Our Team
Shelly Sender serves as the Head of School for The Compass School of Texas. Shelly has been dedicated to the field of early childhood education for 40 years. She graduated from Southern Methodist University, where she received her degree in psychology, followed by a Master of Education degree.
Shelly lives in Dallas, and has three amazing children. She has pioneered the establishment and growth of several educational institutes by creating a thriving school community. Personal relationships and inquiry-based learning, in addition to a strong academic foundation, are truly relevant in her work with children. Shelly has served on several child advocacy boards and served as the Vice President of Learning on the board of a national organization.
She served as the Early Childhood Education Director at Temple Emanu-El Dallas between 2007-2023, where she led over 300 children and 100 staff members. Shelly guided the school using the Reggio Emilia philosophy, oversaw the third cycle of accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children, implementation of the International Baccalaureate program, and reinstated a successful kindergarten.
Shelly is proud and excited to lead The Compass School of Texas, its founding class, and an organization that strives to positively impact families for generations to come.
Alicia Haddock serves as an Education Consultant and is pivotal in curriculum design and implementation. Alicia co-founded MyEducationist in 2020. MyEducationist is a boutique consulting group that offers a variety of services based on a wealth of experience, content knowledge, and passion. Prior to her company’s founding, Alicia led the regional academic team for a large charter management organization tasked with overhauling seven elementary schools’ curriculum and assessment design, instructional practices, and professional development strategy for leaders and teachers. Her work resulted in improved New York State test performance by 36% in ELA and 29% in math. To date, MyEducationist has impacted over 90,000 students across the country by helping to open four elementary schools and turn around numerous schools and districts.
Before MyEducationist, Alicia served as the Dean of Instruction for the top performing elementary school in the KIPP NYC network. She also worked as a part-time adjunct professor of pedagogy and elementary content. Before that, she helped open three elementary schools in New York City and one middle school in Boston, where she designed the schools’ literacy and math scope and sequence based on rigorous standards and expectations, as well as the professional development program for new teachers. In 2017, Alicia was awarded KIPP New York’s Most Valuable Teacher Award for achieving the highest New York State Test Scores in third Grade ELA and Math. Prior to opening these schools, Alicia was a corps member with Teach for America (TFA) and taught elementary general and special education as a founding lead teacher of an elementary school in New York City. For these efforts, TFA recognized Alicia as a finalist for the Alumni Award of Excellence in Teaching.
Alicia graduated from the University of Rochester with a double major in History and Studio Arts. She received her Master of Education degree in general and special education from Bank Street College of Education. Alicia currently resides in Dallas, where she enjoys spending time running (for exercise and after her three kids!).
Brooke Mayer serves as the Director of Operations for The Compass School of Texas. Brooke has a mix of corporate and educational experience and has spent the last ten years in Dallas independent schools. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Sewanee: The University of the South.
Brooke previously was the Director of Marketing and an Admission Officer at The Winston School from 2021 to 2023. During her time at Winston, she spearheaded a complete overhaul of the school's website and marketing, resulting in a substantial increase in admission inquiries and improved communication. Her impactful contributions to the admission process, successful marketing endeavors, and unwavering support for the school community earned her the 2023 Polly Peterson Award for staff excellence. From 2014 to 2021, Brooke served as the Director of Auxiliary Communications at Parish Episcopal School, where she helped promote and expand auxiliary programs through the provision of exceptional customer service, marketing strategies, and operational efficiencies.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Brooke takes great pride in being a mom to her three children, who provide her with endless laughter. She is married to Stewart, the Makerspace Director at St. Mark's School of Texas. Brooke enjoys being outdoors, dining with friends, and hunting for hidden treasures at local thrift stores.
As the Director of Operations, Brooke acts as a point of contact for parents, faculty, and staff, offering support and information. She collaborates closely with the Head of School to ensure the smooth day-to-day functioning of the School, including areas such as admissions, marketing, HR, and procurement. Brooke is thrilled to be part of the school's inaugural year and looks forward to contributing to its growth and success.
