Hello, my name is Jamie Keel and I am pleased to introduce myself as the Executive Director for the Primrose School of Atascocita, Primrose School at Crossroads Park, Primrose School of Copperfield, Primrose School of Greatwood, Primrose School of Sugar Land and Primrose School at Balmoral. I started my career in early childhood in 2009 and have worked with Primrose Schools since 2010. I graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, however continued my education at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. It was at the University of St. Thomas where I completed my education coursework and obtained an early childhood through 6th grade teacher certification. I have experience as a Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Lead Teacher as well as Leadership experience as both Assistant Director and School Director. My husband Adam and I have three amazing children who all attended Primrose. Primrose is more than a school for us; it is a part of our family! I am proud to say I get to work at the very best preschool for infant through kindergarten and after school care for the Northwest Houston, Northeast Houston, Jersey Village, Cypress, Sugar Land, and surrounding areas.

Hi, I am Kelly Finnegan, and I am excited to introduce myself as part of the Primrose School Leadership Team and serve as the Regional Director for the Primrose School of Greatwood and Primrose School of Sugar Land. I started working in early childhood education in 2014 in Austin, where I began my search for the perfect preschool for my daughter. In May of 2023, I left my preschool of 9 years to move our family to the Houston area where we have fallen in love with the spirit of community.

My journey in Early Childhood Education has been shaped by countless little hands & hearts! I have worn many hats: teacher, mentor, and now, leader. As a Regional Director, I hope to bring a blend of passion and creativity to our schools. My mission is to create nurturing environments where children thrive, teachers flourish, and families feel like they truly have a partner in their child’s early childhood education.

Outside of the school, you’ll find me, my husband, and our 5 daughters on the road! We are always looking for our next adventure, weekend road trip, or festival! We enjoy stumbling on live music, finding a hidden gem restaurant, and getting together with our friends.

I look forward to providing support for the Teachers and Leadership Teams at our amazing schools!

Hi! My name is Jessica Nelson and I am excited to be the Admissions Director at The Primrose School of Greatwood and The Primrose School of Sugar Land. My passion for working with children and families began in college where I was drawn to study child development, parenting and adoption. After earning my Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Auburn University, I wanted to learn more! I continued my education at Purdue University where I earned a Masters of Science in Child Development and Family Studies. I worked as a Family & Consumer Sciences Agent for UGA Cooperative Extension in Georgia and later a private adoption counselor in the Houston area. After taking some time to be a full-time mom, I found my way back to working, eager to benefit young children and their families. I began working at a local part-time parish preschool in 2011, first on staff then as the Director for 7 years. I learned the value of partnering with preschool families in the early childhood years.

On a personal note, my husband, Keith and I have been married since 2003 and we made Greatwood our home starting in 2004. We began our family in 2006 with our daughter Abby and welcomed our son Zach in 2009. When I’m not working, I enjoy time with my family puzzling, building Legos, playing games, and watching movies.

Mrs. Yvonne Southard joined Primrose School of Sugar Land in July of 2016 with nearly 31 years of experience in the field of Early Education. Since 2006 she has worked in a Directors position ensuring the safety and well being of all children.

Mrs. Southard is happily married with six wonderful children and now TEN grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with her family and traveling as much as she can.

Mrs. Southard’s passion for children and early education is extremely strong and is a part of who she is. She is dedicated to making a difference in children’s lives not only to help them now but also to provide a better future for all.

Primrose School of Sugar Land faculty since July 2016!

Mrs. Van Tran joined us in February 2022 as our assistant director. She worked at another Primrose location for almost 3 years as a teacher. She has taught in the Young Toddler, Early Preschool and Preschool Pathways classrooms. Van went to TSU studying pharmacy and was a Certified Pharmacy technichain for 13 years and for a period of that time was the lead technician and was in charge of a group of fifteen other pharmacy techs. After leaving pharmacy, Van went to HCC and attained her Associates in Teaching with a focus in early childhood. Van obtained her Directors Certificate in January 2022 to be a licensed child care director.

Van was born and raised in Houston, TX. She is married and they have a son, Kaikoa and a furbaby dog, Hamachi. They enjoy exploring the city, going on food tours and traveling the world! She feels food is a language that can be understood without words and can bring worlds together!

One of her fondest memories of being in a classroom was working with a toddler who was just learning to talk and they finally said her name! Her favorite Primrose character is Billy the duck because he helps children learn that education can be fun through singing and music!

