Staff

Loree Birkenback is the head of school at St. James. She has a degree in Life Sciences from Louisiana Tech University and a Masters of Arts in Education and Curriculum Design.  She received her Montessori training from Dallas Montessori Academy and her lower elementary certification from the American Montessori Society.
Mrs. Loree taught at St. James for 12 years where she spent 3 years in an all school gardening and art program and 9 years as the lead teacher in the Lower Elementary classroom. In this time, she evaluated and designed curriculum for up to 5 different age levels and coordinated field trips to tie into the curriculum. She added several programs to the school including the bi-annual science fair, career week, and the elementary camp out.
She completed courses in Junior Great Books, Teaching for the Multi-Intelligence, Chicago’s Everyday Math, Hands-On-Algebra, Hands-On Science, and the Shelton Summer Series for Learning Differences. She also has served on two Accreditation teams for the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools.
Mrs. Loree lives in Rockwall with her husband and youngest child, Logan. Her son Dylan is in the Air Force stationed at Barksdale. Her youngest daughter Coral works at St. James in the Mother’s Day Out program.  Her youngest son attended St. James beginning with the toddler program and continued through the fourth grade. Her other two children live locally and visit often.
Mrs. Loree enjoys spending time camping, canoeing, and mountain biking with her family.

Ms. Lisa began her SJES journey as a substitute in 1995 – the same year her daughter Jordan started as a 3 year old.  Then in the Fall of 1996, Ms. Lisa became a full time employee serving various roles from assistant in the primary classroom to school administrator.

Jordan continued as a student at St. James through 3rd grade and now is a freshman at Sachse High School GO MUSTANGS!!!

During her free time, Ms. Lisa enjoys catching movies with Jordan

Ms. Lisa treasures all the SJES events but has a real passion for the Moving Up Day Celebration since she sees how the kids have grown from the first day of school.

2009, is Anna’s first year working at St. James and assists in the Toddlers Class and is an Office Assistant.  Anna has a Bachelors of Science in Early Childhood Development from the University of North Texas and is also a Certified Registered Dental Assistant from Baylor Dental College of Dentistry.  After graduation from North Texas in 1992, Anna married Stephen and moved to Louisville, KY for his Graduate work at the University of Louisville.  In 1997, they moved back to Dallas to be closer to family and friends.
Anna has three children Briana, Brendan and Brooke also known as the B.B. Crew.  Briana and Brendan are alumni of SJES and Brooke is working hard to follow in their footsteps.  Anna’s interests are her children and keeping up with all their extracurricular activities.  Three schools, active volunteer for PTA/PTO and church.  On her spare time Anna is also a registered dental assistant of Baylor Dental College working at Healing Hands Ministries, an organization that helps families in need of Medical and Dental care in the Lake Highland area.

Ashley Flowers has worked at St. James since the fall of 2006. After graduating in 2004, Ashley went on to complete a missionary training school, Youth With A Mission, in San Francisco CA. She has worked abroad in over 7 countires giving medical care, doing disaster relief work, teaching English classes, and working in Orphanages.  Ashley loves her huge family which includes her parents, 15 brothers and sisters, her beta fish and dog named Hans. She enjoys travel, coffee, camping, reading, Historic towns and shopping for antiques. Ashley has enjoyed her time at St. James because it has allowed her to share God’s love with her coworkers and the children.

Aubrey Hargis lives in Dallas with her husband David, her son Henry and their two cats. Aubrey received her B.S. in Elementary Education, and her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction form the University of North Texas. Experienced with both the Gifted and ESL learners, she has taught a variety of age levels and subjects for over 10 years and has loved them all. In the 2006 school year, she taught in the elementary program at St. James. She also received her Lower Elementary AMS Montessori certification from the Dallas Montessori Academy. Now, with her North American Montessori Center training in Infants and Toddlers, she finds teaching the youngest students at St. James pure joy!

Tamara Latchem lives with her husband in their fixer-upper home in uptown Dallas.  She has pursued her interest in education since 1999, when she began working in a summer camp and after school care program.  Since then, Tamara has worked as an English language tutor for refugee children and has participated in a variety of relief projects for children in Southeast Asia.  Tamara learned of the Montessori Method in 2007 and was quickly hooked for life!  She joined the St. James family in 2008 and completed her Infant and Toddler Certification from the North American Montessori Center in 2009.  Tamara loves working with toddlers, particularly teaching practical life skills and grace and courtesy lessons.  She has found a home at St. James and appreciates the way that faith and Montessori principles blend so beautifully here. 

