MEET OUR STAFF
Passionate About What We Do
At Country Life School our teachers are nurturing, compassionate, fun, and also highly qualified. Our staff members prioritize building relationships with their students in order to create a safe, loving environment within our classrooms. Each teacher gets to know their students well so that they can provide a personalized, enriching experience for every child.
Miss Candice
Rollie Pollie Classroom
Hey there! I'm Miss Candice!
I moved to the USA from South Africa in 2015 after completing my Bachelor of Education Degree. I was working as an Au Pair in Dallas when I met my husband. We got married in 2017. We have 2 children, 3 dogs and a cat. My hobbies include cooking, baking, sewing, reading and anything outdoors with the family! We love going camping and fishing.
I started working at Country Life after my son attended summer care in 2022. I fell in love with everything about the school when we came for our tour. I knew right away that this would be the perfect school for us! I am so grateful to be part of the Country Life family!
Miss Maria
Rollie Pollie Classroom
Hi! I am Miss Maria!
I moved to the USA from Brazil with my husband and our daughter. In my spare time I really enjoy baking. I found Country Life when I was looking for a school for my daughter in 2020. She very quickly fell in love with school here, and so did I!
I completed my Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Pedagogy & Education in 2017. After volunteering at Country Life for a few years, I began working here in 2022. I love my Country Life family!
Miss Savanna
Bluebird Classroom
Hi, I’m Ms. Savanna!
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A little bit about me - I enjoy traveling, camping, reading, days at the lake, concerts, and hanging with my family and friends!
I have been in early childhood education for nine years, and in 2019 I graduated with my Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Child Development. I began teaching at Country Life in August of 2021. I have a passion for early childhood education and all things nature - Country Life has the best of both worlds!
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I am always excited to come to work and see my students! Plus I get to work with some amazing teachers!
Miss Paige
Bluebird Classroom
Hi! I’m Mrs. Paige!
I love all things pink and am naturally a girly girl. Fun fact about me is I’m a Disney travel agent as well as a teacher! So in my spare time I get to plan family vacations to a place that holds so many memories. I am happiest when I am surrounded by my family. I also enjoy traveling to the beach, the mountains and camping by the lake.
From a young age, I always knew I wanted to work with children. When I discovered Montessori, I knew that was the route I wanted to follow. I have my Montessori certification from the American Montessori Academy. After finding Country Life School, I fell in love with the principles of “preserving childhood and getting back to nature” and I knew this was where I wanted to be! I joined the CLS team in 2022 and am looking forward to continuing my career here.
Miss Bailey
Bluebird Classroom
Hi! I’m Mrs. Bailey!
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First and foremost I want to say that I did not find Country life… Country Life found me! I stumbled upon the CLS booth at the Fall Festival in downtown Royse City, and from that day I knew I wanted my future children to get an education at a nature based school with the values that Country Life upholds. This came true and my miracle little boy, who is now 2, is my world! We are outdoor adventurers, water playing, bug catching, and dirt loving peas in a pod here together!
My passion for early childhood education started at a young age. I am currently pursuing my degree in Early Childhood Education, and I am more than excited to grow my career here at Country Life. Naturally, I am a beach bum, but my husband and I like to visit the mountains each year. At home we have one lazy lap cat & one affectionate swimming dog who both take up too much space on our furniture. In my down time you can find me outside playing with my son, reading thriller novels, or sitting in a rocking lawn chair with my husband, taking in and enjoying the life we are creating together.
Miss Audrey
Coyote Classroom
Hey there! I'm Miss Audrey!
I have two beautiful daughters who I love, and who have helped me grow in to the person I am today. We own two dogs, and in our spare time we like to volunteer in our community, attend church, and visit with family.
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I began working at Country Life in the Fall of 2020 and have a background in psychology. I was drawn to CLS because of the individual time and attention the staff devoted to every child. I whole heartedly believe in the practice of allowing children to learn at their own pace, and allowing them time in nature. Country Life is a beautiful place, and I am very blessed to teach here!
Miss KelseaMae
Coyote Classroom
Hello! I am Miss KelseaMae!
I was born in Arlington, lived all across the West Coast, and found myself right back here at home again. I live right down the road from CLS with my husband, Grant, and our little baby girl, Aurora. We are very family-orientated - a majority of our family members live within a 2-mile radius and we wouldn’t want it any other way! If I’m not at school, you can find me at home hanging with my family or enjoying one of my many hobbies: beading, crocheting, aerials, and reading psychological thrillers.
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I have a strong background in Psychology and Special Education. I taught Special Education at a middle school level for several years before I found (where I believe I was meant to be) Country Life. I tell my Husband all the time that finding CLS was serendipitous. Even before we had Aurora, we knew we wanted a school where she would be encouraged to explore, and wonder, a place where there’s not only a focus on academics, but on social/emotional as well, and a place where she would be taught self-autonomy. I followed CLS on Facebook and one day a position became available. I immediately emailed the Director! From day one stepping onto the CLS campus, it felt like home. I couldn’t wait to grow professionally, and as e member of our CLS community.
Miss Leighann
Owner & Director
Hi! I'm Leighann!
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I was born and raised in Rockwall, TX. I attended The University of North Texas where I earned a Bachelor of Music Education Degree, as well as a Bachelor of Music Performance Degree. My teaching career began in 2010 teaching high school band in West Texas. After two years in Lubbock I found myself back in Rockwall, teaching high school band at Rockwall-Heath High School. I married my husband, Max, in 2014 and we had our first child two years later. In 2018 when we had our second child, I resigned from teaching band to stay home with our kids. Our third child was born in 2021. It was during my years as a stay at home mom that I discovered a passion for early childhood education. My family stumbled across Country Life in 2019 when we were looking for a school for my oldest son, and we never looked back. After being a Country Life Mama for two years I had the opportunity to teach the Coyote Class full time. I loved Country Life and wanted very badly to be a bigger part of it, so I studied and expanded my teaching certificate to include Early Childhood through 6th grade, and started teaching at CLS in 2022. The following year, Max and I were thrilled to take on Country Life as owners.
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I am blessed to work with some of the most genuine, selfless, caring ladies, who pour their hearts and souls into our CLS kiddos day after day. Country Life is a beautiful place and there is nowhere else I would rather be!
"We Rise by lifting others."
-Robert Ingersoll
