ACE TEAM

SARAH MCKEE

Owner / CEO

Sarah McKee has spent her entire career working with children. At thirteen years old, she began coaching preschool gymnastics to help pay for her own gymnastics competitions. Sarah learned from a young age the value of hard work and the importance of giving back in everything you do. After graduating from college, Sarah continued to coach gymnastics, while also working as a coordinator for a children’s non-profit organization in Los Angeles. With a desire to merge her two passions, Sarah and her husband Sutton McKee, acquired ACE Enrichment in 2016, with the goal of offering every child in Los Angeles and beyond an opportunity to participate in fun, meaningful, high quality educational and athletic programs after school.

TORIE CULBERTSON

Program Director

Torie discovered her passion for working with children when she became a nanny during college. Torie was studying to be a physical therapist, but her newfound love for children and upbringing instilled a desire for her future career to go in a different direction. Growing up, Torie spent most weekdays in a variety of after school extracurricular activities while her single mother juggled multiple jobs. When Torie found ACE, it was a perfect fit. She immediately connected with the mission statement, “ALL children deserve the best opportunities!” Torie officially switched careers and is a vital part of helping create engaging and interactive spaces for students to explore and develop.

Meet Our Instructors

Alexandria Ayala

Alex is originally from Taunton, Massachusetts. She attended Emerson College in Boston and majored in Communication Disorders and minored in Marketing. She has trained in various styles of dance for over 20 years including hip hop, ballet, jazz, tap, and more. Alex has over 10 years of experience in teaching children. She held her own fundraiser for Autism Speaks and has taught children with learning restrictions and disabilities for a majority of her teaching career. Alex is pursuing a career in music and dance. She enjoys traveling, trying new foods, shopping, and fitness. We are grateful for Alex’s commitment to teaching children and are proud to have her as a part of the ACE Team!

Lola Akinola

Lola is originally from New York, NY. She attended the City University of New York. Lola has been teaching with ACE since 2019. She is trained to teach children in many different areas such as cooking, cheer, art, and much more! Lola is also a recipe developer and actor. She loves cooking and baking to create nutritious and delicious recipes. When she’s not in the kitchen, you can find Lola outdoors at the beach or on a hike. Lola loves sharing her passions and knowledge with ACE students. We are grateful for her commitment to the ACE program!

Sylvain Wolfe

Sylvain has been teaching with ACE since 2021. He is from Santa Monica and is attending Santa Monica College. Sylvain has been teaching younger kids in sports and other activities since he was a teenager and also has experience as a nanny and childcare provider. His long term goal is to be a coach and athletic director. Sylvain is passionate about music, cooking, sports, and film. We are grateful to have Sylvain as a part of our team, not only is he a great teacher, but he cares deeply for each student that participates in his classes!

William McAfee

Will has been teaching with ACE since 2022. He is originally from Arkansas, but also grew up in Missouri and Colorado. Will moved to Los Angeles to attend performing arts school. He graduated from AMDA LA with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance Theater. Will has been dancing for 15 years and continues to train! Will is a professional dancer and hopes to move into doing more choreographing in the future. He enjoys skateboarding, mountain biking, and learning to crochet. We are grateful for the care he puts into each of his classes. Will has been a great asset to the ACE Team!

Ashlynd Trendel

Ashlynd grew up in Venice Beach, CA. She is attending Santa Monica College studying Pediatric Psychology. Ashlynd is a big sister of two and has been babysitting and working with children for many years. She has been teaching with ACE since 2022. Ashlynd enjoys creating art, gardening, writing, and cooking. We appreciate Ashlynd dedication to all her ACE classes!

David Robinson

David is originally from San Diego. He moved to Los Angeles to attend Santa Monica College and is pursuing a career in music. David has been working with children for many years through a variety of settings that include private music lessons and after school care. He has been teaching with ACE since 2022. He enjoys spending time in nature, learning new things, and playing music. David has been a great asset to the ACE Team!

Konwalia Kotlinski

Konwalia has been teaching with ACE Enrichment since 2019. She is originally from Pozna, Poland and Redington Shores, Florida. She graduated from AMDA College and Conservatory of Performing Arts with a BFA in Acting and a MFA in Screenwriting. She is passionate about acting, writing, dancing, and putting a smile on people’s faces! Konwalia’s dream is to be on a sitcom or in a Marvel movie. Konwalia puts great care and effort into each of her ACE classes. We are grateful to have her as a part of our team!

Danielle Babb-Johnson

Danielle is from Leimert Park in Los Angeles. She attended the Art Institute of CA - Hollywood with the goal of becoming a full time creative and art instructor. Danielle has worked with children ranging from TK-12th grade for over nine years. When she isn’t teaching you can find Danielle doing something craft related like, building furniture or doing funky wall art. We are excited to have Danielle as a part of the ACE team!

Teresa Luna

Teresa is from Dallas, Texas. She graduated from the University of North Texas at Dallas. Teresa has a passion for teaching and was previously an elementary school teacher for four years. When not in the classroom, Teresa enjoys traveling and finding great places to disappear into a good book. She is an avid runner and hiker. We are grateful for the passion Teresa brings to ACE and proud to have her as a part of the team!

Eric M. Quijada Jr.

Eric is a Los Angeles native and attended Our Lady of the Lake University. After college, Eric studied at the U.S. Soccer Learning Center and has ambitions to someday coach in the MLS. Eric has worked with children for six years in a variety of capacities including math, english, social and emotional development and sports. He has a passion for soccer, visual arts, youth mentorship and most all outdoor activities. We are pumped to have Eric as a part of the ACE team!

Monet Ngo

Monet is from San Jose, California and graduated from San Francisco State University. Monet has been a teaching professional for over ten years and has experience working with children of all ages. Outside of teaching Monet has a passion for music. He is a proficient guitar player and enjoys playing in his free time. We are thrilled to have Monet as a part of the ACE team and value the experience he brings to our classes.

Brandon Delsid

Brandon is from Fresno, California and studied acting at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in Los Angeles. Brandon has spent much of his career teaching and directing kids of all ages. He has a passion for film and all things stage, particularly musicals. Brandon loves to sing and act. In everything he teaches, Brandon hopes to help students experience the beauty of all things art. We are delighted to have him as a part of the ACE team!