Lead Teacher
Haley O’Conner
Haley is an educator, lifelong learner, and advocate dedicated to cultivating a more inclusive world for her daughter and all children. Named Student Teacher of the Year at Texas Woman’s University, Haley holds a degree in Elementary Education with a specialization in language equity and ESL support. After years in public classrooms, she founded Teaching with Haley, a global curriculum company providing resources to hundreds of thousands of educators and families worldwide.
Haley brings a wealth of multi-disciplinary experience to our community, with a deep passion for social-emotional learning, history, and literacy. Guided by values of intersectionality, autonomy, and deep curiosity, she creates safe, student-centered environments where children can connect with themselves, their peers, and the natural world.
Outside the classroom, Haley brings her vibrant, multifaceted identity as a queer, neurodivergent educator into her creative work. A lover of deep conversations, deconstruction journeys, and creative writing, she can often be found gardening, hiking, or exploring Denton's local small businesses. Whether she is creating clay and paint masterpieces with her daughter or studying astrology and activism, Haley embodies the exact spirit of lifelong curiosity we champion at Kindred Oaks.
“The secret of good teaching is to regard the child’s intelligence as a fertile field in which seeds may be sown, to grow under the heat of the children’s imagination. Our aim is not to make the child understand, but to place within his reach the means of understanding.”
Creative Arts and Dance Instructor, Administrator, Assistant to the Lead Teacher, and School Founder
Helen Sanderson
Helen is a lifelong dancer and creative who brings a deep passion for movement and arts to the classroom. Helen holds an Art Therapy Practitioner Certificate and completed certification in the Gold Standard Project-Based Learning through the Buck Institute. She trained in classical ballet at Ballet Arizona, has performed with several modern companies, and has been teaching movement and creative arts to children for more than 15 years.
Helen believes strongly in fostering emotional intelligence and stamina through creative expression. She loves watching the unique creations children bring to life in every art form, and loves creating alongside her students.
Outside of the classroom, Helen enjoys spending time outdoors and with her family. Helen is a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. She loves Denton and strongly believes in the power of community.