Teachers

  I love the development and education of Children. I believe to create a holistic healthy space in which children can grow soaring to their highest potentials. Through creating immersive worlds a child’s individual needs are met, thus fostering their growth in their social, emotional, creative, physical and cognitive selves. I’ve had the amazing opportunity to work with children of various backgrounds from the Preschool Realm to the Elementary ages in a Montessori School. I’m passionate about working with children in planning these whole experiences guiding them through the discovery of art through its different forms and expressions. I look forward to continuing seeing all our budding artists grow.

Jodi Gates was born in Iowa City, Iowa. She moved to Antioch, California with her parents and younger brother when she was 3 Years old.

After graduating high school she attended California State University working towards a degree in psychology. While attending college she worked for the Head Start program in schools all over Sacramento County. When she moved back to Antioch she began working for Starbucks Coffee Company and The Family Stress Center based in Concord, CA. While at the Family Stress Center she mentored youth with mental illness. While this job was extremely rewarding she moved on to work at the Fine Arts Preschool in Walnut Creek, CA and continued at Starbucks. In the meantime, her boyfriend, now husband, applied for a job in Tuolumne County. He received an IT position with the county and they moved to Sonora.

Jodi transferred to Sonora with Starbucks and continued to work for the company for seven years. The perks were great. She got married to Jamie and they had two little girls, Julia and Jenna. After Jenna was born Jodi became part of the team at Safari Learning Academy, the perks here are even better. She loves teaching children and helping them to find their voice. Jodi became the Head Toddler Teacher in the toddler program in 2015.

When Jodi is not working she loves to spend time with her family. They love hiking and camping. Every year Jodi and her husband hike to the top of half dome in Yosemite.