Meet The Teachers
Jada Santoro is the founder and program director of Trailblazers Learning Community. After more than a decade in Flagstaff, she founded Trailblazers to create a welcoming space where homeschool students could experience meaningful, hands-on learning, build lasting friendships, and develop a strong sense of community.
With a background in science education, environmental education, and social-emotional learning, Jada brings a whole-child perspective to her work. Her educational philosophy connects scientific inquiry, creativity, and emotional well-being, grounded in the belief that caring for ourselves and one another helps us become better stewards of the natural world.
She holds a bachelor's degree in Nutrition and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Social-Emotional Learning. Beyond Trailblazers, Jada collaborates with local environmental and outdoor education organizations and remains committed to creating opportunities for young people to feel capable, curious, and connected to their communities and the natural world.
Jada Santoro, M.Ed.
Founder & Program Director
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, B.A. | Language Arts
Community Engagement Coordinator
Cat Bennett, B.S. | Art
Cat Bennett is an NAU graduate and environmental educator with a passion for sustainability, community engagement, and creative expression. She holds a B.S. in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a minor in Community Engagement and has worked with children for over three years.
A familiar face at Trailblazers, Cat began as an assistant teacher and student intern. Her approach to art emphasizes self-expression, exploration, and the creative process over perfection. She creates a welcoming space where students feel free to experiment, trust their instincts, and express themselves through art. Drawing on her environmental education background, Cat encourages students to connect with nature, themselves, and the world around them. Outside of Trailblazers, she also works with local environmental education organizations to help Flagstaff youth build meaningful connections with the natural world.
William Ascarza is a distinguished science educator, author, and field researcher with decades of experience bringing Southwestern geology, physics, and natural history to life. An instructor at Yavapai College and seasoned Southwest tour guide, William brings a rich interdisciplinary background to the classroom—from designing specialized geology camps for the Museum of Northern Arizona and docent instruction with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, to leading experiential learning initiatives across numerous academic institutions.
An accomplished writer, he has authored seven books on Southwestern natural history and geology and served as a long-time historical columnist for the Arizona Daily Star.
William leverages his extensive field research across Arizona’s volcanic landscapes to connect core concepts in physics, space systems, energy, and sustainability directly to the region's natural environment.
William Ascarza, M.L.S. | Science