Get to Know Our Staff
Ms Janie
School Director
If you would like to e-mail Ms. Janie about her work or the school, simply click on the link : E-MAIL MS JANIE
School Director, Ms. Janie, whose full name is San Juanita Hernandez, is also a mother of 6 children, 4 of whom were adopted. Ms. Janie began her 30-year career with the Head Start Program before coming to join the St. Catherine’s team at its inception, 18 years ago.
In addition to the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential held by her and the majority of the staff at St. Catherine’s, Ms. Janie is also certified as an Administrator by the Texas Teacher Academy, L.L.C, and received a certificate in Child Development/Early Childhood Administration from Alvin Community College where she is pursuing her Associate. Ms. Janie also helps with the church’s nursery program on Sunday mornings.
Ms. Janie believes that love and laughter are essential ingredients to a child’s growth and she brings both of those in great measure to her role as School Director at St. Catherine’s.
Ms. Sandra Lewis
“Bears” – 2 year olds
Ms. Sandra has been in childcare for 25 years. She is a certified preschool teacher and had previously taught at St. Catherine’s for 4 years. Ms. Sandra is excited to return to St. Catherine’s and to be part of the Bears. She looks forward to offering a nurturing heart to children as they begin to venture out of their homes and begin sharing life with other children in a structured environment.
Ms. Ligia
“Bears” – 2 year olds 
Ligia Hernandez is originally from Colombia. She has a Bachelor degree in Psychology with 5 years of experience in the educational field, as an assistant psychologist in a preschool and later as a middle and high school student counselor in her country. She moved to Houston 11 years ago and is a Sienna resident for the past 10 years with her husband Patrick and her two daughters Sophia 10 and Valeria 7 years old.
Ms. Ligia has been with St Catherine for 3 years as a substitute teacher. She is very excited to be part of the Bears class this year and to watch your children grow providing a nurturing and caring environment.
Ms. Liz
“Butterflies” – 3 year olds
If you would like to e-mail Ms. Liz, simply click on the link :
Elizabeth Gonzalez, Ms. Liz, has been with St. Catherine’s as a teacher for eight years. She holds her CDA Certification along with additional training, currently pursuing in a Childhood Development/ Early Childhood teacher certificate. Ms. Liz continues to refine her skills and comfort level in working with the children who come through St. Catherine’s.
Ms. Liz has held a passion for working with kids that has lasted over 20 years and shows no sign of changing. When she is not actively being mom to her own 3 children or working with the kids at St. Catherine’s, Ms. Liz enjoys focusing her free time on baseball and photography.
Ms. Berta
“Butterflies” – 3 year olds
If you would like to e-mail Ms. Berta, simply click on the link :
Berta Bastida or Ms. Bertha has 20 years’ experience; she has been at St. Catherine for 10 years. She has worked for Fort Bend ISD as extended day teacher, Religious Educator at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church.
Ms. Berta has CDA certification and is currently pursuing in a Childhood Development/ Early Childhood teacher certificate. Ms. Berta has a passion for teaching and children.
Ms. Paula
“Mustangs” – 4 year olds
If you would like to e-mail Ms. Paula, simply click on the link :
Paula Mercado, also known as Ms. Paula, is a proud native of Houston. She has been married to her husband, Rick, for 30 years and is a devoted mother to her adult children, Megan (21) and Dylan (27).
Throughout her husband’s career, Paula and her family had the opportunity to live in various places, including Newfoundland, Canada, Louisiana and West Virginia. After returning to the Houston area and settling in Sienna, Ms. Paula discovered her passion for teaching while working as a substitute teacher. The following school year, she joined St. Catherine’s as a full-time teacher and hasn’t looked back.
She absolutely loves working with children and took a leap of faith to further her education, earning her Associate Degree in Early Education from Alvin Community College in 2022. In addition to her degree, she also holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.
With over five years of experience in the three-year old class, Ms. Paula now teaches in the early fours/pre-k class, where she thrives and find great joy in helping young learners grow and develop.
Ms. Maggie
“Mustangs” – 4 year olds
“After School”
If you would like to e-mail Ms. Maggie, simply click on the link :
Magdalena Locklear, Ms. Maggy, brings a great deal of experience and cultural enrichment to her work with the Mustangs at St. Catherine’s. Originally from Mexico, Ms. Maggy did her degree work in Social Studies and taught in Mexican Middle Schools for fifteen years. She has worked at the First Colony Montessori and served as a Spanish Teacher for “The Spanish Lessons Company”, most recently sent to work in the weekly program at St. Laurence Catholic School.
Ms. Maggy is also a resident of Sienna Plantation. She has been married for 21 years and has a daughter named Dalena who is 14 years old and is a 8th grader at Baines Middle School.
Ms. Sandy
“Explorers”
If you would like to e-mail Ms. Sandy, simply click on the link :
Sandy Martinez has been a dedicated member of St. Catherine’s for 16 years and proudly calls herself an “Explorer.” She finds joy in nurturing young learners, watching them grow, and helping them build the foundational skills necessary for lifelong success.
Ms. Sandy holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential and is an active member of NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) and SECA (Southern Early Childhood Association). She continuously enhances her ability through workshops, training, and professional development programs, including those at Texas A&M’s Continuing & Professional Education.
Born and raised in Mexico, Ms. Sandy earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus on industrial relations. She began her career working with the state government as a training and workforce development coordinator and later became a university professor at ICEST, leading symposiums for high school and community college students on career readiness and skill development.
After marrying and moving to Houston, Ms. Sandy sought to balance her professional aspirations with family life. Inspired by her own journey as a mother of two, Alex and Natalia, she pursued her CDA certification and transitioned into early childhood education. Over the past 16 years, she has gained extensive experience in teaching Spanish, art, curriculum planning, lesson development, and contributing to NAEYC-accredited programs.
A longtime resident of the Sienna community, where she has lived for over 21 years, Ms. Sandy is deeply committed to fostering a strong early education foundation for children. She embraces the words of Benjamin Franklin:
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn.”
Outside the classroom, Ms. Sandy enjoys spending time with her husband, Ricardo, and their family. She loves bike riding, gardening, reading, and cooking.
