About me

My name is Maiya, I am an artist and educator from the West Coast, currently living in Chicago.

I was born in Washington state, where I spent my younger years playing the evergreen forests. As a kid, my favorite activities were making up plays and stories with my friends, as well as being outside. To this day, being outside is one of my favorite things in the entire world.

After my parent's divorce, we moved to sunny San Diego where I spent my elementary years playing on the beach. I am a big sister to a not-so-little-anymore brother named Kai. At three years apart, he was my first best friend. It's very likely that my love of child-care came from nurturing him and exploring our world together.

I am an artist, a theater maker, and a writer. I studied theater (directing and performance) at the University of Idaho before moving to Chicago.

I have organized several theater camps for elementary-age students, focusing on self-expression and the process of creating new work. In Chicago, I have worked with many families, with kiddos ranging in ages from toddler to teen. I was an after-school leader at Catherine Cook School, where I was also a substitute teacher and 3rd-grade assistant.

My playfulness and creativity make the connection between my theater art practice and childcare very strong. I bring adventure, creative play, good stories, big questions, and lots of loving support to any connection I make.