Welcome to Tuscany Heights! I am thrilled at the opportunity to open this beautiful school! The school design is child centered and the builder (Bartlett Cocke) and architects (PBK Architecture) have allowed me to be involved with planning and sharing meetings. Currently, it is on schedule and will be ready for children in August of 2010.

I am a product of North East as is my husband of 35 years and both our adult children. North East Independent School District offers a well rounded education for its students and I am proud to be a part of the North East Family. I received my Bachelors Degree in Education from Texas State University and my Masters of Education in Administration from Trinity University. My career in education began at Wilshire Elementary as a third grade teacher, and I have been in administration for 20 years. Most recently, I opened Stone Oak Elementary and served as the principal for 13 years. I believe education is about providing a warm, caring atmosphere coupled with a rigorous curriculum. I love working with children and believe that together we can insure success for all children.

I graduated from Texas State University (still Southwest Texas in my eyes) in May of 2004 and began my teaching career at Stone Oak Elementary. I grew up in San Antonio and went to Northeast I.S.D. schools from kindergarten through high school, so I love and know this district very well.

In May 2006, I obtained my Master's degree in Educational Leadership from UTSA. For two summers, I was an assistant principal at NEISD’s Serna and Ridgeview Elementary Schools for their summer programs. It was an amazing opportunity and experience.

This past November, I got married to my wonderful wife Cathy. She is a first grade teacher and is opening the other new NEISD school, Cibolo Green Elementary, so we will both be very busy this year.

I taught for six years at Stone Oak Elementary in third and fourth grades before deciding this past school year to move on from teaching and become an assistant principal. I am so excited to be a part of opening a new school and I look forward to meeting each and every one of you! Go Tigers!

Lynnelle Boyd, Counselor

Hi ! My name is Lynnelle Boyd, one of the Tuscany Heights counselors. I am originally from Georgetown, Texas, and went to Trinity University for my BA in Education. I taught 1st grade and Kindergarten in Deer Park, Tx, and in Northside ISD , taking off a few years to stay home with my 3 children, John, Sally, and Mary Nell. I got my Masters in Counseling at UTSA in 2002, and have been a counselor in NorthEast ISD for 7 years at Stone Oak Elem.
My husband, Johnny, and I have been married 35 years this August, and all our children are grown and employed, which is a wonderful thing! We will be 1st time grandparents in November, and I’m sure my life will change in ways I can’t even imagine. Eventhough it makes me sound sooo old, I can’t wait to be a Grandmother!

When I’m not at work, I enjoy gardening, reading, hosting dinner parties, and singing in the choir at church. I enjoy painting when I have lots of free time, so I don’t do that very often.

My favorite part of my job is getting to know the children when I visit with them in small groups and when I talk with them in the classroom. I am looking forward to getting to know you all and your wonderful children this year as we embark on a new adventure at Tuscany Heights!

Kay Herr is excited to be joining our team as the administrative assistant. She has worked at Stone Oak for the past nine years. She is the mother of three children all of whom attended North East Schools. Her talents are many, including an ability to set an inviting and positive atmosphere in our front office.

Leanne Hernandez, GT Teacher

Once upon a time in a land far away (Austin, Texas) there was born a princess (at least that’s what her grandmother called her). Her mother and father were overwhelmed at her amazing ability to express herself… crying and whining first, then with lots of debating and negotiating as she grew up. Her GT teacher encouraged her to pursue a career in litigation, but that was not the princess’s plan at all. And a princess always gets what she wants.
The princess planned to be a world famous architect by day and a children’s book writer by night. This plan would surely work… daylight was necessary for drawing and designing skyscrapers and mansions, but writing could be done sitting up in bed with the book light on. For inspiration she spent many nights reading under the covers (or in the closet after the king and queen took away the book light) and designed the most amazing forts and tree houses (a.k.a. castles) you can imagine, if that is, you have an incredible imagination. Much to her delight her father, an inventive type himself, and her neighbor, a home builder, even made some of her plans a reality.

