Meet our Teachers at North Cypress

The North Cypress campus is home to our Nido/Infant community and Spanish Immersion program, and our teachers have worked in early education for nearly 25 years. The school is easily accessible from Hwy 290. The large backyard features a wooden deck that encircles towering oak trees that provide ample share outside.

The Nido Classroom

The Nido – meaning “nest” in Italian – is intended to be cozy, homely, secure, and loving – just like at home. We focus on supporting an infant’s movement, language skills, independence, and concentration.

Ms. Randa helps lead our infants during their morning snack time. Ms. Randa’s students learn to sit at a table, eat on real plates, and demonstrate social graces as a community. Our Nido classroom is mixed ages (ages 6 week to 17 months).

Meet Ms. Randa, Lead Montessori Guide and Associate Director

What do you do for fun? I love to read, and I really enjoy reading Christian-based novels when I have free time.

What’s your favorite dessert? (Do I have to answer this question?) I really REALLY like chocolate – pure milk chocolate. I won’t tell you where I’m hiding it!

Why did you become a Montessori teacher? I love children. I love seeing their growth and how they develop over time. I love when they discover something new! In the infant classroom, it is a pleasure to see how quickly children develop in a short span of time, and it is very fulfilling. I’ve personally been so impressed with Montessori education. Children learn to be independent and supportive of each other. I think all schools should be Montessori schools worldwide. Montessori is for everyone.

Were you born in Texas? No, I was born in Mexico City. It’s a place with many friendly people, and the food is incredible. Food in Mexico is very diverse and differs from state to state. And the weather in Mexico City is gorgeous!

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? I would visit Rome again. My husband and I took our daughter to Rome for her quinceañera, and it was such a special experience. We loved the culture, the food, and our time together. I also would like to visit Israel and follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ. My faith is very important to me and my entire family.

Ms. Randa supports one of our infants who is mastering walking. In the Infant classroom, there are no bouncers or apparatus that restrict a child’s movements. We actively support and encourage movement, often physically stepping in to provide balance as children perfect crawling, sitting, standing, and walking.
Ms. Mariana holds one of our youngest infants. Many of our younger infants love to be held as they fall asleep. Ms Mariana helps answer the phone at our North Cypress campus, and she loves to sing and read stories with the children. She also supports Ms. Lorena in the Spanish Immersion community.

Meet Ms. Mariana, Assistant Teacher

What do you do for fun? I am very family-oriented, and I enjoy going to estate sales with my family on the weekend (pre-COVID). We shop and enjoy lunch together. We mainly buy home decor and unique pieces. I’m looking forward to decorating my new home soon.

What’s your favorite dessert? Anything with chocolate! I especially love brownies straight from the oven.

Why did you want to work in education? I enjoy spending time with children. I love how curious they are, and I enjoy watching them grow. I really appreciate how children can become independent.

Were you born in Texas? Yes! Love Htown.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Oh that’s easy – Ireland! I want to visit the castles and see the green mountains and gardens. It’s been a dream to visit Ireland up close.

Ms. Yolanda shows an older infant how to use a spoon. This child will later use the spoon independently to eat her snack.

Meet Ms. Yolanda, Assistant Teacher

What do you do for fun? I love to play sports and watch sports with my family. I’m a huge soccer fan. I also really enjoy basketball.

What’s your favorite dessert? Cheesecake. I love all kinds of cheesecake – chocolate, strawberry, and so many other types.

Why did you want to work in education? I love children, and I love to watch them learn. I believe children are very capable, and they are very smart. They have a lot of potential.

Were you born in Texas? I was born in El Quiche, Guatemala. We have beautiful mountains and forests near my hometown, and we speak many different languages – in addition to my native Spanish.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? I’d love to visit Spain to watch soccer. I want to see a live game between Real Madrid and Barca!

This little infant is very fond of Ms. Yolanda, and enjoys playing with her, especially with a collection of colored balls which they roll back and forth.
Ms. Carol works with a small group of older infants. Active movement – climbing, crawling, sliding, and walking – are critical for a child’s physical development.

Meet Ms. Carol, Assistant Teacher

What do you do for fun? I love to go shopping. I also really enjoy the outdoors and spend a lot of time outside!

