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11512 Olson Dr.
Austin, TX 78750

(512) 258-0101

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Our Staff

Our Teachers

Aparna Athreya

Pre-K Teacher &
The Club: 1st & 2nd Teacher
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Hi there, This is my 7th year at Hope. I am the preK lead. I have an undergrad and Masters in English Literature. I am married and the mother of two who are UT students, oldest at Dell medical and the youngest a rising senior. I am an avid reader and hiking enthusiast. I made it to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro at the beginning of this year. I have ambitions of going to Everest base camp in year 2025. Educating young minds is my passion.

Martika Dance

Pre-K Teacher &
The Club: Pre-K & Kinder Teacher
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I was born and raised in Killeen, Texas. I moved to Austin in 2017 to pursue my Bachelor Degree in Education at Huston-Tillotson University. I started my career working with children in 2014 at the YMCA. From there I went to Stepping Stone School where I was a teacher for seven years. I joined Hope Children  Center in 2022 and I have enjoyed working here. I love working with children watching each one learn and grow has always been an amazing experience for me. I am so excited to start this school year it’s going to be an wonderful experience! 

Ashley Heil

2’s Teacher &
The Club: Pre-K & Kinder Teacher
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Hi my name is Ashley Heil and for a little over 15 years I have dedicated my career to working with children ranging from 6 weeks to 3rd grade. As a native Texan, I cherish my life with my husband and our four kids, aged 13, 11, 9, and 2. In my leisure time, I enjoy crafting with my children, cheering them on at baseball games, or simply enjoying the great outdoors. Our family is also kept on our toes by our three energetic dogs. I am thrilled to join the Hope Children’s Center team and look forward to meeting everyone and greeting all the bright young faces.

Shannon Leon-DuMouchelle

Afternoon Floater
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Hey guys! I am so excited to be at Hope Children’s Center where I can support great teachers and work with your kiddos! I’ve been working in Early Childhood Development for longer than a decade now; first as an Early Interventionist for the State of Texas and then as lead teacher of various classes from all age classrooms. With all of that, I am ready to jump into any room to help support learning, work through big feelings, and finish off great days.  Currently my hobbies are learning MandarinChinese (because I watch  A LOT of CDrama), rescuing my kiddo as she learns to ‘Adult’, supporting our Austin FC Boys (Dale, dale!)  and browsing HalfPrice Bookstore for my next favorite read. As Ms. Frizzle says, ‘Make Mistakes! Get Messy!’ It’s going to be a great year. 

Amanda Martinez

2’s Teacher &
The Club: Pre-K & Kinder Teacher
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I bring over 12 years of experience in childcare to my role at Hope, including five years specializing in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), where I supported children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in developing positive behaviors and essential life skills. I have a deep passion for working with children of all ages and especially enjoy teaching social-emotional skills that help foster independence, confidence, and curiosity in young learners.
Originally from San Antonio, I’ve called Austin home for the past 13 years. My husband and I recently welcomed our first child—a baby boy who has quickly become the center of our world. When I’m not in the classroom or spending time with my family, I love being outdoors—whether it’s hiking, camping, rock climbing, or walking our three dogs.
I’m excited to be part of the Hope community and look forward to supporting each child’s growth, joy, and discovery every day.

Shawna Parker

3’s Teacher
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Hello my name is Shawna Parker. I live in Georgetown with my husband, 9 year old son, a turtle and a very old, fluffy cat. I enjoy traveling, learning new things, crafts, yoga and spending time with my loved ones. I received my Bachelors from Cal State Long Beach. I’ve been teaching in early childhood for over six years and have loved every minute of it. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing the pride on a little one’s face when they accomplish a new goal! I so look forward to meeting your children and helping them grow through the power of play.

Elijah Sneed

Pre-K Teacher &
The Club: 3rd-5th Teacher
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Hello I’m Elijah I enjoy working with children. I also enjoy sports and staying active.

Shondria Sneed

Young 2’s Teacher
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I am Shondria and I have been working in the child care field for almost 5 years now. I worked at the YMCA for 4 years and joined Hope back in August. I am so happy to be a part of this team. 

Rupali Srivastava

3’s Teacher
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Hi, My name is Rupali Srivastava. Teaching is my great passion. I have 12 years of experience in Education and very much enjoy teaching children.

I am from India but currently live in Austin for the last 8 years. I’ve been married over 17 years to my husband and have two wonderful children (a boy & a girl). My son is in high school and my daughter is in 3rd grade. They both always keep me very busy with their various activities.

In my free time, I love to do yoga, go on walks, doing painting and solving puzzles.

My goal is to provide a safe and happy environment for each child. I am very excited about working with your children.

Susan Walter

Music & Movement Teacher

 

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My names is Susan Walter (aka Miss Susan),  I’m grateful to be the music/movement teacher at Hope.  I have been at Hope for 17 years and looking forward to many more.  I believe that music and movement are a vital part of life and play an important role in early childhood development.

I will soon be celebrating 43 years of marriage to my wonderful husband.  We have 3 amazing daughters and one 5 year old grandson and a brand new baby granddaughter.

Ruth Zane

Morning Floater & Curriculum Specialist 
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I’m Ruth Zane. This is my fourth year working at HCC, and I absolutely love art! I’m looking forward to bringing lots of fun and educational art projects to the classroom.

Before joining HCC, I worked at Asian American Cultural Center preschool for two years, and I also have two years of Pre-K teaching experience in Beijing.

I’m a proud mom of three! My youngest is a junior at Westwood, my middle child is a senior at UT, and my oldest already has her own home.

Working with kids is truly my favorite thing to do, and I can’t wait to share another wonderful year together!

Our Administration

Angela Brandon

Co-Director

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My name is Angela Brandon and I am a married mother of two teen girls! I have over 10 years of Early Childhood teaching experience.  I am so excited to help little ones prosper and grow. I have been working with children over 26 years and it’s never been a dull moment! I continue to learn something new every day.

Rev. Dr. Krystal Leedy

Co-Director

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I am an ordained Minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), and received both my Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. I have an B.A. in Youth & Family Ministry from Abilene Christian University.

HCC Chapel is the highlight of my week. The children here remind me of the loving and joyful presence of God each time we gather. I am the Chaplain for Children’s Ministries at Hope Presbyterian Church, and enjoy spending time with my husband, John, and our two daughters.