About Rising Stars Preschool
It all started with a simple vision . . . In 2006, we were both stay-at-home moms of preschool-aged children. Shortly after moving to Austin, we began searching for a good preschool in our area. Although, there were many fine schools available, none seemed to fit all of our needs. Like all mothers, we wanted a school that prepared our kids for Kindergarten but also encouraged their creativity all within a safe and nurturing environment. It was also important for us to find an academic curriculum instead of a play-based or daycare program. Above all, we wanted a preschool that was staffed with happy, caring, and well-educated teachers!
Our lead teachers have a college degree and come to us with a wealth of experience. Our Director, Amy Gonzales, holds both a B.S. and a Masters Degree in Family and Child Studies. Having a background in Human Resources we knew it was imperative to not only hire the very best educators but to retain our wonderful staff so there is low turnover and little disruption to your child's classroom. Our management syle is simple: treat each and every staff member the same way we would want to be treated. We do this by showing our sincere appreciation for all their hard work and effort through courtesy, care, support, and utmost respect. We feel this has helped us retain our amazing teachers through the years and we feel fortunate to have some of the same teachers we opened with in 2006!
It's hard to believe that it has been 10 years since we first started Rising Stars! We have come a long way since our simple vision and humble beginnings at our old location. People always ask us 'what's the best thing about owning a preschool' and it's an easy answer: the kids. It is awesome to see our students learning to write, to read, make new friends, and to just have fun! But the most heartwarming thing is seeing our former Rising Stars students and watching them grow into such beautiful and talented people throughout the years. We love catching up with their parents and hearing how happy and well they are doing in elementary school. It will be an even more surreal (and sad) day for us when we start hearing how they are enjoying their high school experience. Either way, the love and sense of pride we feel is truly indescribable.
Thank you for your time and interest in Rising Stars Preschool!
Mafel Masuno & Kelly Zermeno
Owners, Rising Stars Preschool
Mafel Masuno has a B.A. Degree in Economics from Loyola Marymount University. Her last position was Division Human Resources Manager for Tyco Electronics, Los Angeles & San Diego, where she worked for seven years. She and her husband, Sid, have two children: Jacob and Olivia.
Kelly Zermeno has a B.A. Degree in Developmental Psychology from San Francisco State University. Her last position was a Contract Human Resources Manager for Compaq Computers where she worked for three years. She has three children: Ryan, Benjamin, and Isabella.