Saint Nicholas School

1920 N. Braeswood, Houston, Texas 77030

 

Meet Our Administration And Faculty

 

MARGOT TERRY HEARD, founding General Partner of Saint Nicholas School I and II, and Headmistress, has a BS degree in Child Development from the University of Texas, Austin, received in 1964. She has been a teacher and school head in Episcopal, Catholic, and private schools, including being the founding administrator of four schools, including the Saint Nicholas (1987, 1995) and Medical Center Charter (1996) schools. She wrote the textbook series, Languages Through Phonics, Books R, A, B, and C, in 1997, and another, Languages Through Phonics: Infant Learning Books 1-6, as well as the LP Handwriting Workbook in 2003.  She is also the CEO of Medical Center Charter School.   Additionally, she is involved in developing outdoor education and ranching projects, including providing local food for the school kitchen.

 

WILLIAM HUGH HEARD, Chaplain, has a BA degree from Texas A&M in English and a Master of Divinity degree from the Seminary of the Southwest, Austin, and is an Episcopal priest.  He has work toward a PhD in Politics in Literature from the University of Dallas, and was published in National Review in 1977: “The Chinese Legacy: Marxism as a Political Religion”.  He is currently working on writing a curriculum that includes Homilies for Chapel Services based on the Anglican lectionary including Bible content, theology, Christian literature, character development, and the ground rules followed at Saint Nichol as Schools.   He is also involved in studying permaculture and ranching projects.

 

FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT

 

STEVE  J. BARTA,   Controller for Saint Nicholas Schools, holds a degree of Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Texas A & M University, and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of St. Thomas, Houston.  He has more than twenty years of accounting and financial management experience and  accomplishment.

 

LAUREL WELKEY,   Accounts Receivable, manages the parent accounts and other income for the schools.  She also manages payroll and benefits.  She has been at Saint Nicholas since 2005.

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

BERNADETTE LUCIA P. CASTRO is Director of Admissions for Saint Nicholas Schools and the Licensing Director.  She had previous Montessori school management and admissions experience.  She received her Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Economics from St. Thereas’s College, Cebu City, Philippines, and studied Early Childhood Education at the University of California in Los Angeles, California.  She came to Saint Nicholas Schools in 2006.

 

GRACIELA GARCIA is Director of Montessori Teacher Training for Saint Nicholas Schools.  She studied psychology at the University of Houston and has Primary Certification, ages two to six, from the National Center for Montessori Education.  She came to Saint Nicholas School in 1987.

 

MONICA CONSULIA JOLIVET is Special Education Director for Saint Nicholas Schools and the Principal for the Medical Center Charter School.  She holds a B.S. in Communicative Disorders from Texas Southern University.  She has Texas Teacher Certification in the areas of Special Education, Generic Teaching, and Speech and Hearing Therapy.  She is a licensed Speech and Language Pathologist with the State of Texas.  She has been with Saint Nicholas  Schools and Medical Center Charter School since 2001.

 

KIYA LESTER, Receptionist, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Lane College, Tennessee.  She has four years previous administrative experience.

 

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

 

LOUISE A. WYNNE, Middle School Teacher, has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas.  She is Texas certified for grades 1-8,  has over ten years of teaching experience, and came to Saint Nicholas Schools in 2007.  

 

ELEMENTARY DEPARTMENT

 

SUPARNA VASHISHT, Elementary Head Teacher, received a Bachelor of Science in Education from India in 1992, a Diploma in Child Psychology, and a Masters in Early Childhood Education. She completed her North American Montessori Training Center Certification for ages six to nine, and was named Outstanding Teacher for Saint Nicholas School in 2002 and 2007.  

 

KAVITHA SHETH, Elementary Teacher, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Education from the University of Bombay, India.  She is currently completing her Certification for Lower Elementary ages six to nine from North American Montessori Training Center.   She has over ten years of teaching experience. 

 

PRIMARY DEPARTMENT

 

 

BERNADETTE PHILIP, Primary Teacher, received the Child Development Associate Credential from the National Credentialing Program, awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition in 2002.  She also received Montessori Certification for ages two through six from the North American Montessori Association in 2002.  She came to Saint Nicholas in 1995.  Ms. Philip is a member of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, and Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.  She was named Outstanding Teacher for Saint Nicholas School in 2009.

