About the Founders:

As an experienced principal in the public school system, Ms. Taute led two schools, Antonio Olivares Elementary and Somerset Early Childhood Elementary to dramatic success, with both schools garnering numerous accolades within a brief period of time.

Beginning with Ms. Taute's tenure as principal of A. Olivares Elementary in 1995 - 96, the school, under her leadership, garnered an amazing string of accomplishments in just four years.  Among the honors were: Named a United States Department of Education " Blue Ribbon" School Nominee 1998 - 99 (One of only 35 schools in all of Texas... the Blue Ribbon Schools' program identifies outstanding public and private schools across the country who model both excellence and equity, best educational practices and strong leadership and working relationships among the school, parents, and community)... Named a TEA " Texas Blue Ribbon School"  1998 - 99 (One of only three schools in all of South Texas) ... Awarded "Exemplary Accreditation Status" by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for two consecutive years, 1997 - 98 and 1998 - 99. (This status acknowledges that the school placed in the Top 15% of all schools in the entire state of Texas.  It was the first such school ever given “Exemplary status" in the South San ISD and the first back-to-back "Exemplary" school for the district)... Named a " Best School" , selecting Olivares as a high performing campus by Just for the Kids in reading and math, K - 3, for showing the ability to sustain high performance over three years as compared with other schools with similar percentages of economically disadvantaged and limited English proficient students... Awarded the TEA “Texas Successful School Award" 1997 - 98... The "Commended School Award" 1995 - 96 and 1996 - 97 (Two consecutive years)... TEA      "Distinguished Title I School Award" 1997 - 98 (one of only two schools in Region 20)... TEA "Recognized Accreditation Status" for two consecutive years: 1995- 96 (Only one in district) and again in 1996 - 97 ( the first back-to-back "Recognized accreditation status" in district)... and named as having one of the Top 6 Parental Programs in Bexar County schools 1995 - 96.

Looking for a new challenge, Ms. Taute left South San Antonio ISD for Somerset ISD in order to open a brand new state-of-the-art facility for Pre-K and Kindergarten students, with the vision that it would become the finest of its kind in Texas.  In just three short years, Somerset Early Childhood Elementary successfully implemented the "Success for All Program", one of the top two reading programs in the nation, and became a Success For-All Model School.  In 2002, this young school graduated 98% of their Kindergarten students reading remarkably at a First Grade or above reading level--notwithstanding, some reading up to a Second Grade reading level.

 Ms. Sally Anderson:
 

Ms. Anderson graduated from Southwest Texas State University with a B.S. in Elementary Education and a minor in Math.  In addition, she earned a Teaching Certificate in Kindergarten Education along with her Texas State Teaching Certificate.  After teaching in the public schools for 5 years, she decided to apply at a Christian School in the late 1970's.  Ms. Anderson took a position at Blessed Hope Academy in the middle school.  For the next twenty-six years she attended Christian School Conferences and workshops that prepared her for her future in the Christian School movement. Working closely with the administration on accreditation procedures, Ms. Anderson helped Blessed Hope Academy become fully accredited.  In 1987 she became an ordained minister and received her M.A. in Christian Education from the Minnesota Graduate School of Theology.  She currently holds an Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Administrator's License.