Our Growth Story
Seed and Stem Learning Center was created to make a difference in the lives of students. Created by Bailey Nelson and Kenneth Kirk, Seed and Stem Learning center aims to take their love of math and science and create a program that allows students to connect across the globe through STEM education.
Although students take classes virtually, they will be inspired through hands-on and real-world applications and problems.
Our courses are aligned with Common Core Standards, students will develop (or enhance) their love of math, science, and engineering.
Teachers and tutors are all vetted and trained through a rigorous process that focuses on scientific inquiry, problem-based learning, and hands-on pedagogy. Teachers come from a variety of backgrounds including education, economics, engineering, and computer science.
Who We Are
Bailey Nelson
Kenneth Kirk
We're dedicated & it shows!
Meet Our Teachers
Sarah Stoltzfus
Math and Science
Sarah Stoltzfus is a passionate STEM educator who enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for math and science. She graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a BS in Biomedical Engineering. A few years after graduation, she found her passion for teaching while subbing in an 8th grade science classroom. Ever since Sarah has shared her interest and curiosity with students of many ages through interactive and positive classroom environments. She is currently pursuing her M.Ed in Adolescent Mathematics at SUNY Brockport. When she isn't teaching, Sarah enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time with her family and dog.
Stephanie Quinones
Math and Science
Hello! I’m Ms Steph. I’m an enthusiastic educator focused on instilling my students with a passion to explore the world around us. I aim to show students the scientific concepts involved in our everyday life. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Rehabilitation Science and am now pursuing my Master of Education degree in Learning, Cognition and Development. In addition, I am TEFL certified and worked abroad for 2 years as an elementary and middle school science and math teacher. I also tutor high school students, both online and in-person, in biology, chemistry, and literature. I really enjoy working with my students to meet their goals! In my free time, I like to cook and read as well as spend time with my family. My favorite food is noodles (of any kind) and my favorite color is purple. I’m looking forward to seeing you all in class!
Dr. Rhoda Deon
Math
Greetings from Arkansas! I’m Dr. Rhoda Deon and I love helping people become fearless critical thinkers. I have been a professional tutor for more than 25 years and I have 12 years of classroom experience teaching math and computer programming. As an educator, I have worked in homeschool, K-12, online, post-secondary, and non-academic settings. Those experiences shaped my teaching style into a mix of inquiry, experimentation, conversation, and play. My goal is to create meaningful learning experiences that encourage students to explore ideas and take ownership of their knowledge.
Many moons ago I received a BS in Mathematics from Texas A & M University and a MS in Mathematics from Arkansas State University. After spending some time in software development, I went back to school and earned a PhD in Educational Mathematics from the University of Northern Colorado in 2009.
I am a country girl at heart who will gravitate towards almost anything involving animals, dirt, trees, and water. When I’m not outside, you’ll find me writing music on the piano, singing, dancing, reading or experimenting in the kitchen. My community activities support rural entrepreneurship, foster conscious leadership, and build brave spaces that help people have courageous conversations.
Jillian Estes
Math and Science
Hello! I am Jillian Estes and I have been in education for 10 years. In that time I have taught kindergarten, 5th grade math, math intervention as well as subbing. I love to teach and learn new things. My bachelor's degree is in elementary education, I also have a master’s degree in educational technology along with hours towards my math specialist. I always struggled with math which is why I enjoy teaching it so much!Â
I live in Kansas City with my husband and 16 year old son. Most of our time is spent watching our son play baseball. When I have free time I love to travel, listen to audiobooks and enjoy bbq.Â
Go Chiefs!
Ashley Terrell
Tutor
Hello from Nashville, TN! My name is Ashley Terrell and I’ve been an educator for 11 years.
A native Virginian, I graduated from UVA with a degree in architectural history. I came to Nashville to enroll in Belmont University’s M.A.T program and teach in the Nashville public school system. I taught pre-k, kindergarten, and third grade until I left the traditional classroom to work with the district’s gifted program. This career change allowed me greater creativity with curriculum development and the chance to work with more students throughout the week. While teaching advanced learners, I found my passion for encouraging students to be critical thinkers and creative problem-solvers. One of my favorite teaching memories was a structural design challenge involving materials we found around the school building.
Most recently, I’ve been tutoring elementary students in math and reading. My husband Andrew and I have two amazing kids (ages 4 and 18 months) and a rambunctious yellow Labrador Retriever. As a family, we love to spend time together exploring Nashville.
Sarah Evans
Science and Health Education
Hey there! My name is Ms. Evans and I am excited to be your teacher! I have a master’s degree in Health Education and Behavior from the University of Florida and a bachelor’s degree in Public Health from the University of South Florida. I am a Certified Health Education Specialist and have been teaching for the last 5 years. I have taught upper elementary for the majority of my educational career but have had the opportunity to sub in K-12th grade. I have a passion for Science and STEM that I cannot wait to share with you!
In my free time, I love hanging out with my kids. We enjoy the Florida outdoor lifestyle. You can usually find us outside playing sports, swimming, camping, gardening, or going to Disney. I am a huge Atlanta Braves fan and of course a Florida Gator fan through and through! I love a good challenge and am a habitual learner, so I am always looking for new and exciting adventures to go on. I also enjoy the arts, going to concerts, and of course, love doing fun crafts and experiments!
Zelma Urzua
Grades 1-3
Hi! My name is Mrs. Urzua.
My passion is teaching young learners and being a part of their academic journey. As a teacher, a mom and a life-long learner, my joy is to create the spark that ignites the flame of curiosity in my students. I have 10 years of experience working in a public school setting. I have worked as a Reading Intervention Teacher and as a First and Second Grade Teacher. Through my experience, I have a well-rounded knowledge of how students learn and how important it is that they develop a sense of responsibility for their own learning. As they develop their mental resilience to struggle through concepts, they gain self-confidence and become empowered learners. My goal is to help my students understand the foundational skills in reading, writing and mathematics. I am very excited to be a part of Seed and Stem learning center and I look forward to meeting you and being a part of your child's academic success.
Nicole Collins
Music Technology Director
Hello! I am Nicole Collins, an educator with many hats. My teaching experiences range from Music K-12; instrumental, Online Music Technology Educator and Certified Online Course Designer for higher education. Collaborating with other creative minds has always been a passion of mine; which creates out-of-the-box experiences. I want to use various tools to infuse technology into a student's musical learning. Advancing the minds of musicians with technology has proven to be my niche with creating more options and continued passion with how a student learns. I am always ready to explore an outside-the-box experience!
Giovanna Carbajal
Elementary/Spanish Immersion
My name is Ms. Carbajal I will be teaching the elementary grades along with Spanish immersion courses. I graduated from UTSA with an Interdisciplinary Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education with a Bilingual concentration I love to do crafts and go to the movies to watch Marvel & Disney Movies.