Anne is Head of the Early Childhood program at The Parish School. She earned her BAS in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from The University of North Texas and her MS in Communication Disorders from The University of Texas at Dallas. Before beginning at Parish in 2022, she worked for TIRR-Memorial Hermann, Home Health agencies, and Pearland ISD as an SLP

Anne has extensive training and expertise in Autism, language and articulation disorders, cognition, social communication, stuttering, and assistive technology. Specialized in working with young children and differentiated instruction for diverse learners, Anne is passionate about best practices and nature-based education. Anne has a strong belief in providing education that is child-centered and working collaboratively with families to maximize their child’s success.

In her spare time, Anne enjoys traveling, reading, gardening, playing tennis, and spending time with her family.

Passionate about helping children find their voices, Anne joined The Parish School in 2014. While earning a Bachelor of Arts in Drama, Anne became fascinated with phonetics and how people use language to connect with one another. Believing that everyone has a story to share but not everyone is equipped with the tools to do so, Anne was inspired to earn a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. As a speech-language pathologist and certified clinician of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Anne partnered with public and private schools, daycares and community centers in Pennsylvania and Texas to detect early signs of communication disorders and provide treatment for young children who had communication delays through evidence-based, culturally responsive speech and language therapy.

Anne’s educational philosophy can be summarized as follows: “All children have unique and special learning needs. I believe in educating the whole child, intentionally targeting and developing the cognitive, social-emotional, language and physical domains as well as artistic expression. Children begin to thrive and grow in meaningful ways when these connections are nurtured. When instruction is intentionally designed to be supportive yet challenging, students begin to build skills needed for a solid academic foundation, strong communication skills, and effective social competence. It is important to do that in a way that honors the child and builds the inner wealth and resilience needed to face life’s obstacles. As teachers we are poised to offer opportunities that empower children to discover their voice, to awaken to connection and shared experiences. I value equipping students with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in future learning environments. Children learn best through inquiry-based, multisensory experiences that ignite and encourage creative exploration across learning domains. The stronger the experience, the more engaged the child is, and the more powerful the learning becomes. It is also important to offer outdoor learning experiences through direct, hands-on engagement with nature as a component of whole child education. Nature sparks wonder in a child’s mind in a way an indoor classroom cannot. A teacher’s job is to prepare a child, not just for academic learning, but for life.”

Audrey is an Elementary Speech-Language Pathologist at The Parish School. She has a BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Saint Louis University and a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Emerson College.  She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and has experience providing therapy for infants through adult age in school and clinical settings.

Prior to joining the Parish team in 2019, Audrey lived in St. Louis where she primarily worked in a public high school and with continuing learning students transitioning out of the school district. She was initially familiar with TPS from time spent working for Camp For All and was thrilled to join the Parish team. She has also worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist for Spring Branch ISD.

Audrey is married with two sweet little boys and two energetic dogs. She enjoys swimming, gardening, being outdoors, and reading (she will always appreciate a good book recommendation!). Audrey loves being able to use creative methods to support students and loves watching her students grow throughout their time at Parish!

Beatriz is an Elementary Paraeducator at The Parish School. She holds a degree in Criminal Justice and is currently completing her BA in Elementary Education.

Before coming to The Parish School, she taught Spanish to early childhood and kindergarten children in numerous daycares around the Woodlands area.

In her free time, Beatriz enjoys kayaking, cooking, reading, and spending quality time with family.

Daniela is an Elementary Paraeducator at the Parish School; she is currently studying Anthropology at Lonestar College with plans to transfer to the University of Houston.

Prior to joining Parish in 2023, Daniela was a preschool teacher for 2 years.

Daniela is the middle child as she has an older brother and three younger siblings. She has a cat named Plum who she loves to cuddle and watch movies with. She loves to read, draw and play video games. Daniela loves working with kids and hopes to do so for as long as she can.

Elijah serves as an Elementary Paraeducator at The Parish School. He holds a degree in Computer Information Systems and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Analytics. He also has experience working with a nonprofit organization focused on advancing literacy equity. Outside of his professional life, Elijah enjoys exploring local thrift shops and planning his next travel adventure. His favorite destination so far has been Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

Elsie is an early childhood educator at The Parish School. She began her nearly 20-year career at Parish as a paraeducator in 2000, before moving into her role as an educator. Elsie earned her BA in Psychology from SUNY College in New York and her MEd – Reading Specialist from The University of St. Thomas in Houston. She also has a Region IV Teaching Certification in Special Education EC-12.

Elsie loves the unique culture at The Parish School and draws inspiration from the special population of students she works with.

Elsie was The Parish School’s “Teacher of the Year” in 2012.

Gracie is a Speech-Language Pathologist in the Early Childhood program at The Parish School. She earned her B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders at The University of Arkansas in 2018 and her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology at UT Health San Antonio in 2020. She is a member of the American Speech- Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology. Gracie has previous experience working in an outpatient private practice, outpatient neurorehabilitation clinic, and inpatient rehab facility. She has also worked five summers with Camp Acorn.

Gracie’s favorite thing about The Parish School is the welcoming and inclusive environment for not only the children but also the employees. In her spare time, Gracie enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and trying out new workout classes.

With more than 30+ years of advancement experience, Holly has led numerous annual fund drives, multiple capital and planned giving campaigns, has overseen alumni and volunteer relations and coordinated too many special events to count. Prior to coming to Parish in 2020, she was Director of Institutional Advancement at Holy Comforter Episcopal School, an independent school for children ages pre-k through 8^th grade in Tallahassee, FL, for 14 years. Her professional experience also includes 12 years as Director of Parent Programs and Annual Giving at Woodward Academy in Atlanta.

Holly is a native Houstonian and proud graduate of Episcopal High School, where she received a full scholarship to attend and graduated at the top of her class. According to Holly, this experience "altered the course of my life." She went on to attend Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee, where part of her financial aid package was a work-study position in the alumni office. “It was during this internship that I discovered my passion for development work,” Holly said. “It exposed me to the world of educational fundraising, and something just clicked. I was so grateful for my high school and college experience, and I had discovered a way to pay it forward. In a way, my career has been a way to say thank you to my parents, who demanded a better education for me.”

Holly truly has a heart for the work of independent school fundraising from the significant difference it made in her own life. “Although I have worked on multiple capital and annual fund campaigns, nothing makes me happier than to receive a donation for tuition assistance/scholarship for deserving students,” Holly said. “I was that deserving student once and it has made all the difference.”

Married to her college sweetheart, David, the couple has two adult sons – Austin and Matthew. In her spare time, you will find Holly curled up with a good book (she averages about 2-3 books a week), rooting on the Astros or binging HGTV.

Born and raised in New York, Jasmin earned her bachelor’s in communications from Fairfield University, where she received an athletic scholarship to play soccer. She earned her master’s degree in early childhood special education from Nyack College. Jasmin has over a decade of experience teaching in public, private, inclusion and self-contained classrooms, working with children from age 3 years old through fifth grade in the northeast before moving to Texas and eventually joining The Parish School last winter.

Jennifer is the P.E. and Computer Lab Educator at The Parish School. She has a BS in Information System Technology from The University of Houston and earned her teaching certificate from Texas Teachers.  She is also certified in Physical Education and Special Education EC-12 and Generalist 4-8.  She is a proud member of the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) and the Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (TAHPERD).

Prior to joining the Parish team in 2010, Jennifer was a student teacher for Spring Branch ISD.

Jennifer is married with two amazing young daughters who keep her very busy! When she’s not working, Jennifer loves spending time with her family, trying new restaurants, going to concerts and learning anything technology-related.  She loves her job, especially the teachers and students who make The Parish School so amazing!

Jennifer is a preschool Paraeducator at the Parish School. She has previously worked with children who have learning, social, and emotional differences.

Jennifer's son attended The Carruth Center at The Parish school. She loves to spend her free time with her family and friends. She enjoys biking, playing and watching baseball, traveling, and playing with her dog.

Jill Wood is the founding director of Adventure Play at The Parish School and school librarian since 2008. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Texas at Austin. She serves on the advisory board at LiiNK Center for Healthy Play at TCU, and on the International Play Association US school recess committee. 

The children of Adventure Play have taught her that play is one of the most powerful and joyful avenues to health and wellbeing, and she speaks Internationally about the importance of holding time and space for it.  

Outside of Parish she provides training in playwork, the profession used on adventure playgrounds, as regional consultant for UK-based Pop-Up Adventure Play. Locally, she founded Bayou City Play, a collaborative of artists, librarians, and therapists in 2013 to promote child-directed play through partnerships with schools, libraries, hospitals, and parks in the Houston-metro area. 

She is mom to an amazing 10-year-old human (who is really the authority on play in her household), a cat named Francis, and two guinea pigs named Taffy and Oreo.

Jimena Ordaz is an Early Childhood Paraeducator at The Parish School for the Sunbeams class. She has worked with kids for six years, ranging from early childhood all the way up to middle school at previous schools. Jimena most recently worked as a teacher’s assistant at St. Mark's Episcopal School in Spring Branch for a full year before coming to The Parish School. Her goal is to one day get certified and lead her own class.

Jordan is the reading specialist at The Parish School. She holds a master’s degree in Special Education from Texas Christian University. She is also a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) and Licensed Dyslexia Therapist (LDT). Since 2009, she has worked with students of various needs from providing intervention to students with significant cognitive delays, to providing academic language therapy to students with dyslexia and language delays. Additionally, Jordan has run her own private practice providing individual academic language therapy to elementary and middle school students and providing parent support. She is a member of ALTA (Academic Language Therapy Association) and IDA (International Dyslexia Association). Jordan is a Parish boomeranger, who worked as an elementary teacher at TPS from 2010-2015. She is so happy to be back!

When she isn’t working, Jordan enjoys spending time with her husband and three young sons, going to Galveston, and seeing friends and family. Jordan loves teaching children to read, and seeing them build confidence with and gain enjoyment for reading is her greatest passion.

Supervised by Heather Tillbury, LCSW-S, RPT-S

Josie is a Social Emotional Support Specialist at The Parish School. Josie is a licensed social worker, who earned her bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) from Colorado State University and master’s degree in social work (MSW) from The University of Houston.

Prior to being at The Parish School, Josie has experience working in childcare and afterschool care programs. As a person with unique learning differences, she is passionate about helping children have the level of care and support in school that she did not have. Josie believes in extending patience and support to children as they learn and explore the world around them. She is excited to work with like-minded individuals and be a part of a strong school family.

In Josie’s free time, she enjoys being outside and playing with her friends’ dogs (sadly she does not have her own pet… yet). She also enjoys exploring Houston and trying all the amazing foods that do not have in Colorado!

Karen is the Accounting/Payroll Coordinator at The Parish School. She holds a BS in Accounting from the University of Maryland and is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Texas. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA).

Prior to joining The Parish School, Karen had extensive experience in public accounting and corporate financing reporting.

Karen is married with two children and one grandchild. When she's not working, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, biking, and being outdoors

Kathleen McLane is a Lower Elementary Educator at The Parish School. She has a master's degree in nursing and practiced as a pediatric nurse practitioner prior to earning her teaching certificate from Region 4. She is certified in Early Childhood EC-6 and in Special Education EC-12. She is trained in the Neuhaus Basic Language Skills program and is a CALP (Certified Academic Language Practitioner) in training.

Kathleen has been married for over 30 years and has three children. She has a grown daughter, a son and a younger daughter in college. She enjoys reading, sewing and doing yoga in her free time. She loves teaching and working with the amazing team at The Parish School.

Krissy is an Art Therapist and Educator at The Parish School. She has a MA in Clinical Art Therapy and Counseling and is both a Registered Art Therapist and a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist.

Krissy recently moved to Houston from New York to work at The Parish School. She has experience with children, adults with intellectual disabilities, geriatrics and behavioral health, in addition to having practiced art therapy internationally.

Krissy is passionate about facilitating growth and learning through the arts both at The Parish School and in the greater community. She is the founder of Grounded Gem, an art therapy-inspired subscription service that offers a variety of fun recreational directives for supplementing and reinforcing art therapy sessions. She also collaborates with the Exceptional Artists Foundation, an organization that empowers artists with disabilities by creating awareness about their talents and expression through the arts. Krissy has also participated in a soon-to-be-released documentary about a man’s self-discovery and healing through art.

In her free time, Krissy enjoys traveling and learning about different cultures, hiking, walking and bicycling.

The Curriculum Specialist at The Parish School, Laura earned both her BS in Elementary Education and MA in Teaching from Louisiana State University.

Before coming to The Parish School in 2017, Laura was a 3^rd grade teacher in Spring Branch ISD and at an inner-city Houston charter school, where she taught general studies, math and science.

Laura’s favorite part about teaching is opening a child’s world to the many possibilities available to them. She hopes to instill in her students a lifelong love of learning outside of the classroom. She is particularly inspired by seeing the “lightbulb” moments in her students’ eyes when they learn something new or accomplish a goal.

Laura is a native Houstonian who enjoys spending time with family and friends. She is an avid LSU football fan, but married a Longhorn, so she’s often wearing burnt orange on the weekends. She and her husband like to travel to football games and enjoy new restaurants.

Lily holds both a BS in Communication Disorders and Sciences from Louisiana State University and a MS in Communication Disorders and Sciences from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. Lily is also a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), has her Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology and her Texas State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology License. She has several years of experience in various settings, from the public school system to outpatient hospital setting. Lily has always held a special place in her heart for early childhood speech and language intervention.

Lily has always been interested in integrating speech-language therapy within the child’s everyday life and what they love to do and loves that Parish provides the opportunity to do this on a daily basis. About working at The Parish School, Lily says, “From the moment I entered the campus, I could feel happiness and love radiating from all the amazing professionals here. I also love the opportunity to collaborate with the staff including paraeducators, SLPs, OTs, early childhood special education teachers and play therapists, to provide a team approach to serving students with communication delays and learning differences. Through this collaboration, I am constantly learning.”

When she’s not working or learning, Lily enjoys being outdoors, trying new restaurants, and doing Pilates!

Lily is the Director of Student and Family Services at The Parish School. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist who earned her BA in Psychology from Baylor University and her MA in Psychology from Houston Baptist University.

Lily has over 15 years of experience providing counseling and play therapy to children and families in a variety of settings. She has significant experience with young children, ADHD, Autism and anxiety disorders, and is a member of the Sam Houston Chapter of the Association for Play Therapy and the national Association for Play Therapy.

Lily loves working at The Parish School because she gets to see children flourish in a community of people who are as passionate and creative about helping children as she is. She is inspired by the innocence and awe of children and motivated by her desire to help them find a voice,  provide them with a space for healing, and help cultivate relationships in their lives that help them feel seen, heard, safe, and empowered.

When she’s not at Parish, Lily enjoys spending time with family and friends, perusing and pinning ideas on Pinterest and relaxing anywhere with a water view.

Lucy Blanco is an elementary teacher at the Parish School. She has a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Houston. Prior to joining the Parish team, she was a paraeducator for Fort Bend ISD. Lucy has two boys who keep her busy with afterschool sports and weekend games. On her free time, she enjoys outdoor walks, shop, do projects, travel, try new restaurants, and be with friends and family.

Maureen is the Camp Acorn Manager and Admissions Specialist at the Parish School. She has earned a BA in Communicative Disorders from Saint Mary’s at Notre Dame and her MS in Speech-Language Pathology from Texas Tech University’s Health Sciences Center. Prior to this position, Maureen worked as the lead speech-language pathologist in the Early Childhood program specializing in Social Thinking concepts, as well as Conscious Discipline. Maureen also worked within a deaf education program and is qualified in both American Sign Language and Signing Exact English.

Maureen has always had a passion for working with children and helping them find their voice. She loves that The Parish School is a collaborative work environment focused on providing students with tools to better their communication, confidence, and overall joy for learning.

Maureen is married with three amazing children who have lots of energy! When she’s not working, Maureen enjoys spending time with her family, reading books, and trying new recipes. The Parish School holds a special place in her heart and she’s excited to continue helping students thrive!

Meredith is a certified speech-language pathologist and the Director of Special Projects/Assistant to the Head of School at The Parish School. She earned her BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Texas in 2006, and her MS in Communication Disorders from Texas State University in 2008.

Meredith came to The Parish School in 2006 and has worked as a SLP for the Early Childhood and Elementary classes, as well as for The Carruth Center, the school’s onsite pediatric therapy clinic. She also led groups for the school’s Social Learning program and attends Camp Social Superheroes every summer.

Among the many hats she wears at The Parish School, Meredith is also the co-host of The Parish School’s podcast, Unbabbled, which strives to help parents, caregivers, educators and therapists navigate the world of communication delays and learning differences.

Prior to joining the Parish staff, Meredith worked in a clinical setting providing therapy to children with a variety of speech and language needs, including articulation disorders, language delays, tongue thrusts and fluency disorders.

Meredith has two children who love The Parish School and attend Camp Acorn every summer. Meredith wants to help families find the best educational environment for their child and is inspired by providing kids with the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.

When she’s not working, Meredith enjoys being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.

Mimi comes to us with more than 22 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist. She has worked in a variety of settings, including as owner of a private practice, SLP in public education and over the past five years, as clinical supervisor and director of a private therapy clinic.

Mimi's clinical expertise has focused on early language disorders, feeding disorders and apraxia of speech. She enjoys mentoring staff and clinical problem solving, and values strong collaboration among all team members.

She earned both her master's and undergraduate degrees in Communication Disorders from the University of Houston.

Rachel is a Primary Teacher for the Rabbit's classroom. She went to the University of Mississippi and earned her bachelor's in special education. She has been a teacher in the area for nearly three years but has many years of experience working with children. Throughout middle school and high school, Rachel volunteered at The Westview School at their summer camp, which later influenced her to pursue a career as a special education teacher. In high school, she took a class called Future Teachers, where she had the opportunity to work with elementary school children in a self-contained classroom.

Rachel is passionate about setting her students up for success and giving them tools to help them navigate life in the real world. She enjoys teaching lessons that are hands-on and engaging, such as sight word relay races or scavenger hunts for letters in the classroom.

Outside of Parish, Rachel enjoys spending time with her fiancé and their two dogs. She also likes to play video games and watch reality TV shows in her free time.

Samantha is a Speech-Language Pathologist in her second year in the Early Childhood program at The Parish School. She is originally from Mississippi, but has called Houston home for the last eight years. Samantha has worked as an SLP in various settings over the last 10 years, most recently in private practice and HISD. She has a passion for helping those with communication needs obtain the skills and/or aids they need to be able to engage in the world confidently, competently and to the fullest extent possible.

Sarah is the Director of Admissions at the Parish School. She received her BA in psychology from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas in 2006 and in 2010, she received a Master of Education in counseling at The University of St. Thomas. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who also provides psychotherapy services to children and adolescents in addition to parent coaching. Sarah has worked in previous years at The Parish School in various roles in the Admissions Department and Student & Family Services. When not at The Parish School, she has worked in the private practice setting administering therapy to children through play.

Sarah is passionate about being witness to children processing their world through play. She is enthusiastic about counseling families to finding the best school, service, and treatment to meet their children’s needs, so they can thrive academically and emotionally.

A fourth-generation Houstonian, Sarah is married with two children and a poodle-mix who loves to make trouble! She loves to travel, read books, watch movies and especially spend time with family.  She is so excited to be back at The Parish School – a place that feels like home away from home!

Stephanie is the co-host of The Parish School’s podcast, Unbabbled, which strives to help parents, caregivers, educators and therapists navigate the world of communication delays and learning differences. She is also a contributor to The Parish School blogs and has written articles on subjects like Activities to Help Prevent the Summer Slide and insight into executive function and why everyone is talking about it. She earned a BA in Psychology from Butler University in Indianapolis in 2004 and a MS in Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences from Purdue University in 2008. She is also a member of the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) and the Houston Association of Communication Disorders (HACD).

Since joining The Parish School in 2008, Stephanie has worked as a SLP for the Early Childhood, Primary and Elementary classes, as well as for The Carruth Center, the school’s onsite pediatric therapy clinic.

Her favorite thing about working at The Parish School is collaborating with multiple professionals, working closely with families and exploring new professional outlets.

Outside of Parish, Stephanie likes to spend time exploring the outdoors and playing with her husband and children. She also enjoys reading and cooking.

Susan earned an Associate of Occupational Therapy degree from HCC Coleman University in 2017 and holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Houston. She is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Occupational Therapy.

Throughout her professional career, Susan has dedicated herself to providing valuable support to parents and educators in maximizing children's success. Her specialized training and extensive experience in sensory integration and developmental areas, including sensory processing, motor development, behavioral skills, and group therapy, have equipped her with the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver effective therapeutic and successful interventions. Susan's work as an occupational therapist assistant has provided information on various topics, including sensory processing, fine-motor development, handwriting development, and life-skills group activities at clinics and schools.

Additionally, she holds continuing education certificates in DIR Floortime, Sensory Integration, Behavioral Intervention, and Handwriting Without Tears. Susan's vast experience has enabled her to guide and inspire children, caregivers, and educators across various settings, including homes, daycares, preschools, and different school systems (public, private, specialized, and cyber). Her unwavering dedication to the growth and development of her patients is driven by her love for what she does.

Susan takes pride in her work and is passionate about helping children reach their full potential. She is a native of Houston and currently resides there with her husband and two cats. Susan enjoys traveling, live music, the arts, and spending time with loved ones during her free time.

Terri is the Arts and Sciences Coordinator and Drama Educator at The Parish School. Terri has more than 32 years of experience and is the director of Integrated Arts and Sciences. Terri’s experience extends far beyond the classroom walls to performance spaces, stages, and even the great outdoors.

Terri’s work as an educator began at The Parish School, where she was instrumental in the development of the school’s theater program, and later its Integrated Arts and Sciences department, which includes art and music classes and therapy, digital learning, a library with makerspace, theater, P.E., and nature studies.

In addition to the big impact Terri makes in the academic lives of students, Terri co-founded the Margaret Noecker Nature Center in 2012. Utilizing The Parish School’s 17-acre campus, the Nature Center is an integrated, nature-based learning environment that facilitates children’s intellectual, social and emotional development through direct engagement with the natural world. The Nature Center has completed both Phase I, Little Acorn Park, a certified outdoor learning classroom for children ages 2-6 and Phase II, Oak Creek Exploration Zone, and recently renovated our Butterfly Garden.  Currently, the Nature Center is working on renovating on our Community Garden.

Terri has been Teacher of the Year and was awarded a teaching grant to travel to Germany and France to study fairy tales. As a former Parish parent herself, she has chaired both the Parish gala and luncheon.

The Parish School would not be where it is today without Terri’s guidance, experience and passion.

A Houston native, Tracy earned her bachelor’s in creative writing with a minor in secondary education studies from Chapman University in Orange, California. She has spent the last six years in education, teaching kindergarten and first grade. She joined The Parish School last winter, teaching in Upper Elementary.

Outside of Parish, Tracy loves her dogs, reading almost any genre of book and all plants— indoor or otherwise.

Whitney Morelli is the music therapist and music educator at The Parish School. She works with students of all levels in the classroom setting, as well as individual students in a short-term therapy setting. Whitney holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master’s degree in music therapy from Illinois State University. She is a board-certified music therapist and has additional certification in Neurologic Music Therapy.

Whitney worked at The Parish School as a seasonal music therapist in 2019. Prior to joining the team full time in 2022, she worked as a clinician in both inpatient and outpatient settings, serving patients across the lifespan with a variety of cognitive, motor, and speech-language needs. Whitney is from Virginia and currently lives with her partner and three pets, which bring her immense amounts of joy and laughter. She is passionate about increasing access to music therapy treatment across the region via education and advocacy at the state and national levels.

Zainab is a Paraeducator in the Ladybugs classroom. She brings a strong educational foundation and a heart dedicated to early learning. Zainab earned her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and recently completed her master's degree in education from the University of Houston.

With nearly five years of experience, she has supported learners across early and upper elementary grades in both large and small group settings. Her passion for working with children began early as the oldest sister in her family, grew through babysitting and flourished after college when she became an assistant third grade teacher. Zainab firmly believes in inclusive education and that all students must have access to education, because knowledge is power.

When she’s not in the classroom, Zainab enjoys cooking with her husband, taking road trips to new places and playing with her cockatiel. She also loves to read, spend time at the beach and swim in the ocean.