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​​Sean & Elsa O'Hearn are co-owners of GalaMundi.  We met in the Galapagos Islands and have been married for 20 years.  We honeymooned in Northern Arizona and fell in love with the area. 

 

So much so, that we named our first daughter Sedona (Who was given the National Hispanic Scholar recognition and is attending the University of Arizona).  We also have a second daughter, Sade, who is in the 7th grade at Basis Flagstaff and is arguably one of our best early childhood "teachers", due to her amazing ability to connect with our children.  

 

We come from a family of educators and have been operating in Flagstaff for the last eight years (Our first center is still operating in the Galapagos Islands).  â€‹â€‹â€‹

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Elsa is a dedicated early childhood educator with over 20 years of experience nurturing young minds across three different regions. Born and raised in the Galapagos Islands, Elsa brings a unique cultural perspective and bilingual expertise to GalaMundi, where she has been affectionately dubbed a "baby whisperer" by many appreciative parents for her exceptional ability to connect with and understand children of all personalities and developmental stages.

 

​Professional Experience

As both an experienced director and hands-on teacher, Elsa has built her impressive career through various roles in early childhood education. Her journey began in her native Galapagos Islands, where she later became an instrumental force in growing the educational center over the past decade. Her leadership abilities extended to Florida and Arizona, where she continued to develop innovative educational programs focused on holistic child development while maintaining her passion for classroom teaching.

 

Elsa's comprehensive experience as an owner, director, teacher, and assistant teacher has given her invaluable insights into every aspect of early childhood education. This diverse background allows her to create truly child-centered learning environments where every child receives individualized attention and guidance.

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Educational Philosophy

At GalaMundi, Elsa implements a thoughtful educational approach that emphasizes understanding each child as an individual. Under her guidance, the preschool maintains small group sizes to ensure personalized attention, creating an environment where children feel safe to explore, create, and learn. Her teaching methodology incorporates creative expression through art, bilingual instruction, and developmentally appropriate activities that spark curiosity and joy in learning.

 

Parents consistently praise Elsa's remarkable ability to work with children of all temperaments and learning styles. Her patient, nurturing approach has earned her numerous accolades from families who have witnessed their children thrive under her care. The bilingual component of her program has been particularly celebrated, with many parents noting their children's impressive Spanish language acquisition as an invaluable skill developed during their time at GalaMundi.

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Educational Background

Committed to continuous professional growth, Elsa decided to return to formal education and is currently completing her senior year of undergraduate studies in education, having already earned over 120 credits. This academic pursuit reflects her dedication to staying current with the latest research and best practices in early childhood education.

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Family Connection

Early childhood education is truly a family passion for Elsa. Her sister, Jessenia, currently serves as the Director of their early childhood education center in the Galapagos Islands, continuing their shared commitment to quality education in their native community.

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Parent Testimonials​

"GalaMundi has been the best daycare/preschool for our two littles. Elsa and Yadira are absolutely fantastic and our kids love them so much. The attention and care they provide to develop our children's minds is the best in town, by far! The bilingual aspect is our second favorite part. The kids can understand fluent Spanish now and speak it frequently at home. Invaluable skill to learn at a young age."

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"Our family has had a wonderful experience with Galamundi in Flagstaff. Elsa and the other teachers are caring, thoughtful, and skilled in toddler education. The groups are kept small and the teachers get to know each child as an individual and what allows them to learn and function best. Our daughter loves going to 'preschool' and comes home with the most beautiful and creative recycled art projects as well as stories of what she has done and learned."

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Elsa's combination of extensive experience, dedication to education, and natural gift for connecting with children makes her an exceptional leader at GalaMundi. Her ability to create a nurturing, creative learning environment where children of diverse backgrounds can thrive continues to make a lasting impact on the children and families she serves.

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Yadira has been an essential part of GalaMundi’s teaching team since 2019, earning widespread admiration for her natural ability to connect with children and cultivate joyful, bilingual learning environments. Parents consistently praise her warm, patient demeanor and talent for making every child feel valued, while her seamless integration of Spanish language immersion has become a hallmark of GalaMundi’s educational approach.

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Professional Experience
As a lead teacher at GalaMundi, Yadira has dedicated herself to fostering meaningful relationships with students and families. Her tenure since 2019 has solidified her reputation as a trusted educator who balances structured learning with genuine emotional connection. While occasionally supporting administrative duties as needed, her primary focus remains in the classroom, where she creates spaces that celebrate curiosity and cultural diversity.

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Yadira’s teaching practice is rooted in hands-on engagement, using songs, storytelling, and creative play to make Spanish language acquisition feel organic. Her ability to transition fluidly between English and Spanish throughout the day has helped children develop bilingual comprehension skills that parents describe as “invaluable.”

 

Educational Philosophy
Yadira believes that meaningful connections form the foundation of early learning. She prioritizes one-on-one interactions, taking time to understand each child’s unique personality and learning style. This personalized approach has proven particularly effective in helping children adapt to bilingual instruction, as she intuitively adjusts her methods to match individual comfort levels with language exploration.

 

Her classroom thrives on cultural celebration, incorporating Latin American traditions, music, and literature into daily activities. By weaving Spanish vocabulary into routine interactions—from snack time to outdoor play—Yadira helps children absorb language skills naturally. Parents frequently note how her gentle encouragement empowers even hesitant speakers to practice new phrases with confidence.

