FACULTY
Brandy Rawls
Assistant Head of School / Yearbook
It’s important to ask one’s self, "Why do I do this job?" First and most importantly, this isn’t a job to me, it’s a true privilege and honor to be able to work at a school like Shady Oak Primary. It is a real blessing to work with such an amazing group of women who are kind and who all share the same desire of “why” we do what we do - which is to inspire students to be the best version of themselves. I love that the goal and philosophy at Shady Oak is to develop the whole child - mentally and emotionally. We believe that each student is important and unique as an individual. At Shady Oak we provide a positive, nurturing, safe school environment where students can truly learn, grow, and develop into the best young individuals they can be, both academically and personally.
My name is Brandy Rawls and I am so excited and blessed to be starting another wonderful year at Shady Oak Primary School. In 2010, I graduated from University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and then trained through Region 4 in Early Childhood through 6th Grade and ESL. After graduating, I began working in the private school sector as a Teacher’s Assistant and later as an Art Teacher, P.E. Teacher, 3rd-5th grade ELA, and Yearbook Director. I prefer working in smaller, private schools as there I can give more one-on-one attention to each child. I was born and raised in the Houston area but have lived in Richmond for the past 18 years.
I look forward to my 5th year as part of the Shady Oak Primary family!
Rachel Brooks
1st & 2nd Grade Lead Teacher
I am incredibly blessed and excited to be teaching with Shady Oak Primary’s team of master administrators and teachers for the sixth year. Before coming to Shady Oak, I taught a bilingual first grade class (Spanish and English) in Bryan, Texas.
I absolutely love Shady Oak’s relentless commitment to children’s success in all aspects of learning. This school is outstandingly true to its philosophy, and I really see students benefit because of it. They learn through discovery, they build confidence, they gain important values, they learn collaboration skills, and they learn to see themselves and others as valuable, kind people who have the power to make a difference.
I feel that my primary purpose as a teacher is to plant seeds in students' lives that will help them to grow into capable, contributing, and kind adults.
Rachel DePavia
1st & 2nd Grade Teacher
Learning is a life-long journey, not a competition. When we promote learning as an adventure to be undertaken, not only as an individual but also as a community, then we empower students to rejoice in their own successes and to focus on the stepping stones most appropriate to their unique path. As both a parent and as an educator, I have experienced a wide variety of educational models, private and public. I first encountered Shady Oak as the parent of a preschooler. I loved the preschool’s emphasis on outdoor play in a relaxed positive environment where kids could choose from age-appropriate hands-on learning opportunities. As the parent of that same preschooler, I came across the street to Shady Oak Primary School to see what educational options I might have for my child in the future. I immediately fell in love with Shady Oak’s model of allowing children to work with the same educators for several years in a row. Shady Oak staff purposefully KNOW their students, and strive to create learning opportunities designed for both the individual student’s learning style and the student’s personal progress. This model also allows children of various ages and abilities to work side-by-side in the same classroom – a learning environment which enables the students to learn life lessons from one another just as frequently as from their teachers – in a society that seems to want everyone sucked into their own screen, pursuing their own interests, all the time. Shady Oak Primary School invigorates me with our bonding as a family which strives for the success of each individual member and our growth as a powerful partner to our community. Joining the Shady Oak Primary staff this year fills my heart with joy and motivates me to become the best educator possible for our kids!
I received my B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley with a double major in Comparative Literature and French, and a minor in Portuguese. I am Californian. I received my Master of Arts degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, where I met and married my husband Luis. We have 3 children, our daughter Emilia being the youngest.
In the course of my teaching career, I’ve taught English courses for Houston Community College (long ago), preschool in California, Environmental Education as an assistant Naturalist for the Orinda School District in California, and most recently at Shady Oak Christian School in the role of Naturalist. Ironically, my father was a math teacher and I grew up with my 6 siblings solving math problems on the chalkboard at the dinner table. A Full Circle – Thank you, God.
Vangie Schulze
3rd-5th Grade Lead Teacher
As the educator I am, Shady Oak Primary School is a place where students can open their minds, create, explore and develop, use creativity and explore to learn, which is the exact way that I believe students should learn. Students absorb concepts and ideas by exploring and having fun, enjoying while they learn. The knowledge I acquire every day, always brings me back to the classroom. My heart always feels the need to share life’s important lessons with our future leaders, doctors, teachers and artists of this world. Whoever they chose to become, I will always know my students will remember and take with them a little part of my heart! I have seen the teachers at Shady Oak, and I know they are entirely devoted and dedicated to their students and feel just like I do! The love of learning emanates from the brick walls of the building. This is what a true school is!
I have been teaching for the last 28 years. Teaching has always been my passion! I have explored many other things, and I always come back to the classroom. I have taught High School, Middle School and Elementary. I hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design with an Education Certification, and a Master’s degree in Psychology. I hold Real Estates Licenses in Florida and Texas. I hold Teaching certificates in Art, Spanish and English Language Arts and Reading in the states of Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania and in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. I am also a certified Translator/Interpreter. I have extensive experience in sales and business development and have owned my own Art School in Puerto Rico where I was born and raised.
