Teachers & Staff

Hello! My name is Ms. Nicole and I am the Area Director for our Garden Oaks, Summerwood and Lakeshore locations. I am originally from Houston, Texas and became apart of the Primrose Family since 2012. I have a BFA from Texas Tech University in Art Education, Early Childhood and a total of 12 years of childcare experience. On the weekends, I enjoy playing outside with my three children. My favorite food is sushi and my favorite children’s book is “Mouse Paint” and “The Giving Tree”. The Primrose Pal I most relate to is Erwin the Dog because I too love art and making new friends! I am most excited to watch your children discover new wonders in the classroom.

My name is Jennifer Thames Gates and my friends call me Jeni. I have been working in The field of Early Childhood Education for about 38 years. I have taught Pre- Kindergarten 3 and 4 and Kindergarten. For 22 years, I was the Director of Memorial Crème de la Crème. I am excited to be part of the Primrose family!
I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and am a Certified Director. I also work with The American Red Cross as CPR/ First Aid and CPR instructor.

When not working, I love being with my husband, my three children and my grandson, Mason. As they are all grown up, l fill my empty nest by coaching The CheerAbilities Team – The Rainboas of Stars Vipers Katy.

Meet Ms. Amanda: A Dedicated Educator and Family-Oriented Spirit

Since joining the Primrose family in 2018, Ms. Amanda has brought over 20 years of experience and passion for Early Childhood Education to her role. A devoted educator, she thrives on fostering young minds and creating an environment where children can grow, learn, and flourish.

Originally from Oklahoma, Ms. Amanda made the move to Houston, where she has built a life filled with love, family, and meaningful connections. She is the proud mother of two remarkable adult children: her daughter, a student at the University of Houston Law Center, and her son, who graduated from Oklahoma State University in May 2024 and has since joined her in Houston. Ms. Amanda’s family also includes her beloved grandson, who calls her “Nene,” and her energetic canine companion, Mojave.

Beyond her professional life, Ms. Amanda finds joy in a wide array of activities that reflect her zest for life. She is an avid traveler, with Hawaii holding a special place in her heart among the destinations she has explored. Hiking, exercising, and spending time in nature bring her peace and fulfillment, while her faith and church community remain central to her life. Whether sharing moments with friends or cherishing quality time with family, Ms. Amanda approaches every aspect of her life with warmth and gratitude.

Her deep commitment to her students and her dynamic, nurturing spirit makes Ms. Amanda a cherished member of the Primrose community.

Hello! My name is Bria Wilson, and I began my journey with the Primrose family in May 2016. Over the years, I have had the privilege of growing both personally and professionally within the Primrose community. I am honored to serve as the Assistant Director at Primrose School at Summerwood!

I am a proud mother of three wonderful children: Willie (10), Bailey (7), and Brielle (2). I am also a proud fur mom to our American Bulldog, Oreo, who keeps our home full of love and excitement.

Originally from Arlington, Texas—Go Cowboys!—I have always had a passion for learning, reading, and creativity. Growing up, my favorite subjects were English, Reading, and Art. To this day, I enjoy a good storybook with beautiful illustrations and hands-on creative projects that bring ideas to life.

Throughout my career with Primrose, I have had the opportunity to work with children in Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, Older Explorers, and our Private Kindergarten program. In June 2022, I transitioned into an administrative role, where I continued to support our school’s daily operations, families, and staff. In February 2025, I proudly stepped into my current role as Assistant Director. Each experience has strengthened my passion for early childhood education and allowed me to build meaningful relationships with children, families, and team members while supporting our school’s commitment to providing a nurturing, high-quality learning environment.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, making special memories with my children, and traveling to new places whenever I get the chance. I am grateful to be part of such an amazing school community and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact on our students, families, and staff.

Hello! My name is Telena Edwards, and I am your Director of Enrollment with more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education and preschool leadership. Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to building strong relationships with families, supporting children’s growth and development, and creating welcoming school communities where every child can thrive.

Family is at the heart of everything I do. I have a son who has blessed me with four beautiful granddaughters, and a daughter who is currently pursuing her dream of becoming an attorney while attending law school. Our family also includes a lovable Goldendoodle named Rylo, who keeps us smiling and entertained.

In my free time, I enjoy visiting my sister’s beach house in Galveston, where I can relax, recharge, and make lasting memories with family and friends. Whether it’s a day by the water or a family gathering, I cherish every opportunity to spend quality time with the people I love.

I am incredibly proud and honored to be part of the Primrose School of Summerwood family. It is a privilege to serve our families and children, and I look forward to helping create a positive, nurturing, and engaging experience for everyone who walks through our door

Hello! My name is LaDaisha Benjamin, but I am better known as Ms. B! I am from Houston, Texas, and I enjoy watching and playing basketball in my free time.

