Lower School
At Clariden, we believe every child is a thinker, dreamer, innovator, and leader. It takes the right educators with a strategic approach to academics to help students love to learn and feel empowered throughout their academic careers.
Clariden Lower School faculty prepares students for the academic rigor and opportunity awaiting in our Middle and Upper School communities. Our award-winning Project-Based Learning (PBL) environment promotes creativity and academic excellence. Students engage in various projects throughout the school year that meet and exceed state curriculum standards. Projects are enhanced through instruction from mentors, experts, field study, and travel. STEAM activities are also brought into the classroom daily through our classroom Makerspaces and specialized lessons.
Imagine a school wholeheartedly dedicated to creating a learning experience around each student’s unique needs and passions. That’s Clariden. Within intimate and dynamic classes, our faculty pushes students to realize the depth of what they’re truly capable of. We welcome you to explore the rest of the Lower School webpage and visit our beautiful campus to see, first-hand, the “Clariden Difference.”
Lower School Team
Elaine Gibson
Lower School Lead Educator
Lana Mills
Lower School Lead Educator
Lana Mills holds a B.S. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies/Education and a Master of Education degree from Stephen F. Austin State University. She holds three teaching certifications, including General Education (Early Childhood-4th grade), English as a Second Language, and Special Education (Early Childhood-12th grade). She has served as an educator for seventeen years in public and private school settings and has spent five of those years serving our Clariden community.
Amy Bowman
Lower School Educator
Ursula Daniels
Lower School Educator
Ursula Daniels will be joining Clariden as a 2nd grade teacher. She received her B.A. in Child Development from the University of Arizona and has eight years of experience in education. In her spare time, she enjoys performing in local theater productions, spending time with friends and family, and going on walks with her dog, Elder. She is excited to join the Clariden community and can’t wait to see you on campus!
Sarah Yandow
Lower School Educator
Sarah Yandow is currently a 2nd grade teacher at Clariden. She grew up in Connecticut and moved to the DFW area for college. She graduated Magma Cum Laude from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She has a certification in Early childhood education with endorsements in English as a second language and special Education.
Kate Lindsey
Lower School Educator
Kate Lindsey graduated from Tarleton State University with a degree in Human Sciences and a minor in business, and she holds a certificate in leadership. She has been teaching for the past ten years in lower elementary grades and holds certifications in ESL, Art, and Elementary Generalist. Kate is excited to begin her third year as a Clariden Cougar!
Lyly Figueroa
Lower School Educator
Lyly Figueroa has a degree in psychology with a minor in sociology from the University of Texas Permian Basin. She is currently taking the AMI Montessori training for 6-12. Her decade-long dedication to working with children in both professional and volunteer capacities has nurtured a deep understanding of their needs. From traversing 26 countries to living in Norway for three years as a full-time volunteer at an international school, Lyly's global experiences have enriched her perspective. Beyond the classroom, she finds joy in fitness, board games, and spending time with her family. Her path to Clariden came to her through studies in child development, as well as teaching in different schools where she discovered her passion for working as a teacher.