About Our Staff

Vanessa Castro Arevalo III

Founder of the Center for Higher Learning

Vanessa has trained/taught many students to develop their own natural abilities and they have attained greater insight and higher levels of happiness and satisfaction in life. Vanessa's clients come from all walks of life and are repeat clients who often refer her to their friends and family.

"Teaching has taught me to give language to the "intangibles," which, in a reading, gives the readee a frame of reference for their experiences. Suddenly, what was confusing and overwhelming and sometimes unexplainable makes sense. With new understanding, the readee is now empowered - they are brought into present time with the clarity to take the appropriate next step for themselves."

To schedule a professional consultation please go to: Schedule an appointment

Jaime Kornsweig, C.C., L.Ac., M.S.T.O.M

Jaime Kornsweig experiences no greater joy than transforming lives while incorporating her many passions: female empowerment, creativity and art, personal growth and self-expression, mental/emotional health, as well as intuitive, meditative, and spiritual studies. She believes that life changes occur through a process of creative self-exploration. She works one on one with her private clients, leads group coaching sessions, facilitates personal development workshops, teaches classes and teleseminars, and writes a daily blog. Jaime practices what she preaches by following her heart and living her purpose. All roads and adventures along that journey have culminated into The MUSE Life Coaching experience.

To schedule a professional consultation please go to: www.themuselifecoaching.com

Sonia Borg, PhD, M.P.H., M.A

Dr. Sonia Borg has been featured as an expert on T.V. and radio shows such as Good Morning San Diego and Discovery Channel Canada. She is a professional speaker for college campuses, a Clinical Sexologist and the founder of The Happy Endings Company, a provider of products and education. She is passionate about teaching and learning from life experience and believes that above all else, it should be fun. Sonia earned her Ph.D. in Human Sexuality, Masters in Public Health and a Masters in Speech Communication. Dr. Borg will be teaching phone classes.

To schedule a professional consultation please go to: www.thehappyendingscompany.com

Monique Feil

Monique Feil is a uniquely talented photographer whose work has been published in many bridal and professional photography magazines. She is an award-winning make-up artist and photographer with many international awards and recently the Kodak Award of Excellence. Monique notes, “ I find beauty and worth in every person I photograph. My wish is to show each person how magnificent they truly are.

To schedule a professional consultation please go to: www.moniquefeil.com

Amanda Collins

Amanda Collins is an internationally recognized Feng Shui consultant, speaker, and instructor as well as the owner and founder of Feel Serene, her consulting practice, and Feng Shui Fusion Inc. which supplies feng shui products around the world. Born and raised in Ireland, Amanda studied business and marketing at college in Dublin, Mrs. Collins now makes her home in San Diego and serves both corporate and residential clients around America. Amanda's training has been extensive and has traveled around the world receiving formal training from the leading Feng Shui Masters. She has studied sacred spaces from China and Australia, to Europe and South America. Mrs. Collins studied Compass School of Feng Shui, Black Sect Tantric Buddhism, Land Form and Traditional Feng Shui in China and around the world. Amanda is certified in Green Design, Interior redesign, as well as showcasing homes for sale. She is the San Diego Director and liaison to Ireland for the International Feng Shui Guild.

To schedule a professional consultation please go to: www.sdfengshui.com & Products: www.fengshuifusion.com

Rachel Carey, Reiki Master

Katie Noonan, L.Ac., M.S.T.O.M.

Licensed Acupuncturists and Massage Therapist who run the Community Acupuncture/Massage Clinic (third Sunday, June/July)

Maring Higa, L.Ac., M.S.T.O.M.

Licensed Acupuncturists and Massage Therapist who run the Community Acupuncture/Massage Clinic (third Sunday, June/July)

Lari Castle, MT

Licensed Acupuncturists and Massage Therapist who run the Community Acupuncture/Massage Clinic (third Sunday, June/July)

Daniel Watman

Leader and participant of several community and cultural programs and events- Volunteer beach lifeguard and grassroots organizer for water safety programs in Tijuana, organizer of cultural/language get togethers where English and Spanish language students from both sides of the border meet and practice while working toward a community goal

• Recipient of Weider Spanish Linguistic and Literature Scholarship
• Recipient of Phi Beta Delta International Scholar Award
• Vice-president of Hispanic literary club at SDSU
• Member of Phi Beta Delta honor society
• Fluent in three languages (Spanish, English, Portuguese. Approximately 75% fluent in Italian and Esperanto)
• Participant in several language learning and applied linguistics seminars
• Second Degree Black Belt
• raveled on bicycle 10 000 kilometers in five months through several states in the US, Mexico, and parts of Guatemala

Education:
MA in Spanish Linguistics at San Diego State University
B.S., Arizona State University. Major - aircraft flight management, Minor - Spanish
Various courses through the Open University at SDSU and at UABC and UPN in Tijuana.
Advanced Spanish Syntax on line through Illinois State University.

