Staff

Teaching Staff

Our teachers have over fifty years of combined experience in early childhood education, and many years at Poe-Co. All bring to our children’s developmental experience an abundance of knowledge, skill, passion, and commitment

A Little Bit About Your Teachers:

Linda Draper, Director/Lead Apple Teacher

Linda has worked with young children for over seventeen years. For several of those years she directed a large church affiliated nursery and Mother’s Day Out program. For the past seven years she has been the Lead Apple Teacher at Poe-Co and our Director since 2005. Linda has a keen understanding of how children think, feel and learn and is in constant communication with parents about her insights. She is dynamic, creative, and passionate about her work with young children. There is never a dull moment in the Apple class!

Linda is pursuing a Masters in Early Childhood Education at the University of Houston, Clear Lake. She is an alumna of SMU with a BA in Developmental Psychology, and has a State of Texas Teaching Certificate in Early Childhood Education from the University of St. Thomas. In addition, she has gained much insight and experience by being a past resident of the Rice Literacy and Cultural Storytelling Project.

Linda sees young children as a window open to the world. Every moment of the day is an opportunity for each child to grasp some new discovery. The role of the teacher is to be available to provide both new opportunities and engage children daily. Children are able to grow into much wiser and thoughtful adults if we model for them ways to care for themselves and others. Linda is married to Peter and they have four children ranging in age from 12 – 21. She enjoys reading, kayaking, swimming, and walking.

Maxine Dickey, Lead Acorn Teacher

Maxine has been a teacher at Poe-Co for ten years. She has a keen understanding of how children learn. She appreciates that children learn by doing (oops that’s learn by doughing!) and is the guru of goop at Poe-Co.

Maxine is working toward a degree in Early Childhood and seeks any and all continuing education classes that she can attend. With a keen understanding of how children develop socially, physically and cognitively, Maxine is able to enrich the preschool experience of the children whose lives she touches.

Maxine has many interests including reading, camping and going to the beach. Not the least of which is her beautiful family. Maxine is married to Dan, and has two children ages 13 and 15. She is dedicated in all that she does with her family, Poe-Co, and her community of friends.

Donna Yanowski, Co-Teacher Acorn Class

Donna loves Poe-Co! She started working at Poe-Co eleven years ago and quickly became the small mammal/avian expert. Donna loves working with the children on improvised crafts. She comes to school with a wealth of ideas for creating wonderful works of art.

Donna is a recycling champion and a great inspiration to our children in saving our resources. She can make a project out of anything! She also is an incredible gardener and keeps our gardens looking great with the constant help of the children. She loves sewing, animal discovery and volunteer work. Donna is married to Ken, and her daughter Dena is a senior at The High School for Visual and Performing Arts.

Jacqueline Lomax, Co-Teacher Apple Class

After guiding her son John Henry through Poe-Co eight years ago Jacqueline returns to us now as both parent and teacher. She brings her good humor and fresh ideas to the Apple Class, while her daughter Harriet works hard in the Acorn room. Jacqueline earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education at the University of Houston and is currently working on a Master's degree in special education from the University of St. Thomas.

Jacqueline also teaches lunch bunch Monday through Thursday and enjoys the opportunity to spend special time with Acorns as well as Apples then.

Kim Martinez, Co-Teacher Acorn Class

Kim has 18 years of experience teaching young children. She developed in 2005, and currently directs Conmigo, a mommy-and-me Spanish class for pre-school age children. Kim also developed and was lead teacher of two separate mother's day out classes for years. In addition, Kim taught first grade for eight years and was an elementary teacher substitute in Fort Bend ISD and HISD.

Kim holds a BA in an Early Childhood Education from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA. She brings to Poe-Co a love for young children, creativity, enthusiasm, organization, and an amazing ability to multi-task.

Kim and her husband, Kent, have three children, two boys and a girl. Kim is current PTA President at Helm's Elementary where her two older boys attend, and a Sunday school teacher. Her youngest child, Mia is now in the Apple class.