ST. HELENA'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
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Staff and Training

All S.H.E.E.P staff must go through an interview process with both the church and the school.  Staff members are selected based on their experience and vision of education.  All staff have gone through an extensive background screening process.

Open staff positions are posted on the bottom of this page. 

Prior to the beginning of the school year, the director, teachers and teaching assistants receive training in policy, procedure, curriculum and instructional strategies.  Their training continues throughout the school year.  Training includes CPR and first aid, “Safeguarding God’s Children,” and child-centered, developmentally appropriate instructional practices.

All teachers are evaluated on their overall performance during the school year.

ADMINISTRATION

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Tiffany Jureczki
School Director
Education: 
I graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. I worked on a Master's Degree program in Administration at Our Lady of the Lake University and graduated from the University of Texas in Arlington with a Masters degree in Reading Specialization. Before coming to SHEEP, I taught at Lackland ISD.

Family: I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Jeff, for over 15 years.  We have 4 children (Ty, Makenna, Shane and  Jake) and enjoy living way out in the country.
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Why I am at SHEEP: I have been at St. Helena’s Early Enrichment Program since 2008, the beginning.  Watching the program grow and meeting the wonderful children and families coming through has been a huge blessing in my life!

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Dawn Mclendon
Director of Family Ministries
Education: I have a Bachelor's degree from McMurry College, with a specialization in English and Writing.  I taught for 17 years: 10 in Northside ISD and 7 in Boerne ISD classrooms. I also spent 3 years as the Elementary Writing Specialist for BISD.  
Family:  I have been married to Patrick for over 25 years.  We have two sons, Matthew and Sean.
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Why I am at SHEEP:  As the children and youth minister, I was part of a team of 7 women who visioned our school.  We were excited to build an innovative and Christ-centered program to serve the children of Boerne and the hill country.

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Stefanie Nitschke
Minister for Young Families

Education: I pursued my love for education and graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelors degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Special Education. I taught for 7 years in NEISD. I taught PPCD for 4 years and then taught Kinder inclusion for 3 years.  I was so blessed to join the St. Helena's family in the summer of 2018 as the Minister for Young Families. 

Family: My husband, James, and I were very blessed to welcome our first baby, Weston James, in November of 2018.  

Why I am at SHEEP:  My heart and calling is towards serving and lifting up young children as well as families.  I love being able to connect with children by inspiring them, teaching them about God and strengthening their family unit to grow and deepen in their faith.  St. Helena's is a community that has been such a blessing for my family and continues to be for so many!  



PRESCHOOL FACULTY

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Shannon Wills
Step 1 Teacher 
Education: I have a bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in English from the University of Texas at Austin. After 9 years in the corporate world, I became a stay at home mom and realized my desire to pursue a career in early education. 

Family: My husband Orion and I have two sons, Jayce and Archer. We spend most of our free time with my brother, his family, and my parents. My mother Phyllis is also a part of the SHEEP family. 

Why I am at SHEEP: For years, the only people we trusted to watch our boys were my parents. My mom, Phyllis, had been working at SHEEP for some time and she always sang the school praises. We decided to enroll our oldest son Jayce, and within weeks he had completely blossomed. I loved his teachers and the SHEEP community was so welcoming and encouraging. When it came time for me to re-enter the work force, I could not think of a better place to work. My goal is to be just as loving and reassuring to the children in my classroom as the SHEEP teachers continue to be for my boys. 


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Pam Yeager
Step 4 Assistant
Education:  I have a bachelor’s degree in Art Education from the University of Maine and a master’s in Child Development from the University of Rhode Island. I taught prekindgarten and kindergarten in Austin, San Antonio, and at St. Boniface in Comfort.

Family:  My husband, Mike and I live outside of Comfort and have three children and five grandchildren. The oldest grandson just graduated from high school and is attending college at Fresno State University!

Why I am at SHEEP:  I am part of the SHEEP family because I love young children and hope to serve the teachers, students, and parents at this wonderful school!P

 
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Kerrie Kleinpeter
Step 2 Teacher
Education: I moved to Boerne in 1992, spent my Junior and Senior years Boerne High School, and graduated in 1994.

Family: I am a divorced mother of three children; Emma, Luke, and Kate - plus my fur baby; an ornery old pupper named Solo (yes, after the equally grumpy and beloved Star Wars character!). Together, we share a deep love of Star Wars and superhero movies, music, and spending lazy days in our jammies.

Why I am at SHEEP: After years of parenting my own kiddos, and volunteering countless hours at their schools, I realized that my tremendous love for children was, in fact, a calling.
When I started teaching preschool back in 2013, at St. Helena’s Early Enrichment Program as a Teaching Assistant in the Step 2 classroom, I instantly knew that I was in the right place.
I feel that my optimism, and ability to make children (and their parents!) feel loved and safe is a gift, and a blessing - because when a child feels safe and loved, their brain is relaxed and ready for optimal learning!!

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Melanie Garcia
Step 3 Teacher
Education: I grew up in Kansas and graduated from high school there.

Family: I married my high school sweetheart and we have been married for over 20 years. I have 3 children and 2 grandchildren.
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Why I am at SHEEP: I love teaching children and being around 2 and 3 year olds.




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Step 3 Assistant
Education:  

Family:  

Why I am at SHEEP:  
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Michelle Kabanek
Step 4 Teacher
Education: I have worked in early childhood.
     

Family: I have been married to my husband, Scott, for over 30 years. We have two children: Luke and Mindy.

Why she is at SHEEP: I enjoy working with children. I love teaching them new things and watching them grow.

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Lisa Moore
Step 5 Teacher
Education:  I have an Early Childhood Education Bachelors 
Degree.  I have taught Pre-K, Kindergarten, First Grade, Third Grade, Fourth Grade and Fifth Grade.  

Family: I am married to my husband Glenn and we have two children, Justin and Hunter.
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Why she is at SHEEP: 
We moved to Boerne in the summer of 2018.  My husband retired from the Army after 28 years.  We moved around a lot.  We are now settled and I can continue to do what I love.  I love working with children.  I heard so many wonderful things about the SHEEP program and since my boys are older now, it was time to get back to my passion of teaching.  





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Courtney Mays
Step 3 Assistant
Education: I graduated from the University of Texas Pan American with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a second major in English. I worked in the Real Estate industry for 11 years as a Realtor and an assistant real estate appraiser. I took a step away from my career to stay at home with my children for 6 years. The past two years, I have been a substitute teacher for BISD.

Family: I have been married to my awesome husband Ray for over10 years, and we have two children, Trenton and Tristan.

Why I am at SHEEP: My children attended SHEEP, and I knew from the moment I stepped into the school when I registered them to attend and I got that "warm and fuzzy" feeling that this school and the people in it are truly amazing. I am excited to be a part of this God-centered, loving, and fun school! I love seeing the world through the eyes of children as they discover and learn.

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Meagan McVicker
​Transitional Kinder Teacher
Education:
I have a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from UTSA. I also taught for 7 years in NEISD. I spent 2 years teaching 3rd grade and 5 years teaching kindergarten.

Family: My husband Michael and I have three children, Mason, Mitchell and Maggie.

Why I am at SHEEP:
I am so excited to work with young children in a loving environment, and I love to see the excitement and passion in every learning opportunity. God has blessed me with another chance to work in early childhood education, while at the same time I get to see my two boys grow at this wonderful school. 

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Desirea Arnold
Primary Assistant
Education: High school graduate with a little college and 18 years of being a stay at home mom (Where everyday is a learning experience).

Family: My husband, Wesley, works at USAA.  We have 4 children that we are very proud of.  Sydney, Sierra, Skyleigh, and Fischer (who attended SHEEP).

Why I am at SHEEP:  Now that all my children are in school I am ready to regain a little independence.  Working with children has always been my passion for as long as I can remember. I visited SHEEP.  They won me over right away.  I believe in all that SHEEP has to offer and it is just a bonus to be able to work along side all these amazing teachers and staff that made my son's last year before grade school a memorable one.  