Reference Remarks:
“Brooke is mission-focused, bright, resourceful and a systems builder.”
Amy Taitel serves as a PreK-4 teacher at The Compass School of Texas. Amy has over 20 years of experience in education and describes teaching as a calling. She began her career teaching 1st grade and then stayed home with her children before returning to teaching in 2013. She continued teaching 1st grade before transitioning to teach PreK where she has been for the past six years.
Amy graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Learning and Development from the University of Texas at Austin. She then graduated with a Master of Education degree with an emphasis in Literacy from the University of North Texas.
As an educator, Amy is passionate about educating the whole child. During her time as a PreK teacher, Amy has helped develop cross-curricular learning standards and more child-centered assessments. Amy’s initiative in these areas led to district-wide changes for all PreK students.
Amy enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 young adult children, and her very large extended family. She also enjoys reading, shopping, and going for walks with her two dogs.
Reference Remarks:
“Amy is a team player who treats colleagues with respect, kindness, and caring; and the children always come first. She is an advocate for her students.”
Caroline Diehl serves as a PreK-4 teacher at The Compass School of Texas. Caroline is a caring teacher who builds a strong relationship with each child and helps each student grow academically. Previously, she taught 1st grade at Washington Woods Elementary School in Westfield, Indiana. She received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and completed two minors, Diverse Learners and Art + Design. Additionally, Caroline studied the Reggio Emilia approach at Butler University.
Throughout her undergraduate education, Caroline spent time in various schools and classrooms throughout the greater Indianapolis area. One of Caroline’s student teaching placements was in a Reggio-inspired PreK-8 school. She learned first-hand the importance of giving space for a child to explore and let their curiosity run wild. From solving math word problems centered around worms to creating a fantasy “Worm Hotel,” Caroline helped facilitate the worm-centered project work that occurred in 1st grade. She is excited to foster the same curiosity and wonder about the world while working with the students at Compass.
The idea of developing future leaders with critical thinking skills brings Caroline great joy.
Caroline recently relocated to Dallas and is enjoying living in the same city where her older sister is located as family is very important to her. Caroline grew up in southern California and loves going back to visit her parents and grandparents. She wants to continue her education and plans to complete her Master's Degree in the next few years.
Reference remarks:
“She is family-oriented, prioritizes people, and brings loyalty and trustworthiness to her relationships.”
Jessica Field serves as a Kindergarten educator at The Compass School of Texas. Jessica has over 20 years of diverse classroom experience in both public and private school arenas spanning multiple grades, including Special Education and Dual-Language instruction. Jessica recently furthered her professional qualifications and became a Certified Academic Language Practitioner (CALP) to best support young students who struggle to acquire early literacy skills as well as serve students with language-based learning differences.
Jessica graduated from the University of Texas at Austin (UT) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work allowing her to focus on child welfare, early childhood development, and serving children with developmental disabilities. After graduating from UT, Jessica moved to the east coast where she served children as a Licensed Social Worker in state and non-profit child-welfare agencies in Manhattan and Queens. Upon returning to Dallas years later, Jessica received her Masters of Science in Social Work from The University of Texas at Arlington, with a concentration on early childhood development and serving children with learning differences. Jessica has served as a licensed school social worker in PreK to 4th grade, a behavior interventionist, and reading interventionist while acquiring her various teaching credentials and state certifications.
Reference Remarks:
“She is a natural with children; her heart is huge. Jessica knows what they need and provides them with it. Clearly, early childhood education is her true passion."
Mara Brachtl serves as a Kindergarten educator at The Compass School of Texas. Mara has been an associate teacher for the last two years at Greenhill School. During that time, Mara managed her classroom’s project-based learning initiatives, transforming her classroom multiple times into a life-size learning environment. Most notably, Mara altered the classroom to become an underwater world where students’ learning about the ocean, coral reefs, and wildlife came alive.
Mara is extremely passionate about creating opportunities for students to take ownership over their learning and make it visible. Prior to teaching at Greenhill School, Mara had the opportunity to work across Kindergarten through 5th grade classrooms, at an environmental magnet school in California. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Sociology from California Baptist University and received a Master in Teaching degree from Pepperdine University. Mara grew up in Thousand Oaks, California and moved to Texas in August of 2021.
