Felissa Taylor Nause, M. Ed.
Founder
Felissa Taylor Nause was granted a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, majoring in English and minoring in Spanish and Psychology. In May of 2003 she was awarded a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas State.
Her primary research as a graduate and undergraduate student focused on second language acquisition. Her second language learning technique is strongly influenced by Stephen Krashen; especially the notion that it is of great importance for the language instruction to evolve with the learner.
Felissa was of a state focus group writing English as a Second Language Standards for the state of Texas. She also serves as a scorer of the Spanish Texas Oral Proficiency Test. She has also taught in bilingual education as well as adult education.
She is a wife and mother of two, Levy and Trent. Both are being raised in a bilingual home. She is also a musician and enjoys travel. She has just finished her first children's CD of songs to teach & reinforce Spanish. She is active in her community and acts as a liaison with the immigrant population in her area.
"With my sons, ages 4 & 2 1/2, I want to ensure they have the tools they need to compete in a global economy. More importantly, I know their bilingualism is developing a heightened culutral awareness and sensitivity of the people around them. Spanish is my everlasting gift to them."
Tara Fisher-Muñoz
Instructor
Tara Fisher-Muñoz began studying Spanish at the age of 13. She was granted a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Oregon with majors in Spanish and Psychology, with a focus on child development.
After graduating from college she interned with several non-profit groups, including Looking Glass, New Roads school and Crecer, the Spanish division of Zero to Three.
In 1998 she received her Teaching English as a Second Language certificate in Puerto Vallarta, México and then taught English to elementary school children as well as University students at the University of Guadalajara in México. She then moved to Chile, where she taught English to executives for a year and a half before returning to the States.
She has a 19 month old daughter, Maia, and is raising her in a bilingual home:
"I feel that a bilingual education is extremely important. It's very gratifying for me to hear her understand and speak in both English and Spanish. I believe that it's important for young children to be exposed to at least one other language. We are one of the few countries that only speaks one language and by teaching our children another language and culture, we are enriching and opening their lives to wonderful experiences."
Mayra Knight
Instructor
Mayra came to the United States over 10 years ago from the Dominican Republic, a Spanish speaking island in the Carribbean where she graduated from the O&M University. Marya's passion for teaching Spanish to children started soon after arriving in the US when she attended an intensive training program with the American Culture Exchange.
Mayra has been working with children as a teacher since 1997 in Oregon, Washington, and Texas. Prior to moving to Austin, Mayra worked with an Even-Start program in Washington. Additionally, Mayra has taught Spanish to 5th grade students, and most recently to 2nd grade students at Bee Cave Elementary.
Mayra is married and has two bilingual daughters, Keilany and Jessica
"Learning a second language at an early age helps children act with a greater awareness of self and others, to understand and appreciate different cultures, gain a better understanding of their own native language and positively impacts their intellectual growth and mental development"