Staff
Taylore Oldfield-Jackson
Director & Owner
Dr. Oldfield-Jackson is excited for this new adventure as the director and co-owner of The Willow School. Her passion has always been education. Dr. Taylore Oldfield-Jackson is an Early Childhood- 6th grade certified teacher in the state of Texas. She also holds certifications in ESL, Special Education, & Gifted and Talented. Dr. Oldfield-Jackson taught in the Texas public school system for 7 years and spent the last two years as a full-time education consultant for a private literacy consulting firm. Mrs. Oldfield-Jackson has a B.S. in Education, B.A. in Spanish, M.A. in Curriculum and Learning, and an EdD in Learning and Organizational Change.
Kyah Spence
Owner
Mrs. Kyah Spence is thrilled to be co-owner of The Willow School. She spent the last 10 years as an Emergency Manager to better prepare organizations and communities when disasters strike. She worked in disaster recovery for the State of New Mexico and then as the Divisional Emergency Manager for a large healthcare system in Texas. She has been an Adjunct Lecturer II for the University of New Mexico Emergency Services Academy since 2012. She has her B.S. in Emergency Administration and Management and M.S. in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. She most recently became a licensed loan originator.
Katherine Prudencio
Administrator
Ms. Katherine Prudencio is thrilled to be part of The Willow School. She began her Montessori career as an assistant and fell in love with the teaching philosophy as she observed how the children learned. This prompted her to attend the Houston Montessori Center for her training in primary education. Combined she has over five years of experience as an assistant and teacher. She loves to cultivate a love of learning and reading especially since she struggled to learn how to read.
Jennifer Preciado
Primary Guide
Jennifer was born and raised in Beloit, Wisconsin. She is the youngest of three children. She and her husband have been together for 10 years and have two beautiful boys, who keep them quite busy. They enjoy being outdoors, traveling, and spending time with their extended family. They moved to Texas in search of better job opportunities, more advanced schools for their children, and to be closer to family. Jennifer has worked in the retail industry for over 15 years but has always had an interest in teaching. She is so grateful to have just gained her AMS certification in Early Childhood from Houston Montessori. Jennifer looks forward to helping the children grow in all areas of the curriculum.
Angie White
Primary Guide
Mrs. Angie White is excited to be a part of the team at The Willow School. She holds an American Montessori Internationale (AMI) Primary Diploma from the Montessori Institute of North Texas. Her major is in Human Development and Family Studies. Mrs. White has over 5 years experience in Montessori and loves working with children to help foster their development and independence.
Jenna Daughrity
Primary Assistant
Mrs. Jenna Daughrity is ready to be a part of The Willow School team as our primary assistant. Jenna Graduated from Sam Houston State University with her Bachelors in Early Childhood through 6th grade Education. She holds certifications in English as a Second Language, Gifted and Talented, and Dyslexia. Her passions are education and loving on her three beautiful daughters.
Janice Gonzalez
Toddler Guide
Janice De Jesus Gonzalez was born in Rochester, NJ but was raised in Puerto Rico. She started her nursing studies specializing in children, at Puerto Rico University Ana G. Mendez. In December of 2016 she moved to Texas with her family. Once she started working with infants and toddlers, she fell in love with teaching and began her Montessori Teacher Certification in June 2022 and finished in June 2023. Her hobbies include spending time with her family, watching mystery, drama, series, and action movies, cooking, and reading different things. Janice enjoys spending time with children, educating them, teaching them, and preparing them for the next level. She loves their stages and the learning they take day by day. Janice said, "I think children are the most important things in the world because they are the future and legacy that we will leave tomorrow."
Sally Capeles
Toddler Assistant
Sally Ann Capeles Claudio was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico. She got married in 2013 and has two sons. She studied as a Dental Assistant and got her degree in 2013. She moved to Texas in November 2017. She started working with children at her Church, “La Iglesia de Dios Incorporada in Killeen in 2010 and loved it so much that she changed career paths. In 2019 she obtained the position of Coordinator of the children for her church council, which consisted of visiting every church and creating activities for the children. In 2023 she got her degree at the Biblical Institute in 2023. Her hobbies are spending time with her family and dog, going and working in the Church, and working with plants. She feels fortunate and grateful to have the privilege of working with children and to be a part of their growth and development.
Jerika Lopez
Toddler Assistant
Lorena Laws
Infant Guide
Mrs. Lorena Laws is more than excited to be the infants’ teacher and guide your babies as they begin their own journey. She has an amazing husband and three wonderful little boys. She has over two years of experience working in a Montessori environment and absolutely loves the Montessori teaching method.
Glorie De Leon
Infant Assistant
Mrs. Glorie De León is so happy to be the infant teacher assistant. She is happily married and has two children, ages 13 and 14. She loves children and is excited to grow and learn with them. Glorie has begun her Certified Childcare Professional classes and will receive her certification in the spring of 2025.
Chloe McKee
Infant Assistant
Ms. Chloe is very excited to be a part of The Willow School team. She is the oldest of three siblings. She has lived in Texas almost her whole life, besides a three-year stint in Wisconsin for her father's job in the military. She is currently in school for a degree in early childcare. Her favorite food is shrimp alfredo and pizza. She likes to sew costumes for competitions.
Luis Moreno
Assistant
Luis Moreno is very excited to be part of the educational team at The Willow School. He has an Associate’s degree in Teaching from Central Texas College and experience as a Bilingual and Special Education Teacher’s Aide. He loves working with kids and being part of their learning process. He enjoys learning languages, playing soccer, and spending time with his son.