I have finally found a place where I belong, and I can share all my knowledge and experience. I am excited to be part of Shady Oak Primary!
Anayvette Ramon
3rd–5th Grade Teacher
Hello, my name is Anayvette Ramon. I am so excited and fortunate to be joining the Shady Oak team. I graduated from the University of Houston and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Teaching and Learning, as well as my EC-6 certification. I was born and raised here in Houston and am the youngest in my family.
A few years ago, when I decided to pursue a career in education, I had the opportunity to observe at Shady Oak Primary. Something that has always inspired me is the unique approach the school takes on teaching and learning. One of the most important things I’ve learned as an education major is that no two students learn the same way, so one of the things that I really like about Shady Oak is that teachers are encouraged to meet students at their level and help them direct and decide where they would like their learning to take them. In addition, I love that Shady Oak not only focuses on building a student’s skills mentally, but emotionally as well. Shady Oak Primary promotes a positive school environment where students can truly feel safe and work on becoming their very best self.
Rachel Higgens
3rd-5th Science Teacher
Hello. My name is Rachel Higgens, “Rae.” I have been at Shady Oak for 9 years, first as a parent of 3 students and then as a teacher. As the science teacher for 3rd through 5th grade I guarantee my excitement for science will become contagious and rub off on every child. My passion is science of all types and helping children find their love for it also. I have researched many different areas of science to its most current understanding. As a member of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) I have access to the most up to date lessons in the Next Generation Science Strategies (NGSS) as well as professional scientists to explain real world applications and practices. When any field in science makes a new discovery, I insert it into the classroom.
I am very passionate about teaching because I do believe it takes a village. Parents and teachers together are responsible for helping mold children into amazing adults. Children are limitless in their wonder, capabilities, and potential. I have a degree in child psychology and while earning my degree I discovered that I am dyslexic. Despite that I graduated with honors. As my children grew I discovered two of them are also dyslexic. Being dyslexic gives me a real opportunity to understand why some ways of learning are more difficult for some children to learn. This allows me the great joy in helping each child figure out how they learn best. This partners perfectly with the Nurtured Heart Approach of learning at Shady Oak. I do not believe in “Learning Disabilities.” Learning disorders are simply opportunities to learn outside the box.
For all lessons I use at least one hands on experiment or project. This method allows children to truly learn and understand, not just be able to repeat the idea back. My goal is that all children not only understand but crave a deeper understanding of many different scientific theories and disciplines. Also, that they can't wait to come home and share with you all they have learned.
Stevie Ballow
TAB Art Instructor
"Oh!" is perhaps my favorite expression. When a child (or teen, or adult) says, "Oh!" it means that they have discovered something, that they have figured something out. When I discovered the TAB (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) method of art instruction in 2016, I had an, "Oh!" moment myself. I knew I had to bring that teaching method to the students of Shady Oak. As a facilitator of creativity, my WHY is to hear my art students say, "Oh!" or, "Huh?" or even, "Dude!" I want to help them know that they have ideas that work and creative, artistic voices that can and should be heard.
If someone had told me back in 1996 that in the future, I would be teaching art to children and adults, I would have laughed. I was studying to be a Biomedical Engineer, a decidedly non-artsy career. I was into math; I just wasn't the "creative type." Fast forward to today, and even though I graduated with that BS in Biomedical Engineering, my career path has taken me in a decidedly different direction than engineering. I have been an instructor of children and adults in many different settings for almost 15 years: high school Math, Science, English, and Bible Study; after-school Science classes; elementary Sunday School; art and craft workshops for children ages 3 - adult. I am currently the instructor/facilitator for the TAB Studio Art classes for Shady Oak Primary and Fine Art Appreciation and TAB Studio Art classes at Gateway America Prep.
I enjoy the process of figuring out how things work. I enjoy making messes. I like getting expected results and unexpected ones. As it turns out, I'm into math AND art, and I use my training as an engineer and problem-solver every single day as an art instructor.
In a TAB Studio, the child is the artist; the role of an instructor is to facilitate the students' creativity, not to dictate what projects and what style or art they choose to do. Students choose what art projects they work on and what materials they use. They are encouraged to play, to try, and to discover what works and what doesn't on their own. Students are also prompted to spend more than one class period creating artwork, allowing them a chance to dive deep into the planning and execution of projects in their particular area of interest. TAB programs also include periods of reflection and critique, building confidence and community in the classroom.
Pablo Picasso is quoted as saying, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." The TAB classroom prepares students to be problem creators AND problems solvers, communicators and collaborators, creative and critical thinkers. Not every child will pursue a career in art. But they will leave my classroom knowing that they are creative beings with huge imaginations, that they are full of grit and gristle and that they can apply the habits and practices they're learned in art to every other part of their lives.