Meet The Teachers
Hi! I’m Jada, founder of Trailblazers, a space where homeschool families build deep roots, form real friendships, and dive into learning that’s hands-on, heart-led, and unapologetically authentic.
After nearly two decades in Flagstaff, I created Trailblazers as a place where kids can show up as their full selves, connect meaningfully with others, and grow into confident, curious changemakers.
Our classroom isn’t confined to four walls. Some days you’ll find us studying ecosystems at a local park, testing erosion models downtown, or learning on the courthouse lawn. Wherever we are, I love turning science into an adventure that connects hands-on discovery with real-world relevance and local impact.
My teaching is grounded in a whole-child approach that blends science, social-emotional learning, place-based environmental education, and outdoor exploration. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Food & Nutrition and will complete my M.S.Ed. in Transformative Teaching & Leadership in December 2025. As a longtime homeschool parent, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is to learn in a community that values curiosity, creativity, and authenticity.
Outside of Trailblazers, I lead forest adventures with Montessori Forest Adventurers and spend as much time as possible outdoors dreaming up new ways to help kids feel powerful, purposeful, and wildly themselves.
Jada Santoro | Science
Founder & Program Director
Erika Tsouras | Art
Erika Tsouras is a local artist and art educator with over a decade of experience helping students discover their creative spark. She paints with watercolor on raw wood panels, often allowing the natural wood grain to guide her expression of beauty and emotion found in the natural world. Erika holds a Master’s Degree in Art Education from NAU and has been teaching K–12 art in Flagstaff since 2008. She is also the founder of Meadowlark Art Studio, where she shares her passion for creativity and community through classes, workshops, and original artwork.
At Trailblazers, Erika leads students through rich, hands-on art experiences rooted in creative freedom and connection. Her classes draw inspiration from nature, literature, and student imagination, while also introducing students to influential artists from history and traditional art forms from around the world. Youth are encouraged to experiment, take creative risks, and approach art as both personal expression and cultural exploration.
Erika believes that art-making is a natural human impulse and that everyone deserves to enjoy the creative process and feel empowered to make their mark. In her classroom, every student is welcomed with warmth, acceptance, and a gentle invitation to create without fear or comparison.
Holly Luky is a homeschooling mother and homesteader who embraces a nature-based, holistic approach to learning for her family. Education is seamlessly integrated into their daily life, whether through real-world skill application with their animals, hands-on culinary work, or reading aloud cherished books.
Holly brings a robust professional background, including over fifteen years in Education Technology spanning K-12 and Higher Education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts and an Associate of Culinary Arts degree. Before moving to Flagstaff in 2015, she was the local publisher of two magazines in Sedona, AZ, and directed the Sedona SEEDs teen mentoring program. She has also spent time teaching English as a Second Language online and coordinating outdoor exploration networks for homeschool families.
In her classroom, Holly fosters the belief that every student, at their own pace, can cultivate a positive relationship with reading and writing. She views a rich literary journey as the key to unlocking vivid imagination and creativity.
Holly Luky | Language Arts