Ms. Denton grew up on a farm in the Appalachian Mountains of southwestern Virginia, alongside her five siblings. Homeschooled throughout her childhood, she spent her days helping on the family farm, where nearly everything the family ate was grown and cultivated by hand. Through years of tending animals, gardening, sewing, and knitting, Rachel developed a deep appreciation for meaningful work and a lifelong love of creating with her hands.
Rachel studied Human Services and Psychology, and, prior to moving to Tucson, Rachel worked as a job coach supporting students with a wide range of disabilities. She first joined our community as a substitute teacher working for Senya, a teacher placement organization that has been supporting our substitute pool. Her warmth, strength, and natural rapport with children were quickly noticed by both the faculty and the students she worked with, and she was soon invited to join our staff as an assistant teacher for the 25/26 school year. She is looking forward to her summer training at the Gardalis Teacher Training in Colorado.