The Post Oak School 2009 Annual Report

“One of the things I remembermost about my time as a Post

Oak student was the opportunity for leadership. My elementary teacher, beingtrue to the call to know each child on a deep and individual level, recognizedin me the potential to teach. Then a third grader, I was given the responsibilityof leading a reading group for some of the first grade students in my class. Ichose the books, guided the students, and reported back to my teacher. Tothis day I will never forget the feelings of value, fulfillment and purpose thatresulted from that experience.”

“I remember that experience.”

·2009·Post·Oak·Fund·

The Leadership CircleDonors who generously contributedgifts of $2000 and above to the PostOak Fund are members of The PostOak Fund Leadership Circle.

Cynthia and Bucky AllshouseAnonymousBeth and Frank ApolloAmy Tian and Benjamin BaiLaura and Matthew Baird

Susan and Walker BeaversMr. and Mrs. Michael CallahanSherry and Lewis ChandlerAnne Singleton and Jack DouglasLaurie and Leland FondrenAbbe and Adam FormanRaka and Jay GohelJanice and Barrett GreenWindi and David GrimesVicki and Bob HarveyRennae and Joe HenryCarol and John HowenstineCatherine and Andrew Kaldis

Jane Greenberg and Gregory Kaplan

Alyson and Andrew KovalVivian and Kenneth LeeJing Zhou and Xiaohui LiNancy and Erik LittlejohnRenee and Michael LocklarKathy and John LongGina and Carl LunaJohn and Lori MartinezChristine and Louis MessinaKimberly Monday and

Lauren Marangell

Melissa Coleman and Robert PascoeStephanie and William PerkinsMarilyn Wilson and Robert RasorDrs. Alicia Kowalchuk and

Benjamin SaldañaDaniela and Manuel SanchezFarrell and Stuart SaundersJenee and Nick StefanakisErin and Tom StusKaren and Aaron SwerdlinMelanie Gray and Mark WawroVallette and Russell WindhamAnita and Alan Ying

A L L C L A S S E S C R E A T E D S P E C T A C U L A R A R T P R O J E C T S

F O R T H E B I E N N I A L G A L A . W E O F F E R O U R A B U N D A N T

T H A N K S A N D A P P R E C I A T I O N T O T H E P A R E N T S W H O

S U P P O R T E D A N D P A R T I C I P A T E D W I T H T H E T E A C H E R S

A N D C H I L D R E N O N T H E C L A S S P R O J E C T S .

So began Jessica Wagner’s “Montessori Moment” at last year’s Post Oak ParentsAssociation (POPA) dinner. Jessica teaches an Infant Community class at PostOak, and she herself is a former Post Oak student.

I am struck by her words. She brackets the content of a single paragraphwith the phrases, “I remember…that experience.” That alone is significant.What do you remember from third grade? Do you remember the capital ofSouth Dakota or the states that surround it? From her Post Oak educationJessica Wagner remembers experiences. Montessori education is at heartexperiential, not abstract. And what does a child learn from her experiences?More than academic content, she learns who she is, who she might become.Her experiences do more than teach her; they shape her.

ContributorsAlexander, Julia and Horacio

AdrogueShonali and Rakesh AgrawalMaria and Saleh Al- ShaikhLinda and D. Kent AndersonStephanie and Phil ArnettMichele and Thomas BaileyTeri and Thomas BairRita Barker PetriniDr. Linda C . BarrowsJeannine and David Berg tEric Berkman

Brian, Sara and Kate BinauLaurel and Tim BlandoNancy and Steve BosticPam and Bill BoyarJennifer and Christian BrenckmannCliona Rooney and

Malcolm BrennerCarson BrinkJamie and James BroachDebra BroussardCourtney and Bill BucyNataya and Johnny CarterJennifer and Clifton Chavis

Gina Li and Leon ChenLaura and Martin CitardiJennifer and Todd ColterThe Cordero FamilyLili and Jorge CortesKarla and Travis CrabtreeJane and Bill CurtisJodie and Laith DaikMaday and Jay DarganFaith J. DavisKelly and James DavisRobyn DavisLissa and Bobby Debes

Susan and Marc DellameaMichele and Richard DeutschSangeeta Cheema and

Karam DhillonZarafsheen and Imran DossaniSandra Fogiel and Stuart DowCathy and Paul DukeMonica and Derek DunawayPhyllis and Howard EppsMonica and Charles EskridgeMr. and Mrs. Charles Eskridge, Jr.Analitza and Justin FactorTaha and Tahir Faruqui

T H E T O D D L E R S T R A N S I T I O N E D S U C C E S S F U L L Y I N T O

T H E I R P R I M A R Y C L A S S E S T H R O U G H O U T T H E S C H O O L

Y E A R , L A R G E L Y D U E T O T H E V I G I L A N T A N D C A R I N G

P R I M A R Y C H I L D R E N ’ S M E N T O R S H I P A N D G U I D A N C E .

