Hello! My name is Brenda Lau-Padron, and I am proud to be the Executive Director of Children's Lighthouse of Oak Forest! I have been an Early Childhood Education professional since 2007. I enjoy using my knowledge and skills to advocate for young children thriving academically in a safe, nurturing, and fun environment. I graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Universidad Tecmilenio in Monterrey, Mexico. After graduating college, I moved to Houston in 2009 and continue to pursue my passion for early childhood education as a Pre-K Lead Teacher (PreK is my jam!). Wanting to make an impact not only in my students' lives but their families and their experience as a whole in an early learning school, I started pursuing a career in education management in 2013. My husband, Antonio, and I have been married since 2013, and we have two beautiful daughters, Isabel and Andy, who are students here at our wonderful school! I love everything Harry Potter, new office supplies, and creating all the things with my Cricut. I truly believe it takes a village to raise children, and I would love to help you build yours. I have an open-door policy and look forward to partnering with you on your child's path to success.
My name is Glynnessa Smith, but I love to be called Nessa. I am so excited to join the administration team as the School Administrator. I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and relocated to Houston in 2021. I attended post-secondary schooling at Missouri State University for a bachelor's degree in Criminology with a minor in Art. Since 2015, I have been building my experience as an educator and an administrator. I joined Children’s Lighthouse of Oak Forest in September 2021 as our Room 7 Lead Teacher. I have a passion for teaching children and being an active participant in their development. My goals for our school include helping every teacher and child reach their fullest potential and creating a positive learning environment. In my spare time, I love to read, paint, and write and perform poetry. My colleagues say that I have the most contagious smile and positive personality, so don’t be shy to stop by the desk and say hi or let me know if I can help you with anything!
My name is Melissa and I am the Administrative Assistant here at Children's Lighthouse of Oak Forest. I have been an early childhood education professional since 2014. I have taught children as young as 6 weeks, and my favorite age group to teach has been toddlers! In 2021, I joined our school as a teacher in Room 3 and then decided to pursue an administration role at our school. I joined the front office team in December 2021. My goal is to help our school stay organized and to continue to find ways the best ways to be efficient. I love helping our teachers get what they need and getting to know our families to provide the best customer service possible. I have 2 children, Sophia and Emilio, and have been with my partner Rafael since 2011. In my spare time, I like to go on adventures outdoors and catch up with friends and family. I truly enjoy and thrive on, the constant activity in the front office, and my team will tell you that I’m very quick to get any task completed. If you ever need something done fast, just ask me!