 

Bilingual Expertise
Yadira’s bilingual teaching strategies extend beyond basic vocabulary, immersing children in conversational Spanish through:

  • Interactive games that associate words with physical actions

  • Storytelling sessions using bilingual picture books

  • Daily routines narrated in both languages

  • Cultural awareness activities celebrating Spanish-speaking traditions

This immersive yet accessible approach has led to remarkable results, with many students demonstrating fluency in understanding Spanish and actively using phrases in context. Parents consistently highlight this dual-language development as one of GalaMundi’s most valuable offerings.

 

Parent Testimonials
"GalaMundi has been the best daycare/preschool for our two littles. Elsa and Yadira are absolutely fantastic and our kids love them so much. The attention and care they provide to develop our children’s minds is the best in town, by far! The bilingual aspect is our second favorite part. The kids can understand fluent Spanish now and speak it frequently at home."

Another parent shares: "Yadira has this special way of making every child feel completely at ease. My daughter started barely knowing any Spanish, and now she sings entire songs in both languages—it’s amazing to see how naturally the kids learn through her guidance."


Yadira Gonzalez exemplifies the heart of GalaMundi’s mission, combining expert bilingual instruction with an extraordinary gift for building trusting relationships with young learners. Her dedication to creating inclusive, language-rich environments has helped countless children develop both linguistic skills and lifelong confidence. Through patient guidance and cultural celebration, Yadira continues to shape an educational experience where children flourish academically, socially, and emotionally. ​

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Sean â€‹brings a unique synthesis of child advocacy, environmental stewardship, and therapeutic practice to early childhood education. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, he attended bilingual schools while growing up and is a native Spanish and English speaker.  Shaped by the island’s rich ecosystems, his career spans child welfare, crisis intervention, and nature-based learning, with a growing focus on researching the intersection of forest therapy and play-based development.    

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Professional Experience

Sean’s multifaceted career reflects his commitment to nurturing children and communities through both systemic support and environmental connection. After serving as a Child Abuse & Neglect Investigative Specialist for the Arizona Department of Child Safety, he expanded his crisis intervention expertise as a Crisis Specialist in Flagstaff, providing immediate support to families, children, and other community members experiencing acute distress. This role deepened his understanding of trauma-informed care, which he channels into educational advocacy.  He co-founded GalaMundi with Elsa and Jessenia over twenty years ago while volunteering as a marine conservation liaison in the Galapagos Islands. His early work as a Teacher Assistant with GalaMundi and creating environmental projects for educating children on marine conservation as the Director of Operations for a international conservation group in the Galapagos Islands, ignited his passion for integrating nature into childhood development—a thread that runs through his subsequent environmental education campaigns across the Galapagos and his current research pursuits.

 

His professional journey uniquely bridges human and ecological well-being. As a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for the Arizona Supreme Court, Sean supported children in foster care and defended children in juvenile court, while his parallel work in environmental education emphasized the therapeutic power of nature. This dual focus culminated in his certification as an Forest Therapy Guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT), where he now facilitates healing through nature immersion.

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Educational Philosophy

Sean’s approach centers on the belief that nature is both a classroom and a co-teacher. Currently pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) with a research focus on nature-based play therapy, he seeks to bridge clinical social work practices with ecological mindfulness. Drawing from his postgraduate certificate in clinical psychology and ANFT certification, he is looking to research frameworks that use outdoor environments to address emotional, cognitive, and social development. His academic work aims to formalize methods where unstructured outdoor exploration becomes a tool for resilience-building, particularly for children impacted by trauma or adversity.

 

At the core of his practice lies the ANFT principle: “The Forest is the Therapist; the Guide Opens the Doors.” Sean creates learning experiences that encourage children to engage with the “More-Than-Human World” through sensory invitations—whether identifying plant species in Flagstaff’s ponderosa pine forests or practicing mindfulness through seasonal changes. His bilingual (English/Spanish) instruction further deepens these connections, allowing children to explore nature’s wonders in both languages.

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Nature-Based Expertise

Certified through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT), Sean employs evidence-based techniques refined during mentored practicums across Arizona’s diverse landscapes. His guided sessions incorporate:

  • Sensory immersion activities that sharpen observation skills

  • Land storytelling linking local ecology to cultural traditions

  • Child-led exploration fostering curiosity and autonomy

  • Trauma-informed practices using natural settings for emotional regulation

 

These methods align with his academic research into how nature exposure impacts neurodevelopment. Sean’s work in the Galapagos—where he taught communities about marine conservation—directly informs his current focus on fostering environmental literacy through hands-on stewardship projects and immersion in nature.

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Community Commitment

Sean’s dedication extends beyond the classroom into broader community safety and preparedness. His crisis management expertise spans roles as a Crisis Specialist in Flagstaff, Northern Arizona’s Crisis Response Team, and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). These experiences underscore his belief that nurturing resilient children requires resilient communities—a philosophy driving his advocacy for eco-reciprocity programs that pair forest therapy with conservation initiatives, teaching children to give back to the environments that nourish them.

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Sean represents a new generation of educators merging ecological awareness with developmental science. His interests in nature-based play therapy, rooted in clinical training, social work studies, and cultural humility, offers innovative pathways for childhood development. As he advances his MSW research and ANFT-guided practices, Sean remains committed to his vision: classrooms without walls where children discover their place in nature’s web while building emotional and cognitive strength for life’s challenges.

© 2024 by GalaMundi, LLC.

  

info@galamundi.com   

Galápagos Islands | Flagstaff, AZ

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