Primrose School of Sugar Land faculty since February 2022!

Ms. Heather Larson joined the Primrose School of Sugar Land in 2016 with over 16 years of previous child care experience. She has a Child Development Associate specifically in Preschool.

Ms. Larson was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina where her mom and sister still reside. She made the big move to Houston, Texas with her father and has been enjoying her time here ever since. She is very creative and artistic and enjoys drawing during her time away from the school.

Ms. Larson has found a connection with Libby the lamb, our Primrose Happy Hearts character since she promotes being a fair person will lead to positive interpersonal relationships. Her favorite children’s book is Rumble in the Jungle and she loves sharing this book with the children along with her excitement and passion for teaching. She feels that early education is a great place to get children excited about learning and going to school. One of her favorite memories was a detailed 20-minute story from a 2-year-old telling her how he was a raptor that would protect her from pirates; the little ones imagination was fascinating!

Primrose School of Sugar Land faculty since November 2016!

Ms. Kayla comes to Primrose School of Sugar Land with over 6 years experience in child care. Ms. Kayla’s favorite thing about working with children is the feeling she gets when they greet her in the mornings. She says their energy brings out her inner child and it brings her a sense of joy being able to work with them!

She enjoys stepping into the classroom during Og’s story time to read them “Chicka Chika Boom Boom” by  Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault. Her favorite holiday to celebrate is Halloween! She loves all things that are spooky. Another significant holiday that Ms. Kayla celebrates is Charro Day which is a special four-day celebration of Brownsville, Texas & Tamaulipas, Mexico’s friendship & shared cultural heritage.

Primrose School of Sugar Land faculty since June 2025!

Ms. Sheila Green joined Primrose School of Sugar Land in January of 2024 bringing with her forty years of experience! That experience included having her own in-home childcare.

You will always find Ms. Sheila either rocking a baby or singing and dancing.  She loves to see their faces light up and smile when they watch her dance; and when the babies clap when she sings!

Ms. Sheila comes from a family of eleven children, had three children and now has thirteen grandchildren!  When she isn’t working she loves spending time with her grandchildren.

Primrose School of Sugar Land faulty since January 2024

Mrs. Michele Doucet joined the Primrose School of Sugar Land with 30 years of child care experience and a CDA (Child Development Associate) certification. Mrs. Michelle has worked every classroom and in the kitchen! She loves being the cook because this way she gets to see all of the children and be a part of all of their lives.

Mrs. Doucet is originally from New Orleans, LA and lives here in Houston with her husband and their 2 dogs. When she is not working with kids, she loves traveling and enjoying some fresh seafood which she misses from her hometown!

Mrs. Doucet’s favorite children’s book has been the same since she was a child, “The Tale of Henrietta the Hippo”. She loves working Primrose mainly because she gets the opportunity to work with other professionals that have the same passion for children as she does. She loves being a part of the experience of growth in education and is very excited about the Primrose curriculum. One of her favorite memories as a teacher was earlier in her career when she finally saw a non-verbal child begin to pronounce words that she had taught them, what an amazing feeling!

Primrose School of Sugar Land faculty since July 2016!

Mrs. Litsa Evangelopolous joined Primrose School of Sugar Land in March of 2002! Mrs. Litsa is originally from Katerina, Greece. She has two sons, Michael and George who have now finished school and started their own careers. She and her husband are now empty nesters.

Mrs. Litsa loves shopping and swimming. She loves cooking food from her home country like pastitisio and moussaka, and baklava is one of her favorite treats.Each summer she tries to make it home to Greece to visit family and swim in the Aegean Sea.

Mrs. Litsas favorite Primrose Happy Hearts Character is Libby the lamb who represents fairness. You will always find Mrs. Litsa singing in the classroom! She loves and adores the babies and takes great pride in providing a clean and safe classroom for the children.We are so lucky to have had Mrs. Litsa take care of our babies for all these years and look forward to the many years ahead.

Primrose School of Sugar Land since March of 2002!

Ellen Sanders joined Primrose School of Sugar Land in February of 2024 bringing over twenty seven years of childcare experience. Originally from Michigan, Ellen moved down here with her husband.  They have five kids and nine grandchildren!

When you peek into the classroom you will find Ms. Ellen dancing with the kids and playing instruments.  Or they will be cuddled in her lap reading a book.  On the playground she is running right along with them! Ms. Ellen has been in childcare for so long because she loves seeing children grow into their own personality.

