Toddler Community
Raccoons -
Aidee Cepeda - Toddler Program Coordinator/Head Teacher/Web Master
Ms. Aidee has been part of School in the Hills’ toddler team since the school opened in 2008. Even though her teaching career began as an Assistant in the 3-6 Primary class in a small Montessori school in Pflugerville, TX, she was always drawn to teaching toddlers. She loved their honesty, transparency, and vivacity. Ms. Aidee believes that the toddler years are not only the most important of the child’s life but the most fun. She enjoys seeing her students grow, develop, and mature. Although toddlerhood can be a challenging developmental stage, no temper tantrum or fit scares Ms. Aidee for one of her best qualities is patience coupled with love.
Ms. Aidee has ten years of experience working with young children. She graduated, Summa Cum Laude, from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Development as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Language Teaching. She received her Infant-Toddler certification from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in 2010 and her 3-6 Primary certification from the United Montessori Association in 2004.
Ms. Aidee is currently the Toddler Program coordinator as well as the Raccoons’ Spanish teacher. She is also the instructor of the “Think Español!” Spanish extracurricular program.
mailto: aidee@schoolinthehills.com
Heather Archer – Co-Teacher
Ms. Heather has a great love for children and is proud to be a part of their lives. She has been working with children aging from infant to 4 years for over 13 years. She is a firm believer that a child’s first three years of life are the most important ones, and she enjoys supporting her students by providing appropriate learning opportunities that help them fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, physical, and social growth.
Ms. Heather received a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Texas Tech University in 2002. She received her Montessori certification through the North American Montessori Center in 2010.
mailto:heather@schoolinthehills.com
Jessica Norcia - Assistant
Ms. Jessica believes education is the foundation to a solid and positive lifestyle. She enjoys creating a safe, fun, and encouraging environment for children to learn and grow. She has over four years of experience working with young children and has loved every minute of it. Her passion for inspiring and impacting the lives of the children under her care allows her to see her profession as less of a “job” and more of a journey to become a better educator. Her goal is to be a good role model for her students and to strive to influence them positively by loving and accepting them just the way they are.
Ms. Jessica is working towards finishing her degree in Early Childhood Education. She transferred to Texas State University and will resume her studies this fall.
Monkeys -
Tiffany James – Head Teacher
Ms. Tiffany’s strengths as a teacher are love for the children, patience, sense of humor, and knowledge. She enjoys working with children of all ages, but discovering Montessori ignited her passion for teaching young children. She believes Montessori education is the best method for teaching children. It fosters independence in young children that will carry throughout their whole lives and nurtures the whole being not just reading, writing, and math.
Ms. Tiffany received a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Studies from Tarleton State University in 1999. She received her Montessori Infant-Toddler training from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in Colorado in 2011. She has 15 years of experience working with children, from newborns to 6th grade. She also has experience teaching Special Education.
mailto:tiffany@schoolinthehills.com
Wendy Argueta - Assistant
Ms. Wendy is a dedicated, caring teacher, whose positive attitude and patience makes her a strong educator. For her, children are the future and it is very important for them to have a good foundation. This foundation is given through education. What children learn at an early age will stay with them forever, and it will make all of his future studies easier. Ms. Wendy enjoys knowing that she is part of making education a positive, long-lasting experience for children.
Ms. Wendy has experience working with toddlers. She is currently attending Austin Community College studying Childhood Development and other related courses. She plans on transferring to Texas State in the near future.
Haley Ahokas - Assistant 
When Ms. Haley was in her early twenties, her parents were being relocated to Sweden from North Carolina, where she was raised. As she had only briefly explored the world around her, she decided to go along. This is where teaching found her. Ms. Haley was offered a position in an international preschool with 3-6 year olds working under a Montessori teacher of 16 years. She instantly fell in love with teaching. After working in preschool for 2 years, she decided to expand her experience to the older children. She began working with 6-12 year olds in the classroom setting and in the after school program.
Ms. Haley loves being a teacher. There is a joy that working with children brings that no other profession can provide. She finally feels that she has truly found what she is meant to be doing. Ms. Haley strives to offer a loving, relaxed, and safe environment for her students. She enjoys that each day at school is never the same, which makes her job interesting and exciting. She loves facing new challenges and witnessing her students’ development and growth.
Ms. Haley recently moved to Austin for a change in climate and to pursue her teaching career. After being exposed to the Montessori Method in Sweden, it was clear that this was the only type of education she wanted to be a part of. She is very happy to be part of School in the Hills!
Ms. Haley is planning to become a certified Montessori teacher in the near future