 

 

MARTHA PEÑA, Primary Teacher, completed her Montessori Certification with North American Montessori Training Center, and her internship at Saint Nicholas School.  She came to Saint Nicholas in 2003.

 

 

INFANT/TODDLER DEPARTMENT

 

 

BILLIE JEAN ELLIS, Infant Teacher, received Montessori Certification from the North American Montessori Training Center in 2002.  She also holds a Child Development Associate Credential from the National Credentialing Program, awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition in 2001.  She is registered in the Texas Department of Human Services Nurse Aide Registry and attended business college for one year.   Ms. Ellis came to Saint Nicholas in 1997.

 

MARY RAMIREZ, Orientation Teacher, received Montessori Certification from the North American Montessori Training Center in 2003 for Infants through age Three.  She came to Saint Nicholas in 1999.

 

CARLA M. CALDERON, Orientation Teacher, received Montessori Certification from the North American Montessori Training Center in 2008 for Infants through age Three. She came to Saint Nicholas in  2001.

 

MARIA CHAVEZ, Orientation Teacher, is working towards her Child Development Associates degree and her Montessori Certification from North American Montessori Training Center for Infants through age Three. 

 

 

SUBJECT TEACHERS

 

KEVIN MCGREGOR CLARKE is Choirmaster/ Consultant for the Boychoir and Girlchoir of Saint Nicholas Schools, traveling from South Carolina monthly.  He obtained his Bachelor of Music degree in 1984 from the New England Conservatory in Boston.   He was a Fellow in Church Music at the Washington National Cathedral in 1986, and then served as Cathedral organ scholar at Bristol Cathedral, England.  His current position is organist and choirmaster at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and School, in Greenville.  His choirs have sung in residence at cathedrals in England, including three times at Westminster Abbey.  His considerable accomplishments include those of composer, organ recitalist, conductor, lecturer, and producer of CD recordings. 

 

GEORGE STEWART SEIPLE is Choirmaster at Saint Nicholas Schools.  He holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in History, and minors in Art History and Religious Studies.  He also holds a Certificate in Finance, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from University of Maryland, Baltimore.  He holds an M.A. in Public History from the University of Maryland.  He has studied Organ Performance at Westminster Choir College and currently at Rice University.  He has over ten years of experience as an organist and choir director, and teaches voice, piano, clarinet, and saxophone.  In addition to his work at Saint Nicholas he is the Organist/ Choirmaster at St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston.

 

TAMMIE M. BRADLEY teaches music, piano, and voice in Saint Nicholas Schools.  She holds a Bachelors Degree in Vocal Performance from Kentucky State University and a Masters Degree in Vocal performance from Bowling Green State University, Ohio.  She has thirteen years of experience as a church organist and pianist and three years of teaching private piano lessons.  In addition to her work at Saint Nicholas she is currently performing with the Houston Grand Opera chorus.

 

MONICA D. WEAVER is art teacher for Saint Nicholas Schools.  She holds a Bachelors Degree in Education from University of Houston, Houston, and is Texas Certified in art and self-contained classroom for grades one through eight.  She has four years of experience as art teacher in local districts.

 

SHERWOOD T. WILLIAMS teaches French and Latin for Saint Nicholas Schools and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in French from the University of Kentucky, Lexington, and a Bachelors of Art in Psychology from the University of Texas, Austin   He has three years of experience teaching high school French for a local district.

 

MARIA D. MUNAR DE AVILA, Spanish teacher at the SNS II campus, has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from National University of Colombia, South America.  She has over seven years teaching experience for private and public schools and tutoring adults.

 

GORDON REUTZSCH, coach at the SNS II Campus, holds a degree in International Tax Law and Sport Science from the University of Bremen, Germany and a Masters degree in International Finance and Strategy from the University of Sciences Po, Paris.  He is a Licensed Fitness Trainer.  He has worked for the London Stock Exchange.  He is proficient in three languages.    

 

CHARLES D. HARRIS, coach at the SNS I Campus, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas.  He is Texas Certified in Physical Education and studied at Lone Star College, North Harris, Texas.  He has coached youth football, basketball, and baseball for over four years.