Primrose School of Sugar Land faculty since February 2024

Ms. Bernadette (also known as Ms. Bernie) brings over 20 years of childcare and teaching experience, along with a high school diploma and two years of college. Her passion lies in nurturing early development, and she especially cherishes witnessing important milestones like rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and pulling up for the first time.

She enjoys celebrating Independence Day, loving the warm summer atmosphere, and also honors St. Patrick’s Day in her home. Family is important to Bernadette, and she treasures gathering together to celebrate birthdays.

At home, she speaks English and has a dog named Nova. In her personal time, Bernadette enjoys relaxing with crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, and reading mystery novels.

Ms. Amaya brings over 9 years of childcare and teaching experience, supported by her high school diploma and a genuine passion for helping children learn and grow. She finds the most joy in watching children develop new skills and reach milestones. Her favorite children’s book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, reflects her belief in encouraging young learners to dream big.

At Primrose, Amaya shares a special connection with Peanut the Pony—especially since they share the same birthday! One of her most meaningful memories comes from her six years as a nanny, building a strong bond with a child named Bella. Outside of work, she enjoys shopping and spending time with friends.

Ms. Gloria Ybarra joined the Primrose School of Sugar Land in 2002 and works as the Lead Teacher in our Young Toddler class. She has over 30 years of experience working with children!

Ms. Ybarra, originally from Richmond, TX, has one daughter and two grandchildren. She loves both Mexican food and seafood and cheers on the Texans football team. She enjoys going to the movies and shopping during her free time.

Ms. Ybarra’s favorite book is “Brown Bear” and her favorite Primrose Happy Hearts character is Libby who signifies fairness and is calm and thoughtful. Ms. Ybarra shares many of the same characteristics as Libby!

Primrose School of Sugar Land faculty since August 2002!

Ms. Grace brings over 9 months of childcare experience and a strong passion for supporting children’s developmental growth. She is dedicated to creating a nurturing environment where children can learn and thrive.

Her favorite children’s book, Green Eggs and Ham, reflects her fun and engaging approach to learning. She especially enjoys celebrating Thanksgiving, a time made even more special by her family tradition of enjoying cinnamon rolls for breakfast together.

Ms. Grace speaks English at home and, in her personal time, loves to read, bake, and craft—creative hobbies that often inspire her work with children.

Mrs. Sara Haroon joined Primrose School of Sugar Land in March of 2022. Mrs. Sara is originally from Pakistan where she got her degree in Psychology.  Mrs. Sara also earned a Child Development Associates.  She is a mother of five beautiful children, and her youngest is here at Primrose!

Mrs. Sara loves working with children.  She enjoys reading to them, singing with them and especially enjoy doing art activities.  One of her favorite memories is when a three-year-old who had not begun speaking, started saying words!

Primrose School of Sugar Land faculty since March 2022!

Ms. Kay Kiser, our Early Preschool I Lead Teacher and resident “Potty Training Queen”, joined the Primrose School of Sugar Land in July of 1999, shortly after we opened!

She has been working with children for over 25 years and loves them because they remind her to enjoy the little things in life. Ms. Kiser believes that Primrose provides a great atmosphere and a good education for young children. This helps them to develop to their fullest potential. Her favorite children’s book to share with her class is, The Napping House. You might find Ms. Kay dancing with the children to the audio version of Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes.

Her favorite Happy Heart Character is Percy the proud rooster who represents courage. She uses Percy to explain how children should have confidence in themselves. In her spare time, Ms. Kiser loves to relax and spend time with her two daughters and grandchildren!

Primrose School of Sugar Land faculty since August 1999!

Mrs. Shazia Rizwan joined Primrose School of Sugar Land in April of 2021. Originally from Karachi, Pakistan, she moved here a few years ago with her family.  Mrs. Shazia has Montessori training and many years of experience teaching in a preschool overseas.

One of her favorite memories is when a shy child began to open up and engage with classmates and activities.  Witnessing their growth in confidence and social interactions is truly heart warming to her.  She believes nurturing their early curiosity, witnessing their developmental milestones, and building meaningful connections  positively impacts their young minds.

You will know if your child has been in Mrs. Shazia’s class when they come home and call you, “darling”, because Mrs. Shazia is always using that term of endearment.

Primrose School of Sugar Land faculty since April 2021!

Ms. Kenetra Sanders joined Primrose School of Sugar Land with 5 years of child care experience! Ms. Kenetra’s favorite part of working with children is getting to know them and learning their different personalities. She loves teaching her students through their individual interests and watching them light up as they learn!

