Our People.

There is nothing more important in the creation of a high quality preschool than in the selection and development of high quality staff.  We are committed to maintaining a committed, caring, well-trained team of teachers and leaders, and as a non-profit organization we are led by a group of mission-oriented board members.

Quality Hiring Standards

Our experienced Director ensures that all teachers employed at Petra meet high quality standards in regards to safety, skill, and experience. Petra's hiring progress requires teachers to not only meet the standard licensing requirements and background checks, but also includes extensive reference checking and character assessment.​

Teacher Development

Growing and developing our teacher's skill and experience is a high priority to us. Our Director regularly meets with the team for ongoing training and development. Additionally, our Director trains all new staff on Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) techniques, a proven method to nurture children and encourage quality behavior. You can read more about TBRI at the on Our Program page.

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OUR STAFF

Mindy Jones - Director

​Mindy grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana, and relocated to Austin in 2005 due to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. She graduated from Texas State University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. After graduation, Mindy became a teacher for a private preschool, and was promoted to Curriculum Coordinator to support and develop teachers in curriculum implementation, behavior management, and classroom management. In 2017, Mindy left this rewarding role to pursue an even more exciting opportunity - the privilege to serve as Petra Preschool's first director where she strives daily to meet the need of a quality preschool with a gospel-informed approach for Austin families. Mindy married her husband, Jeremy, in August 2020, and they live in Pflugerville, Texas.

Jen Reichert - Administrative Coordinator

After earning her Master's degree in education and teaching for ten years, Jen switched to child welfare and has spent countless hours walking alongside families through each unique facet of the fostering and adoption process. Then, in 2017, she founded a one-of-its-kind nonprofit to walk alongside adoptive families and help them heal from the effects of trauma. In 2021, her nonprofit merged with Foster Village, a nonprofit that serves foster families nationwide, and Jen became the Director of Programs. Jen has been trained in multiple disciplines of behavior management and is a certified Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Practitioner. In addition to helping Foster Village and Petra Preschool, she serves on the Adoption Knowledge Affiliates board of directors, is a Licensed Child-Placing Agency Administrator, and volunteered for years on The Heart Gallery of Central Texas Committee. Jen got hitched to BJ Brown in April 2010, and they live in Round Rock, Texas, with their mutt, Barkley (yes, he's named after Charles). Jen has been crafty since before Pinterest was born, is addicted to strong coffee, is a die-hard football fan, and hopes to someday be a beach bum.

Holly Heldenfels - Teacher, Infant/Walker Classroom

​Holly grew up in Austin and returned to her hometown after graduating from Texas A&M University in 2009. She has enjoyed a fulfilling career in child development with work as a professional nanny, specializing in postpartum and newborn care, and in Haiti, promoting orphan prevention and family preservation. Her passion for orphan care led her to become a foster mom in 2019. Her foster children are students at Petra, and Holly was thrilled to join the school's team as a teacher to get involved with their mission. Holly has been a partner at The Austin Stone Community Church for years and serves in the KIDS and For the Nations ministries. In her spare time, Holly loves snuggling and playing with her children, thrifting with friends, trying new restaurants with her foodie dad, reading, and listening to podcasts. 

Maria Morataya - Teacher, Infant/Walker Classroom

Maria is originally from Medellin, Colombia, and moved from El Salvador to Austin with her husband and two daughters in 2019. She and her family are very close to each other, and with God as their center, they face challenges with courage, love, and patience. Caring for the babies in her class makes her happy, and the families of her children will tell you she loves them like her own. When Maria isn't teaching, she likes to read and explore the outdoors with her family. 

Crystal Cranfield - Teacher, Toddler Classroom

Crystal was born in Florence, Mississippi. She has a daughter and two sons, and she and her family currently live in Elgin, Texas. They moved from Mississippi to Tampa, Florida, in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, and it was there that she found her love for caring for children. She worked in childcare for almost ten years, and in 2014, moved to Texas. Crystal “feels blessed to serve Petra's children. I am so excited that God led me to be a part of this program at Petra Preschool!” When she's not in the classroom, Crystal enjoys caring for her animals and digging for native artifacts. You can learn more about that at www.gtsdig.com.

Jakhelon Wright - Teacher, Two/Three Classroom

Jakhelon was born and raised in Austin, Texas, with three brothers and one sister. She graduated from McCallum High School in 2015 where she cheered on the varsity squad and was also part of the Performance Art Program as a dancer. Jakhelon continued her education at Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas, and it was while attending, she realized how much she loves caring for kids. She got the opportunity to work at different schools and entertainment centers as a children’s party host, and then began working for Texas Empowerment Academy as an after school teacher and summer camp staff. In the fall of 2020, Jakhelon earned a Bachelor’s of Business Administration: Management degree and hopes to operate a preschool of her own one day. It was when she began working for Childcare Careers as a substitute teacher, she was introduced to Petra and fell in love with it. ​

Emily Young - Support Teacher

Emily was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, but fell in love with Tennessee after attending the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She graduated with a degree in Child Family Studies, got married, and moved to Austin with her new husband all within a month. Emily has worked in several positions at summer camps and been a teacher in an after school program. There has never been a doubt in her mind she wanted to work with and invest in children, specifically children in foster care. When Emily discovered Petra and how it combined working with children and her faith, it felt like a dream come true. Outside of Petra, you can find Emily being creative, cheering the Vols, paddleboarding, or being anywhere outside with friends and family. ​

Alejandra Morataya - Support Teacher 

Alejandra, Mrs. Maria's oldest daughter, started volunteering at Petra and loved it, so when the opportunity to join the team popped up, she was happy to take it. She loves babies and children, and is currently majoring in Music. Alejandra is originally from El Salvador, and has been living in the United States since 2019. Although it was difficult to move because she had just graduated from high school and left her friends and family, God helped her through the big changes and has always been there for her. Alejandra loves to read, sing, and dance.