Arizona native Vicki Blessing was born in Scottsdale, grew up in Sedona, and has dedicated her life to serving those with special needs. She worked at Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind and on the Apache Reservation in the White Mountains for 20 years. During that time she also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Ashford University in Iowa. After almost 40 years of serving as an educational sign language interpreter, Vicki decided to further serve her students’ needs by earning a Master’s degree in Cross Categorical K-12 Special Education from Grand Canyon University. She then relocated back to the Verde Valley and joined the team at Sedona Charter School in the fall of 2020. Vicki is happy to be working at a Montessori school as she raised her youngest son on Maria Montessori’s principles. In the summer of 2021, she participated in an intensive Montessori training program for teachers of children age 6 to 9. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, sewing, playing board games with friends, snorkeling, reading, and enjoying the company of her rescue dog, Rose.

Federal status: Highly Qualified Special Education Teacher grades K-12

Montessori qualifications: American Montessori Society trained for ages 6-9 through Arizona Montessori Teacher Education Program.

Arizona certifications: Mild-Moderate K-12 Special Education