Christine Kachulis

My name is Christine Kachulis (it’s Greek and is pronounced Ka-SHOO- lis, like a sneeze J) and I have been an elementary school teacher for the past 12 years in San Diego. I currently teach 3rd grade, and I have also taught 4th and 5th grade. I  adore teaching my little people and I laugh every day with them. They consistently teach me to live in the present moment and to appreciate the  power of joy and amusement.

I personally do not have any little people, but my husband Eric and I enjoy their presence. He works in the Education Dept. at the San Diego Zoo and just finished his first children’s CD about animals , habitats, and conservation. He also does school assemblies as “Wild Wes” through the Zoo. (His middle name is Wesley.)

The more I teach, the more I realize what’s missing in education today: I wish schools could teach children to be themselves, that they don’t have to be like anyone else, and  that they have the power to celebrate their own unique and special gifts. I believe that too often  children’s innate creativity, energy, and joy is inadvertently “squished out” by growing up in our society. I would like to teach them to be assertive and to stand up for themselves, to realize their power does not depend on the judgements of others, and that they can be fearless and follow their dreams, no matter what anyone else says or does. Also, I wish someone would have taught me when I was in school that I am not my thoughts and feelings; these are temporary and always pass. Like everyone, children at their core are spiritual, loving beings who sometimes experience powerful emotions they may not have the language to express.

Lacey Segal

Lacey is a High Tech. High teacher and Nei Gung Practitioner who teaches Nei-Gung for Life. She has published two articles in The California Association of Teachers of English's quarterly journal, California English. The first article, "Noticing Siddhartha," concerns her struggles to make teaching Hesse's famous novel meaningful for teens. The second article, "Ears to the Ground" grapples with teaching about atrocity to the high school audience. She also has an afinity for internal marital arts and Nei Gung. Lacey is certified to teach "Gods Playing in the Clouds" which is an incredible set of tai chi-like movements that increase vitality, balance emotions, and nourish the internal organs (among many other health benefits.)”

Dave McKinnon, HHP

Dave McKinnon is an exciting and dynamic teacher who has a lifelong passion for the martial and healing arts. He is accomplished in many unique systems of martial arts, physical conditioning and meditative methods. Dave has taught numerous seminars nationally in Kung Fu, Self Defense, Strength and Conditioning, Qi Gung and personal development. ·Holistic Healthcare Practitioner ·Master instructor of Wing Chun Kuen Kung Fu ·American Kettlebell Coach · Certified Awareness Therapy Life Coach ·Tui Na Massage, Cupping, Gua Sha and magnet therapies

Jason Kranz

Jason is a Slam Poet who teaches slam poetry/written and verbal expression classes. Jason will teach you to write, express, and unleash your creative declarations! Get away from the everyday stresses and fall into a surreal blend of inspiration and ingenuity. A pencil, a paper, and a world full of imagination are the ingredients to cook up innovative prose. We will be exploring ways to put thought and emotion on paper and enhancing those vibes through propelled “stage-animation”!

Sarah Zakaria

Sarah Zakaria is a career coach providing resume redesign and interview skills classes and services. She was a hiring manger for a San Diego non-profit for four years and assisted many part-time employees secure meaningful, full-time employment during her tenure. Ms. Zakaria assists clients with identifying their skills and talents through self-examination techniques. She facilitates the creation of a customized resume and other presentation tools to market their unique abilities to specific positions. Her mission is to help women achieve their career potential through understanding of skill value in the marketplace.

Jordanna Petkun

Jordanna Petkun is the Founder and CEO of Emerge Art Center, and is responsible for creating and implementing the vision, leadership team and instructors who will bring the arts to working adults and families in the North Park community of San Diego. She is a renowned speaker, consultant, and workshop facilitator in the areas of creative development and authentic leadership.

Jordanna holds a varied and extensive background including a BA in Sociology and Spanish, graduate work in Communications, a bilingual teaching credential, and certifications in both crisis management and authentic leadership. She spent 15 years in social services, creating and leading programs in the areas of domestic violence and sexual assualt, as well as teaching and develping curriclum in English Language Development at the High School Level.