Emily Ahsoon is the Lead Teacher in Manzanita. This is her second year at UMCS. She attended the University of Hawai’i at Manoa and double majored in Political Science and Women’s Studies with a special focus on Indigenous Women’s Feminism. She attended the AMI Elementary Teacher training at Montessori Northwest in Portland, Oregon, holds a Master’s in Education from Loyola University Maryland, and participated in the CalStateTeach program for her California Teaching Credential. Emily has been practicing the Indonesian martial art, Poekoelan (Pu- ku- lan), for over 20 years and holds the rank of forth degree black belt. She has taught self-defense classes to children and adults throughout California, Oregon, Washington and Hawai’i. When she's not in the studio, Emily enjoys cooking, traveling, dancing and being outside.