I have 11 years of experience in childcare and have been part of the Primrose family since 2018. My journey began at Primrose School at Lakeshore, and I am excited to continue growing and making a difference here at Primrose School at Summerwood.

I am truly grateful to have been trusted with the role of Curriculum Coordinator. I look forward to supporting our wonderful teachers, helping them grow professionally, and ensuring they have the tools and resources they need to provide meaningful learning experiences for our students. While I have a passion for teaching, I also love helping others succeed. I am excited to continue making a positive impact on both our teachers and the young minds we have the privilege of educating every day!

Hello, my name is Ms. Mary. I joined the Primrose family in 2009 with 31+ years of childcare experience. The reason I chose to work in childcare was because I love to teach! I love children, their parents, and working with my co-workers. I have made wonderful friends over the years. The experiences I have made have really empowered me to be who I am today. I love learning about children, how to better myself, and to do my best. I’m a hard-worker, loyal, trustworthy, caring, loving, dependable, fun-loving, and very friendly. I have been married to my sweet husband since 1974, and together we have 1 son, 2 daughters, 3 grandsons, and 1 granddaughter.

Hello, my name is Ms. Beni. I have been teaching at Primrose since 2011. Before that, I worked at Humble ISD for 7 years. I chose to work at Primrose because I love children! I learn as much from my students as they learn from me. I love and care for my students as if they were own children. I love that Primrose is one big family and I am thankful to be here!

Hello, my name is Ms. Karon. I have been at Primrose since 2015, spending most of those years in Older Infants. My background is in insurance, but my happy job is Primrose! I have two daughters, three granddaughters, and one grandson. I have always loved children. I have worked in Children’s Ministry, and I have mentored at Risk Children. My hobbies include genealogy and reading. Most weekends I try to hang out with my grandchildren. I love working at Primrose because of the curriculum that we offer and the nurturing environment that we incorporate in our daily routine.

Hello, my name is Mrs. Hampton. I joined the Primrose family in 2007. Before joining Primrose, I worked in childcare for over 15 years. I have an Associate’s degree in Fashion Merchandising. I love working with children and could not ask for a better team of ladies to work with me in the Older Infant program! My hobbies include spending time with family and going out for seafood.

Hello, my name is Ms. Diane. I had worked in childcare for 16 years before joining Primrose in 2020. i have 3 boys and 6 beautiful grandchildren that I love to spend time with. I love to go shopping and spend time with my friends and family. One of my favorite things besides sppending time with my grandbabaies is watching TV and being lazy on my days off. I am so happy that I found Primrose because it is so much more than just a job!

My name is Mrs. Deborah, and I am excited to be a part of the Primrose family, where I joined in 2026. I bring over 12 years of experience working in childcare, along with 9 years of experience working at Toyota Center with the Houston Rockets.

I have always enjoyed working with children and creating a positive, nurturing environment where they can learn and grow. Outside of work, I enjoy cooking, sewing, shopping and loving on my family.

I am truly thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the Primrose family and to work alongside such an amazing group of ladies. I look forward to creating meaningful relationships with our children and families and making a positive impact each day.

Hello, my name is Ms. Nayeli. I was born in Mexico City but raised in Cancun, Mexico. I am third born of four children. I have two sisters and one brother. I got my bachelor’s degree in Education in Mexico and my CDA here in Houston. I have a wonderful son, age 18 and I love spending time with him at the movies or going skating. My experience with my son is what got me interested in working with children. I joined the Primrose family in 2005. I am very blessed to have this opportunity to work with these beautiful children and their wonderful families.

Hello, my name is Ms. Makaela! I enjoy teaching Sunday school at my church and being a team leader for vacation bible school. I have been playing piano, clarinet, and alto saxophone for 15 years. I love to spend a great deal of time with my family and help with my special needs brother. I like watching baking shows and experimenting with cooking and baking! I particularly love creating glass mosaic artwork for gifts. My newest endeavor has been trying to learn Spanish. I have always adored working with children, and I appreciate the opportunity to work with the children here at Primrose.

Hello! My name is Haleigh Gutierrez, and I am 21 years old. My birthday is September 8, and I currently live in Huffman. I grew up throughout East and South Texas and am proud to call this area home!

I graduated from Hargrave High School and recently earned my Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) degree from Lone Star College. With approximately four years of experience working with children and teaching, I am passionate about creating a positive, nurturing environment where young learners can grow, learn, and thrive.

In my free time, I enjoy drinking coffee, watching anime, going to the gym, and spending time doing what I love most—teaching!