What’s your favorite dessert? I don’t have a big sweet tooth, but when I indulge, I indulge. I love german chocolate. And I also really enjoy cheesecake.

Why did you want to work in education? I love working with children, and I strongly believe it’s my purpose in my life. After working in early education for over 25 years, I find education so rewarding.

Were you born in Texas? No, I was born in Illinois.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? I want to visit Israel. I really want to walk the footsteps of Jesus Christ. My faith is important to me.

The Spanish Immersion Montessori Communities

Over 550 million people around the world speak Spanish, which is roughly 8% of the world’s population. Spanish is also considered the fourth most powerful language in the world, slightly behind French, Mandarin Chinese, and English. The Spanish Immersion Montessori Communities meet the developmental needs of children as well as introduce Spanish language teaching. Classes are conducted in Spanish, while also encouraging children to be confident, independent, while developing fine motor skills and oral language. 

Ms. Lorena introduces the knobbed cylinders to one her students. The activity is designed to teach differences in size and dimension, while encouraging the use of the pincer grip, the same grip used to hold a pencil. Ms. Lorena leads our Spanish Immersion Children’s House community, where she teachers her students primarily in the Spanish language.

Meet Ms. Lorena, Lead Montessori Guide

What do you do for fun? I enjoy spending time with my family, which includes my husband, my children, and my grandchildren. I love to travel as well.

What’s your favorite dessert? Everything with strawberries! I love strawberry cake, strawberry ice cream (if it has strawberries, I want to try it!)

Why did you want to work in education? I love to teach children, and it is so exciting to see them learn. I like Toddlers because they learn so quickly, and they absorb everything about them. I believe in the power of Montessori education, and I am especially passionate about teaching languages. I want my students to have the freedom to communicate with whomever they want to talk to, and I want them to embrace their independence at an early age and also learn how to socialize with grace and courtesy.

Were you born in Texas? I was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and it’s one of the largest cities in my native country. Guadalajara is known for its beautiful weather and active downtown scene. We have beautiful parks, and the people are so friendly. Guadalajara is also known for its beautiful handcrafts, like pottery and glass, and Mariachis!

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? I really want to visit Rome, Italy with my husband. We want to visit St. Mark’s Square and see the Pope.

While at our Copperfield campus, Ms. Regina works with our Toddlers at lunch time. She teaches the children how to open and close their containers, set the table, and even sweep after they finish eating. Ms. Regina leads our Spanish Immersion Toddler Community.

Meet Ms. Regina, Lead Montessori Guide

What do you do for fun? Well, for me it’s cooking!  I’ll make whatever you want.  I love pasta and Italian dishes.  Of course, I love my Salvadorian food, especially pupusas.  Pupusas are made from tortillas, stuffed with cheese, beans or delicious meats.  I also love the arts, especially embossing metal.  It’s an art form known as repujado.   

What’s your favorite dessert? I love desserts!  I’ve declared myself a chocolate addict!  My favorite ice cream flavor is definitely chocolate – especially dark chocolate. 

Why did you want to work in education? Because of my brother.  He had cerebral palsy, and he inspired me to become a teacher.  He was older than me, and he passed away more than 30 years ago.  Over time, I studied speech therapy and worked with hard-of-hearing people.  Now, I work with Toddlers in a Montessori classroom, and I love it.  I’m proud that Dr. Montessori developed the Montessori Method with special needs children.

Were you born in Texas? No.  I look like I was though!  Haha.  I was born in El Salvador, a country in central America, and I was born in the capital, San Salvador.  I was only born a few years ago!  Just kidding. I love the seasons in Texas.  I lived in California, and the seasons are not as remarkable.  It’s exciting to see trees changing colors, and my favorite seasons are Fall and Spring.  I also love the diversity of people in Texas.  I meet all kinds of people – from different countries – in Texas.  

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? It’s hard to think of a specific place.  I would first visit El Salvador to see my parents and enjoy the ocean, beaches, and sand.  If I could go anywhere after that, I would travel to some place with sand and a beautiful beach, where I could enjoy delicious shrimp, calamari, and all kinds of seafood.