Our Administration
MARGOT E. TERRY HEARD, Headmistress and co-founder of Saint Nicholas School, has a BS degree in Child Development from the University of Texas, Austin. She has been a school head in Episcopal and Catholic schools, including being the founding administrator of four 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 series. She is developing outdoor education and field trips for school children at the Lazy A Ranch, which produces certified grass-fed and animal welfare Akaushi beef. The ranch provides beef and eggs for the school kitchen. She is Chairman of the Board of Directors of GPO, Inc., a General Partnership, which developed Saint Nicholas Place on Main Street with Taeken, Ltd. Mrs. Heard is President and Director of Saint Nicholas Schools, a non-profit corporation established in 2012. On June 1, 2019, Saint Nicholas Schools took over the operation of Saint Nicholas School at the Linkwood location.
M. ELIZABETH HEARD CLARKE, Head Teacher, has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee. She also had post-graduate work at the University of Texas at Dallas in education, philosophy, management, instruction, and curriculum. She has Montessori Certification through the National Center for Montessori Education, Houston, and has teaching experience in Montessori and Catholic schools. She completed her Montessori internship at Saint Nicholas in 1988 and returned to the school in 2010. This year she will be completing the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, begun in Rome and inspired by Maria Montessori, for religious formation for children 3-12. She teaches elementary Montessori, language arts, history, and religion. She is bilingual (Spanish and English) and serves on the Board of Directors of GPO, Inc. Mrs. Clarke is Secretary and Director of Saint Nicholas Schools, a non-profit corporation, which began operating Saint Nicholas School in June 2019.
RONALD JOSEPH JAMES, Controller, has a Bachelor of Science degree from Park University, Parkville, MO in Management and Accounting. He has eighteen years as staff accountant in Houston companies. His responsibilities include payroll/general ledger reconciliation, accounts payable and administration of the Simple IRA, health, dental, and disability benefits. He has been a key person in managing the Linkwood property purchase and improvements for Taeken, Ltd. He is Treasurer and Director of Saint Nicholas Schools, a non-profit corporation, which began operating the school in June, 2019. He came to SNS in 2017.
GRACIELA GARCIA is Director of Montessori for Saint Nicholas School. She is also the Kindergarten teacher for language, reading, and math. Her responsibilities are to supervise and provide in-service to the Montessori teachers and assistants. She approves Year Plans and Lesson Plans for the Lower School. She manages the testing programs of Languages Through Phonics, the ABC Test, and the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills for the Lower School. Students are individually tested at 18 months, 2 years, 3 years, and at the end of Primary, Bridge, and Kindergarten. Ms. Garcia studied psychology at the University of Houston and has Primary Certification from the National Center for Montessori Education, Houston and completed her internship at Saint Nicholas. She came to Saint Nicholas School at its founding in 1987.
LAUREL WELKEY manages Accounts Receivable, payroll, and benefits. She has an Associate in Arts Degree from Houston Community College and studied psychology at the University of Houston. Ms. Welkey came to SNS in 2004. She is currently living in Minnesota, so she works remotely.
Our Elementary & Middle School Teachers
KATHLEEN MARY WOZNIAK, Music Teacher, received a Bachelor of Music degree at Baylor University and is Texas Certified with a EC-12 in Music. She is an Ordained Minister, Bible Teacher, and has taught music at schools and churches. She is our piano and voice teacher at Saint Nicholas. Ms. Wozniak came to SNS in 2013.
DEBORAH JEAN WHITTINGTON, Elementary, Latin, and French Teacher for Saint Nicholas School, has a Bachelor of Arts in French with a minor in Latin from the University of Houston, with study in economics at the University of Texas, Austin, and in biological sciences at San Jacinto College. She has an ESL Instructor Certificate from Literacy Advance. She has a Massage Therapy Certificate and has operated a small business with massage services. She is bilingual (English, French) and also knows Latin and Spanish. She has taught all subjects, including high school Latin. She is a published poet, including in an international poetry anthology, The Theatre of the Mind, Noble House Publishers, London, UK. She volunteers for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic and the Capital Area Food Bank. Ms. Whittington came to Saint Nicholas in 2009, and teaches infants through middle school. She is working on the development of the Latin and French editions of the Languages Through Phonics series for Saint Nicholas School.
SHERWOOD TIMOTHY WILLIAMS M.Ed. has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. He then returned to his home state of Kentucky, earning a Bachelor of Science in French. He has completed his Master of Arts in Education, in Curriculum and Instruction, from the University of Phoenix. At SNS he teaches mathematics, science, and technology. This year he will be assisting the Head as we begin an accreditation process.
He has been site director and tennis teacher for Arthur Ashes New York Junior Tennis and Learning. He came to SNS in 2009.
Primary Department
MARIETTA ARCANGELES received a BS in Education and a BS in Communication with a major in English-Community Broadcasting from the University of the Philippines. She has more than 14 years’ experience in teaching preschool, Montessori, and kindergarten in the Philippines, including seven in Houston. She is the homeroom teacher for the Bridge and Kindergarten classes. Currently, her Montessori internship this year will complete certification for ages 3-6. She is also beginning the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training and will be teaching religion in the new Atrium we are preparing at SNS.
CARLA M. CALDERON, Primary Montessori Teacher, received Montessori Certification from the North American Montessori Training Center for Infants through age Three with a SNS internship. She is currently attending Houston Community College and is working toward a major in Early Childhood. She was trained in the Languages Through Phonics curriculum at SNS. Ms. Calderon came to SNS in 2001.
Infant & Orientation Department
BELINDA CASTILLO RODRIGUEZ,Orientation III Teacher, received her Montessori Certification from North American Montessori Training Center for Infants through Age Three with a SNS internship. She was trained in the Languages through Phonics curriculum at Saint Nicholas. Mrs. Rodriguez came to SNS in 2007.
DIANA RODRIGUEZ,Orientation II Teacher, received her Montessori Certification from North American Montessori Training Center for Infants through Age Three with a SNS internship. She was trained in the Languages through Phonics curriculum at SNS. Mrs. Rodriguez came to SNS in 2013.
MARIA CHAVEZ, Orientation I Teacher, received Montessori Certification from the North American Montessori Training Center for Infants Through Age Three with a SNS internship. She was trained in the Saint Nicholas Languages Through Phonics curriculum at SNS. Mrs. Chavez came to SNS in 2009.
LINDA F. WRIGHT, Infant II Teacher, has a BS Degree from Texas Women’s University with a major of Child Development. She has over twenty years’ experience with infants and toddlers. She has completed Montessori Certification from North American Montessori Training Center for Infants Through Age Three with a SNS internship. She was trained in the Languages Through Phonics curriculum at SNS. Mrs. Wright came to SNS in 2015.
MARY MEDELLIN, Infant I Teacher, is working towards her Child Development Associate degree from Houston Community College. She obtained Montessori Certification from the North American Montessori Training Center, for Infants Through Age Three, with a SNS internship. She was trained in the Languages Through Phonics curriculum at SNS. Mrs. Medillin came to SNS in 2004.
Reviews Of Saint Nicholas School
Saint Nicholas School is one of the best schools/daycare in the Houston area! We had both our kids there before we moved abroad. The staff is genuinely caring and compassionate. Their curriculum is rich and our boy kept surprising us with new words/songs in different languages. We are very thankful to all teachers and staff at Saint Nicholas and definitely recommend to all!
Ghada Fakih
Wonderful school for those seeking a comprehensive private education! The administration is dedicated and hardworking. I have really enjoyed working with them. I am also very excited about the new campus!
Kate DeVantier
My kiddos 2 years here at SNS was awesome. Great learning environment with a healthy in-house lunch/snacks provided. The teachers and assistants new every child's name coming & going even if they were not in their class room, so we felt leaving our little guy in their care. Unfortunately the school relocated, and we had to find a closer location otherwise we would have stayed.