Charlotte Hixon attended and graduated from the University of North Texas at Denton in 2005 with a BA.  During college Charlotte travelled through Europe and after graduation married and settled down in London and Amsterdam area.  Charlotte attended Full-time Montessori College for one year, completed her teaching practicum and graduated with commendation.
In 2007, Charlotte moved to Dallas and had her son Louis. 
Ms. Charlotte, trained with Shakta Kaur Khalsa for Radiant child Yoga levels 1 & 2 and also trained with Karen Prior for 200 hours of Samatua Yoga and for Mamaste Prenatal Yoga.
Ms. Charlotte, loves family, cooking and healthy eating; Yoga.

My name is Jaymie Esquivel and I am the assistant in the toddler classroom. I live in Mesquite with my puppy named Toby. I have been a part of the St. James family for the past three years, working as assistant in the toddler class and loving it. I am currently attending classes at Richland Community college and have plans to pursue my interests in Montessori education and social work.

Anne Bailey has worked in Montessori Classrooms for 15 years, beginning as a materials maker. She has a BA in English, an AMI Primary diploma and holds an English as a Second Language Certification. She has worked with toddlers through lower elementary age children. This is Anne’s seventh year in the Primary Classroom at St. James.

Anne was instrumental in implementing the Montessori based Spanish program, Touch Spanish 1 and 2 Programs with the Primary students. Anne works with the Elementary students relating the Rosetta Stone Spanish language program to the Montessori Grammar Lessons given in English.

Anne stated “St. James is, to me, the best of all combinations: a small community, faith-based, Montessori school.”

Diana Barrineau has been at St. James as a Lead Primary teacher since 1999.  She received her education degree from Texas Tech University and her Montessori Teacher Training from Brookhaven College.  She has enjoyed watching the growth of St. James during her time here.
Mrs. Barrineau enthusiastically promotes all aspects of The Montessori curriculum but especially enjoys teaching with the math and language materials.  She also loves the fact that she has some of the same students for a three year rotation and has the privilege of watching them grow and mature.
Mrs. Barrineau lives in Dallas with her husband and two children, Jillian and Chas.  Jillian will graduate from high school in 2010 and Chas will graduate in 2012.  They both began their education at St. James.
Mrs. Barrineau values time spent with her family.

Milagro Cruz is a lead Primary teacher of one of our new classrooms. Milagro has taught and had her AMS certification for three years. She also has seven years experience as a nanny, and is enjoying her first year here at St. James. Milagro’s favorite Montessori work is the chain of one thousand, because it opens doors to so many mathematical concepts. Milagro loves how challenging Montessori is, and how it lends itself to so many ages and styles of learners. Milagro is fluent in Spanish and has certifications to teach music garten. Milagro leads the Primary classes through the Touch Spanish 1 and 2 programs. Milagro is married with two daughters and a son due anytime now! Milagro enjoys spending time with her family. She loves to read, go on family outings, visit new places and explore new things. We are so happy to add Milagro to our St. James family.

Pam Scott is entering her fifth school year at St. James this fall, and her fifth year teaching in the classroom with Mrs. Bailey.

Mrs. Scott completed her Montessori Primary Teacher Certification in 2005 at the Albanesi Center here in Dallas. One of Pam’s favorite aspects of the Montessori philosophy is the fostering of each child’s independence. Her favorite lessons are the Practical Life exercises, because they do so much to nurture that independence.

Mrs. Scott is married and is the mother of three children, 2 stepchildren and “Nana” to 3 grandchildren. Pam enjoys reading and volunteering at Children’s Medical Center in her “spare” time.

Feryal finished her 3-6 Montessori training at the Dallas Montessori Academy. Feryal has her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and English Literature from Pakistan. Feryal was on the National Dean’s List in 2004-05.

Feryal is married with three children. Feryal’s daughters are in a math and science magnet school in Dallas, and her youngest son is a primary student here at St. James. Feryal and her husband are from Pakistan, and return each summer to spend time with their families.

Feryal enjoys traveling, reading, painting, gardening, cooking, and entertaining. She enjoys spending time with her husband and children most of all!

I have been at St. James since September of 2007; this is going on my second year working with Diana as her assistant. I am a student at Texas A&M Commerce, pursuing a career in Elementary Education. I attend church at Lakepointe in Rockwall Tx, my home town. I enjoy doing yoga, snow skiing, and my summer vacation to Destin, FL that I look forward to every year!  Last but not least I am grateful for my mother, father, one baby sister who is twelve years younger, my boyfriend and one dog.

This is Lauren’s 2nd year working at St. James and she is a Primary Assistant with Ms. Feryal. Lauren graduated from Ouachita Baptist University with a B.A. in 2005 and began pursuing teaching experience a few years later. Lauren is working on her Montessori certificate this year and is excited about everything she is learning.

Stephanie Galle is one of two teachers in our Elementary Classroom.  Stephanie received her Lower Elementary Montessori training from North American Montessori in 2007 and her Upper Elementary Montessori training in 2009.  Stephanie also has an accounting degree from Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colorado and a Masters of Teaching from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas.  Stephanie has been teaching in the elementary classroom at Saint James since 2006. 

Mrs. Stephanie (as she is called by the students) is a wife and mother of twin boys who completed the lower elementary at St. James.  Stephanie’s interests include reading, walking, church activities and enjoying nature.

“I have been fascinated and in awe these past years to see how the Montessori Method works in the classroom.  I have seen amazing accomplishments by the students with the freedom given in the Montessori classroom, that many times I find myself jealous I was not able to have this type of education.”

Whitney Brasher teaches in the Lower Elementary classroom. Whitney began teaching at SJES in 2008.  Whitney graduated from the University of Texas at Tyler with a degree in History and a minor in Criminal Justice. Through Dallas Montessori Academy Whitney obtained her lower elementary teacher certification granted by American Montessori Society.
Whitney leads the language curriculum in the classroom. She directs the children through the Montessori lessons as well as heading up the Junior Great Books series and the Writer’s Workshop. Whitney also plans the social studies curriculum, based off the TEKS, and makes sure it adheres to the Montessori philosophies.
Whitney and her husband Shawn enjoy spending time with friends and family, working out, reading, and playing with their dog Rottweiler, Harley.

Veronica Rodriguez

2009, is Mrs. Veronica’s first year at St. James and started out as the Gardening and Spanish teacher. She enjoys teaching the children how to work in the garden and to care for it as well, for everything on our plates stems from it! Mrs. Veronica has been directing the Elementary students through the Rosetta Stone program in the new Technology lab as well as introducing the program to the older Primary children, who are showing miraculous and eager interest in it! She is now the Assistant in the Elementary class and revels in every moment of it! Mrs. Veronica loves being amongst the Elementary children and observing how they interact with each other as well as grow internally as well as intellectually in their Prepared Montessori Environment.

Mrs. Veronica graduated with her degree in Architectural and Mechanical CAD Designing from I.T.T. in Austin, TX and completed her Montessori certification here in Dallas. She has been married for 5 years and is blessed with a 3 year old daughter, Lourdes. She has taught in a Montessori Toddler classroom and looks forward to being with the Elementary children now! In her free time she enjoys reading, spending quality time with her daughter and traveling to visit family members around Texas.

My name is Carmen Bear. I was born and raised in Mexico. After graduating high school, I married my husband of 40 years. I then, along with my new husband came to the United States. Upon arrival in the U.S., I learned to speak English and took some college courses while raising my three children. After my youngest child went to school I began working with children and have been doing so for the last twenty years.

In 1998, I came to work at St. James Episcopal School, part time in the after school care program. Then I moved on to work as a full time teacher assistant in the primary program and fell in love with the Montessori philosophy. I saw that the method of teaching worked very well with young children and have continued to incorporate that method in the Mother’s Day Out Program. After five years as a teacher’s assistant, I was offered the position of Mother’s Day Out Program Director. I have now been leading the program since the Fall of 2006.

My name is Eva Soldevilla. I am from Mexico and my great grandparents were Italians. I am married and have two lovely daughters.

I am a science high school teacher. I worked in Mexico for five years. When I married I moved from Mexico to Texas nine years ago. I am very happy to be a part of St. James this year.

My favorite hobbies are reading, going to movies and listening to music. I also enjoy playing soccer. My biggest dream is for my oldest daughter to be a singer, she has a nice voice and a lot of talent. I am enjoying the United States.

Coral Birkenback is returning for her fourth year at St. James. Miss Coral spent the last three years as Mrs. Carmen’s assistant in the Mother’s Day Out program, but this year is our official Librarian. Miss Coral is a student at Collin County Community College, but is undecided as to what she will major in. Miss Coral began volunteering at the Rockwall Library when she was a teen-ager, and was a Library Aid for Rockwall High School.

Miss Coral spent part of her summer assisting with the complete re-model of our library. She is also in charge of entering each book into a computer system, which will enable us to better track and checkout books.

Miss Coral also works with the three and under children in the after school Care program. Miss Coral stated “I love getting to work with the entire school this year! I’m getting to know all the children.”

Ashli Cheung began teaching at St. James in 2007, and works with the full day students teaching Art and Technology.  Ashli has a Bachelors of Fine Arts from UT Austin. She has a background in graphic art and advertising, and has been teaching for over 10 years. Ashli enjoys spending time with her family, the outdoors, reading, technology, and all things creative. 

We would like to introduce you to our new music instructor, Christine Edwards. Christine just moved from Georgia to Dallas this summer to work towards her masters in Christian Education/Parachurch ministry at The Dallas Theological Seminary. She currently maintains a 4.0 GPA.

Miss Christine plays and gives lessons for piano, flute and guitar. She teaches voice as well. Miss Christine has performed in various musicals, coffeehouses, cafes, festivals and fairs. In fact, she was a finalist for AMTC and StarQuest.We are proud to have her join our school family.