MKU Hutto Team

Meet Our Team

Montessori Kids Universe Hutto recognizes that our caring, dedicated teachers are what makes our school so valuable. MKU Hutto recruits and maintains a high-quality staff through an intensive selection and vetting process. We provide on-going professional development and growth opportunities within our school, and foster a healthy work environment for our employees. Meet the most important aspect of our school: Our quality teaching staff!

Dr. Lubna R Shah

Owner / President

Dr. Shah holds a PhD degree in Physics from University of Delaware, USA. Her research work published in internationally acknowledged journals was cited by physicists from all over the world. Dr. Shah has more than 8 years of professional experience in the fast-paced semiconducting industry both as process Engineer as well as Project Manager, her project management skills were recognized with multiple Director and Divisional level awards.
Dr. Shah always stayed involved in mentoring activities, training and developing new hires and guiding their career growth. During corporate based community outreach programs, Dr. Shah had the opportunity to visit elementary schools. While conducting teaching and mentoring activities, Dr. Shah discovered her passion for early childhood education. Those pure moments of seeing sparkles of joy in children’s eyes while observing a science activity inspired Dr. Shah and she dreamed about transitioning her career from semiconducting into an early childhood education. Dr. Shah’s own childhood experience, where her parents inbuilt in her grit for higher education, helped her overcome all roadblocks and reach her goals, the same power of grit again made her career transition even smoother than she expected.
Dr. Shah has always been an admirer of Dr. Maria Montessori’s authentic philosophy about learning that is applicable to all ages and is based on the key principles of respect, independence and observation. With opening the doors of the Montessori Kids Universe of Hutto to the community, Dr. Shah and her husband Dr. Ali have envisioned a facility where children who start their early developmental years get encouragement and guidance to develop intrinsic motivation for learning, education and self-development.
Dr. Shah’s goal is that the Montessori Kids Universe of Hutto establishes a solid learning foundation in these young ones so that they are set on a path of continuous growth and become future problem solvers, self-sustained contributing members of the community.
In her free time, Dr. Shah enjoys hiking, playing board games and spending time with her family and children. Here at Montessori Kids Universe of Hutto, Dr. Shah loves spending time with infants/toddlers/Pre-primary reading them books and performing STEM activities with Primary and school-agers.

Qualifications:

– PhD, Physics (Spintronics) – University of Delaware, USA
-Work Smart Certifications Bronze and Silver
-Self-Leadership Certification
-Infant & Child CPR/First Aid

Ms. Sarah Z.

Director / Head of School

Ms. Sarah received her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences-Early childhood from the University of Texas at Austin. Sarah’s passion for children is what from her to pursue a career in childcare. Being able to foster knowledge and growth in your minds is her main objective. In her free time Ms. Sarah enjoys spending time with her nephews, hiking Greenbelt and reading novels.

Qualifications:

-Infant & Child CPR/First Aid
-Bachelor’s degree from UT
-Montessori Certification for ages 0-3 from NAMC

Ms. April W.

Assistant Director

Assistant Director Ms. April is a passionate advocate for kids and believes every child deserves the best care and opportunities to learn, grow and develop. Ms.April has her CDA (Child Development Associate) as well as her Director’s Credential. She has extensive training including Conscious Discipline, Curriculum Development, along with Managing Emotional Mayhem and continues to expand her education and knowledge.. She loves being able to assist and support the administration team, the teachers and parents with her experience and skills.  In her spare time she loves spending time and making memories with her fiance and two daughters.  She enjoys watching crime and medical dramas, painting and doing crafts and shopping….lots of shopping!

Qualifications:

  • Director Credential

  • CDA (Child Development Associate Credential)

  • Infant and Child CPR/First Aid

  • Certified Trainings

    • Conscious Discipline

    • Curriculum Development

    • Managing Emotional Mayhem

Ms. Makayla K.

Administrative Assistant

Ms. Makayla is originally from Austin Tx. She is the oldest in a big family and always loved helping with the children in her family. Ms. Makayla has two dogs and spends most of her time outside or at the park with her family. Ms. Makayla has 4 years of customer service experience but even as a child her goal was to pursue a career working and helping children!

Qualifications:

-Infant & Child CPR/First Aid -Montessori Certification for ages 0-3 in progress from MKUIT

Ms. Mitali M.

Lead Primary Guide

I’m Mitali. I was born in India, near Calcutta in the state of Bengal. I got married right after High School. My husband is a Computer Engineer and together we have a son. He is quite grown up now. We came to the US in the year 1998. I was mostly a stay at home mom until my son finished his post-graduation. He is now employed at a senior position in a fortune 500 company.