Authentic Montessori education invites children into experiences that shapethem, and prepare them for a lifetime of engagement and meaning. This ismuch more than the sum of the skills they learn, more than a compendiumof the knowledge they accumulate, more than the names of the schools theysubsequently attend. It is at bottom how they perceive themselves, howthey engage the world of people, and how they contribute to human culturethrough work.

Bentley FondrenChrista Filak and Martin FraskeAudra FrenchPaula and Magnus FyhrAmy and Blair GarrouEva and Enrique GascaLiz and Thomas GlanvilleCathy and Tim GoffHannah and Leonard GolubSonia and Richard GrasJessica and Vean GreggAnnette and Roger GregorySowmini and Ravi Gudimetla

Mary Ann and Victor GuerreroSophia and Muzammil HanifSandhya and Sanjiv HarpavatJennifer HarrisonKaren and David HaugKristin and Joey HaylesJulia Jones/Hailey and Kent HeckRochelle Tafolla and Richard HessTracey and David HilfmanMaureen and Douglas HirschAmelia Ng and Tam HoKatheryn and Richard HungMunira and Zahir Janmohamed

Jeanne-Mey Sun and Tom JanssensClaudia Rojas-Jimenez and

Carlos JimenezJosie and Jonathan KaplowCynthia DeLaney and

Stephan KinsellaAmy and Lloyd KirchnerThe Krishnamoorti FamilyPrarthana and Bhushan KukkalliTania and Chad LaFranceClaire LangstonBeth and Matt LavineCarmen and Alex Lechin

Ann and Kelvin LeeLaurie and Doron LevinIrvin A. “Bubba” LevySheryl LevyYan and Haiyang LiCornelia and Meredith LongKaren and Charles LuMichelle and Thomas LuCindy and Andrew LubetkinSheung Wong and Gary LukBeatriz and Mark ManeyJenny and André MarshallMaureen Maillet and Kyle Martin

T H E I N F A N T C O M M U N I T Y T E A C H E R S H O S T E D T H E

F I L M I N G O F “ W H A T I S T H E M O N T E S S O R I T O D D L E R

C O M M U N I T Y ? ” A D V D P R O D U C E D B Y T H E N O R T H

A M E R I C A N M O N T E S S O R I T E A C H E R S A S S O C I A T I O N ,F E A T U R I N G P O S T O A K ’ S I N F A N T C O M M U N I T Y .

I remember

…to know each child on a deep and individual level…

…I will never forget the feelings…

…potential…

…value, fulfillment and purpose…

…opportunity for leadership…

…I chose…

…given the responsibility of leading…

...that experience.

Dr. Montessori redefined the role of the teacher in order to offer each childexperiences rich in opportunity for leadership, and resulting in feelings ofvalue, fulfillment and purpose. She guided teachers to know when to providehelp, and when to step back and allow the child to act independently. Reflectingon her own role as a teacher, Jessica Wagner said, “I, too, step back and hearDr. Montessori reminding me, ‘The greatest gift you can give to a child isthe joy of

Last year a group of faculty, staff and alumni parents wrote “A Portrait of aPost Oak Graduate.” It is a memorable description of the characteristics com-mon to Post Oak grads, a description that tells the reader what we value, andwhat results we expect in our work with children. You can find it on our website,and it appeared in the 2008 annual report.

Stacey and Mark MartinAlan McClainTanya Bennett and

David McConkeyMargaret Funderberg and

Jeffrey McMahonKaren and Mac McManusDanielle and Brian MeltonSara Jurney and Todd MensingPaula and Mark MeyJessica and Philipp MeyerPatricia and William MitchellMelissa and Michael Mithoff

Nandita Gupta and Vikas MittalRishma and Akbar MohamedSonia Einstein and Ofer MoladRachel and John MoodyHeather MouzourakisCinda and Brian MoyeMichelle and Michael MunnJenny and Edwin MurphySwati and Rakesh NarayanAlana Kennedy-Nasser and

Dean NasserShailaja Menon and Sanjay NayyarKavitha and Sattva Neelapu

Raina and Jonathan NewsomeDinh and Brian NguyenJacklyn NguyenPhuong and Sun NguyenMa Daivi NithyaMaria Luisa NoceZaira and Roberto NoceSusan Hardwick- Smith and

