Staff
Executive Director/Administrator
Sarah
Johnson earned a Masters Degree in Special Education from the University of Texas at Austin. She serves as The Executive Director of The Emerson Foundation, as well as the Administrator of record for Emerson Academy. Sarah has a wealth of experience with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), conducting assessments, developing curriculum, as well as individualized, small group and large group instruction. Sarah also utilizes her skills when serving as liaison to teachers, school districts, therapists and comprehensive program providers. Sarah has 13 years of experience working closely with children with special needs, those with Autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children.
Learning Credentials:
- Masters Degree in Education, Emphasis in Multicultural Special Education
The University of Texas at Austin - Bachelor's Degree in Applied Learning & Development
The University of Texas
Business Director
Stacey
Bell earned a Master's Degree in Special Education from the University of Texas at Austin. She brings a wide range of experiences to Emerson Academy, having worked with adults with disabilities in private residential settings and a University setting, typically developing teens and teens with special needs as an educator in public schools, and children with disabilities in the Dallas and Austin Parks and Recreation Departments. Stacey combines compassion, experience and fiscal sense as she helps build Emerson Academy into a one of a kind inclusive child development center. Stacey has over 20 years of experience providing services to people with disabilities.
Learning Credentials:
- Masters Degree in Education, emphasis in Special Education The University of Texas at Austin
- Bachelors Degree in Recreation Administration, emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation, Southwest Texas State University
Head of School
JoAnne Egitto has over 20 years of experience in child care. She moved to the Austin area from Pennsylvania in 2009, where she worked her way from assistant teacher to center director of a large national childcare chain. The chance to work at a school like Emerson is exciting for her to use her background in early childhood and business to enhance the work our staff is doing on a daily basis. JoAnne's number one priority is providing the absolute best program she can. She has a BA from IUP(Indiana University of Pennsylvania) and is a very proud "Nan" to her granddaughter.
Duckling Classroom Infants
Jennifer Green is the lead teacher in our Infant Classroom. A native of in Austin, Texas, she graduated from University of Texas with a degree in Kinesiology in May 2010. She's been employed with Emerson Academy since February 2008. Jennifer, her husband Brent and their bouncing baby boy live in Georgetown. She loves interacting with all age groups, but finds herself most at home in the infant room. Jennifer is an amazing mom and teacher!
Erin Lee was born in Taiwan. She moved to the US at 7 years old and her family settled in Sugar Land, Texas. She is happily married to her husband James and together, they are raising Maximus, their 6 year old dog. Erin has lived in Round Rock for three years. She began working as a nanny for a family with two children and it was those experiences that lead her to early childhood education. Erin proudly holds a CDA in early childhood education and is a wonderful asset to Emerson Academy.
Starfish Classroom - 1-2 Year Olds
Sarah Gaskins joined our staff at Emerson Academy after her experience with us providing superior care for her son, Jacob, who has special needs. No one knows better than she how important an inclusive environment can be in the success of a child's life. Sarah has embraced the young toddlers and has become one of Emerson's most dedicated and well loved teachers.
Ariel Diaz joined Emerson Academy as a part-time teaching assistant in the Spring of 2011 and had the opportunity to work in each of the classrooms, gaining valuable experience in early childhood education. Miss Ariel is currently working as a full-time teaching assistant in our young toddler classroom where her warm and compassionate manner adds so much value to the class. She is currently furthering her studies in early childhood education by taking a CDA course. In her free time she enjoys studying Korean, reading and cooking Spanish food.
Butterfly Classroom - 2-3 Year Olds
Beverly Franken is the lead teacher in the 2-3 year old classroom. Bev has 9 years of experience in child care along with an Associate of Arts degree and continuing education in Early Education. She is patient and kind when teaching and always gives unconditional love to her students. Along with high expectations and a very deliberate sense of right and wrong, Beverly has made long lasting impressions on all of the children who have had the opportunity to learn from her. Bev is one of Emerson's most beloved teachers
Lauren Renaud - co-teacher in the Butterfly Class, is a recent graduate from Texas State University with a BS in Early Childhood Education. Miss Lauren was born and raised in Round Rock and is very excited to be working in the only inclusive child development center in Williamson County. She eventually plans to pursue her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy. In addition to working with children, Miss Lauren likes hiking in the Texas Hill country, traveling and singing.
