Meet Our Staff

Laura

Preschool Director

Leah

Assistant Director

Name: Leah
Position: Assistant Director
Family: I’ve been married for 18 years to Dennis and we have two teenage sons.
Experience/Background: I’ve worked at the preschool since 2008 and have been the assistant director since 2013.
Favorite thing about the position: I love sharing the good news of Jesus with the kids and their families.
Favorite thing to do in the Austin/Round Rock area: I love spending time with my family outdoors.

Jillian

Music Teacher

Name:  Jillian
Position: Music Teacher
Family: I am married and have three children ages 20, 18, and 17.
Experience/Background: I was born and raised in Malaysia.  I speak 5 languages: English, Chinese, Malay, Cantonese, and Taiwanese. I teach Sunday School for toddlers-Kindergarten at my church. I lead worship for children ages 2-12. I am also a worship teacher at my church. I was the principal of Austin Chinese School from 2012-2014 and have been on the Board of Directors since 2014.
Favorite thing about the position: I love to teach singing, dancing and worship with little children. Most importantly I love to teach them how to pray and talk to God.
Favorite thing to do in the Austin/Round Rock area: I love to watch movies with my family at Alamo Drafthouse and Flix Brewhouse.  

Rita

Kindergarten Readiness Teacher

�Name:  Rita
Position:  Kindergarten Readiness Teacher
Family:  I’ve been married for 15 years and have two girls, 14 and 12 years-old.
Experience/Background: I try to keep a happy and positive attitude. Always be kind to others. I’ve worked at Palm Valley preschool for 4 ½ years. I was the 18-month teacher for ½ a year and I’ve been with the 2’s for 4 years.
Favorite thing about the position: I love making children smile and having fun.
Favorite thing to do in the Austin/Round Rock area: I take family walks and try out new restaurants.

Nicole

2's teacher

Name: Nicole
Position 2's Teacher
Family: I married my high school sweetheart 11 years ago. We have 1 son.
Experience/Background: I was a substitute at Palm Valley while my son attended in 2018 and then was able to take a full time position as a 2's teacher. I absolutely love teaching!
Favorite thing about the position: I love that Palm Valley is a play based school. My class and I explore new things every day and the STEM room is so much fun.
Favorite thing to do in the Austin/Round Rock area:  My family and I love to spend time outdoors. We love that Round Rock has lots of parks and recreational areas to enjoy. We spend a lot of time at our family ranch in west Texas and fishing on the Texas coast.

Heather

3’s Teacher

�Name: Heather
Position 3’s Teacher
Family: I have been married to my college sweetheart for 15 years. We have two beautiful children who keep us very busy.
Experience/Background:  I graduated from Concordia University with a Director of Christian Education degree. I have loved working with children from a very young age, and would spend my summers begging my best friend’s mom to let me help with her in home daycare. I have work/taught at several different preschool within the last 20 years and throughly enjoy teaching and learning from children on a daily basis.
Favorite thing about the position: Palm Valley is an amazing place because the joy in the hearts of its staff members is undeniable!
Favorite thing to do in the Austin/Round Rock area: Round Rock and its surrounding area has AMAZING family friendly park. One of my favorite things to do is visit these parks with my children.

Ashley

18 month Teacher

Name: Ashley
Position 18 month Teacher
Family: After subbing at Palm Valley for 2 ½ years, I became a teacher in January 2019. My husband and I have been married since 2004 and we have 3 amazing daughters. I love teaching the children about God’s unconditional love for each of them .
Favorite thing about the position:  My favorite thing to do with the children is explore new things and have fun.
Favorite thing to do in the Austin/Round Rock area:  My family and I love to explore new places in Austin. We love trying new restaurants, spending time outdoors together and attending fun activities and festivals around town.

Deb

4’s Teacher

Name: Deb
Position 4's Teacher
Family: I have 3 busy kids and 2 crazy dogs.
Experience/Background: I loved teaching first, second and third grades, but my passion is birth - 5 years old. Being an early interventionist for children with special needs was my favorite job.
Favorite thing about the position: The cooperative aspect of Palm Valley is incredible. I love having parents as partners working in the classroom with us.
Favorite thing to do in the Austin/Round Rock area: My favorite thing to do in Austin and Round Rock is volunteer with my family. I love the opportunities we have in this community to give back and make a difference.

Jennifer

2’s Teacher

Name: Jennifer
Position 2’s teacher
Family: I am married with three children.
Experience/Background: I have a degree in Psychology with a minor in art. I’ve been teaching at Palm Valley since 2016.
Favorite thing about the position: I love to see the changes as children grow and learn.
Favorite thing to do in the Austin/Round Rock area: I love Christmastime in Round Rock with the lights and the family nights.

Erika

2's Teacher

Name: Erika
Position: 2's Teacher
Family: In 1995 I married the “Boy Next Door” and we now have three daughters, one son, and one grandson. I enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom to my older children and working part-time here at the preschool and assisting my husband in our business while raising our 4-year-old daughter.
Experience/Background: I’ve always enjoyed working with children and love volunteering at several VBS’s, in my children’s classrooms, and running my third daughter’s Girl Scout troop. I’ve been working at Palm Valley since 2015.
Favorite thing about the position: I feel very blessed to work with these great ladies and sweet children.  
Favorite thing to do in the Austin/Round Rock area: In my free time I enjoy taking day trips around the area and finding fun places to dine and shop, seeing all Texas has to offer.

Tobie

Floating Teacher

Name: Tobie
Position Floating teacher
Family: I have a wonderful husband, Jeromey. We have been married for 18 years. We have 2 children. Breckin is 13 and Kallee is 5. I have always loved being around children. It is so fun to witness them learning and experiencing new things. Both of our children attended PVLCP.
Favorite thing about the position:  I love the sense of family. I always felt the teachers treated/loved my children as their own.
Favorite thing to do in the Austin/Round Rock area: With all of our family being in the Midwest, we really enjoy spending time with our friends. We enjoy camping with friends as well.

Tammy

Lead Floating Teacher

Name: Tammy
Position: Lead Floating Teacher
Family: I’ve been married for 37 years. I have one married son, two grandsons, and one daughter.
Experience/Background: I’ve worked at Palm Valley preschool for 12 years.  
Favorite thing about the position: I love working with the children.
Favorite thing to do in the Austin/Round Rock area: I love being outdoors, walking, biking, and swimming.

Andrea

18-month Teacher

Name: Andrea
Position: 18-month teacher
Family: My husband, Chris, and I have been married since 2003. We have two daughters.
Experience/Background: I subbed for two years before I started at Palm Valley in 2015.
Favorite thing about the position: I love getting to spend time with the kids and watch them grow and learn.
Favorite thing to do in the Austin/Round Rock area: We love to go camping as a family and attend all the great festivals in the area.