Suzanne Anderson, founder and Executive Director, brings a strong business background and years of early childhood innovation and experience to Nest School. Her most important qualification, however, is her spiritual training and involvement in child evangelism.  Her life’s goal is to impact children and families to grow the way God commanded. An author, Suzanne’s first book (The Story of the Plain Brown Wren) is based on memorable, influential stories read to her as a child.

Instrumental in development and innovation in the early childhood education industry, Suzanne articulates the philosophy and structure that makes Nest School so successful for early learners.  To the familiar question about why Nest School produces such a high level of learning, Suzanne has some pretty simple thoughts.  Each day at Nest School is highly organized and predictable.  Both teachers and children know what their day will be and closely follow a scheduled day, avoiding unexpected and disappointing outcomes.

Then Nest School invests in teacher training and mentorship, so Nest teachers begin each day with everything they need.  The focus and structure of each day mean the emphasis is on the tasks and activities.  What we do at Nest School is built around an understanding of the age group, intending to challenge but not frustrate our tiny students.  We are innovators in early childhood curriculum and classroom tools making learning events fun and reaching or exceeding academic goals.  Leading a highly credentialed team, Ms. Anderson makes sure the team studies and implements best practices and is challenged to deliver excellence in every component of their curriculum and activities.

Having an academically excellent school is important, and the spiritual mission is what drives her.  Suzanne’s motto is “If we don’t teach children to follow Christ, the world will teach them not to”.  The legacy of The Nest will be told in the lives of students who develop a love of learning and grow into spiritual giants for the next generation.

Crystal has an enriched background in Elementary Education. She worked for Garland ISD where she taught fourth grade for nine years and taught ESL for three years where she worked with Kindergarten through fifth grade. Throughout the twelve years at Garland ISD, she wrote reading curriculum for the summer school program, served as an assistant to the principal of several summer schools, served as a lead teacher for her grade level, and a mentor teacher for several beginning teachers.

She also served as the Bilingual/ESL lead teacher for her school. She received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at TCU with a minor in Spanish. She received her Master’s Degree in Education Administration from Lamar University. She is state certified in elementary education and education administration.

A married mother of two sons, Case and Wyatt, having them at The Nest is what led her to join the staff as Education Director. She began her journey there, first as a mom who fell in the love with the staff at the Nest, and with their philosophy of educating “Little Bible Scholars”. She is excited to serve as a leader in The Nest, sharing her knowledge and experience in education.

She is passionate and committed to teaching children to follow biblical principles, which stands as the basis for the curriculum. A favorite quote that has served her well is “Children are made readers on the laps of their parents”.

Kendra Estrada is a highly experienced elementary school teacher with a bachelor’s degree and a teaching certification in Elementary Education. She worked for Mansfield and Arlington ISD where she taught second and third grade. Throughout the past five years, she has been teaching prekindergarten and bridge/transitional kindergarten.

Kendra is married with four amazing children. Having her youngest child later in life, she was in search of a preschool for him that mirrored the preschool her older children attended. She began looking for an extraordinary Christian program that also provided an exemplary academic curriculum.

The Nest Preschool turned out to be the perfect solution for her son and for Kendra both. Her little son attended for three years and has become an advanced kindergarten learner in the exemplary Argyle schools. Kendra has been an integral part of The Nest serving in a leadership role involved with inspiring and training teachers, and consulting on the curriculum development from the first years at The Nest Christian Academy.

Her contribution to the “teacher-friendly” biblically centered curriculum means that other families in the community are also blessed with excellence in their early learning years. Kendra is a much sought-after, highly recommended teacher and leader, known for her success in the prekindergarten and kindergarten level reading program.

Her focus and theme throughout her teaching is expressed in one of her favorite quotes, “The more you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you will go.” (Dr. Seuss)