She danced and debated and drew her way through high school and graduated, as all princesses should, at the top of her class. This earned her the opportunity to attend her dream university, Texas A&M. The princess loved Aggieland. She studied Environmental Design and was well on her way to becoming that world famous architect. She squeezed in plenty of writing classes and soon discovered she also had nearly enough credits for an English degree.

And then the princess fell in love… TWICE! Her first love was and is her very own prince, Mr. Greg Hernandez. Her second love …was teaching children. She stumbled upon this love volunteering at a local elementary school, and found herself scheduling all those architecture and writing classes around her volunteer work (instead of the other way around).

The princess, who had always gotten what she wanted in life (by this time by hard work and dedication, not whining and negotiation), found that what she always THOUGHT she wanted (architect by day, writer by night) wasn’t really what she wanted anymore. Now a princess always reserves the right to change her mind… and that’s exactly what she did!

She decided what she REALLY wanted was to teach future architects and writers and maybe even negotiators. There is nothing more rewarding than building the future one child at a time. And after six years of teaching fourth grade and six years teaching GT her journey has led her here, to Tuscany Heights, the perfect place for a princess in disguise.

Today she and her husband have three little princes of their own and a royal puppy (who is really more like the court jester). She still loves reading in the middle of the night, imagining tree houses, and a good debate, which of course she always wins.

Princesses, you’ll remember always get what they want- and she has everything a princess could hope to have.

She hopes that all of her GT students at Tuscany Heights will dream big dreams and that all of their dreams will someday come true.

Hi! My name is Michelle Neibel. Originally, I am from Boiling Springs, South Carolina but moved to Texas in 2002. I graduated from Baylor University in 2005 with a B.A. in Music and then again in 2007 with a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. Sic ‘Em Bears!

My husband, David, and I moved to San Antonio in the summer of 2008 and we absolutely love it here. He works at USAA and we will be celebrating our 3rd wedding anniversary in August!

Last summer I received my Level Two Orff Schulwerk certification from Trinity University. I love teaching music and am looking forward to a great year with all the students, staff and surrounding community of Tuscany Heights Elementary!

In my spare time I enjoy playing tennis, singing, swimming, cross-stitching, playing piano, jogging, listening to music (of course!) and spending time with my wonderful husband!

I am thrilled to be at Tuscany Heights as a music teacher! I look forward to meeting the students and parents of our community. I have been teaching music for 20 years in the North East Independent School District. I am a graduate of Saint Mary's University in San Antonio. I earned my Masters Degree at Texas State University.

My wonderful family is led by my awesome wife, three incredible children, and two loyal dogs, Sport and Padme. I love CHICAGO CUBS BASEBALL and OUR VERY OWN SAN ANTONIO SPURS! I enjoy teaching the love of music to young people. On occasion I like to do some gardening at local golf courses. Golfers would not call it golfing, and gardeners would not call it gardening! I also enjoy GEOCACHING and would love to bring it to Tuscany Heights!

Kim Fields, Physical Education

“Fields’ Facts”
I am a NEISD graduate attending Windcrest Elementary, Ed White Middle School and Roosevelt High School. I graduated with honors from the University of Texas with a B.S. in Education and a specialization in Physical Education. I received my M.ED in supervision from Our Lady of the Lake University. I have taught Physical Education for 26 exciting years. I have had the opportunity to open 2 other Elementary Schools in Northeast and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to open Tuscany Heights Elementary. My goal is to create a cooperative and encouraging atmosphere in Physical Education.

My husband and I are blessed with 3 awesome children, Mitchell, Westin and Mariah. Both my boys will be in College Station this year attending college, so although I may bleed orange, my heart has a soft spot for maroon! My last hope for a Longhorn is my daughter who attends Eisenhower Middle School. On any given weekend you will find our family at the lake wakeboarding, playing sports or building our dream home.

