Skyler Friedman

Pre-K

My name is Skyler and I love teaching Pre-K at MHA! I moved to Texas three years ago from Wisconsin, and I'm still learning to enjoy the hot weather here!! My favorite activities are going to the park with my pitbull mix and binging tv shows! I have two guinea pigs and a pitbull named Nola. Most people who know me say that taking care of kids and animals is my superpower!

This is my second year at MHA and I am finishing my degree in Early Childhood Education at Lone Star College.
I am so excited to continue my journey in my education and and spreading the word of Jesus to our younger generations! I look forward to meeting you all and teaching your wonderful kiddos!

Natasha Fisher

Pre-K

Hi! I’m Natasha Fisher and excited to be returning for my 3rd year at MHA. This will be my first year in a permanent classroom position for Pre-K. I so enjoyed floating all around the lower building last year loving on all my littles. I can usually be found on the playground engaging in some kind of imaginative play, a truly happy place for me and such am important aspect of play for our students.

I am a native Houstonian and rabid Astros fan. After spending many fun and crazy years at home with my kiddos I returned to the working world in Tomball ISD. A couple of God things happened and my family landed at Magnolia Heritage Academy. I have found my people as they say working and fellowshipping here.

I am looking forward to another great school year and being in the classroom to help our students grow through play based learning.

Kristina Cox

Kinder

Hello! I am Kristina Cox!

I am originally from Louisville, Kentucky, but got to Texas as fast as I could! I graduated from Tomball High School and went on to attend Sam Houston State University, where I received my Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education. I graduated with Cum Laude Honors and was a member of the All-Girl Cheerleading Team.

I have been an educator for 7 years, and have taught 3rd grade, 2nd grade and Kindergarten for Cy-Fair and Tomball ISD. I have also spent several summers teaching the pre-school bridge program at Lakewood Montessori School.

I live in the Tomball area with my husband, Justin and our 3 (red headed) children, Weston (9), Reese (5), & Rhett (4).

In my spare time you can almost always catch me crafting and creating pretty things! My family and I spend many of our weekends traveling and visiting family, or down at our little fishing camp in Sargent, soaking up the Texas coast!

My family and I are so excited to start this new chapter of our lives with everyone at Magnolia Heritage. I can not wait to see what GOD has in store for all of us in the coming year!

Nicole Douglass

First Grade

Hi! My name is Nicole Douglass and I am SO excited to be joining the Magnolia Heritage Academy family this year. I was born in College Station and raised in Klein, Texas, but found my way back to Texas A&M for college where I earned my Bachelors in Elementary Education. After graduation, I got married to my husband, PJ, and we made our way to the Tomball area. I have three dogs (Zoey, Aspen, and Raven) and a cat (Sully Ron). I love spending time with my family, traveling, and crafting. I have taught second grade and kindergarten and I’m beyond excited to be teaching first grade this year! I hope to instill a love of Christ and learning in every child that walks through my door. I can’t wait to meet all your sweet kiddos and work as a team for the best year yet!

Haley Thomson

2nd Grade ELAR

The 2022/2023 school year will be Haley Thomson's second year teaching at Magnolia Heritage Academy. She grew up in Conroe/The Woodlands attending Oak Ridge High School. She graduated from Houston Baptist University with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies with dual teaching certificates in Elementary Education and Special Education.

She has been teaching for 12 years in both private and public schools in the area. She began her career teaching 1st, and 2nd grade then moved to 3rd grade. Most recently, she spent time in a Life Skills classroom. Her favorite thing about teaching is witnessing the pride in her students when they conquer a difficult subject.

Haley lives in Woodforest, TX with her husband, three kids, and their pup. She has a large extended family who love to travel together. Her favorite hobbies include reading, sewing, and volunteering as a leader in her church Women’s Ministry.

Jo Ellen Clark

2nd Grade Math and Science

Hi! My name is Jo Ellen Clark, and I’m so excited to be joining Magnolia Heritage Academy as a second grade math and science teacher.

My husband and I have been married for 15 years and we have 3 beautiful daughters. We believe in raising our girls to know Jesus, never stop learning and always be kind.

I graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelors Degree in Educational Psychology(Special Education).

I have a wide variety of teaching experiences in elementary special education as well as Kindergarten in regular education. During the last 4 years, I have enjoyed homeschooling my own children.

Joining Magnolia Heritage Academy is an exciting new adventure for our family and I’m looking forward to getting back in the classroom to share Jesus and my love for learning with a new group of kiddos!