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Melanie Bostic
Step 5 Assistant
Education: I have a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I first began teaching preschool in 2016 at my home church in Cary, NC.

Family: I have been married to my wonderful husband Jason for over 10 years and God has blessed us with two amazing, energetic boys Walter and Arthur. 

Why I am at SHEEP: I first began teaching a two-year old preschool class in 2016 and loved interacting with this sweet age. After our family moved to south Texas from North Carolina in the summer of 2016, I prayed for an opportunity to continue teaching. When I first discovered SHEEP and learned more about the preschool and their heart for teaching children about Christ's love, I knew this was the place for me! I am so happy to be working with four and five year olds in the Step 7 class. I love this fun age and seeing how excited the kids are to learn and be at school! My heart is happy in the classroom and I hope to teach and be in an educational setting for many years. ​

PRIMARY SCHOOL FACULTY

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Bobbye Gardner
Kindergarten Teacher
Education: My teaching career began in 1970, and with the exception of four years in the public arena, my teaching experience has been in Episcopal schools. Moving to Boerne in 2012, I was fortunate to secure a position with SHEEP, and what a blessing it has been!

​Family: The remainder of my time is spent spoiling my three grandchildren and exploring this beautiful hill country.

Why I am at SHEEP: The reason I am at SHEEP is because it is an educational paradise that promotes the teaching of the whole child.

Interesting tidbit:   In my free time I enjoy reading, gardening, playing the flute, piano, and baritone ukulele. I am a diehard Trekkie, and I have never seen a Star Wars movie.  Also, my great great great grandmother was Angelina Eberly. There is a statue of her in downtown Austin. She fired the cannon at Sam Houston's men preventing them access to the archives and from changing the capital to Houston. 


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Lara Johndrow
First/Second Grade Teacher
Education: I have lived in Boerne since I was 8 years old and graduated from Boerne High School. Go Greyhounds!!!  I have a bachelor's degree in early childhood education.
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Family: I have been married to my husband, Quentin, since 2004 and together we have three girls: Ashley, Hailey, and Paytin. 

Why I am at SHEEP: I worked in a few different offices before I stepped out on faith to take on the calling that I knew God had for me; walking alongside families and laying a foundation on which to build their child's educational future, as well as a foundation for their walk with Christ. I am humbled each and every day that I get to come to this school and speak love and life into the future of our community!




SPECIALISTS FACULTY 

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Dawn Allen
Assistant to the Director
Education:  I was born and raised in Boerne, as were my parents, grandparents, and generations before us. We are all proud graduates of Boerne High School.

Family:  My husband Larry and I are empty nesters.  We are the parents of four grown children.  Our three girls are all married and have blessed us with eight grandkids. We spend all of our spare time traveling and spending time with them. 

Why at SHEEP:  I am a life long member of St. Helena's and am actively involved with the children's ministry.  When there was discussions of starting a preschool years ago, I knew I had to be a part of it.  I was one of the first three teachers originally hired.  ​

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Renee Ozment
Enrichment Teacher
Education:  I am from a very large family, born and raised in SA, attended parochial school 1-12 grade. I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University at Arlington.  I additionally earned a Master's degree in Business from Dallas Baptist University.

Family:  I have been married over 35 years to my wonderful husband Tommy.  We are truly blessed with two wonderful and talented children: Son Kevin who is a medical student and daughter Keely who attends physical therapy school. Hopefully two Doctors in the near future.  We love outdoor adventures, camping, skiing and being together as a family as much as we can.

Why am I at SHEEP:  I love meeting and working with children and their wonderful families.  Its very rewarding to work with children and to watch them learn and grow.  I have always felt like something was missing after working for other companies and running my own business.  I realized my greatest accomplishment in my life was raising my children to be successful, educated, responsible adults and that love and support is what I would like to offer my little students.

Job Openings

There are no job openings at this time.
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​If interested, please contact the director at tiffany@sthelenas.net or 830-249-8084.
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