Deborah Heard, Prekinder

Raised as an Army dependent, I attended 10 schools before I graduated from MacArthur High School right here in NEISD!  Not wanting to wander any longer, I attended Baylor University where I received a B.S. in Education and an M.S. in Speech Pathology and Audiology. 

After working for several years as a speech pathologist for Irving School District, I discovered that I loved language development and five-year-olds.  I went back to school to get an Early Childhood teaching certificate and began teaching kindergarten. I have been teaching in Northeast for the past 9 years in both kindergarten and pre-k classrooms. During that time, I also added an English as a Second Language certificate.

I have been married to my husband, Scott, for 34 years and have two grown children, Matt and Susan. Scott and I enjoy traveling, especially if it involves beautiful scenery and photography!    

I am looking forward to a new adventure at Tuscany Heights and can’t wait to get started!

Meg Langham, PPCD

I am a teacher in the Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities (PPCD) classroom, an early intervention program that serves three to five year old children identified with special needs. I am also a licensed speech-language pathologist. I have had the pleasure of teaching children for twenty seven years. In my twenty two years with the North East Independent School District, I have worked at Wilshire, Dellview, Ridgeview and Encino Park Elementary Schools and am delighted to be assigned to Tuscany Heights Elementary School!
I grew up with eight brothers and sisters in the Midwest. I attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where I earned my Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees.
I have two children-a daughter in college who graduated from NEISD and a son who is currently a sophomore in a NEISD high school.
My hobbies include spending time with my family and friends, reading and running.

Janine Jackson, First Grade

Hello!  My name is Janine Jackson and I am so excited to be teaching first grade at Tuscany Heights Elementary!  We are going to have a great year filled with learning and fun!

  I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Go Steelers!  After moving to San Antonio and graduating from Ronald Reagan High School, I attended Baylor University where I received my bachelor and master degrees in Curriculum and Instruction.  I enjoyed Baylor so much that I decided to stay in Waco where I taught for several years.  Although I enjoyed my time in Waco, there is no place like San Antonio!  I have had the opportunity to teach first grade in North East for three years and I am so excited to have the chance to start a new adventure at Tuscany Heights Elementary! 
When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my fabulous fiancé and our dogs Norman & Saddie.   I am thrilled to be teaching first grade at Tuscany Heights, and I am looking forward to a great year!

Miss Jackson’s Favorites!!
Favorite Animal: Squirrel
Favorite Color: Lime Green
Favorite Food: Pasta
Favorite Hobbies: Exercising, Reading, Spending Time with Family & Friends

Sarah Hesles, Second Grade

Hello, my name is Sarah Hesles and I am so excited to start a new venture as a… Tuscany Tiger!

I have taught the past four years in 2nd grade at Roan Forest and this year will begin my 14th year teaching ~ where has the time gone?  I graduated in 1997 from Sul Ross State University. I have previously taught kinder for eight years and one year in 1st grade - all in recognized and exemplary schools in Eagle Pass, Texas.  I have an ESL endorsement and am fluent in Spanish.
I have been blessed with a wonderful family!  I am married to my husband Mario, a Keller-Williams realtor. My son will begin his junior year at UT Austin. My oldest daughter will be a junior at Johnson HS & my youngest daughter will be a freshman at Johnson HS!  I am so very proud of my smart, caring and beautiful children! 
Most of my time is dedicated to supporting my babies at school and my kids at home.  You will most likely see me at volleyball games, art competitions, carpooling, at the nail salon or my favorite hobby - SHOPPING!

Lisa Luna, Third Grade

Courtney Herrera, Third Grade

My name is Courtney Herrera and this is my fifth year teaching in North East Independent School District.  I am so excited for the opportunity to teach at Tuscany Heights and to meet some amazing new students!

I was born in Texas and have lived here all of my life.  I graduated from Texas Tech University, with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Human Development and Family Studies.  I was honored to be selected as the 2011 Teacher of the Year at Windcrest Elementary.

