Director's Bio 

Hello and welcome! My name is Kechelle Jackson and I was born here in Seattle, Washington. Since a very young age I've participated in many youth and high school programs: Dance, Cheerleading, Track & Field, Basketball, Skiing, Softball, Volleyball and Steel Drum. These experiences allowed me to be active in my community and have shaped the way i relate to the world and others.

 I began working with the youth in 2004 when I joined the Washington Reading Corps. After two years of service I relocated to Sacramento, CA where I worked for the City of Sacramento as a Human service Coordinator overseeing and supervising a middle school after school program. In 2008 I moved back to Seattle and  became a preschool teacher, within six months I was enrolled into a degree program for Early Childhood Development . I completed the program and  worked in the classroom for about  5 years, while taking on additional roles as a mentor supervisor and small group enrichment teacher. In 2012 I went to the Summer Dance Institute for  Teachers which is held at The Creative Dance Center in North Seattle hosted by Anne Green Gilbert. This is where I learned about Brain Compatible Education and also how to facilitate and assess quality movement experiences for young children. Upon the completion of the two week intensive  I was left  inspired and I felt empowered to construct this special enrichment program that focuses on the whole child by combining my knowledge and expertise as Early Childhood Educator with Brain Dance Education. This holistic approach develops every child into a critical thinker, collaborator, and creator. Emerald City Creative Arts was established in 2013 and now provides movement enrichment services in over 10 schools across the greater Seattle area.

Currently I manage and work as an enrichment teacher for ECCA, I am a contracted dance instructor with the Creative Dance Center , and I am also a Zumba Fitness instructor.  

Working together with learning communities, young children, and families to foster and enhance social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development has been an incredible self-reflecting  journey.  I truly enjoy the work that I do and I plan to continue share the gift of movement. 

Cheers,

Kechelle