Guppy Classroom - 3-4 Year Olds
Katie Wilson Katie recently graduated from the University of Illinois with a BS in Speech and Hearing Science, concentrating in Speech and Language Pathology. Since graduating in May of 2011, she has gotten married and moved from Central Illinois to Austin. Katie was drawn to Emerson Academy due to her love of children and her hopes of working with children with special needs. She has many years of experience working with children in and outside of the classroom. For the past five summers, she has been employed as a nanny for two girls. Additionally, she has had the experience of being a children's leader within her church. Katie plans on pursuing her masters in Communication Disorders in the near future.
Annie Violette graduated from Texas A&M University with a BA in Education. She worked in a variety of child care settings before joining Emerson Academy in our Guppy Classroom. Annie has an innate teaching ability and transforms classroom learning into adventures. Her natural talent and desire for all of her students to learn has earned Annie the love and respect of her students. Annie is active in local theater and performing arts.
Turtle Classroom - 4-5 Year Olds
Sara Camporeale came to Emerson as our Kindergarten teacher. A graduate of Concordia College in New York, she holds her B.S. in Elementary Education. Ms. Camporeale taught kindergarten and second grade in both New York and Texas and came to us with glowing credentials of her innate teaching ability. With her Texas teacher's certification for Pre-kindergarten –Grade 5, Ms. Camporeale is a wonderful addition to our teaching staff and hopes to pursue her Master's degree in Special Education.
Rizwan Iman Rizwan, "Mr. Riz", is a graduate of Sacramento State University with a degree in Liberal Arts. He pursued his Multiple Subject Elementary Education Credential at San Francisco State University and became a certified teacher in California. Mr. Riz has taught in the Elk Grove Unified School District for the past decade. Riz uses his artistic nature and theater background to enhance the learning opportunities in the classroom. His move from the Golden State to the Lone Star State was to enable him to pursue a double Masters degree in Administration and Special Education.
Frog Classrom - Low Ratio Pre-School Class
Terrie McCaleb joined Emerson Academy in the spring of 2009. Terrie previously worked in Round Rock ISD for over 10 years as a Life Skills (K-5) assistant teacher where she received outstanding evaluations and commendations. She also taught in the Structured Teach Method (Autism K-5) and became an in-home trainer for students with Autism. Her pleasant personality, high energy, and vast experience is an absolute asset to Emerson Academy. Terrie is one of Emerson's most beloved teachers.
Tanya Christmas recently moved to central Texas from sunny Orlando, Florida. She attended the University of Central Florida and obtained a Bachelors of Science degree in the field of Communicative Sciences & Disorders. She plans on furthering her studies in the same field in hopes of becoming a speech language pathologist. She is truly excited to be a part of the Emerson team, almost as much as we are to have her experience, wonderful personality and dedicated attitude.
Support Staff
Linda Rivera
Mary Dueland
Anna Rosenbusch
Tanja Walling
Grace Cooke
Lyn Hobbs
Duke
Employment
Positions Available
Teaching Assistants
We are currently accepting applications for teaching assistants. If you are a high-energy, child-oriented person, please send us your resume; we will contact you to discuss available positions. Applicants should have experience with children and at least a high school diploma. Experience and/or knowledge of disabilities and some college is preferred.
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities:
As an inclusive child development center committed to children of all ability levels and capabilities, we welcome volunteers in a variety of capacities - classroom, office, library, and teacher support. Volunteers are often university students working on degrees in speech, language, education, and related fields. If you're interested in gaining experience working in a school setting, please contact us! Send your resume to sbell@emerson-academy.com
To Apply:
- Please print and complete the employment application (below), and
- Send the application with your resume to:
Stacey Bell, Business Director
by mail:
Emerson Academy
1 Valley View Drive
Round Rock, Texas 78664
by fax:
(512) 252-0401
by email:
sbell@emerson-academy.com
Employment Application 
What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson