Teachers

Olivia Espinosa
Teacher
Texas Christian University, M.S. B.S. Early Childhood/Special Education. Experience includes teaching in a Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities as well as Prekindergarten inclusion. Joined Rise in 2015.

​Holly Hoffman
​Teacher
University of Houston. B.A. in Communication Science Disorders and Psychology. Pursuing M.Ed Special Populations. Previous experience with working with children and adults with specials needs in a variety of settings. Joined Rise in 2019.

Erica Kelley
Teacher
University of Houston, M.Ed. Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Special Education. Experience includes teaching in early education programs as well as at the university level. Joined Rise in 2010.

Carol Nyberg
​Teacher
Carol is returning to Rise as the Lead Teacher in our Pink I classroom.  She holds a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Studies with a concentration in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd from the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis. Experience working with young children in a Montessori setting as well as working as the Lead Teacher in the Yellow Room at The Rise School of Houston for six years.  We are so happy to have Ms Carol back at Rise.

​Hillary Pruneda
Teacher
Texas A&M University, B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Special Education. Pursuing a M.Ed Special Populations. Previous experience with working with children and adults with specials needs in a variety of settings including The Rise School of Houston. Joined Rise in 2020.

Margaret Reith-Herrera
​Teacher
University of Heidelberg, M.S. B.S. Education, Experience includes teaching Montessori as well as teaching preschool children with special needs in the public school setting. Joined Rise in 2011. 

Margarita "Maggie" Romero
Teacher
University of Houston, B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies. Currently pursuing her M.Ed in Early Education/Special Education. Previously worked in Houston I.S.D. with preschool students with special needs. Joined Rise in 2017. 

Menomanee Smith

Teacher
Texas Southern University, BA Psychology and University of Phoenix, M.Ed Early Childhood/Special Education. Joined Rise in 2005. 

Kara Standeffer
Teacher
University of Texas, M.Ed. in Special Education.  Kara did her undergraduate internship at Rise Houston in our infant classroom.  Her teaching experience includes The Rise School of Austin and the Rise Program at the University of Alabama.  Kara  joined The Rise School of Houston in 2020.

Candice Trotter
​Teacher
Steven F. Austin University, B.S. in Child Development. University of Texas at Dallas, M.S. in Early Childhood Disorders. Experience includes Early Intervention Specialist in Houston. Joined Rise in 2017.

Therapists

Emily Berman
Physical Therapist
​Texas Children’s Hospital
Doctorate of PT at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Post-Professional Certificate in Pediatric Physical Therapy from The University of Texas Medical Branch, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, MPT and BS HealthCare Science; University of Texas at Austin, BA Psychology in 1999. On staff at Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH) and contracted by Rise from TCH to work with Rise students. Joined TCH in 2003 and Rise team in 2007.

Veronica Butler
​Music Therapist
Walden University, Master of Science in Education K-12/Curriculum Instruction & Assessment. Sam Houston State University, B.A. Music Therapy.  Board Certified Music Therapist and carries the NMT and Fellow certification from the Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy. Veronica is a Licensed Massage Therapist/Certified Infant Massage Instructor and has taught Kindermusik and Music Together. Clinical Training Director of American Music Therapy Association and participates in mentorship programs with NYU and CCISD, HSID. Joined Rise in 2000.

Tamara Freeman
Occupational Therapist
​Texas Children’s Hospital
Lousiana State University Health Sciences Center, Masters of Occupational Therapy. She has worked as an occupational therapist for 12 years and worked for Texas Children's Hospital at the outpatient clinic and Down Syndrome Clinic for the past 3 years. Joined Rise in 2017.

Jana Post
Language/Assessment Specialist
Lamar University, MS Early Language Studies and Deaf Education and M.Ed. School Counseling; Baylor University, BS Early Childhood Development and Interdisciplinary Studies. Previous experience as teacher, educational coordinator, and language therapist. Joined Rise in 2010.

Michelle Robinson
Speech and Language Therapist
Texas Children's Hospital
Received her MA and BS from The University of Houston in Communication Disorders. Many years of experience working with preschool children in the areas of speech, language and feeding. Joined TCH and Rise in 2016.