At Blossom Heights School, we believe children learn naturally through play experiences — either self directed, peer directed or adult guided. Children who are provided extended time for exploration and play will gain critical thinking skills necessary to meet and surpass developmental milestones.

Blossom Heights School was founded in 2010 and continues to be owned and operated by Linda Draper, along with her passionate staff. Blossom Heights is proud to be a NAEYC accredited school and has also earned Certified Schoolyard Habitat recognition from The National Wildlife Federation.

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Our Founder

Linda Draper

Linda Draper and her loving family began a nature/play based child development center in the heart of Houston in the fall of 2011. She and her staff provide children with hours and hours of outdoor free play in our urban environment all year long. Encouraging children to explore materials and take developmentally appropriate risks aids in crucial cognitive, physical, and emotional development. Linda works to support the children and teachers as they navigate these early childhood waters. She loves observing how competent, capable, and curious all humans (littles and bigs) are when allowed time and space to create their own learning.

Linda and her team maintain NAEYC accreditation for their program. The team works to follow guiding principles inspired by the learning communities of Reggio Emilia, Italy and theories that emphasize the importance of relationships and independence, while fostering curiosity in the learning environment.

Linda believes in continuous education for herself, her staff, and families as they work together to make children’s’ time at school a rich and rewarding experience. She holds a MSed. focusing on development of children birth through 5 years old. Prior to starting Blossom Heights, Linda was the Director of a Cooperative Preschool where she served alongside families for 10 years.

Email Linda
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Assistant Head of School and Admissions Coordinator

Maxine Dickey

Maxine Dickey started her career in early childhood 28 years ago as a young mother looking for a program for her children that aligned with her belief that play is a child’s work.

She has been at Blossom Heights School alongside Linda for 11 years and feels passionate about what the children experience every day there. Being a co-learner with the children brings her joy and curiosity on a daily basis.

Every year, Maxine looks forward to being able to meet and greet new families as they tour Blossom Heights, showing them around the wonderful that has been created in this little pocket of Houston.

Email Maxine
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    Holly Taussig

    DIRECTOR OF PEDAGOGY & CULTURE

    Email Holly
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    Maryoceane Guy

    DIRECTOR OF GROWTH & INNOVATION

    Email Mary
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    Dena Gaydos

    DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

    Email Dena

Teachers & Support Staff

Teachers at Blossom Heights are integral to the work of the children, intentionally creating spaces and provocations that foster curiosity and engagement from the children.

Each and every member of the staff brings something unique to our program, have strong foundations in Reggio Emilia approaches, and are committed to children’s natural development.

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  • A smiling woman with red hair and glasses wearing a purple t-shirt with colorful text and graphics in front of a lime green wall.

    Ms. Eunice

    Sprouts Toddler Teacher

  • Ms. Betzabeth

    Buttercups Toddler Teacher

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    Ms. Veronica

    Buttercups Toddler Teacher/Lower School Liason

  • A woman with black hair and glasses wearing a black and white patterned sweater, standing against a lime green wall.

    Ms. Areli

    Buttercups Toddler Teacher

  • Young woman with long curly blonde hair, wearing a black turtleneck, dark jacket with gold zippers, and silver jewelry standing in front of a bright lime green wall.

    Ms. Maria Elena

    Daffodils Preschool Teacher

  • A circular logo with green and orange flower design and the text 'Bloodsomm Heights School' and 'where children bloom'.

    Ms. Lucy

    Daffodils Preschool Teacher

  • Logo with a flower design, green petals, orange center, and surrounding text reading 'Bloom Heights School' and 'where children bloom'.

    Ms. Leslie

    Zinnias Preschool Teacher

  • A woman with long brown hair and light skin, smiling, wearing a beige sweater and a necklace with a turquoise pendant, standing against a bright green wooden wall.

    Ms. Evelyn

    Zinnias Preschool Teacher

  • A woman with shoulder-length red hair and glasses, smiling, wearing a brown top, against a light green background.

    Ms. Sam

    Poppies Primary I Teacher

  • Logo of Blossom Heights School featuring a green flower with a central orange dot, encircled by the school name and slogan in orange text.

    Ms. Deema

    Poppies Primary I Teacher

  • A smiling young woman with dark wavy hair, wearing a tie-dye t-shirt that says 'Blossom Heights,' standing in front of a lime green wall.

    Ms. Valerie

    Marigolds Primary I Teacher

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    Ms. Rose

    Marigolds Primary I Teacher

  • Logo for Blossom Heights School featuring a stylized green flower with an orange center and the text 'Blossom Heights School' and 'where children bloom' encircling the flower.

    Ms. Tracey

    Daisies Primary II Teacher

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    Mr. Phil

    Daisies Primary II Teacher

  • A woman with short black curly hair, glasses, and earrings, smiling in front of a green wall.

    Ms. Areial

    Sunflowers Primary II Teacher

  • A woman with long dark hair and brown eyes, smiling, wearing a dark green shirt, standing against a light green wall.

    Ms. Kishwar

    Sunflowers Primary II Teacher

  • A smiling woman with dark hair, wearing a purple T-shirt with a colorful floral design, standing in front of a light green wall.

    Ms. Fabiola

    Elementary Math & Science Teacher

  • A woman with long wavy brown hair and blue eyes smiling, wearing a blue and green floral pattern top, standing in front of a lime green wall.

    Ms. Kendall

    Elementary ELA & Social Studies Teacher

  • Ms. Angelica

    Kinder - First Support

  • A woman with curly red hair smiling, wearing a burgundy top, against a light green background.

    Ms. Jordanna

    Elementary Curriculum Support

  • A smiling woman with long brown hair, wearing a colorful graphic t-shirt and a black jacket, standing in front of a light green wall.

    Ms. Laura

    Garden & Nature Educator

  • A woman with long, curly hair smiling against a yellow wall, wearing a light blue blouse

    Ms. Sherah

    Support/Music & Movement Teacher

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    Ms. Mariela

    Support Teacher

  • A young woman with short dark hair, green eyes, and tattoos on her left arm, smiling in front of a lime green wooden background.

    Ms. Sophie

    Pedagogical Coordinator

Join the team

We’re hiring dedicated educators seeking to be part of a collaborative, supportive, and enthusiastic team! As part of the team, you’ll have the chance to work in environments that promote exploration and self expression, such as innovate atelier spaces and flexible learning spaces. We emphasize the development of essential life skills such as leadership and empathy, ensuring children find joy in their journey. Join us and become part of a community where educators are valued and supported. Send us an email to get started!

Join Us

Our Campus

Our campus sits in mid-West Houston in the Blossom Heights neighborhood, conveniently located with easy access to major freeways and neighborhoods such as Sharpstown, Bellaire, Meyerland, Westbury, Galleria, Westchase, and Braeswood.

Current School Population

132 children

9 classes

28 staff members

Two children playing a game where one throws a green ball into a basket with a yellow ball already inside. A man supervises in the background outdoors, near a fenced area.
A backyard with a picnic table on a brick patio, a metal water tank, trees, and a building with metal siding on a cloudy day.
Flyer for Blossom Heights announcing campus expansion to be completed Fall 2026, featuring drawings of a building, interior, floor plan, and feature list including classrooms, offices, bathrooms, library, atelier space, outdoor community space, and outdoor spaces, along with contact information.
Flyer for Blossom Heights announcing campus expansion to be completed Fall 2026, featuring drawings of a building, interior, floor plan, and feature list including classrooms, offices, bathrooms, library, atelier space, outdoor community space, and outdoor spaces, along with contact information.

Engaging Community

At Blossom Heights School, we believe that a strong partnership between parents and educators is essential for creating a vibrant and supportive learning environment. Throughout the year, families and teachers come together to collaborate on a variety of projects, events, and volunteer opportunities. Whether it's working side by side on classroom activities, organizing school-wide celebrations, or contributing to the development of outdoor learning spaces, our community thrives through shared involvement. These meaningful experiences strengthen our connection, enhance the school experience, and ensure that our children have the best possible support as they grow and learn.

  • Our Family Engagement Committee serves the school by managing volunteer opportunities, support school events, finding creatives ways to give back to our staff, and more!

  • The Fall Festival, Spring Fling, and End of Year Summer Party offer our community seasonal opportunities to connect with each other while children engage in meaningful experiences.

  • Engagement days like our Family Work Days, Garden Days, and our Community Kindness Projects are ways the community members and children of BHS show up to use their hands and heart to improve our campus grounds, gardens, and find ways to give back to our greater community.

People harvesting vegetables in an outdoor garden, with some squatting and some standing, surrounded by plants and a fence, on a sunny day with clear sky.

Our Affiliates

Certified by the National Wildlife Federation

Our schoolyard habitat has been certified since 2020 by the NWF and is home to many birds, insects, and native plant species.

Logo of the National Wildlife Federation featuring a black bear wearing a ranger hat, with mountains in the background, and the text 'Since 1936'.
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NAEYC Accredited

Blossom Heights is accredited by NAEYC (National Association of Early Learning) and maintains its accreditation from year to year.

Circle logo with the words "Early Learning Program" and "NAEYC Accredited" surrounding a stylized flame symbol.
A young boy sitting at a table outdoors, writing or drawing on a piece of paper, surrounded by colored pencils and a book, with a clipboard nearby.
Logo of Urban Harvest, featuring stylized corn in green and yellow and text below reading 'Urban Harvest'.

Enrichment with Urban Harvest Partnership

Blossom Heights partners with Urban harvest to hold a community garden. This garden exists within the gates of BHS to provide hands on opportunities for children and their families to work together and grow in their understanding of the foods we consume.

A group of children sitting on concrete blocks inside a garden, with lush green plants around them and a metal wire structure overhead, under a partly cloudy sky.
Logo with stylized purple hands holding a small green plant, with purple shapes above resembling a sun or flower, and the words 'Plant It Forward' beneath.

Community Impact with Plant It Forward

Linda and her husband, Peter, welcome the opportunity to partner with Plant It Forward to donate a portion of the campus for refugees and New Americans living in Houston to run and manage an urban farm. The amazing produce of this farmer’s labor is available for purchase through a weekly farm share subscription with pick up site next to Blossom Heights, or at the local farmer’s market.

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