Owner Rebecca Barnett Hovda, or as she is better known at the center Ms. Becky, opened Seeds Learning Center in 2005 with just eight students. One year later that enrollment number had tripled. Over the years Seeds continued to grow adding more students and a variety of classes. In 2012, with the continued push from parents who did not want their children’s Seeds experience to end, the kindergarten program began. Observing the success of students’ academic, social, and emotional growth, the kindergarten program grew into the Academy program. In 2016 a second building was purchased and fully renovated to welcome students.
Seeds has served as a welcoming place for hundreds of learners young and old. Encouraging students, teachers, and community members to learn and grow together.
Every detail from the toys, the wall colors, artwork, and even the lighting has been carefully considered and chosen to provide the best learning opportunities and environment. Seeds has created a beautiful and inspiring atmosphere for students.
Seeds is proud to be an independent private school. We believe it is the teacher’s responsibility to teach students how to think, not what to think. We do this through many different teaching methods including traditional, Montessori, hands-on, and play-based instruction and discovery.
Student, staff, and community health and safety is important to us. We clean and sanitize regularly, utilizing child friendly and natural options whenever possible. “Fresh air and sunshine”, are an age-old fix all we embrace, we utilize our outdoor learning spaces and classrooms daily. Our center and grounds are regularly observed and maintained to provide a safe environment for active learning.
The Seeds Community is part of the Wenatchee Valley Community. We are grateful for the relationship we can build with each unique family that joins us. Seeds is proud to support our community as a whole by hosting regular community service projects for our students as part of our curriculum.
The Seeds staff members embrace children’s individual interests, learning styles, temperament, life experiences, and cultures.
Ms. Becky – Owner/Director
Rebecca Barnett Hovda received her Bachelor of Arts in Child Development and interned in a Montessori Method school. She worked as a Pediatric Play Therapist in a large Midwest hospital for several years before returning to Washington State. Rebecca is an author, speaker, community educator, as well as an experienced tutor and mentor. She is the mother of three daughters, and she has traveled extensively.
Ms. Katya – Administrative Team
Katya Hovda has been teaching and mentoring young children for many years. She has been a part of Seeds since the school opened. Ms. Katya helped to create the Academy and Kinder-Ready programs. She loves working with students – preparing them for school and for life.
Ms. Katya is the mother of four beautiful, healthy children; Anthony, Makayla, Aviya, and Alakai. She enjoys spending free time with her family.
Ms. Whitney – Administrative Team & Lead Teacher
Whitney Smith’s passion for working with young children began in high school. After receiving her Montessori Guide Certificate from the North American Montessori Center of British Columbia, Canada, she taught in a Montessori classroom. Ms. Whitney has been a part of the Seeds team for over a decade as a Preschool teacher, Academy teacher, and Center Manager. She has also worked in executive leadership of senior care, volunteers with local youth and state education organizations, and was elected to Eastmont School Board in 2019.
Outside of school Ms. Whitney and her husband love to spend time with their 3 kiddos; adventuring, boating, and exploring the PNW.
Ms. Barbara – Lead Teacher
Ms. Barbara is a wife, mother, and dog lover. She was born in Würzburg, Germany, where she went to school and worked as a pediatric nurse on the PICU for 7 years. She moved to Japan and lived in Tokyo for 17 years. While in Tokyo she worked at Aoba International School and Mockingbird School as a Preschool teacher. In 2012 she opened her own school, A B C Kids. Her family moved back to Germany and then on to Cashmere in 2016. Ms. Barbara say, “Before becoming a teacher I had no idea that you could fit so many kids in one heart!”
In her free time Ms. Barbara is an avid athlete, she travels across the PNW with her husband, completing in marathon, swimming, and triathlete races.
Ms. Christy – Lead Teacher
Ms. Christy has been teaching at Seeds for many years. She has worked as a Preschool teacher and Academy teacher. She graduated with a degree in elementary education with endorsements in early childhood education and English. After teaching Kindergarten for several years after college, she had the opportunity to stay at home with her two children, but when her youngest was ready to start school, she was ready to get back into teaching and was thrilled to join the Seeds team!
In addition to being a busy Mom, Ms. Christy is also a talented pianist. She plays locally and teaches piano lessons.
Ms. Joy – Teacher
Ms. Joy grew up in the Wenatchee Valley. When she had her daughter Madison in 2017, she knew in her heart that her calling was to become a teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 2022 from GCU right before she had her third child, Molly. Joy fell in love with Seeds when her daughter attended Sprouts class in 2019 and when the opportunity to join the team arose, she jumped at the opportunity!
Ms. Joy loves spending time with her family, camping, boating and taking vacations. She especially loves watching her son Tyson on his dirt bike and Madison at her gymnastics competitions. Ms. Joy is currently pregnant with her fourth child and says even though her hands are full her heart is even fuller!
Ms. Mary – Teacher
Ms. Mary’s history with seeds dates back to when her oldest son attended in 2008. While working in healthcare at the time and with a history of working in Pediatric Therapy & Development, she knew that Seeds was a special place. Over the last 18 years Ms. Mary has built an amazing career as a family photographer, along with raising her 4 kids. Her other “hats” have included downhill ski coach, soccer coach, community board member on various athletic boards, and volunteer teacher.
Ms. Mary loves to spend her free time traveling with her family, cheering her kids on at their various sports, and being outside either skiing or mountain biking.