meet our Team

---

Ms. Rachel began teaching dance while at the Phoenix Dance Academy. She graduated from NAU in 2004 with a B.S. in Elementary Education. Rachel is Certified with the Royal Academy of Dance and Acrobatic Arts.  Rachel has been teaching the love of dance for over 25 years and founded Liberty Performing Arts in Cottonwood in 2013. Rachel had a vision to start a performing arts charter school many years ago and began the application process in 2017. She was awarded the charter for Liberty Leadership Academy in 2019. This exposed an obvious need which lead to Liberty Preschool & Childcare!

Ms. Drea grew up in the Cottonwood area and has been working and volunteering for local schools for the past 12 years. She has worked with children from the age of 2 to 12 teaching everything from math and reading to art and photography. Ms. Drea enjoys the love of learning all preschoolers have and invites them to explore and learn through play. "My goal is to create a safe environment where each child feels loved and can build a solid developmental foundation for a successful and healthy future." We're excited to have Ms. Drea on our LCC team!

Ms. Vanessa is a loving mother, sister, daughter and friend. She was born and raised in Southern California and in 2016 moved to Cottonwood Arizona with her family. She grew up in love with creativity and all the ways to express it including creative writing, theater, musical theater, photography, animation design and interior design. Vanessa completed her Associates of Arts Degree at Yavapai College in 2020 where she found her interest in America Sign Language. Alongside her daughter, they learned the beautiful language together. Vanessa is the oldest of 5 and with 4 younger siblings she was always teaching them new things. She grew up working in her grandma's daycare, and worked at a preschool/daycare facility ranging from newborn to kindergarten. She hopes to continue expressing her love for the arts and ASL by sharing what she has learned with the kids at Liberty Leadership Acadamy and Liberty Childcare. 

A little bit about myself, my name is Jazmin Lopez I was born in Tucson Az and raised in Douglas Az. I moved up to Cottonwood when I was 12 years old and been here since. I graduated from Mingus Union High School and graduated in 2021 with my Associate of Arts from Yavapai College. This is my first year working with Liberty Preschool & Childcare.  I’m super excited and very grateful to have an opportunity to work here.  I also volunteer as a Sunday school teacher at my church for about 2 years. I enjoy every moment being in the classroom. I do hope to go back to school to get my Bachelors in Elementary Education.