Mara loves working with young students because she has a strong desire to help foster a love for school at this age that will hopefully carry on to the rest of their educational careers. Her favorite thing about teaching is the wonder and excitement that each day brings with this age group that is so naturally curious.
Reference Remarks:
“She is a skillful teacher who cares deeply about children.”
Ashley Noland serves as a 1st grade educator at The Compass School of Texas. Ashley’s experience in education spans almost two decades in public, private, and international schools. She has served as a Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st grade teacher in a wide range of school settings in Highland Park, Dallas, San Francisco, and Hong Kong. Her thirst for travel and experiencing different cultures led her to Asia, where she served as a Lead Teacher in an International Baccalaureate school. Ashley believes learning is a lifelong journey as such she has received extensive professional development and is deeply committed to continued growth. At previous schools, she was instrumental in curriculum development and served as a Team Lead and mentor to new teachers.
As an educator, Ashley strives to provide a nurturing, engaging environment where children develop a love of learning and grow in a spirit of curiosity, collaboration, and mutual respect. She deeply believes in the whole child approach and values and loves the uniqueness of each individual child. Ashley strives to help each child unlock their full potential and help them understand the importance of their place in the world.
Outside of the classroom, Ashley enjoys venturing outdoors, traveling, serving her community, and spending time with family and friends, especially her husband and son. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas and is hoping to pursue her Master’s in the near future.
Reference Remarks:
“She is an expert in pedagogy and has a very high E.Q. She is very supportive of students and exhibits outstanding classroom management skills.”
Taylor Seasor serves as a 1st grade educator at the Compass School of Texas. She previously taught 1st and 2nd grade with Frisco ISD. Taylor also does a great deal of private tutoring and enjoys the connection that is created when working one-on-one.
Taylor is delighted to share her love of learning with her 1st grade students. She takes pride in creating an environment where her students are known, challenged, and celebrated. The culture at Compass where the curriculum is individualized, rich and hands-on, matches her teaching style beautifully. Taylor works to build relationships with families and partners with them to make a fantastic 1st grade experience!
Taylor graduated from the University of Arkansas, grew up in Plano and currently resides in Dallas with her beloved dogs, Winston and Luna.
Reference Remarks:
"Taylor is extremely positive, builds relationships well, is a strong communicator who is always smiling, and loves her students."
Suzanne Woodburn, a dedicated Second Grade Teacher at The Compass School of Texas, brings nearly two decades of rich instructional and curriculum expertise to her role. Having served as an Instructional Coach, Curriculum Coordinator, and Teacher at Lucas Christian Academy, she played a key role in designing a comprehensive curriculum map for grades K-6, ensuring alignment with state standards and enhancing school-wide academic achievement outcomes. Suzanne collaborated to seamlessly bridge the elementary and secondary curriculum progression, fostering the implementation of creative instructional strategies through targeted professional development, comprehensive parent and teacher training, and effective curriculum development and implementation.
Beyond the classroom, Suzanne operates independently as an Education Consultant, offering hands-on training for schools, administrators, teachers, and parents. Her commitment is to foster every child's academic, spiritual, social, and emotional success. With a solid foundation in business and leadership, she has successfully owned and operated businesses as a sole proprietor, showcasing her entrepreneurial spirit.
Suzanne is a graduate of the Pathways to Teaching Post-Baccalaureate Program at Dallas Baptist University, holding certifications to teach PreK-6th grade with an emphasis on the Science of Teaching Reading. Her academic achievements include graduating with honors while earning a Master of Science in Applied Social Research & Evaluation, a terminal degree shared between the Education and Sociology departments at the University of Denver. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in sociology with a criminology concentration and philosophy.
In her personal life, Suzanne values family time with her husband and three children, spending time outdoors, traveling, and dedicating her free time to volunteering at Life Fellowship Church in McKinney.
Reference Remarks:
“Integrity defines her.”
