Our Learning Leaders

"My favorite part of teaching is the "aha" moments when my little ones experience learning something new. I love seeing the world and everything they are absorbing through their little lives."

— Norma, PDS Teacher

Child sitting on wooden porch in front of a small pink schoolhouse with a sign that reads 'Presbyterian Day School School House'. The child is smiling with arms raised in celebration.

“My favorite part about teaching is helping students learn their way.”

— Adela, P.D.S. Teacher

A young boy with red hair wearing a green polo shirt is holding and looking at a colorful map.

"I love working with our littlest children and helping them grow through lots of play and discovery. I have the unique opportunity to work with all the kids here and they amaze me every day with how kind, smart, and curious they are. It’s a JOY to work with all of them. ."

— Heather, P.D.S. Teacher

Person planting young seedlings in soil, with hands covered in dirt, in a garden bed.

"I love working with three year olds. At this age, they are so excited about learning and watching them grow throughout the year is so much fun."

— Elizabeth, Substitute & Former P.D.S. Teacher
A child's hand moving colorful candy-coated chocolates on a wooden surface arranged in a gradient from red, orange, yellow, to green.
  • Four paint rollers applying bright colors on a wall: green, red, orange, and blue, with visible textured wall surface.

    Kelsey Verdin

    SPECIALS

    I began my time at PDS as an aide while my daughter was still a student at the school. I studied Family Studies and Human Development at the University of Arizona and have a deep passion for nurturing young children. I love celebrating each child’s unique talents and the special gifts God has given them while creating a loving and supportive classroom environment. I especially enjoy building meaningful relationships with families and partnering with them in their child’s growth. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the children and the PDS community. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and daughter and playing golf.

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    Lori Thompson

    DIRECTOR

    I graduated from Texas A&M University in 1993.  While my degree was not in education, I have always loved children and it was soon evident that God planned for education to become my career. I have been married for 29 years and have four children who we chose to homeschool. I taught kindergarten at Grace Crossing Academy in Conroe. The experiences of homeschooling my children and teaching at Grace allowed me to fully experience the education process at every stage of development. I realized each child has their learning styles and needs. Through these experiences, I created methods to learn classroom studies while utilizing activities outside of the classroom to solidify lessons and capture a child’s attention as well as imagination.

    When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband, grown children, and now grandchildren. I also love taking long walks with my dogs and my friends. It is the simple things in life that speak to my heart such as spending time on our ranch with my family and our animals, seeing beautiful sunsets, and appreciating the beauty of God’s creation.

  • School Conroe + Creative + Science + Learning + Best School Conroe + Faith Based + Presbyterian Day School

    Heathor Newman

    SPECIALS : SCIENCE, SPANISH & MUSIC

    I began working at PDS in 2022 as a Toddler teacher—a role I truly loved. I am now the Specials teacher, working with children from Toddlers through 1st Grade. I teach Science, Music, P.E., and Gardening, and I also enjoy producing and directing our Christmas programs and Kindergarten graduations. I have a passion for working with children and love introducing them to fun, engaging ways to learn and grow. Outside of school, I enjoy being my son’s biggest fan at his school band and Jazz Band performances, traveling with my husband, and spending time gardening.

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    Liz Jan

    TODDLERS

    My values are faith, family and friends.  Having joined PDS in 2023, I find these same values at PDS with the added benefit of an education in a safe and creative atmosphere.

    Children are precious and full of wonder and amazement; teaching them allows me to see each child grow and learn as I nurture them throughout the year in a loving environment.

    Before joining PDS I had a career in the engineering and government industries. I have 2 daughters,  4 grandsons, that I spend as much time with as I can..when I'm not with family or at PDS, I enjoy simple things: quilting, puzzles and gardening.

  • Child's hand covered in messy blue and white paint, with fingers spread out, as they paint or play with the colors.

    Kira Hillard

    TWOS

    My journey at P.D.S began fall of 2023 when I was a teacher’s aide and later transitioned to teaching the 2’s class. I have been married 10+ years now with two daughters. One, daughter currently attends P.D.S and one in high school. 

    We have a daughter who attends P.D.S., and I also have an older daughter who is in high school.

    I love teaching the two-year-old class the most because they are so full of curiosity and eager to explore every aspect of their world. I like to incorporate play into my lessons, as children at this age learn by exploring and imitating. We play games, sing songs, explore, and have fun while we learn.

    In my free time, I enjoy being outdoors, gardening, and tending to my animals. Most of all, I love spending time with my husband and daughters.

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    Karina Nunez

    THREES

    Bio Coming Soon!

  • Colorful school lockers arranged in a grid pattern, with various colors including red, white, blue, black, and orange, some with vents and handle locks.

    Judy Pérez Rolón

    THREES

    I am honored to be part of the Presbyterian Day School Family! With over 30 years of teaching experience in Puerto Rico, I have dedicated my life to nurturing young minds and fostering a love for learning I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s degree in Education with a specialization in Curriculum Development. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of teaching in diverse educational settings. I spent 10 years working in Military Private Schools, providing structure and academic excellence to children of service members. Following that, I dedicated 17 years to public education, where I gained invaluable experience in fostering inclusive and dynamic programs and learning environments. After retiring, my passion for teaching led me to Presbyterian Day School, where I am thrilled to work with our youngest learners in the 3-year-old classroom.
    Teaching children at this early stage is a truly unique and rewarding experience.

    I believe that early childhood education lays the foundation for a lifetime of curiosity, confidence, and success. My goal is to create a warm, welcoming, and nurturing classroom where each child feels safe, loved, and excited to learn. Through play, hands-on activities, and meaningful interactions, I strive to spark creativity and a sense of wonder in every child. I strongly believe in the power of collaboration between teachers and families. By working together, we can ensure the best possible learning experience for your little one. I encourage open communication and look forward to building a strong partnership with you throughout the year. Thank you for entrusting me with your child’s early education. I am excited for a year full of discovery, growth, and joyful learning!

  • Adela Carpenter

    TWOS

    I am a mother of a daughter and a son. Sixteen years ago I found a passion for working with kids and since then I have worked with Infants to seven-year-olds.

    In my time off, I love to spend time with my family, paint, and go to church.

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    Betty Cardona

    TWOS

    I have been working with the two’s class at Presbyterian Day School since 2023 and bring 17 years of experience as a Teacher’s Aide at Spring ISD, with a focus on supporting children with special needs and fostering individual growth. I love watching children develop throughout the year, especially as they learn foundational skills through hands-on crafts and creative activities. I have been married for 35 years and am a proud mother of three and grandmother to my grandson, and outside of work I enjoy staying active, attending church, spending time with my family, and cooking delicious meals.!

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    Clarissa Weller

    PRE-K

    With over 15 years of experience, I bring a deep passion for child development and education to the classroom. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and am committed to creating a supportive and engaging learning environment for every student.

    Originally from California, my family and I relocated six years ago, and I’m proud to now call this community home. This will be my third year at Presbyterian Day School, where I truly value the positive and uplifting environment. Working alongside such dedicated teachers and staff inspires me daily—they continually encourage, support, and energize me in my role.

    Outside of the classroom, I enjoy staying active through workouts, spending quality time with my family, shopping, and caring for my two beloved cats. I am also a proud parent of two young children in elementary school, which gives me an even deeper appreciation for the importance of a nurturing and engaging learning environment.

  • A watercolor paint palette with twelve color compartments, including yellow, red, black, blue, green, and brown, with paint splatters and residue.

    Ninfa Byington

    PRE-K

    I have been a Pre-K teacher at PDS since 2024.  The opportunity to teach the children is a blessing. Watching the smile on their faces when they learn the ABC and 1, 2, 3 is wonderful. When not teaching, I enjoy the time with my husband of 23 years and our two daughters. I relax by tending to my garden and feeding the birds.

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    Courtney Ashley

    KINDERGARTEN

    With a background in Culinary Arts, I spent eight years as a sous chef and event planner, so with that I bring creativity and organization to everything I do. My journey into early childhood education began at home, where I discovered a passion for helping my own children learn and grow. Now settled in Texas and part of a wonderful school community, I’m dedicated to making every child’s first school experience warm, welcoming, and fun. They may be little but they are all very capable. Outside of the classroom, I love cooking, swimming, playing games with family, and caring for our mini farm. I look forward to partnering with families to support and celebrate their child's love for learning.

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    Lauren Beadle

    KINDERGARTEN

    My journey with PDS began in 2023! I have been teaching kindergarten here since and I have loved every minute of it! My husband and I have been married for 11 years, with 3 kids and 3 dogs! We are busy, but it never gets in the way of my love for teaching, especially here at PDS! Our staff really are a family and it is such an honor to get to work with our kindergarten students, watch them grow in the Lord, and have that lightbulb moment when they catch onto reading!

  • A person's hand holding a yellow pencil, sharpening a colored pencil on a lined notebook with pencil shavings and graphite shavings on the page.

    Kathy Hearle

    FIRST GRADE

    My name is Kathy Haerle, and I am beyond excited to be teaching first grade at PDS! My husband Paul and I have 3 children and 3 grandchildren (loves of our lives). Two of our grandchildren attend PDS.  My family and I relocated to Conroe from Naples, FL, where we lived for over 35 years.  I taught elementary school (mostly grades K, 1, and 2) in Naples for my whole teaching career.  Happy to be back doing what I love this year.  My goal is to ensure that my students feel safe, loved, and valued every single day, all while providing them with a rigorous first-grade curriculum.  I thank God every day for leading me to PDS!

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    Norma Denner

    SECOND GRADE

    I am so happy to have joined the PDS team in 2022. It has been such a delight to witness the growth of our little school these past few years. I will be teaching Second Grade this year and I am beyond excited! Second Grade has a special place in my heart because this is the grade level where my career began.

    I am a graduate of Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching. I bring 30+ years of experience teaching PK-Third grade and have enjoyed each grade level.

    When I am not in the classroom having fun with my students, you can find me spending time with my family. My husband and I have been married for 34 years, and we have been blessed with a son and a daughter that are our greatest joy. I love family game nights, gardening, reading, and being a part of the hospitality team at my church.

  • Watercolor paint set with five colors (orange, green, yellow, blue, dark blue) and two brushes on a white surface.

    Elizabeth Laletas

    SUBSTITE TEACHER

    As a college student, I worked with children in daycares and mission work. I then worked with college students as a Clinical Psychologist for 10 years. God eventually led me back to work with children and has blessed me with a love of teaching. Both of my children attended preschool at PDS and loved their time there. Children are our future and I am thankful to be even a small part of their lives. "For every lesson prepared, the love of God has been shared."

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    Sharon McLauren

    OFFICE MANAGER

    Bio Coming Soon!

  • A watercolor painting of seven colorful flowers with green stems and leaves on white paper.

    Carrie Bishop

    THREES

    Bio Coming Soon!

Start your PDS adventure today.