While my son had been a student, I didn’t have many opportunities in teaching and managing a group of children, though I always had the knack. After my son got employed, I took some conventional child development courses and joined a preschool with an inclination towards teaching with Montessori methods. I loved the way the children learn from their surroundings almost by themselves doing something which interests them using the methods. At the first opportunity, I got enrolled in a Montessori Training course organized by American Montessori Society and became a certified Montessori teacher in 2014.

As a teacher, these are the strengths which I feel I have:

  1. Love for children and enjoy interacting with them
  2. Compassionate and patient. I am not easily ruffled.
  3. Extremely punctual, orderly and honest.
  4. I will go above and beyond to assist children in all areas of instructional needs.

Qualifications:

-Infant & Child CPR/First Aid -Montessori Certification for 3-6 from American Montessori Society -Trilingual: Bengali & Hindi

Ms. Shelly P.

Primary Assistant Guide

Ms. Shelly was born in McAllen, TX and raised in Pflugerville, TX. She is extremely family oriented and grew up with a very close family. She enjoys watching reality TV, cooking, and baking. She loves animals and children. In her free time she likes to take her 3 dogs for walks and take them to the dog park to play.

Qualifications:

-Infant & Child CPR/First Aid

Ms. Katie G.

Lead Primary Guide

Ms. Katie has over five years of experience working with young children. Her favorite part about working with children is watching them learn and grow. In her free time, when she’s not working, she spends time with her daughter Berkley and son Leyton, who now attends MKU, and loves watching movies.

Qualifications:

-Infant & Child CPR/First Aid
-Montessori Certification for ages 3-6 in progress from MKUIT

Ms. Angie H.

Pre-Primary Lead Guide

My name is Angelica but I like to be called Mrs. Angie. I have about 4 years of experience child care but have had a passion for children since my little brother was born in 2003. I quickly learned that this was the field I wanted to be a part of. I was blessed with a wonderful, loving and energetic two-year-old named is Tristan and a wonderful husband for 4 years. We have a very energetic dog her name is Zelda. In my spare time I love shopping and baking cakes and cookies with my little boy. I am excited to be part of MKU and continue to learn and grow and a teacher.

Qualifications:

-Infant & Child CPR/First Aid
-Bilingual: Spanish
-Montessori Certification for ages 0-3 in progress from MKUIT

Ms. Cristina R.

Assistant Guide

Born in Northern California. Relocated to Texas at the tender age of seven with her veteran military mom, fun loving dad and her younger brother. She now calls Hutto home. Attended Farley middle school and proudly graduated from Hutto High School Go Hippos! First born Cristina has a natural instinct to guide others. She helped raise her nephews and 1st cousins. Cristina thrives in a team environment and thoroughly enjoys being around children. Now a mother to Ellie she couldn’t be more happy and proud to be a role model to such a precious little girl. Extremely grateful to be a part of the Montessori family and looks forward to making a difference in the young lives she encounters.

Qualifications:

-Infant & Child CPR/First Aid

Ms. Lacey B.

Pre-Primary Assistant Guide

Ms. Lacey was born and raised in Austin Tx. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art-drawing along with earning credits in art education from the Texas State University in San Marcos. Lacey has always had a passion for working with children from all ages. She has five nieces and nephews and has through the years helped take care of them and has sometimes been their tutor during the school years. After graduating from Texas State, Lacey started teaching at a childcare facility and fell in love with being able to help young children learn and develop new skills. As a continuous learning process, Ms. Lacey constantly exploring newer ways and researching/gaining more knowledge in how to better educate the young minds of today.

Qualifications:

-Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art-Drawing – Child CPR certified

Mrs. Sophia C.

Pre-Primary Lead Guide

Ms. Sophia is a California native that has since relocated to the lovely state of Texas. Ms. Sophia’s passion for working with kids stemmed from bonding and caring for her nieces and nephews. During her free time she enjoys spending time outdoors hiking with her fur babies, being surrounded by family, and cooking. She is excited to be a part of our team and enthusiastic to help guide our young friends during their time here at MKU Hutto.

Qualifications:

-Infant & Child CPR/First Aid
-Bilingual: Spanish
-Montessori Certification for ages 0-3 in progress from MKUIT

Ms. Alex K.

Toddler Lead Guide

Ms. Alex’s passion for working with kids stemmed from a high school teacher who impacted her education in the most positive way! Ms. Alex learned some of her greatest teaching traits from this teacher and will continue to implement them throughout her teaching career. Ms. Alex worked with MKU previously but took a brief break in the summer and is now here to continue and further her career with MKU! In her free time, Ms. Alex enjoys watching movies, her favorite shows (Friends, The office, and Criminal Minds), and doing 1000 piece Puzzles while listening to music, and doing the best activity of all hanging out with her charming son, Adonis. 