I have a wonderful husband named Michael who is also a teacher. Whenever I am not at school, I enjoy reading, cooking, traveling, going to the movies, and, of course, spending time with my family.  I also love to exercise.  Playing volleyball, hiking, and running are a few of my favorites.  I am proud to say that I finished my first marathon last year and can’t wait to run another!
I love teaching and am looking forward to a great school year and all of the new experiences that it will bring!

Kari Johle, Fifth Grade

GO TIGERS!!!!!

I cannot describe the excitement I feel over becoming an original Tuscany Tiger!!

What an adventure we are going to have this year at Tuscany Heights Elementary School!  With so many new changes and a beautiful campus it cannot be described as anything less than AMAZING!  What I also find amazing is that this 2010-2011 school year will begin my 7th year teaching.  Time flies when you are having fun!!

I feel like I am finally back at home at Tuscany Heights.  I grew up right up the highway in Bulverde and am a high school graduate of Smithson Valley. I received my degree from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies for EC-4th grade.  I also have a Master's of Education in Teacher Leadership/ Curriculum & Instruction from Lamar University.

The first two years of my teaching career, I taught 4th grade at Canyon Intermediate in Comal ISD.  Marriage and a move from New Braunfels to San Antonio led me to further my own learning and receive certification for 4th-8th grades, as well as ESL certification and GT training.   Soon after, I was hired by North East ISD as a 6th grade English teacher at Tejeda Middle School. 

Tuscany Heights will be the second campus I have helped open in North East ISD.  After my first year at Tejeda, the opportunity to open Lopez Middle School presented itself.  I jumped at the chance to be part of something as magnificent as the building of a new campus community, and for the past three years, I have taught 7th grade English. 
Now it is time once again for new beginnings.  My husband and I moved into a new home this past December, and welcomed our first child- a baby boy we named Bryce Patrick Johle- on April 15th, 2010. 

Now the opportunity to be a part of the opening of a new school has come again, and I am even MORE excited.  My experience at Lopez was wonderful, but my heart has always been in elementary school.  I cannot wait to teach 5th grade, and begin to make a difference in the lives of the students at Tuscany Heights Elementary by putting all the creative minds to work! 

Yours in service,

Kari Johle
5th Grade Teacher
Tuscany Heights Elementary

Kimberly Kropp, Special Education

I am so happy and excited to be a part of the Tuscany Heights team! This is my eleventh year as a teacher in NEISD. I have taught Kindergarten, 2nd grade, 4th grade, and special education. I have also been a reading and intervention teacher.

I was born and raised in San Antonio. I graduated from Incarnate Word High School and earned my undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin. Hook ‘em Horns!! I received a Master’s degree in Education from Our Lady of the Lake University.

I am really looking forward to the upcoming school year!
Go Tigers!!

Sonja Morris

Hello!  My name is Sonja Morris.  I am ecstatic to be a Tuscany Tiger!  I was born and raised in San Antonio.  I went to all NEISD schools, Woodstone (where Ms. Chidgey was actually my assistant principal!!), Wood, and graduating from Madison!  Go Mavs!  I attended the University of Texas at San Antonio where I received my bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a teaching certification for EC-4th grade.  This is going to be my 4th year of teaching, and was chosen as this year’s Teacher of the Year for my former campus!  That was quite an accomplishment after only having taught 3 years!  I have taught Kindergarten, 3rd, and 4th grade. 
                I have a wonderful husband, a beautiful  1 year old son, and a great stepdaughter who will be attending Tuscany Heights this year.  In my spare time, I can be found chasing around my toddler, curled up with a good book, shopping, and playing BINGO with my grandmother.  I absolutely love a good cup of coffee!  You will catch me with one everyday.  After starting out teaching, I decorated my classroom in frogs, so I am now a collector of all kinds of frog items. 
                I look forward to this school year and meeting all of the new students!  It will be an awesome journey!!!