Administrators

 

 

 

 

Whatever you are be a good one -Abraham Lincoln

Our Directors

Executive Director
Ann Marie Quaid

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Growing up I was taught that family and education were of the upmost importance. No matter what your family will always be there, and that with a good strong education, all things are possible. Those two things have guided me to develop The Childhood Center. Coming from a large family it was no surprise that I would grow up and have a large family. I am married to David Caldwell, who is here at the center. Together, we have six, yes six, amazing children.

Even with the importance of a good education, I found school to be boring. I very much disliked sitting at a desk reading textbooks and work books. Due to my father’s job we moved around. In fact, I have lived in eight different states. This afforded me the opportunity to attend both private and public schools. As well as, work in several locations around the United States. At each location I attended the best schools possible. I remember my mother telling me, that when I grew up I could change the way children were taught.

With that motivation I attended Southwest Texas State University. I received my bachelors of science in Family and Child Development. I immediately went out and immersed myself in jobs that focused on children and their development. I have worked as a parent councilor, visiting child care centers and matching parents with the best child care facility for their children. I have worked as an aid and a lead. I have worked in the infant class all the way through fourth graders. Each job I took the ideas that worked and developed them further.

With our six children attending four different schools to meet each child’s needs, David and I decided it was time to develop a school that could reach each child in a way that would encourage their learning and development. With a lifetime of learning on my part and his background in business we set out on the road to develop The Childhood Center.

Contact Ann Marie directly:     713-622-5439

Director of Organizational Development
Angela Zacharias, Ph.D

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As Director of Organizational Development, Angie spends much of her time ensuring that we are serving families and children in the best manner possible. She works to help us find and train highly qualified teachers, supports curriculum and program design, develops policies and procedures, supports efficient operations, and helps find ways for us to do our jobs even better.

A Wisconsin native, she moved to Puebla, Mexico as a young adult in an effort to expand her understanding of the world. She spent almost 10 years living, working, and going to school there. While in Mexico, she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish and her Master’s in Applied Linguistics. She also spent five years working for the American School of Puebla, where she served as an instructor and then later a program director. Her primary focus was developing one of the largest United Nations programs in Latin America for middle school and high school students. She also helped implement the International Baccalaureate program at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Angie moved to Houston in 2005 and spent 10 years working for a local organization that operates charter schools and employment programs. She was responsible for all aspects of human resources and later became involved in organizational development, training, and consulting. She prides herself on her ability to listen to what others want and need and find ways to successfully deliver. She has selected and trained hundreds of teachers and other employees and is well aware of the current state of the workforce and how education can support individuals in achieving their personal and professional goals.

Angie has always been focused on education. She earned her Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology in 2008 and then also become certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources and a SHRM-Senior Certified Professional. She has shared her knowledge with others through her work, and also as an adjunct professor for Argosy University and Ashford University. She spends much of her free time teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, and has also had multiple opportunities to design courses and degree programs. One of her latest projects was the complete development of a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management, which is currently in the process of becoming accredited.

Angie believes that much of her success in school, work and life can be traced back to a strong support system and learning opportunities that encourage exploration. She isn’t much of a traditional classroom student, and instead prefers programs that are more facilitative than directive. She sees similar traits in her own children and believes that creating learning opportunities is an important part of setting the stage for a lifetime of learning. While it is important to meet the standards set by our education system, a foundation of creativity and freedom to explore is a crucial part of individual development.