Blessings,
Jo Ellen Clark

Tamalyn Hellums

3rd Grade ELAR/Social Studies

Would you believe coming to Magnolia Heritage Academy is a “God-thing”? I love seeing where He leads me, and MHA is my next stop! I believe that my journey is on purpose, for a purpose, and I await with faithful expectancy of what that will be.
I graduated from Texas Christian University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. I’ve taught in Ohio, Michigan, Frisco Texas, and Magnolia. I homeschooled two of my three boys in Classical Conversations. I have been married for 31 years to my best friend. Together we have three boys; our oldest recently graduated from college with a masters in accounting, our middle is presently majoring in construction science at Texas A&M, and our “baby” is nearing graduation from Tomball High School. As of July 10, he will attend Army West Point to play football and serve our country.
There are many ways to educate, but I know that the homeschool-private hybrid model is the ticket! Having taught 4th grade ELA for the past six years in Magnolia, I am thrilled to begin a new chapter in my journey when teaching 3rd grade reading, writing, and social studies at MHA. I love children, building relationships, and witnessing their growth and maturity as unique individuals of God. It is a privilege that He has called me to lead, educate, and love His precious gift!
When I am not “working”, I love connecting with my boys and dear friends, studying God’s word, gardening, and nurturing my menagerie of animals.

Caroline Wilson

3rd Grade Math and Science

My name is Caroline Wilson, and this will be my second year working at Magnolia Heritage Academy and my kids third year attending MHA. I’m so excited I will be teaching 3rd grade math and science and can’t wait to see old and new faces!

My husband and I have been married for 12 years, and we have 4 amazing children. We try to teach our kids the importance of faith, family, and good work ethics. Also, to find joy in the numerous gifts God gave us, and we never miss the opportunity to show them they are loved. My fur babies consist of two dogs, two guinea pigs, and three cats. With a revolving door of neighbor kids, our house is a constant beautiful disaster filled with laughter!

I graduated from Texas A&M University with a major in Psychology and minor in Sociology. After college, I found passion to help educate the next generation of youth to be the best possible version of themselves. I encourage kids to be curious because that curiosity will help them learn every day and will last a lifetime. The hybrid program offered at MHA has been such a blessing to our family, and homeschooling my kids has been the best decision after spending a few years in public school.

Outside of school, I teach piano from home and act as a glorified chauffer to my children. We never miss an opportunity to dance and sing, and I am working on turning my black thumb into a green thumb. Practice makes perfect!

Darcee Masden

4th & 5th ELAR/Social Studies

My name is Darcee Masden and I am excited to return as the 4th/5th Grade History and ELAR teacher for the 2022-2023 school year! I was born in California and raised all over the world. My unique upbringing has given me a passion to bring the world into the classroom. I graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2017 with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Religious Studies. I have been teaching for the past five years in a variety of positions. I recently got married and, although we do not have children yet, my husband and I see the immense value of a home-to-school connection and desire to be involved in such a community.
I love to be outside, be creative, and experiment in the kitchen! In my eyes, life is made for good friends, great adventure, and yummy food!
I believe that Christ has a pivotal role in the classroom and a classroom is not complete without Him. I am excited to be a part of the Magnolia Heritage Academy team and to see God at work.

Melissa Fetzer

4th & 5th Math and Science

My name is Melissa Fetzer and I teach 4th/5th grade Math and Science. I have my Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Houston.
I have always had a passion for teaching and I have been in the education field prior to earning my Bachelors Degree. I have taught Pre-K, 3rd grade, and Jr. High. I also spent six years homeschooling Kindergarten through 4th grade. I love seeing children learn and grow through hands on activities and life experiences.
I have been married for 14 years and have three children, ages 13, 11, and 9. We enjoy traveling, hiking, anything outdoors! We look forward to joining the Magnolia Heritage Academy's family this year and are excited for the opportunities ahead!

Jennifer Griffith

Reading Intervention Specialist

I am happy to be returning to MHA this fall! A bit about me... I have a BS in Business from Trinity University and spent the beginning of my career in the hospitality industry in San Antonio. I have been married to Dave for 33 years and we have 4 grown kids! After deciding to stay home with my kids, I delved into the world of homeschooling, and spent 15 years homeschooling, including one son with dyslexia. When we moved to Iowa in 2012, I put the last 2 kids in school and went back to work as a Guidance Counselor and Director of International Students at the Christian High School where my kids attended.
In 2016, we moved to Magnolia to be closer to our parents, our college-aged kids and our extended family. With the knowledge I had gained from tutoring my own dyslexic son, I began tutoring dyslexic students, and I love to see these struggling readers gain confidence and succeed. I'm entering a new season of "empty nesting" this fall, but am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead!

