CASA STAFF
Joy Winters
Head of School
@Casa 1987 - 89 & since 2012
Kristen Nalle, M.Ed, AMI
Director of Education
@Casa since 2007
Tara Blankenship
Director of Operations
@Casa since 2003
Martha P. Winters, AMI
Director of Education Emeritus
@Casa since 1983 - retired 2021
All of our Montessori classrooms are led by a trained AMI Guide and one assistant. Over the years, our classrooms have been graced with caring, nurturing guides and assistants who exemplify Maria Montessori’s ideals. Casa’s staff is dedicated to meeting the needs of the children in its care and to assisting the families in our community.
Anna Smith, AMI Primary Trainee
Bluebird Classroom Guide
@Casa since 2023
Sydney Breaux Bluebird Classroom Assistant @Casa since 2024
Alex Cummins, AMI
Hummingbird Classroom Guide
@Casa since 2017
Jacolyn Short
Hummingbird Classroom Assistant
@Casa since 2022
Christin Harris, AMI
Cardinal Classroom Guide
@Casa since 2023
Chloe Ikard, AMI
Cardinal Classroom Assistant
@Casa since 2023
Chloe Ikard, AMI
Substitute Guide
@Casa since 2023
Ghada Nassif
Campus Operations Assistant
@Casa since 2013
Trevor Perkins
ExtendaCare Co-Leader
@Casa since 2024
Narissa Velasquez
ExtendaCare Co-Leader
@Casa since 2024
Licensing & Pedagogical Standards
Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)
The Association Montessori Internationale was founded in 1929 by Maria Montessori to preserve Montessori educational standards and promote the rights of the child internationally. Each of our classrooms are led by an AMI-trained guide for the appropriate age-level, has a complete set of approved Montessori materials and has a mixed 3-year age span in each class following AMI Standards. Additionally, to insure the quality of the Montessori program we offer to our community, we invite an independent AMI Consultant to visit our campus every three years. This Consultant visit provides us with the wonderful opportunity to see our classrooms with fresh eyes and allows us to draw upon the wealth of knowledge that these seasoned Montessorians love to share.
Child Care Licensing, Department of Family and Protective Services/Texas Health and Human Services
Casa Montessori is fully licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and is inspected annually on a no-notice visit. Casa Montessori has maintained the highest licensing level since its founding.