Hello, my name is Ms. Sandra. I was born in South Texas. I have been married to my high school sweetheart since 1992. We have four children together. I am a fur-mom of a super active German Shepard named Chase and a senior Boxer named Canelo (Spanish for cinnamon). I am also a paw-maw (dog grandma) to two adorable doggies, Max and Meli. I have been working at Primrose since 2013, and I love it! On the weekends, I enjoy spending time with my family and fur babies. I love to try new foods and drink frozen drinks. I also enjoy watching sports, my favorite team is the Houston Astros!

Hello, families! My name is Ms. Arien Robertson and I am so excited to be part of the primrose family !

I have nearly 8 years of experience working with children, including children with special needs. Working with children has always been a passion of mine, and I love helping them learn, grow, explore, and discover new things about the world around them.

My goal is to create a safe, loving, and nurturing classroom where every child feels welcomed, valued, and encouraged to be themselves. I believe that learning should be fun, engaging, and full of opportunities for children to build confidence, develop friendships, and reach new milestones.

Outside of the classroom, I enjoy spending quality time with my family and making special memories with my little boy. 💙

I look forward to partnering with your family and making this school year a wonderful experience filled with learning, laughter, and growth!

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the primrose family

Hello my name is Ms. Lilia and I am a Preschool Pathways teacher! I have almost 4 years of experience prior to joining Primrose in 2024! I am excited to get to know all my friends and watch them grow!

Hello, my name is Ms. Emily! 💕 I am so excited to be part of your child’s early learning journey!

I believe every child has unique strengths and the ability to grow through curiosity, creativity, and perseverance. My goal is to create a safe, positive, and engaging classroom where children feel confident to ask questions, explore new ideas, and reach their full potential.

I look forward to partnering with families to support each child’s academic, social, and emotional growth. Most importantly, I can’t wait to celebrate every achievement—big and small—along the way! 🌟

Hi! I am Ms. Lillie, your preschool teacher. I have been with the Primrose family since 2021, and so far it has been a joy! I enjoy teaching and making each child feel loved and cared for. I would like to be apart of each child’s milestones, and help them develop their mental skills. In my spare time, I love to read, paint, and get artistic and enhance my cooking skills. I also volunteer  at my high school’s upper bound program to help out with the students, and give back to my community!

Hi! I am Ms. Rubi, a preschool teacher and proud mom of two sweet girls, who also attend Primrose! Being both a teacher and a mom gives me a special perspective. I understand how important it is to feel that your child is safe, cared for, and encouraged every day. I have always had a passion for early childhood education, and I truly love helping young children grow, explore, and discover the world around them.

One of my favorite classroom activities is arts and crafts. It is such a joyful way to bring out their imagination and see their personalities shine. I also love watching their confidence bloom as they learn new things and build friendships

I am so excited to meet you and your little one, and I am honored to be part of this special chapter in their learning journey!

Hi everyone! My name is Ms. Oasis, and I’m so excited to be a part of your child’s learning journey! I have a bubbly personality and love bringing positive energy into the classroom every day.

I believe children learn best through hands-on experiences, meaningful relationships, and lots of encouragement. My goal is to create a safe, fun, and nurturing environment where every child feels loved, confident, and excited to learn. I enjoy watching my students grow, use their imaginations, explore new ideas, and build lasting friendships. I can’t wait for an amazing school year together!

Hello, my name is Ms. Karen. I am a mom to a 4-year-old who also attends Primrose. I have almost 3 years of childcare experience and strive to help continue shape the minds of your little ones. I cannot wait to love on them like my own!

Hi! I’m Ms. AhNya! I was born and raised right here in Houston, Texas. I’ve been part of the Primrose family for a couple of months now, and it already feels like home! 🏡🌸

One of the things I enjoy most about Primrose is the warm, welcoming smiles you see as soon as you walk through the door, along with the enthusiastic personalities of our amazing children in the classroom. Their energy makes every day special! 😊

I’m currently pursuing a degree in Transdisciplinary Studies at Texas Southern University. My long-term goal is to operate a women and children’s shelter, where I can create a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment for families in need. 💕✨

I’m so excited to continue growing with the Primrose family and making a positive impact each day!

Hello! My name is Ms. Betty, and I joined the Primrose family in 2017 with seven years of childcare experience. Caring for children has always been a passion of mine because I truly love them—they hold a very special place in my heart. ❤️

Their sweet hugs, beautiful smiles, and excitement to learn brighten my days. There is nothing more rewarding than watching their little faces light up as I teach and encourage them!

I was blessed to grow up with a loving mother, and I believe every child deserves to experience that same love and kindness. I want each of my students to know that they are special, valued, adored, and loved every single day.

I truly love all of my sweet babies and feel so grateful to be a part of their lives! 🥰🌸