Kevin O’GormanWendy and Meir O’HannaHeather and Brenden O’NeillKatie and Bob OrrJaana Porra and Michael Parks

Callie and Stephen PaulBev and Doug PetersAnh and Victor PhanLisa and Patrick PhelpsBecky and Wayne PivecKelly and Anthony PolicastroLana Rigsby and John PowellElizabeth and Adam PulaskiKim and Randy RandolphKaren and Ken ReddingLisa and John ReedThe Reese FamilySabrina Reynolds

T H I S P A S T Y E A R M A R K E D T H E F I R S T Y E A R S I N C E T H E

F O U N D I N G O F T H E S C H O O L T H A T E V E R Y E L E M E N T A R Y

C L A S S R O O M W A S F U L L T O C A P A C I T Y . A S A R E S U L T W E

S U C C E S S F U L L Y O P E N E D A F O U R T H L O W E R E L E M E N T A R Y

C L A S S R O O M W I T H 1 4 S T U D E N T S .

doing it for himself.’”

This year I gave faculty the complementary challenge of writing a “Portraitof a Post Oak Teacher.” These two documents are as important to us as ourmission statement, and help to clearly distinguish who we are and how wediffer from other schools. Just as Montessori children are different, so tooare Montessori teachers. And that takes us back to Dr. Montessori’s redef-inition of the role of the adult. Let me turn to another Post Oak graduate,Wren Fondren (POS class of 2005), who as a senior at St. John’s school wroteabout her Montessori education when applying to Stanford University:

“This alternative learning program gave me athrough its unique take on schooling. For ex-ample, in kindergarten I was shown how to write, but learned to read on myown. With the help of my elder classmates (as each kindergarten class holds

Shelly and Bill RichterCynthia and Fabian RodriguezRobin and Marshall RosenbergHeidi and Bryan RosenstrauchJennifer Norten and Mark RoutbortManju and Manish Rung taSherri and Gary SagarnagaSuzan and Jeremy SamuelsElizabeth and Mark SantikosKate and Greg ScheinmanSherri and Charles SchugartJacqualin and Jeff SeelyZeenath and Arjun Selvakumar

Jian and Mike ShortAndrea and Jeff SillsJohn and Tina SimsCarmen Garcia- Smith and

Todd SmithValerie and Michael SonsinoAsha and Gaurav SoodSimran and Manish SoodAnne and Alan SpeedMary and Garland StephensJennifer SternMegan and Eric StidmanJulie and Jason Styles

Bridget and John StylesAimee and Greg TaylorStephanie and Robert ToborJennifer and Sam TouchetVictoria and Thomas TuckerLaura and George TurleySusan GrangerTyler and Seth TylerRebecca and Robert UpchurchKaren and Raul ValdezMini and Celestine VetticalJulia and Terry VineMolly and Coert VoorheesLiliana and Shabir Walji

Karen and Jason WalkerConnie and John WallaceWhitney and Marc WalshThe Waters FamilyDr. and Mrs. Mark WeinsteinSusan and Wayne WhitneyJonathan R. WilcoxJoy Saphla and Stephen WolfeConstance and Jeffrey WoodmanKim and Chuck YatesChloe, Michelle and

Kenneth ZagorskiRocio Diaz and Francisco Zorrilla

T H E C O M M O N R O O M W A S C O M P L E T E D — A S P A C E

D E S I G N E D T O F U N C T I O N F O R M A L L Y A S T H E B E F O R E -A N D A F T E R - C A R E R O O M A N D I N F O R M A L L Y A S A

C O M M O N A R E A F O R S T U D E N T W O R K , L E S S O N S ,M E E T I N G S A N D P A R E N T W O R K .

multitude of gifts

an evenly distributed population of children ages 2 to 6), I gained the abil-ity to recognize words and the meaning behind them without the aid of ateacher or parent.” Here is a powerful young woman with “a multitude of gifts,”confident in her own ability, ready toAnd there is her teacher, off to the side,having prepared the environment, and taught the lessons that led to “learn-ing to read on my own.”

On other pages in this report you will find a summary of last year’s highlysuccesful development activity and a year-at-a-glance from the businessoffice. All of this is important because it supports the work of the faculty asthey guide our children...day after day...with the methods and the spirit thatDr. Montessori prescribed.

