Veronica Rae Cowen aka Coconut ~ Founder
Veronica is a Marin native, and has been working at kid’s camps since 1998. She grew up traveling the world, went to Kindergarten in Nepal and taught 3rd grade in Thailand, and is now happy to bring her passion for summer, fun and children to Funderblast & Kinderblast Preschool. She started Camp Funderblast is 2013 and is excited to be expanding through Marin to impact and brighten the lives of even more children!  

Veronica graduated from UC Davis in 2004 and spent the past years traveling around the world, running camps and teaching meditation & awareness classes to kids & adults at The Foundation for Spiritual Development. Veronica is grateful to share her love of the world and possibility with you. What inspires Veronica is inspiring others, she looks forward to getting to know you and your family!
Katja aka Miss Buttons ~ Teacher and Director
Katja started her exploration of Early Childhood Education more than 15 years ago. She finds great joy in supporting children being their best. Katja has studied different philosophies from Waldorf to Reggio Emilia, while strengthening her own intuition to be able to see clearly the child in front of her. She continues to learn and grow alongside the children in her classroom. Her love for animals and plants is deeply embedded in her being. Hiking in the woods or working in the garden bring her great peace and harmony. She has created an amazing garden at Kinderblast where our children love to dig in the earth and plant yummy vegetables. Katja sees Beauty in the simple things in life. A butterfly or a ladybug bring her a feeling of awe and wonder. This inspires her to invent stories and songs that soothe or stimulate the children in her care.
Amy McKinney ~ Teacher and Assistant Director
Amy joined our team in January of 2020. She loves the joy, laughter and authenticity that young children bring to life. Amy believes in the importance of diversity and self love, and letting children learn by taking chances in a safe, supportive environment. She believes with the guidance from loving, present adults children thrive in a preschool environment where they learn invaluable, life-long social-emotional skills. She loves to teach children songs, sing, do fun art projects and give warm hugs. She’s a mom to Davis and a wife to her best friend and college sweetheart, Sol. She loves all fruit, Stevie Wonder and North Shore Hawaiian beaches. 
Alexandra aka Miss Pancake ~ Teacher
Alexandra joined our team in January of 2022. She is majoring in Early Childhood Education at Saddleback College. As a student and teacher, Alexandra looks at expanding her understanding of children and the how to support and inspire them through developmentally appropriate curriculum. Alexandra also holds a BA in French Literature from McGill University and a master's degree in Translation from the University of Montreal, Canada. Her personal interests outside of Early Childhood Education include teaching meditation, painting Byzantine icons and incline running on Marin trails. As a native to Toronto, Canada, Alexandra really appreciates the warmth and natural beauty of the California coast and how special it is to live here!
Tina Andropolous ~ Teacher
Tina joined our team in February of 2021. Every job Tina had as a teenager and young adult was with kids: babysitter, lifeguard, swim teacher, camp counselor, preschool teacher’s aide, paraprofessional, substitute teacher… Somewhere along the way, she left this path and after earning an MA in Education/Instructional Technology, she worked in the internet industry as a user experience writer. After having her daughter, she left the corporate world and looked for work closer to home. That was when she found her way back to the path she started on with children, as an art teacher, and an after schoolteacher. She loves getting to know all of the little spirits and helping them to grow and learn and play. She is grateful to live in such a beautiful place, for her family, and for friends old and new. ​
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Dazia Tyres ~ Teacher
Dazia joined our team in the Summer of 2023. Nearly three decades ago, she pursued her Early Childhood Education in Ontario, Canada,  and has since embarked on a joyful journey dedicated to child development. She lovingly raised four wonderful children. Dazia's passion lies in nurturing children's holistic well-being by helping them integrate their body, mind, and heart through the use of sound, movement, and breath work. Her expertise centers on fostering robust social and emotional skills, instilling confidence in children, encouraging them to express their feelings in a safe manner, and teaching them to seek help when needed. Dazia also holds a Masters in Intuitive Medicine and imparts her knowledge in medical Qi Gong and bodywork.