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 Lee, Preschool Director

​Mindy Lee grew up in New Orleans, LA 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 started working for a private preschool in north Austin as a Preschool teacher, ultimately ascending to the role as Curriculum Coordinator, where she  supported and developed teachers with 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.

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 over the years walking alongside families through each unique facet of the fostering and adoption process. In 2017, she founded Stand Up Eight, a one-of-its-kind nonprofit that serves families in their homes after adoption. Jen has been trained in multiple disciplines of behavior management and is a certified Trust-Based Relational Intervention Practitioner. In addition to bossing everyone at Stand Up Eight and helping out at 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, Infant Classroom - Lead Teacher

​Holly grew up in Austin and returned to her hometown after graduating from Texas A&M University in 2009. She has enjoyed a fulfilling 10 year career in childcare and development as a professional nanny specializing in postpartum and newborn care. She also spent time living and working in Haiti in 2015 working in the area of orphan care, and is passionate about orphan prevention and family preservation, leading to her becoming a foster mom in spring 2019. Her first foster son is a student at Petra and she was thrilled to join the school's team as a teacher and get involved with their mission. Holly has been a partner at The Austin Stone Community Church for 9 years and serves in the KIDS and For the Nations ministries. In her spare time, Holly loves snuggling and playing with her son, thrifting with friends, trying new restaurants with her foodie dad, reading, and listening to podcasts. 

​​​Eneida Portillo, Walkers Classroom - Lead Teacher

​Eneida is a graduate from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. She has worked with children since 2011 and with experience babysitting and also working child care in church.  She was employed as a campus missionary for a year, and dedicated herself to sharing the gospel with college students for the 4 year period she was a college student and a campus missionary. She has taken trips to Africa, Canada, and Mexico, and has held Vacation Bible School in each place! She was recently married to her high school best friend, Chris and they both followed the Lord's calling to come live in Austin. She is very excited about working at Petra because she knows this is where the Lord has called her to work and serve!

Maria Morataya, Walkers Classroom - Assistant Teacher

Maria is originally from Medellin, Colombia and has lived in Austin with her husband and two girls for the past year. She and her family are very close and with God as their center they face challenges with courage, love, and patience. Maria loves to read and explore the outdoors with her family. 

Marissa Gault, Toddler Classroom - Interim Teacher

​​Marissa helps across multiple classrooms at Petra, and is originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada but lived in Durham, North Carolina and Tampa, Florida before moving to Austin. She started working with children in 2015 when she was a camp counselor and found her love for caring for children there. Marissa has also served with the production team at the Austin Stone for the past year and has also found that she has a heart for the nations and wants to see people of all nations know Jesus. She is so happy that God has called her to work at Petra and feels blessed that she gets to serve the children and fellow teachers here. ​ ​

Victoria Williams, 2 Year Old Classroom - Lead Teacher

​Victoria is a graduate from Ouachita Baptist University, majoring in Mass Communications with an Art minor. She grew up in Houston, Texas! In college, she served as an RA, the tiger mascot, and ended up moving to Chicago for a semester where she interned with a nonprofit called Team World Vision that raised money to provide kids in Africa with clean water. This past year, Victoria completed a yearlong discipleship program at Sky Ranch, a Christian camp in East Texas, where she helped lead weekend retreats and taught outdoor education classes. Victoria has a big place in her heart for nonprofit work, travel and creativity. She enjoys exploring the new city of Austin with her roommates, spending time with kitties at the humane society, and thrift store shopping.