Kirby Collier

4th Grade Assistant

Hi! My name is Kirby Collier and I am so excited to be joining Magnolia Heritage Academy as an
Assistant in 4 th grade this year.
My husband and I have been married for 9 years and we have 2 amazing children. We have a daughter,
Caroline, and she will be with me at MHA and then we have a son, Wesley, who is in Mother’s Day Out.
I graduated from University of Houston-Clear Lake with a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
I received my teaching certification from iteachTexas. I have taught for 11 years in public schools.
I am so excited to be joining 4 th grade as I had the pleasure of substituting in 3 rd grade last year a few
times and fell in love with all the students. MHA is a special place and I am looking forward to a great
school year!

Mary Pat Holt

Upper Math

Hi! I am Mary Pat Holt and this will be my 5th year at MHA. I am originally from Cincinnati, OH and I attended The University of Dayton in Dayton, OH where I received a BS in Education, with a concentration in mathematics. I have over 20 years teaching experience, mostly middle school-junior high. I have taught in OH, PA, and WI before moving to TX over 13 years ago. I am excited to begin another year at MHA and share my love of math with all students. I met my husband while at UD and we have been married for 29 years. We have 2 children; Emma recently graduated from Purdue University and is an RN in New Orleans. David is a junior at the University of Texas, Austin. I am an avid reader and enjoy walking, biking and swimming. My husband and I live in The Woodlands and love being empty nesters!

Anne Hale

Junior High Social Studies and ELAR

My name is Anne Hale and I joined Magnolia Heritage Academy in January 2022! I graduated from the University of Wyoming with Bachelor's Degrees in Secondary Education and I have minor degrees in Wildlife Biology, Humanities, and Political Science. I was a public school teacher and taught middle school and junior high for a few years before homeschooling my young children and teaching community homeschool groups and Classical Conversations. I am a mother of three girls and have been married for 13 years. I grew up in Wyoming and have lived in Oklahoma and now Texas. My family loves the outdoors, hiking, running, competing in races and triathlons, exploring national parks and raising animals for enjoyment and 4-H. I love helping students explore new topics and discover new ways to write and express themselves on paper. I'm looking forward to helping each of them in the upcoming year.

Dani Sellier

7th grade through High School English, Latin & History

My name is Dani Sellier, and there isn’t much in life that I love more than learning. I feel like life is such an adventure, and I never know exactly what I’m going to have the opportunity to learn each day. When I was a teacher in Cy-Fair, they published a “Portrait of a Teacher” that included being a lifelong learner, and I knew that I was in the right line of work! The biggest mission I have is to convince others to take those risks and keep reaching further, so I devote a lot of energy towards earning their trust and helping them prepare for that leap. One of the greatest joys I can experience is to see someone I have worked with open their heart and mind to things they hadn’t thought they could handle before. I took a break from being a “full time” teacher for a few years, as I stayed home to give my full attention to my daughter Kaylie, son Trace, husband Richard, five dogs, four horses, and eight ducks. I am excited to return to the classroom!

Jennifer Bull

6th Grade Math, High School Chemistry and History

My name is Jennifer Bull and I am so excited to be joining Magnolia Heritage Academy as a 6th grade math teacher and high school history and chemistry teacher. I retired from public education in May after 30 years.
For the past 15 years, I have worked in Tomball ISD as a Gifted and Talented Specialist. Working with gifted students and finding the potential in all students has been a passion for me. I also served as the district coordinator for DI and UIL for 14 years, and a coach for DI, UIL, Math Olympiads, Science Olympiad and TMSCA during all 15 years. I have served as a volunteer on the executive board of North Harris DI for the past 12 years as well.
Prior to Tomball ISD, I taught in Klein, Cy-Fair and Waller ISD. I have taught a variety of grades KG-6th and am excited to expand to high school. I graduated from Sam Houston State University.
My husband, Rick, and I have been married for 18 wonderful years. We have 3 daughters (Kaylee-25, Lauren-23, and Grace-17) and a new grand daughter (Aurora-1 month old)! Kaylee is studying to be a social worker and Lauren is a new mommy to Aurora. Grace has been attending TMHS but will now be completing her final year of high school through the homeschool-hybrid model. We have two furry bunnies, Thumper and Faline, that we enjoy spending time with each day.
We have raised our daughters to love the Lord and live their lives as Christ has called them to do. I am excited to be able to share my love of God with my students at MHA. Since I was in high school, I have always loved teaching VBS, working with missions and music. It has always been a hope of mine to one day be able to teach in a Christian school and I am blessed that God has led me to MHA.
I believe in using inquiry based learning, real world problems, project based learning and the 5E model in my teaching. I am committed to challenge my students to be the best they can be and promise to guide them to success. I look forward to meeting my students and families soon.

Michelle Reams

Jr High & High School Science

Hello! My name is Michelle Reams. I am blessed to join Magnolia Heritage Academy as the 6th-8th grade Science teacher. I retired from public education in May after 30 years as a teacher, a Reading Specialist, and a Special Education Coach. I am originally from Ohio, but I consider myself a Texan because I have lived in Texas for more years than I lived in Ohio. I graduated from the University of Akron with a Bachelor’s in Special Education, from the University of Houston with a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction in Reading and from Lamar University with a Masters in Educational Leadership.