Outside of work, Ms. Kenetra enjoys listening to music and playing with her little boy. While Christmas is her favorite holiday, it’s Family Reunions that she looks forward to the most! Ms. Kenetra always has a smile on her face and is ready to welcome the next new student to her classroom!

Mrs. Ghufran Salman, or Mrs. G as the children call her, joined Primrose School of Sugar Land in August 2022.  She is originally from Iraq where she earned a bachelors of science in chemistry.  She later moved to the United States with her husband.

Mrs. G is a mom of two, a husband and a daughter and has over 9 years of experience. She joined Primrose School of Sugar Land because she loved the focus on education and character development.

One of her favorite memories is when she saw two children playing in the home center and one of them was pretending to be her by putting something on their head like a head scarf, like Mrs. G wears.

Returning Primrose School of Sugar Land faculty since August 2022!

Ms. Kerrie was born and raised in Houston, Texas and graduated from Thurgood Marshall High School. She graduated from Thurgood Marshall High School and has some college credits along with her CDA. Ms. Kerrie is coming to Primrose with over 10 years of experience as a Preschool Teacher.

Ms. Kerrie’s favorite thing to do with her students is read to them. She especially loves to read her favorite book to them, “Are You My Mother” by P.D. Eastman. In her spare time she enjoys curling up with a good book, listening to music and trying different foods. One of her favorite family traditions is taking a summer trip with each other and enjoying Christmas aboard a cruise ship!

Primrose School of Sugar Land faculty since June 2024!

Ms. Kaylen Mayes joined Primrose School of Sugar Land full time in December of 2023, after having worked multiple summers with us while finishing college! She just graduated with a bachelor of fine arts in dance performance.  Her favorite styles of dance are modern, contemporary and hip-hop.

Kaylen enjoys working with children because she gets to see their personalities evolve over time.  They can be so funny!

When she isn’t working or dancing she enjoys watching anime movies and spending time with family.

Returning Primrose School of Sugar Land faculty since December 2023!

Fauzia Wadiwalla has been with Primrose School of Sugar Land for over 10 years and before that worked with two other Primrose locations.  Within the Primrose system, she has taught Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten which makes her uniquely capable of ensuring that children are fully prepared for Kindergarten.

Ms. Fauzia has a bachelors in Math and Economics. She has two adult daughters, Sarah and Amber, who live here in the Sugar Land area. She enjoys cooking and watching movie with them.

Ms. Fauzia loves education because it’s an opportunity to watch children grow and develop into confident and self sufficient learners. She is constantly amazed at what a joy it is to see children grow, play and achieve their milestones. She most enjoys when a child runs up to hug her and say, “I love you”!

Primrose School of Sugar Land faculty since January 2014!

Ms. Maryam is part of our Private Pre-Kindergarten program. Ms. Maryam loves to work with the children because they teach her new things every day and they greet her with such warm hugs and smiles. She brings her creativity in the classroom to help enhance our curriculum and help the students flourish.

During Ms. Maryam’s spare time, she enjoys playing badminton, watching movies, shopping and crafting with her daughters.

Primrose School of Sugar Land faculty since January 2014!

Ms. Leslie Casique is a student at Houston Community College studying pediatric nursing and music production. Her energy and passion for working with children is evident every time she walks in a classroom. Ms. Leslie loves helping children grow through learning and having new experiences. Her playful nature helps her make natural connections with students and she loves feeling like a kid again!

Ms. Leslie has a language-rich environment at home where her family speaks Spanish, Italian and English! Her favorite holiday is also a significant cultural family celebration at Halloween (Dia de los muertos). Another family tradition Ms. Leslie enjoys is 12 grapes at midnight on New Years Eve.

In her down time, Ms. Leslie enjoys writing songs, swimming, going on night drives and painting.

Ms. Sara Villasana joined Primrose School of Sugar Land in January 2023 as our Explorers teacher. Since then she has returned to college and is now a part of our support staff and is invaluable helping in our Toddler, Preschool and Explorers classes.  She loves having the chance to get to know so many children and walking into the rooms and they all say at once, “Ms. Sara”!

When Ms. Sara isn’t hard at work studying as an education major, she loves listening to audio books and creating art.  She loves, drawing, painting, and other art medias.  Ms. Sara is extremely creative!

Primrose School of Sugar Land faculty since January 2023!