Qualifications:

-Infant & Child CPR/First Aid
-Montessori Certification 3-6 from MKUIT
-Montessori Certification 0-3 in progress from MKUIT
-Bilingual: Greek

Mrs. Chandrakala (Kala) C.

Assistant Guide

Mrs. Kala was born in India Salem but raised in Erode. Being the eldest in her family she always had the responsibility of taking care of her younger siblings, this is where her passion for helping children began. She then got married and had two boys of her own, who are now sophomores and seniors in high school. She also went to college and got her masters in botany. She’s always loved volunteering and helping in schools, but drawing and cooking are her passion. In her free time she also enjoys watching TV, going for walks and she loves to shop! Mrs. Kala hopes to bring not only her knowledge about botany to MKU but her love and passion for caring for children as well.

Qualifications:

-Infant & Child CPR/First Aid – MS in Botany

Ms. Bianca R.

Toddler Assistant Guide

Ms. Bianca was born in Dallas Tx but was raised in Brownsville. She is the youngest of 2 and has 7 nieces and nephews.She has studied cosmetology and is currently trying to begin a degree in Education. She loves music, theater, and math, and wants to share the passion she has with the kids. Ms.Bianca has one boy named Sebastian and another son on the way.

Qualifications:

-Infant & Child CPR/First Aid

Ms. Vanessa A.

Lead Toddler Guide

Ms. Vanessa has received her Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from the California State University of Fresno. While in high school and college she spent seven years working with children from the ages of 6 months to 12 years and that is where she discovered her passion of health and child development. Now she is seeking to further her education to become a teacher and she is looking forward to grow at Montessori Kids Universe. In her spare time, she likes to camp and hike with her husband, as well as doing DIY projects and painting.

Qualifications:

-Infant & Child CPR/First Aid
-Bilingual: Spanish
-Bachelor’s Degree from California State University
-Montessori Certification for ages 0-3 from MKUIT

Ms. Liz H.

Toddler Assistant Guide

Mrs. Liz is a certified nurse assistant. She has worked over 3 years in a skilled nursing home. She enjoys being a caregiver but now she wanted to pursue her interest in young children. She’s excited to be part of the MKU Team and is looking forward to grow At Montessori Kids Universe. She’s a mother to a beautiful little girl and she’s also a military wife. She enjoys doing DIY projects with her daughter and taking her to new places for her to explore.

Qualifications:

-CPR/First Aid
-“Stop the bleed” training
-Completed clinicals at St. David’s hospital for 6 weeks
-Currently Studying at Temple Community College
-Montessori Certification for ages 0-3 from MKUIT

MKU Hutto Montessori Staff-Top Preschool-Kindergarten-Daycare

Ms. Patty C.

Infant Lead Guide

Ms. Patty C. was born in Lima-Peru. She has worked with children since coming to this country, almost 32 years ago. She has worked in Montessori & Reggio Emilia schools in New York, Maryland and Florida. In Florida she was also a nanny to a special needs’ girl. She’s been happily married for 32 years and blessed with 4 children and 3 grand-kids. During her free time, she also serves at Juan Guzman Foundation and helps Children in need. Children are her passion!!

Qualifications:

-Infant & Child CPR/First Aid
-Bilingual: Spanish
-Over 32 years of experience working with children
-DCF Florida Childcare Certification
-Montessori Certification for ages 0-3 in progress from MKUIT
MKU Hutto Montessori Staff-Top Preschool-Kindergarten-Daycare

Ms. Madison K.

Infant Assistant Guide

Ms. Madison has been in childcare for over 5 years. She has always worked in some type of childcare ever since she began her working life. She has a big passion to see children grow and learn. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her dogs and read a good book.

Qualifications:

-Infant & Child CPR/First Aid

Ms. Reilly H.

Assistant Guide

Ms. Reilly is originally from Harleysville, PA where she gained experience working with children through babysitting for friends, interning at a local preschool, and as a counselor for summer sport camps. She has a rescue cat, Quill, that she adopted from the SPCA. Her love of people and animals has led to a passion for caretaking and teaching. After moving to Texas she has joined MKU to share that passion and help more kids grow in a caring environment. She enjoys making lattes, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family.

Qualifications:

-Infant & Child CPR/First Aid

Ms. Ahilyn

Support Staff

Ahilyn was born in California but moved to Texas in 2019 to find new opportunities and a better life! Miss Ahilyn has always had a passion for caring for people and helping them through their struggles. Miss Ahilyn loves drawing, painting and hanging out with her cats!

Qualifications:

-Infant & Child CPR/First Aid