Vy Tran Vinluan

(she/her)

Vy is the Director at Artenia Beast and has been with the school since it opened in Oct 2014! She has a BA and MA in Child Development and also holds a director’s permit. Vy was previously an adjunct professor at Cosumnes Community College and lecturer at Sac State for 3 years. During her free time, she enjoys family time with her husband and daughter Elle!

Contact: vy@arteniabeast.com

Lauren Kitching

(she/her)

Lauren is the Assistant Director and has been with Artenia since May 2019. During her free time, she enjoys home projects with her husband and spending time with her two dogs and two cats.

Contact: lauren@arteniabeast.com

Blithe Raines

(she/her)

Blithe co-founded Waking the Village in 2003. She helped to open Artenia Beast in 2014. She holds a BS degree from UC Davis. She is currently the Early Childhood Programs Director and oversees Artenia Beast as well as other Waking the Village sites. Her weekends and evenings are claimed by the joys of parenting, baking something tasty, and exploring the world.

Contact: blithe@wakingthevillage.org

Beth Munsterman (she/her)

  • AB teacher since 09/2018

  • Hello! I am Beth Munsterman. I am originally from the Midwest (Nebraska, Illinois, and Iowa) before moving to California and never looking back. I grew up the youngest of 8 siblings and am a big lover of art. I went to college at Iowa State University and received my Bachelor’s degree in graphic design. I then received my teaching credential from Cal State East Bay and began my teaching career. I have been teaching for 25 years and specifically been teaching preschool for 14. I discovered my love for teaching while babysitting in my younger years, teaching swim lessons with toddlers, and also by doing a parent co-op in a preschool. I have been married to my husband Gerald going on 35 years this year (2025) and we share three beautiful children and one grand baby (coming this year) together.

    My teaching philosophy centers around play-based learning, exploration, messiness, and most importantly, getting to know each child I come across. My classroom quote/philosophy would be a saying from the renowned philosopher Plato that says, “You can learn more about a child in one hour of play than you can in one year of conversation.”

    Fun fact: My daughter and I have a vintage booth at Stardust Emporium.

Nate Aleman (he/him)

  • AB teacher since 07/2022

  • Growing up in the Central Valley (Tulare/Visalia), Nate is the oldest of ten siblings - all sisters. Helping to care for his sisters helped to grow his nurturing side. Nate learned to be a good team member playing football, playing corner and receiver. In high school, Nate led the state in interceptions his senior year! Earning his BA from Sac State with a major in Psychology and a Minor in Child Development, Nate solidified his desire to teach preschool. He is currently working on finishing his Master’s Degree in Child & Adolescent Development. He believes strongly in a child-led classroom where the teacher is able to get to know their students and the kids are encouraged to follow their interests and get messy. A quote from Don Lantero speaks to Nate’s teaching philosophy, “Time spent playing with children is never wanted.” Nate lives in Sacramento with his wife and dog, Stitch. They  love to shop and watch reality t.v. together in their free time.

Maya Sanders (she/her)

  • AB teacher since 05/2024

  • Hello I’m teacher Maya! I got my units at CRC to teach in preschool while I’m currently working to get my BSW (bachelors of social work) at Sac State! In my free time I love to make music as well as incorporate music when I can inside the classroom! This is where learning meets fun and play!

Gillian Lewan (she/her)

  • AB teacher since 02/2022

  • I believe in child-led learning by creating a safe and fun environment which flows with the children’s current needs and interests. I love giving children space to be silly and creative while encouraging kinesthetic learning. During my free time, I’m studying psychology at Sac State, hiking, dancing, and doing film photography.

Rosery Gallardo (she/her)

  • AB teacher since 02/2023

  • Outside of the classroom I am always around family and friends. I prioritize family time, self-care, and spreading positivity. I'm so grateful to share my passions with others and make meaningful connections along the way. I have an AA in Early Childhood Education and have been working in the ECE field since 2014 as an Assistant Director and School Office Administrator. My teaching philosophy includes creating an environment where play meets purpose and fostering a love of learning in every child. My classroom motto is “Staying - Safe , Kind , and Clean (germs).” Fun Fact : My home is my crystal sanctuary, filled with sparkling formations and positive vibes.

Lourdes Morales (she/her)

  • AB teacher since 02/2020

  • My interest in teaching began when I was able to experience the growth and development of my own child. I witnessed the love, support and structure and how my child and others excelled in that environment. I wanted to provide that and much more as a teacher. Before joining Artenia Beast, I was a nanny and worked at Waking the Village. Working with younger children then solidified my decision to become a teacher. While working at Artenia Beast, I went to school to study Early Childhood Education and became a fully qualified teacher. On the weekends, I love driving a manual car on long road trips and exploring new places. I believe in connecting with our students, their families and my co-teachers on a daily basis. I want to give children the opportunity to be self-sufficient, provide structure and make our days full of fun! My favorite classroom quote is: “A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.” -Brad Henry 

Lauren Kitching (she/her)

  • AB teacher since 05/2019

  • I knew I wanted to be a teacher at a young age and have always had a love for helping others. I think preschool is the perfect age to help children become independent, while allowing them to gave fun and play. I graduated from Sacramento State with a BA in liberal studies and a minor in history. When I started at Artenia Beast I realized my passion for a younger age group and decided to go back to school for Early Childhood Education. In my spare time I love to bake and I have a massive collection of pens and stickers. My teaching philosophy is having as much fun and being silly while providing structure and routine. My goal is to teach them to be good human beings. We learn as much from our students as they learn from us. Teach them to be kind, creative and always curious.

Erika Kiefer (she/her)

  • AB teacher since 10/22

  • I've had the honor of working with children since 2011, and I've taught preschool for ten years. Childhood is such a magical time, filled with wonder and curiosity. I still remember the first time I learned about the moon and wanting to become a scientist. It's been my experience that children learn best through play and hands-on exploration. Children should feel empowered to try new things and make mistakes.

    "It's ok to make mistakes, that's how we learn."

Eiam O’Brien (he/they)

  • AB teacher since 03/24

  • I have 20 years in the ECE field and an Associates Degree in ECE. My philosophy when interacting with children is to model respect and healthy emotional vocabulary. I love doing art and reading books with children. I also love American Sign Language and am always learning  new things while working with children each day.

Hannah Acosta (she/her)

  • AB teacher since 11/22

  • My name is Hannah Acosta. I was born and raised in Lodi, CA and then moved to Sacramento in 2016 for college. I graduated with a degree in Sociology in May of 2019 and have been teaching ever since! I love to spend time with my friends and family and keeping myself busy with different crafts around the house! 

Zevi Horwitz (he/him)

  • AB teacher since 04/21

  • “The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.” As an early childhood educator, I approach teaching as an opportunity to empower each individual child to grow and develop to their fullest potential. I have been an early childhood educator for almost twenty years. 

    I graduated from CSU Fullerton with a degree in Human Services and American Studies. I also hold a Site Supervisor Teaching Permit as early childhood educator. When I’m not teaching at Artenia Beast, I also teach Hebrew at Congregation B’nai Israel and help coach Sacramento Roller Derby juniors. 

    When teaching young children, I apply child-centered, play-based, and holistic educational techniques. I often bring my passions into the classroom; I share my love of nature, music, art, literature, and active play into our daily activities. I respect each child as a unique individual and believe I can often learn as from them as they do from me.

Join Our Team

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Join Our Team ⁎

If you are an ECE teacher who wants to join our team at Artenia Beast, please send your resume and transcripts to: vy@arteniabeast.com.