Gena Spurrier
Kindergarten & Elementary Teacher

For nearly a decade, Gena has been on a quest to perfect the art of travel. She has used restaurants throughout this time to keep the horizons shifting. Carrying with her an ultimate goal of being a self-employed artist. When she began to work with your children at Mariah Art School 6 months ago, she began to perceive our future in a much different light. Through those whose innocence allows their mind to be a sponge and the world their oyster, she has connected to teaching, a necessary part of herself. The most simple times can be the hardest to find. She was introduced to the visual arts while attending Eastern Oregon University. The two years enrolled gave outlet to sculpt, paint, draw and find confidence in creating self-expression. The children teach her to embrace the fusion of knowledge that takes place in this center. It is an honor to aid in guiding their energy into creative outlets.

Donna Vogel
Lead Pre-School Teacher

Donna moved to Olympia from Oregon 7 years ago. Her roots are growing deep into the heart of Olympia, it is her home. She has a strong support system within her community. It all started when her daughter started pre-school at Mariah Arts in 2004. Her daughter started reading at age 3. As a parent of a gifted learner, she has needed to be a parent educator to meet her daughter's needs so she will not get bored; which led to the extensive research on the education of younger children. She has always loved working with children. For the last 5 years she has been teaching Pre-School through 5th grade at Unity of Olympia. She is currently attending an Energy Healing school and is in her 3rd year of a 4 year program. On her off time, she enjoys traveling, gardening, biking, hiking and camping – being outdoors in nature. She has always wanted to be in the alternative healing profession and a teacher. Seeing both of these manifesting in her life is so exciting. She is honored to be a part of your children's education and creative arts experience.

Ambere Fredsall
Pre-School & Kindergarten Teacher

Ambere grew up all over the west. Her parents are both jewelers, which gave them the ability to move all over. She considers herself an artist as she believes "we are all born artists". Expression is one of the most important aspects of being human and finding our voice is not easy in this crazy world. She has worked with art her entire life and she has been taking many different art classes for the past 3 years. She studied with Tim Ballingham in Tucson, AZ for 3 years. Ballingham is an achieved ceramic artist and a great teacher. I have taken several art classes including oil painting, screen printing and photography. Currently she is in the process of transferring to Evergreen State College to follow her true passion – Environmental Science. She plans on learning everything she can to help restore the environment from its current condition. Until then, she enjoys life as it comes.

Kendra Andersen
Pre-School & Kindergarten Teacher/Creative Dance Teacher

Kendra has worked in the childcare field for 12 years in various jobs such as a nanny, a teacher's assistant, and a creative dance instructor. She is passionate, intuitive, loving and playful with children. She has 5 years of experience working with adults and children with developmental disabilities and behavioral challenges. She is fluent in American Sign Language because she was raised in a deaf family. She has completed 2 years of college at Normandale Community College in Minnesota with an emphasis in the Arts, Communication and Psychology. She is a 4th years student at Dynamic Duality Center for energy healing in Tenino, Washington. She has been teaching Family Creative Dance classes in Olympia since April of 2007. She is a passionate dancer and has completed several dance workshops in the 5 rhythms practice at the Waves Studio in Olympia. She is continuing her study in "Brain Dance" with Joanna Cashman at the Evergreen State College.