Mercedes Macedo serves as the Spanish educator and the Pedagogista for all of the Compass School of Texas. Mercedes has taught children for nearly twenty-five years. Most recently, she taught preschoolers at Temple Emanu-El ECEC in Dallas for five years and guided many teachers as the Pedagogista for the last two years. Prior to teaching in Dallas, Mercedes taught in early childhood education preschools in Austin, Berkeley (CA), and Alexandria (VA). In addition, Mercedes has presented the Reggio Emilia approach to the Education department in her home country, Peru. Mercedes holds a Bachelor's degree in Education from St. Agustin University in Arequipa, Peru.
Mercedes is committed and passionate about inquiry-based, emergent curriculum, and the Reggio Emilia approach. In her words, "These approaches promote and support an education where every child is the main character on 'stage' and having an essential role in their learning." As the Compass School of Texas Pedagogista, Mercedes assists with professional development and provides ongoing support around documenting projects and the learning process. Mercedes is excited to share her love for her native language and to bring the culture of other Spanish-speaking countries alive for her students.
Mercedes enjoys collecting materials outside school to spark children's wonder and inquiry. When Mercedes is home, you will find her snuggling her little dog Mocha Marie, enjoying good music, and cooking. Mercedes is married and, with her husband Eric, loves traveling and attending concerts.
Reference Remarks:
"I have witnessed her hone her interpersonal skills, creativity, and eye for engaging programming. While teaching, Mercedes can see the whole child and build on their strengths and interests."
Khadicha Vinokur serves as the Farm to Table & Mindfulness Educator. Khadicha graduated in 2003 from National University of Uzbekistan with a Journalism degree. After graduating, Khadicha worked as a journalist and editor at a radio station while also teaching English. In 2006, she met her husband, and in 2009 moved to Dallas, Texas. She studied and engaged in Integrative Nutrition Health as well as Positive Psychology and Mindfulness. In June 2013, Khadicha became a teacher at Temple Emanu-El Dallas, where she captivated and engaged children with immersive Farm to Table experiences. Her classroom was a garden, rich in lessons that nurtured children’s love for nature and working together to see where food came from. Khadicha brings curiosity and a love for food and cooking in all of her classes. Khadicha is an avid reader of child development books and is a proud mom of a beautiful daughter who is 13 years old. She looks forward to bringing her passion in Farm to Table living with Mindfulness practices to Compass students, two fields which are proven to improve focus, overall health, and well-being of children.
Reference Remarks:
“Khadicha does a phenomenal job of teaching the emotional calming, entrepreneurial opportunities and responsibility that a maintaining a garden offers. Her students come home talking about how delicious a purple carrot is, the planting process and the importance of taking deep breaths through challenging moments!”
Libby Roberson serves as Nurse for The Compass School of Texas. Libby's academic journey has been marked by a commitment to caring for others. She first pursued her passion for understanding child and family dynamics at Baylor University, where she earned a 4-year Bachelor's degree in Child and Family Studies. Building on this foundation, she later obtained a 2-year Bachelor's degree in Nursing from the same university, solidifying her dedication to the healthcare field.
With four years of experience as a mother-baby nurse, Libby honed her care-giving abilities, providing care to newborns and their families during their most vulnerable moments. In her spare time, she spent two of these years as a night nurse for families attending to the needs of their newborn throughout the night. Additionally, Libby had the privilege of working under a plastic surgeon at a clinic for one year, gaining valuable insights into aesthetics and medical interventions.
Alongside her professional achievements, family and childhood have played a significant role in shaping Libby's character. As the oldest of six siblings, she developed strong nurturing and leadership qualities. Her experience working with kids at summer camp instilled in her the specialty of connecting authentically, creating an environment where children feel heard and valued.
Recently married in July, Libby now resides happily in Dallas with her loving husband. Outside of her professional life, Libby finds joy in various activities that keep her active and connected. In her free time she enjoys running, watching college football, attending Northway Church, and spending quality time with friends.
Reference Remarks:
“Libby is passionate about helping others, attentive to details, and willing to help with a genuine smile.”