— J O H N L O N G , H E A D O F S C H O O L

EmployeesLindsay AdkinsIrma AlarconAudie AlcornDaniel AnastacioMirna Andrade- Salgado and

José SalgadoAlma ArmendarizDiana AyalaVivian BlumMillie ChavezAntoinette Cole

Elizabeth DiCesareCara EckermanAsenet GarciaLuiza GrandchampShekkola GrayBarbara HackerEmily HansenCynthia HarrisDebbie and Todd HendersonRaul JimenezDulce JuarezDale Katz

Natalie and Gregory KingsburyOrly KlukChristina Kopanidis- Cantu and

Jorge CantuAlma LloydJoseph LockettDeidre LodrigLupe LopezRobin LunsfordDarwin MatusekChristopher MejiaManuel Mejia

Marvin MejiaSabira NajeebShannon and Paul NeufeldDebbie NickersonDiana and Albert OnofrePatricia OnofreJulie ParraguirreNorma PaulinJenna PelChristine PetersonMaya and Errol PintoJuan Ramon

I T W A S A N O T H E R S U C C E S S F U L Y E A R I N T H E A R E A O F

T E C H N O L O G Y . C O M P L E T E D P R O J E C T S I N C L U D E T H E

R E P L A C E M E N T O F A L L E L E M E N T A R Y A N D M I D D L E

S C H O O L D E S K T O P C O M P U T E R S A N D T H E I N S T A L L A T I O N

O F A S O U N D A N D P R O J E C T O R S Y S T E M I N T H E

M I D D L E S C H O O L .

take on the world.

Integ rity is at the core. The teacher’s integrity comes from calm, confidence, andcaring, light-hearted enthusiasm matched with conscious self-restraint, modelingthe best of human behavior for the class while showing both passion and joy in thework. Even more important is the students’ dignity, for which we ensure a positiveand respectful environment.

We believe in the unfolding, not the molding, of children. A Post Oak teacher watches,listens, and communicates to assess and assist each child’s development of bothintellect and independence. We champion the triumphs of each day, removing oreasing obstacles. We patiently, flexibly, and compassionately encourage a joyfulperseverance in each child.

The teacher is not the focus but the facilitator of the classroom. Teaching is an act ofservice and humility. Through the creation of routines and traditions, the mainte-nance of detailed records, and the presentation of broad and deep lessons thatilluminate concepts and encourage student discovery, the teacher encouragesstudents’ concentration, reflection, and growth.

A Post Oak teacher embraces the classroom environment as a partner. For childrento succeed, the environment must be orderly and inviting, clean and uncluttered,beautiful and precise. The teacher’s job is to connect materials to students and tospark their curiosity. Children are then set free to make choices, combining free-dom with a developing sense of discipline and responsibility.

The whole world is a teacher’s classroom. Teachers and their lessons demonstratethe interrelatedness of all knowledge: the links between different academic sub-jects, the connections between the large and the small, and the essential simi-larities among all peoples. Teachers extend the classroom into the world beyondthe school, both physically and imaginatively.

Teachers and students learn by setting high challenges and making safe mistakes.Boundaries, clearly set and consistently reinforced, create a safe and cooperativeenvironment which becomes as much a community as a classroom, where we alllearn from each other. Children learn both how to help and how to reach out forhelp, first in their own classrooms but increasingly in the wider world they willfully enter as adults.

A Post Oak teacher also remains a student , growing both personally and profes-sionally, showing a passion for learning, mastering the varied Montessori curricu-lum while also pursuing personal interests. Like any good student, he or she hasboth strengths and weaknesses, along with an awareness of how to address themin the course of the day’s work.

Montessori teachers educate the whole community. They actively engage parents ina partnership for the good of the child, engage creatively and collaborativelywith assistants and colleagues from all age levels of the school, and communicateclearly while maintaining proper confidentiality. They are dynamic participantsin the life of the school, actively serving, informing, protecting, and improving.

Portrait of a Post Oak Teacher

The financial stability of the Post Oak School continued to improve during the2008 – 2009 school year. Our audited financial statements for the 2007 – 2008 schoolyear resulted in an increase in net assets of $835,237. The unaudited results for the2008 – 2009 school year show an increase in net assets for all funds of $593,140.The School experienced significant growth in enrollment moving from an endingenrollment of 362 in 2007 – 2008 to 387 in 2008– 2009.

A very successful annual campaign and Gala enabled the School to make the $200,000transfer to our cash reserve account per our long term strategic plan as well as trans-fer $100,000 to our Endowment Fund as called for in our Endowment policy.

The investment policy of the Post Oak School Endowment directs a long-terminvestment approach that does not include disbursements until the endowmentexceeds $1 million. Therefore, the current asset allocation target is 20% cash andfixed income, and 80% equities to maximize long-term returns. More than 80%of the portfolio is invested in low cost institutional asset class mutual funds man-aged by Dimensional Fund Advisors.

Although the endowment portfolio as a whole had a net unrealized loss of $104,642for the year ended June 30, the portfolio has a net unrealized gain of $70,003 fromJune 30 to August 31, 2009. As markets around the world continue to improve, theEndowment’s portfolio will continue to improve.

A number of capital projects have been completed this year. The common roomwas created out of the former covered patio, our new lower elementary classroomwas renovated and outfitted, our outdoor nature center was completed and a newcargo van was purchased along with a number of smaller projects. We are currentlyinstalling new drinking fountains and repairing sections of the outside of the building.

2008–2009 Financial Report

Th e f o l l o w in g i s an ab b re v i a t e d v e rsi o n o f t h e un au di t e d re su l t s f o r 2008‒2009

·REVENUE·

Tuition based Revenues 85.08 % $ 5,093,178Other Tuition and Fees 7.11 % 425,614Other Income (Loss) -1.39 % (83,484)Annual Giving 3.58 % 214,558Gala Giving 4.98 % 298,121All Other Giving (Net) 0.64 % 38,575

T O TA L R E V E N U E 100 % $ 5,986,562

·Expenses·

Salaries and Benefits 44.73 % $ 2,412,521Financial Aid 6.75 % 363,919Other Program Expense 7.48 % 403,252Plant Expenses 15.94 % 859,805General Administration 25.10 % 1,353,925

T O TA L E X P E N S E S 100 % $ 5,393,422

I N C R E A S E I N N E T A S S E T S $ 593,140

The school’s annual giving campaign,The Post Oak Fund,reached 99 percent parent participation for the second year in a row. Ledby chairs Windi and David Grimes, the Post Oak community generouslysupported the campaign and exceeded the $200,000 goal by 9 percent.

The Post Oak Biennial Gala was by all measures a tremendous success.Gala Chair Lisa Reed and her team of extraordinary Post Oak volunteersworked tirelessly to present Flip Flop Fête in the spring of 2009. The ball-room of the Four Seasons Hotel was transformed into an elegant underwaterseascape, to set the feel for this festive fundraiser. Once again, Post Oakparents’ generosity and support of the school through underwriting and thesilent and live auctions surpassed expectations by raising over $305,000.

Challenging economic times make us even more aware of how meaningfuleach contribution is to the school. We do not take these gifts for granted,and we are grateful to all members of the Post Oak community who havegiven their nod of support for the work done each day within this school.

Celia RodriguezJeff SchneiderFrancesca ShoemakerB.R. SimonMirani SmithHerlinda StraneCindi ThielPhylis TomlinsonSusan TracyMark TuckerJessica Wagner

Lisa WellsMiriam Winton

FoundationsHouston Endowment Inc.Mithoff Family FoundationThe Oshman Foundation

CorporationsAbitibi- Consolidated CorpAquananaut Capital

Management LP

ConocoPhillips CompanyEli Lilly and Company

Foundation, Inc.Goldman SachsH.E.B. Grocery CompanyJPMorgan Chase FoundationLands’ EndMerrill LynchRice TutorsSafeway Inc.Target

Texas InstrumentsThe UPS Foundation

·Flip·Flop·Fête·

The 2009 Post Oak Biennial Gala Underwriters

S OA R I N G O V E R T H E S E A

Ray C . Fish Foundation

P O S T O A K P A R E N T S G R A C I O U S L Y A N D C O N S I S T E N T L Y

O F F E R H E L P W H E N N E E D E D . S C H O O L E V E N T S S U C H A S

T H E P O P A D I N N E R , F I E L D D A Y , B O O K F A I R , G R A N D -P A R E N T S ’ D A Y S , C I N C O D E M A Y O , A L O N G W I T H C O U N T -L E S S C L A S S R O O M A C T I V I T I E S A R E A L L B R O U G H T

T O L I F E W I T H T H E H E L P O F E N T H U S I A S T I C A N D

C R E A T I V E V O L U N T E E R S .

Christine Peterson, Business Office Assistant

Mirna Andrade-Salgado, Technology Director

Vivian Blum, Admission Director

Christina Kopanidis-Cantu, Development Director

Shannon Neufeld, Communications Coordinator

Debbie Henderson, Office Manager

Antoinette Cole, Full-time Substitute

Francesca Shoemaker, Receptionist

Darwin Matusek, Building Engineer

Manuel Mejia, CustodianMark Tucker, After School

Enrichment Program (ASEP)Miriam Winton, Summer

School Director

2008–2009 Board of Trustees

Bucky AllshouseFrank Apollo, treasurerMatthew BairdMelissa ColemanStuart DowAdam FormanBarrett GreenBob Harvey, chairZahir JanmohamedAndrew KaldisJohn Long, presidentBev PetersMarilyn Wilson, secretaryRussell WindhamJing Zhou

Trustees EmeritiWalker BeaversPam BoyarLeland Fondren

Melanie GrayPat MitchellJenny MurphyJohn Wallace

Post Oak Parents Association

POPA Chairs (2007–2009)Michelle LuCatherine (Katie) Orr

Event ChairsPOPA Dinner ChairsErin StusKaren Swerdlin

Field Day ChairsMelissa and Felix Cordero

Book Fair ChairsLili CortesAndrea Mesa

Biennial Gala ChairLisa Reed

Cinco de Mayo ChairsMunira JanmohamedJessica Meyer

Yearbook ChairJian Short

2008–2009 Room Parents

HackerLili Cortes

HansenRachel MoodyErin Stus

KlukJennifer Touchet

LloydCynthia Page-RodriguezTori Tucker

LockettMelissa CorderoElise McClain

LodrigJamie Broach

LongCindy LubetkinLiz Pulaski

NajeebJessica GreggAndrea Sills

NickersonEva GascaWendy O’Hanna

ParraguirreSandra FogielCatherine Kaldis

Pinto, E.Josie Kaplow

Pinto, M.Laura BairdSusan Whitney

TracyMaureen MailletKim YatesJacqualin Seely

WagnerAimee TaylorMolly Voorhees

WellsPaula MeyKaren Swerdlin

WintonKate ScheinmanJenee Stefanakis

Middle SchoolCara LooperMarianna Ruiz-Posada

2008–2009 Post Oak Fund

Post Oak Fund ChairsWindi and David Grimes

Class CaptainsHackerAbbe Forman

HansenKaren Walker

KlukRavi Gudimetla

LockettBev Peters

LodrigFarrell Saunders

LongAnne Singleton and

Jack Douglas

NajeebWhitney Walsh

NickersonBeth Apollo

ParraguirreKim and Michael Callahan

Pinto, E.Lissa and Bob Debes

Pinto, M.Catherine Kaldis

TracyJennifer Touchet

WagnerSeita and Jimmy Jongebloed

WellsMichele Bailey

WintonRenee Locklar

Faculty/StaffDebbie HendersonJoseph Lockett

BoardJohn Long

DA N C I N G A M O N G D U N E S

Janice and Barrett GreenBentley B. FondrenJeanne-Mey Sun and Tom JanssensAmy and Lloyd KirchnerAlyson and Andrew KovalDrs. Ann and Kelvin LeeJing Zhou and Xiaohui LiSara Jurney and Todd MensingMW Design Group, Ltd.Zaira and Roberto NoceKatie and Bob Orr

Lenox and John Reed Jr.The Saldaña FamilyDaniela and Manuel SanchezSherri and Charles SchugartMary and Garland StephensSusan GrangerTyler and Seth Tyler

S K I P P I N G A C R O S S S A N D

Susan and Walker BeaversErik F. Berkman M.D.The BroussardsMaureen and Douglas HirschBubba Levy

Looper Reed & McGraw-Travis Crabtree

Rachel and John MoodySusan Hardwick- Smith and

Kevin O’GormanBev and Doug PetersValerie and Michael SonsinoThe Spector FamilyKaren and Jason Walker

·Gifts·to·Endowment·

The Fondren FoundationMelanie Gray and Mark WawroVicki and Robert HarveySara MitchellPatricia and William MitchellJenny and Edwin Murphy

·POPA·Dinner··Underwriters·

Shonali and Rakesh AgrawalCynthia and Bucky Allshouse

Faculty

Infant Community DepartmentDeidre Lodrig, Half-Day Infant

Community TeacherDiana Ayala, Assistant

Susan Tracy, Half-Day Infant Community Teacher

Cynthia Harris, Assistant

Jessica Wagner, Full-Day Infant Community Teacher

Lindsay Adkins, Assistant Elizabeth DiCesare, AssistantDiana Onofre, Assistant

Primary DepartmentBarbara Hacker, Primary

TeacherNorma Paulin, Assistant

Emily Hansen, Primary TeacherNatalie Kingsbury, Assistant

Sabira Najeeb, Primary TeacherAlma Armendariz, Assistant

Julie Parraguirre, Primary Teacher

Nina Strane, Assistant

Lisa Wells, Primary TeacherCelia Rodriguez, Assistant

Miriam Winton, Primary Teacher

Dulce Juarez, Assistant

Alma Lloyd, Primary Home Environment Teacher

Alma Armendariz, Before-school Assistant

Millie Chavez, AssistantCara Eckerman, AssistantNorma Paulin, Before-school

Assistant

Elementary DepartmentOrly Kluk, Lower Elementary

TeacherDale Katz, AssistantMary Lunsford, Assistant

Kathy Long, Lower Elementary Teacher

Audie Alcorn, Assistant / Intern

Debbie Nickerson, Lower Elementary Teacher

Lupe Lopez, Assistant

Maya Pinto, Lower Elementary Teacher

Louella Opoku, AssistantHeather Spell, Assistant

Joseph Lockett, Upper Elementary Teacher

Irma Alarcon, Assistant

Errol Pinto, Upper Elementary Teacher

Cynthia Thiel, Assistant

Middle SchoolShekkola Gray, Middle School

Mathematics TeacherKim Davis, Middle School

Humanities TeacherRyan Nguyen, Middle School

Science Teacher

Upper School After-CareAsenet Garcia, After-Care

DirectorJenna Pel, After-Care Assistant

SpecialistsLuiza Grandchamp,

Art SpecialistPatricia Onofre, Spanish

SpecialistB.R. Simon, LibrarianPhylis Tomlinson, CounselorMark Tucker, Physical Fitness

and Bearkats Coach

Administrative and Support Staff

John Long, Head of SchoolMirani Smith, Lower School

Director Jeff Schneider, Upper School

DirectorRobin Lunsford, Director of

Finance and Facilities

WA LT Z I N G O N WA T E R

Cynthia and Bucky Allshouse, Laura and Matthew Baird, Liz and Tom Glanville, Windi and David Grimes, Nancy and Erik Littlejohn, Melissa and Michael Mithoff, Farrell and Stuart Saunders

Phyllis and Howard Epps, Carol and John Howenstine, Lisa and John Reed III, Erin and Tom Stus, Whitney and Marc Walsh

The Gee and Tobor Families

The Salners Family Foundation

S T E P P I N G I N TO S U R F

Laurel and Tim Blando, Abbe and Adam Forman, Vicki and Bob Harvey, Munira and Zahir Janmohamed, Rishma and Akbar Mohamed

Analitza and Justin Factor, Karen and David Haug, Amy and James Lee, Lucinda and Javier Loya, Stephanie and Bill Perkins

Christine and Louis Messina, Jennifer and Cliff Chavis

The Rigsby-Powell and Yates Families

The Wawro Family

C A V O RT I N G OV E R C O R A L

Sara and Brian BinauSherry and Lewis Chandler, Seita

and Jimmy Jongebloed, Beatriz and Mark Maney, Jessica and Philipp Meyer, Robin and Marshall Rosenberg

Curtis & Windham Architects Inc.Drs. Julia Jones and Kent HeckGina and Carl LunaLauren Marangell and Kim MondayKaren and Aaron Swerdlin

The Post Oak School Community

University of North CarolinaUniversity of Notre DameUniversity of OklahomaUniversity of the PacificUniversity of South CarolinaUniversity of Southern

CaliforniaUniversity of Southern

California – School of Cinematic Arts

University of Texas – AustinUniversity of Texas – Austin,

Plan IIUniversity of Texas – Business

HonorsUniversity of Texas –

San AntonioUniversity of Texas – TylerUniversity of TulsaUniversity of VermontUniversity of Virginia –

RichmondU.S. Naval AcademyVanderbilt UniversityWest PointWaseda University in TokyoWesleyan University

Our Mission

The mission of The Post OakSchool, as an accreditedAssociation MontessoriInternationale (AMI) school, is to provide a superiorMontessori environment anddynamic learning experienceswhich are designed accordingto the developmental character-istics and needs of children; to guide and nurture each child — intellectually, socially,and emotionally.

In Memory

Early in the school year we losta kind and gentle member ofour community, Post Oak parentTracy Leonardo. Many of usfondly remember her morningwalks bringing her son, Sean,to school. Her warm smile andcaring nature remain in ourhearts, and she is missed.

* * * * Recognizing our donors is ahigh priority for The Post OakSchool. We have made everyeffort to ensure the accuracy of our honor rolls, but it is possible for errors to occur.

If you wish to report an error or omission, please contactChristina Kopanidis-Cantu at 713-661-6688 or by email atchristinacantu@postoakschool.org.

Thank you to all contributorsto The Post Oak School.

T H E P O S T OA K S C H O O L

4600 BI S S O N N E T

B E L L A I R E , T E X A S 77401

T E L : 713-661-6688

FA X : 713-661-4959

W W W. P O S TOA K S C H O O L .O RG

Melanie Gray and Mark WawroVallette and Russell WindhamRocio Diaz and Francisco Zorrilla

·Friends·of··the·Library·

Cynthia and Bucky AllshouseBarnes & NobleMary Ann and Victor Guerrero Melanie HarrellAmelia Ng and Tam HoJane Greenberg and Gregory Kaplan

Zaira and Roberto NoceAlicia Kowalchuk and

Benjamin Saldaña

·Gifts·for··Special·Projects·

AnonymousAnn TrammellThe Trammell Foundation

·Gift·to·POPA·

Karen and Aaron Swerdlin

·Gifts-In-Kind·

AnonymousAsset Management AdvisorsLissa and Bobby DebesNancy and Erik LittlejohnSharon and Joe LockettMichelle and Tom LuKatie and Bob Orr

Julie ParraguirrePostNetRigsby HullAndrea and Jeff SillsPhylis TomlinsonGeraldine and Louis WatersSusan and Wayne Whitney

High School Acceptances

During 2009 Post Oak Schoolgraduates were accepted by the following highly recognized college preparatory schools:

Awty International SchoolEpiscopal High School*Houston ChristianIncarnate Word Academy*The Kinkaid School*St. Gregory (Tucson, AZ)*St. John’s School*Westside High School*

*Schools chosen to attend

College Acceptances

Post Oak alumni populate top colleges and universitiesthroughout the state, the nation,and abroad. Post Oak graduatecollege acceptances include:

American UniversityArt Institute of BostonArt Institute of ChicagoArt Institute of HoustonAuburn UniversityBaylor UniversityBoston University

Brooks Institute of PhotographyBrown UniversityCalifornia College of the ArtsColorado CollegeCranbrook Academy of ArtDavidson CollegeDrexel UniversityEckerd CollegeEmory UniversityEvergreen State CollegeFashion Institute of

TechnologyFordham UniversityGeorgetown UniversityGeorgia TechGoucher CollegeHampshire CollegeIthaca CollegeLouisiana State UniversityMiddlebury CollegeMillsaps CollegeNew York UniversityOberlin CollegeRhodes CollegeRice UniversityRollins CollegeSan Diego State UniversitySarah Lawrence CollegeSavannah College of Art

and DesignSewanee – The University

of the South

Skidmore CollegeSmith CollegeSouthern Methodist UniversitySouthwestern UniversityStanford UniversitySt. Edwards UniversitySyracuse UniversityTexas A&M UniversityTexas Christian UniversityTexas Christian University

(Honors)The CitadelTrinity UniversityTulane UniversityUniversity of ArizonaUniversity of California –

Los AngelesUniversity of California –

San DiegoUniversity of California –

Santa BarbaraUniversity of ColoradoUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of HoustonUniversity of Houston

(Honors)University of IndianaUniversity of KansasUniversity of Massachusetts –

AmherstUniversity of MichiganUniversity of Mississippi

Beth and Frank ApolloSusan and Walker BeaversJeannine and David Berg tSara and Brian BinauLaurel and Tim BlandoJamie and James BroachLaura and Martin CitardiLili and Jorge CortesMaday and Jay DarganRobyn DavisLissa and Bobby DebesSusan and Marc DellameaSandra Fogiel and Stuart Dow

Cathy and Paul DukeAbbe and Adam FormanJane Greenberg and Gregory KaplanWindi and David GrimesRennae and Joseph HenryCarol and John HowenstineKatheryn and Richard HungJeanne-Mey Sun and Tom JanssensSheryl LevyNancy and Erik LittlejohnRenee and Michael LocklarCara and Donald LooperGina and Carl Luna

Stacey and Mark MartinDanielle and Brian MeltonJessica and Philipp MeyerRachel and John MoodyShailaja Menon and Sanjay NayyarDebbie NickersonZaira and Roberto NoceHeather and Brenden O’NeillKatie and Bob OrrMelissa Coleman and Robert PascoeStephanie and William PerkinsLisa and John ReedShelly and Bill Richter

Cynthia and Fabian RodriguezHeidi and Bryan RosenstrauchAlicia Kowalchuk and

Benjamin SaldañaElizabeth and Mark SantikosAndrea and Jeff SillsJennifer SternErin and Tom StusJulie and Jason StylesKaren and Aaron SwerdlinAimee and Greg TaylorStephanie and Robert ToborGeraldine and Louis Waters

Beyond The Post Oak School

T H E P O S T OA K S C H O O L

4600 BI S S O N N E T

B E L L A I R E , T E X A S 77401

T E L : 713-661-6688

FA X : 713-661-4959

W W W. P O S TOA K S C H O O L .O RG