I started my career in Cypress Fairbanks ISD as a resource teacher. I went back to school to get my masters and then became a lead Title 1 teacher. After 15 years in Cy-Fair, I transferred to Tomball for 10 years where I worked as an Instructional Reading Specialist and 3rd grade teacher. I came back to Cy-Fair to work as an Elementary Coach in the special education department until my retirement.

Learning is a lifelong process for me. As I begin this new chapter I hold close to my favorite Bible verse. “ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

I am excited to teach science and committed to provide lessons, opportunities, and rich-experiences where we can all learn from each other by supporting and encouraging success. I believe in using an inquiry-based approach to teach science through the 5E Model ( Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate) encouraging students to explore, construct understanding of scientific concepts, and relate those understandings to their lives.

My family has lived in Magnolia for 15 years. I have been married to my husband, Michael, for 20 years. We have a 19 year-old daughter, Katie, who graduated from Magnolia West High School. In my free time I love to travel, read and shop.

the team.

Lori Stinebaugh

High School Math

Mrs. Stinebaugh is a lover of Christ, her family, and teaching. She is passionate about patterns and teaching the joy of seeing these patterns in math! She has been married for 23 years to her best friend and has been gifted with 3 daughters, ages 18, 15, and 12. Mrs. Stinebaugh has a BS in Mathematics/Kinesiology and a Masters in Educational Leadership/Curriculum from Texas A&M. She has had the privilege of teaching high school mathematics in the public school system for 6 years and afterwards (while raising the girls) tutoring math through Sylvan Learning, with three homeschool cooperatives, and through her own company, Stinebaugh Math Masters, for the last 18 years. With the gift of teaching so many, she strongly believes all students can succeed and can love mathematics if they are given the right tools and have a teacher that is excited to show them the beautiful patterns that create the world of math!

Jennifer Johnson

Curriculum and Instruction Specialist

I am incredibly honored to be a part of the administration team as MHA's curriculum and instruction specialist.

I have an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a masters of education in Educational Administration. I was a classroom teacher, instructional coach and assistant principal at various Texas districts in the public school system.

After staying home with my 3 boys for a few years, it was time to get back to my roots and re-enter the educational field again... but this time in a unique hybrid setting. MHA has brought all of us so much joy and I'm thrilled to be entering into our 3rd year as Leopards!

I am an enthusiast of nature and the outdoors. My family and I love to take trips camping and hiking as much as we can! I am an avid runner, and have participated in a few marathons and triathlons and hope to continue this in the future! We have been in Magnolia for 8 years, and cherish being in the 'country' and experiencing new adventures... such as raising our 15 chickens!

I am a strong believer in a hands-on classroom model, and know that the partnership between parent and teacher can fuel a passion for learning through our unique learning opportunities at MHA. I cannot wait for you and your students to embark on the wonderful adventures we will have as a school and community this coming school year.

Barbara Molina

Campus Administrative Assistant

Hi! I’m Barbara Molina and I am the Campus Administrative Assistant. As a stay-at-home mom, I was looking for homeschooling options for our daughter and was blessed enough to be brought to MHA. What started as a temporary assistant position, transformed to a permanent position and I couldn’t be more proud to be part of the MHA Family.

I have a wide variety of work experience including working as a Paramedic, an Educational Specialist, Historical Interpreter, and Graphic Designer for Texas Parks and Wildlife, and also an Insurance and Financial Advisor (just to name a few).

Growing up in the Texas Hill Country (Fredericksburg), I grew a love of nature and the outdoors and love to go exploring new areas. My happy place is a nice outdoor venue with live music with my family. I also enjoy traveling and experiencing different cultures and especially food!

Morgan Averitt

Technology & Curriculum Specialist

My name is Morgan Averitt and I could not be more excited to help integrate more technology at MHA this year! I graduated from Texas A&M (WHOOP!) with a bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. I am certified to teach K-6 grade and also have certifications in teaching ESL and GT students. I taught 3rd grade for four years, one year in Cy-Fair ISD, two years in Magnolia ISD, and one year at MHA. I taught Kindergarten during a pandemic in '20 - '21! Which was definitely a challenge for sure but extremely rewarding at the same time!

I also am the Director of Contemporary Worship at my church along side my amazing husband of four years, who is our Director of Traditional Worship! Singing is a huge passion of my right next to teaching/education. My husband, Jake, and I were blessed with a beautiful baby boy in May. He is perfect in every way! We have a very handsome but slightly insane puppy named Jax who is the best big brother!