspire Literacy, a coaching and consulting business that provided staff development and in-classroom coaching for teachers to improve their literacy practice. She has worked in over 15 districts and has trained over 500 teachers. Her passion for early literacy runs deep in her bones! Chara has a Master’s Degree in Education and an Administrative Credential. She has received extensive literacy and coaching training from Columbia University’s Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. She recognizes the positive impact that literacy has on children and feels like working with Always Dream is a full circle moment for her!
Favorite children’s book: Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
Sofia has always been drawn to early childhood education. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a focus in child and adolescent development from Saint Mary’s College of California, where she gained valuable experience working with students both locally and abroad. She later earned her teaching credential from California State University, East Bay. Her career includes roles with tutoring companies, research organizations, non-profits, and the public school system, where she taught both kindergarten and second grade. Sofia has developed a passion for early literacy, nurturing a love for reading in young students, and collaborating with families to enhance home engagement. Sofia, a Bay Area native, also enjoys exploring new foods, watching sports, and traveling.
Favorite Children’s Book: Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae
With a deep love for travel and exploration, Natasha’s first solo expeditions happened between the pages of her favorite books. She aims to bring her energy and experience in promoting the equitable distribution of resources and opportunities to Always Dream’s mission, ushering a new, inclusive generation toward the thrill and wonder of reading.
Favorite children’s book: Absolutely too difficult to name just one, but a standout is The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base.
Erin has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies/Public Relations from Eastern Illinois University and is a certified children’s yoga instructor. She is a passionate and accomplished fundraising professional with over 10 years of experience in the nonprofit and event planning sectors. Ever committed to making a positive impact on the lives of others, she is thrilled to expand the reach and mission of Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream as the Hawai’i Development Officer.
Erin grew up a voracious reader with fond memories of her family partaking in the Pizza Hut BOOK IT! Program and weekly trips to the library as a child. She experienced firsthand that reading helped foster confidence and a rich imagination within her, thus she feels every child and family is entitled to access to early literacy resources.
Favorite Children’s Book: The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner or Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola