Meet The Teachers
of Oak Hill UMC Preschool

Hello, I'm Ms. Maureen, the Director of Preschool Ministries here at OHUMC Preschool. While I am new to this community, I bring 28 years of experience in early childhood education and a deep passion for nurturing both children and the educators who guide them. My goal is to lead with heart and purpose, helping teachers cultivate classrooms where curiosity thrives, learning is joyful, and where every family feels a true sense of belonging. I believe these three essential pillars of early education allow children to follow their natural curiosity, allow teachers to create environments rich in inquiry and relevance, and allow all of us to build strong connections that embrace the whole OHUMC Preschool Family. I see it as my role to support our teachers with the necessary tools, encouragement, and community they need to flourish in this foundational work. Outside of the preschool, I enjoy yoga, spending time with my (now adult) children, Megan, Abbi, and Ian, and my husband of 35 years, Brian. I am also fond of gathering with friends and family for game nights and laughter.

Hello, I am Ms. Alyssa and I am currently the 1's lead teacher at OHUMC Preschool. This is my fourth year at Oak Hill and my third year as the lead 1's teacher. I am an Austin native, and have been married to my husband, Calvin, for 10 years. My two children, Grace (11) and Isiah (5) keep me on my toes when I am not teaching. Being with the 1's reminds me of just how important and precious the first years of a child's life are. I am grateful to be a small part of cultivating a nurturing environment for each and everyone of the kids that pass through the OHUMC Preschool doors. In my spare time, I love to be with my husband, kids and extended family. A fun fact that most people don't know about me is that I love to go hunting! Some of my fondest memories were made with my grandpa hunting in various places in Canada, Australia and Africa!

Hi, my name is Sarah and I am the lead teacher of our three-day two’s class this year. This is my second year as part of the OHUMC preschool team, but I have worked with young children for many years and am a mom of three. Working with children brings so much joy, adventure, and creativity into my life and I believe that I learn as much from them as they do from me, if not more! My hope is to provide a safe space for my students to explore, learn, and grow their confidence. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family, hiking, camping, practicing yoga, and hanging out with my dogs (Koa & Maci). I am so excited for a great year with you and your little ones!

Hello, my name is Mildred Yadi Martinez, but friends and students call me "Ms. Yadi"! I was born in Guatemala and lived most of my life in Southern California. 18 years ago, we moved to Austin in search of a more family-oriented environment. We certainly found this in our new home in the Lone Star State. I have been married for 31 years and have two wonderful children. I am so excited to be at OHUMC Preschool for my 8th year. This year, I will be the Lead 3's teacher and the Librarian. I studied Child Development in college and have 18 years of preschool education experience. I thoroughly enjoy working with children, and find great joy in seeing all the kiddos develop. This is going to be a wonderful year!

Hi, my name is Kendall Carroll, and I’m one of the Pre-K teachers here at Oak Hill United Methodist Preschool. This is my first year here, and I’m excited to be teaching your precious little ones. Although this is my first year here, I’m not new to teaching. I taught elementary school for eight years, and this is my 11th year teaching in the preschool world. It’s such a joy and blessing to help in nurturing your sweet little one’s development, and I look forward to a wonderful school year ahead.

Hello to my future friends! My name is Mrs. Lulu & I am the assistant in Ms. Alyssa’s MWF class. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I’ve lived in Austin with my family for 10 years. My husband was born and raised here in Austin & we have 3 daughters ages 10, 9, and 2. Before joining OHUMPS, I worked as a rock wall instructor, lifeguard, and swim lesson instructor. On our free time my family enjoys hiking, swimming, and living in the Live Music Capital! I’m looking forward to a wonderful year with everyone!

Hi, I’m Ms. Katy, and I’m so excited to be in my first year as an assistant 2's teacher! Stepping into the classroom has already been such a rewarding experience, and I love getting to know each child’s personality, strengths, and little quirks. I’m currently a pre‑nursing student at Texas State University, where I’m building the foundation for a future career centered around caring for others. I’ve always had a deep passion for working with children, and I feel grateful every day to help create a warm, safe, and joyful environment for the little ones!

My name is Sophia Martinez, and I am so excited to meet you all! This is my second year as an assistant teacher at OHUMC Preschool and I can't wait to bring creativity and fun into the classroom this year. I am looking forward to getting to know all of the wonderful kids and families here at OHUMC Preschool!

Hi, I’m Tracy — though my co‑teacher, Ms. Juliana, lovingly calls me “Jersey.” Before becoming a mom, I worked in accounting and administrative support. Once my three kids arrived, I shifted into my favorite role: CEO of our family. Today, all three are grown and thriving — my oldest is an optometrist in Colorado, my middle daughter is a junior architect in New Jersey working toward her license, and my youngest is a pastry chef here in Austin. I’ve been married to my high‑school sweetheart for 34 years. We moved to Austin in the summer of 2019, and by September we were officially empty nesters. We didn’t know a soul here at first — that transition was tough! But during my years raising our kids, I stayed deeply involved in their schools and church, led Girl Scouts for 14 years, and coached recreational cheerleading, so building community is second nature. After the Covid season, I felt God nudging me toward preschool teaching. I resisted at first but eventually applied — and in 2021 I began teaching at St. Catherine’s Preschool alongside my neighbor, Ms. Juliana. When the school closed unexpectedly, many of our families and a few teachers moved to Oak Hill Preschool… and so did I. I truly love being with the children. Their curiosity, conversations, and big personalities fill my Love Tank every day. Watching them grow from August to May is one of the greatest joys of this work. When I’m not teaching, you’ll find me walking my charcoal lab, Remi, listening to audiobooks, playing Mah Jongg, working out, or traveling — especially to visit my kids. My husband and I even spent two unforgettable weeks in Greece this year!

Hello, my name is Vanessa Suarez and I am beyond excited and grateful to be a part of this team this year as one of the Pre-K assistant teachers. I was born and raised in Austin, Texas and I graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 2013. I have been working in the childcare field for a little over 10 years with kids of all ages, from infants to elementary school aged. Working with kids by far as been the greatest, getting to see the children grow and learn new things is the best part of working in this field. I am a mom to two beautiful kids, Jadiel and Arlette. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and just making great memories with them. I am looking forward to getting to know all of the wonderful kids and families here at OHUMC Preschool!

"Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand." - Chinese Proverb Being an immigrant to this country, my mom has always taught us the power of engaging in anything we do or who we do it with. This quote is one that I whole heartedly believe in. This is mt 5th year at the OHUMC Preschool as the Assistant to the Preschool Director. Prior to being the Assistant Director, I was a Lead 3's teacher here for 7 years. while I miss being in the classroom, I do enjoy being able to hop in any classroom and have the chance to engage with all of the children at any given time. While I have held many other roles, this one in particular keeps me coming back. The engagement not with the children but with the families throughout my time at OHUMC has brought me tremendous joy, love, and laughter. I am blessed to be a mom to two wonderful daughters, Catherine (24) and Caroline (21), two Yorkies (Leo and Lacey), and a wife to my husband of 31 years, Patrick. We moved to the Austin/Dripping Springs area 18 years ago from California. We love being here and have enjoyed every minute of it. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from San Jose State University. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, getting lost in a good jigsaw puzzle, and believe it or not, organizing and cleaning!

Hi, my name is Maryann, and I this is my third year as a part of the OHUMC Preschool. This is my second year as a lead teacher, and I am so excited to be working with the 2's class. I love watching children learn, grow, and explore through play. One of the things I love most about OHUMC Preschool is the warm, supportive environment and the joy that fills each classroom. Outside of work, I enjoy cooking, baking, drawing, and just about anything creative! I also love spending time outdoors whenever I can.

Hi! My name is Tanya Snyder, I’m excited to be part of Oak Hill Preschool! I love children and always knew my calling was in working with kids. I have a degree in developmental psychology and have worked in the field of early education for over 12 years- This will be my 6th year as lead for a twos classroom. I love my job and wouldn’t change it for anything! I am mom to an amazing 8-year-old boy named Nicholas and have been married to Mario, my wonderful husband for 12 years. I enjoy reading mystery books, doing puzzles, and having a warm cup of tea.

My name is Juliana and I was born in Seattle and raised in Venezuela. I am bilingual and currently learning Italian, a language that feels special meaningful to me since my aunt was from Sicily. As the third of four children and the only girl. I learned early to balance independence with the help of my brothers. During my teenage years, I was a synchronized swimmer, a sport that taught me focus, discipline and perseverance. I earned my B.A. in Education, majoring in Early Childhood Education and have been teaching for 17 years. I began my teaching career in Venezuela before moving to the United States. When my daughter was born, I took a break to dedicate myself fully to motherhood, then returned to teaching. For the past 8 years, I have been part of St. Catherine of Sienna teaching the three and four years old. Before becoming a teacher, I worked for two major airlines, American and Delta, where I discovered the joy of travel and cultural exchange. I am married to a former Airline Manager whom I met while working in aviation and together we have one daughter, currently a freshman at the University of Oklahoma pursuing a medical degree. Outside the classroom, I love cooking, dancing, gardening, traveling, and spending time with my family.

Hi I’m Amanda Story. I am so excited to be teaching Pre-K at OHUMC Preschool. I grew up in North Texas and moved to San Marcos with my wonderful Husband who I have 2 beautiful daughters with ages 4 and 7 months. I graduated from Little Elm High School and went on to earn my associates degree from Eastern Oklahoma State College and my bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant. Since graduating college, I have worked with many different age groups ranging from pre-K to 4th grade. I love teaching pre-K because I get to be part of such an important time in a child’s life. At this age, children are curious, imaginative, and excited to learn about the world around them. I enjoy watching their confidence grow as they learn new skills, make friends, and discover what they are capable of.

Hi, my name is Leslie Mendez, and I am from Austin, TX. I speak English and Spanish fluently and this is my first year working at OHUMC Preschool. I have 8 years of experience working with children and honestly, it has been such a pleasure being able to work with young minds. I’m the teacher assistant to the 2’s MWF class, and I am also the teacher assistant in the 1’s TTh class. I’m super excited to get to know all kids. I have two cats and they are my everything. I love to read, bake, and spend time with my family in my spare time. One of my favorite things to do is watch movies and eat snacks!

I believe that family is everything. Whether it’s my school family or my personal family, I dedicate myself to establishing a loving and peaceful environment where everyone can thrive. My name is Marcella and I am grateful to join the OHUMC Preschool family. The last four years I have been a lead teacher to two-year-olds. This year, I am the assistant in our Tuesday/Thursday two’s class. I look forward to facilitating moments of discovery and seeing this big world through our toddlers’ eyes. When not at work, I enjoy spending time with my adult daughters, my husband, and our miniature poodle. I love to travel, read, and learn something new every day.

Hi, I am Autumn Kaylor, and I this is my second year on the OHUMC Preschool team. What I love most about working here is the warm, faith-filled environment and the joy of watching each child grow and learn through play and curiosity. The supportive community and caring staff make everyday a blessing. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, exploring nature, and finding creative ways to stay active. Whether it's through cooking, reading, or spending time outdoors, I love activities that bring joy and peace. I am so excited for a great year of learning, laughter, and love at OHUMC Preschool!

Hello - my name is Sharon Procyk. I’m excited to be joining the Pre-K team this year. As an assistant, I will be working with Ms. Kendall on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as subbing where needed. My teaching career started at St. Catherine’s of Siena. I helped out in the nursery and moved on as a lead teacher in the 2’s class. I then spent several years at St. Paul’s, before coming back to St. Catherine’s as an assistant in the 3’s class and subbing in the 4’s. I’ve lived in several places before settling in Austin. My husband, who grew up in Texas, and I have been married for 26 years. We enjoy listening to live music, and this past May, celebrated our daughter’s college graduation. On my off days and on the weekends, I enjoy gardening, reading, biking, and walking. I also like exploring art at the Blanton, the Harry Ransom Center, and the natural beauty of the Wild Flower Center. I’m looking forward to spending time getting know the children, the families, and all the new faces at Oak Hill United Methodist Church Preschool.