Meet the Team

Christ Lutheran Day School takes great pride in its staff, all of whom bring valuable expertise, dedication, and a love of children each day to our school. Their mission is to implement a quality early childhood education program that is developmentally appropriate and fun, in a loving, caring, nurturing Christian environment. Their focus is to nurture the spiritual, emotional, social, intellectual, and physical growth of each child. Christ Lutheran Day School teachers and staff view themselves as part of a Christian learning community, dedicated to sharing the love of our Lord Jesus Christ with the children, their families, and the community.

Administration

Dana Ferraro - Director

Hello! My name is Dana Ferraro, and I am honored to serve as the Director of Christ Lutheran Day School. CLDS has been my home for the past 26 years, and I truly cannot imagine being anywhere else. I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Child Development and my Master of Education from Concordia University, and I have spent my entire career doing what I love most, serving young children, supporting families, and encouraging teachers.
One of the greatest joys of my job is watching children discover new things, build friendships, and grow in confidence each day. I believe every child is a unique gift from God, and I am passionate about creating a school where children feel safe, loved, and excited to learn. It is a privilege to partner with families during these important early years and to help build a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning and faith.
When I'm not at CLDS, you'll usually find me spending time with my three amazing boys, John, Joe, and Greg, who keep life fun and full of adventure. We love traveling, watching movies, building LEGO® creations together, and spending time at the beach, our favorite place to relax and make memories.
Every day, I feel incredibly blessed to be part of the Christ Lutheran Day School family. I am inspired by our dedicated teachers, the joy and curiosity of our children, and the trust our families place in us. It is truly an honor to serve this wonderful community, and I look forward to welcoming your family to CLDS.
Kelsey Shaw - Assistant Director

My name is Kelsey Shaw, and I am thrilled to be working with your children this year! Over the course of my career, I have had the joy of working with young children in a variety of educational settings. I have taught in the cribs and one’s class at University Christian Church in Fort Worth, Texas, served as a teacher at Texas Tech University’s Child Development Research Center, worked as a nanny, and—my favorite role—been a mom.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in Human Development from Texas Tech University and have been working in early childhood education for the past 23 years. This is my seventh year at Christ Lutheran Day School and my sixth year teaching toddlers.
I am married and the proud mom of two amazing boys: Harper, 15, and Weldon, 9, who both attend San Antonio Christian School. Children never cease to amaze me with their curiosity, creativity, and joy. I am excited for a year filled with exploration, creativity, and discovery with your little ones!
Candace Gutierrez - Administrative Assistant

Hello! My name is Candace Gutierrez, and I am excited to be a part of this community as the school’s Administrative Assistant. I have been a member of the CLDS Family for many years as a parent, a Board member, and now a staff member (my first year!).
I moved to San Antonio to attend Trinity University, where I received a Bachelor’s in English. I went to the University of Oklahoma Law School where I received my Juris Doctorate. Rather than practice law, I chose to work in Human Resources, where I specialized in employee grievances and discipline and served as a certified mediator for the State of Oklahoma.
For the past 12 years, I have enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom to my three kids, Selah (11), Siro (8), and Camila (4). I’m married to Siro (whom I met at Trinity.) We enjoy movie nights with our kids, trying new foods and restaurants, and building community. It has been a privilege to have our kids attend CLDS and be a part of this happy place.

Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero to me.

- Fred Rogers

Meet the Lead Teachers

Kelsey Shaw - Lead Teacher Early Beginnings

My name is Kelsey Shaw, and I am thrilled to be working with your children this year! Over the course of my career, I have had the joy of working with young children in a variety of educational settings. I have taught in the cribs and one’s class at University Christian Church in Fort Worth, Texas, served as a teacher at Texas Tech University’s Child Development Research Center, worked as a nanny, and—my favorite role—been a mom.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in Human Development from Texas Tech University and have been working in early childhood education for the past 23 years. This is my seventh year at Christ Lutheran Day School and my sixth year teaching toddlers.
I am married and the proud mom of two amazing boys: Harper, 15, and Weldon, 9, who both attend San Antonio Christian School. Children never cease to amaze me with their curiosity, creativity, and joy. I am excited for a year filled with exploration, creativity, and discovery with your little ones!
Dara Carney - Lead Teacher Early Beginnings

I am excited to welcome you and your child to our 2026–27 CLDS Early Beginnings class! I hold a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling, with additional studies in Child Development and Early Education. I developed a passion for working with young children early in my career. That passion grew through hands-on experience working in early childhood settings both in and outside the classroom. Now my husband of 25+ years and I are empty nesters with grown children. I’m thrilled to be returning to CLDS and look forward to being part of your child’s school experiences!
Sarah Keeling - Lead Toddler Teacher

We are excited to welcome our newest teacher to the Christ Lutheran Day School family!
She brings more than three years of experience in early childhood education, along with several years of experience working in a public school district. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of the Incarnate Word, with a minor in Special Education.
As a mother of three wonderful children—Leia, Arya, and Alfie—she understands the importance of creating a nurturing environment where every child feels safe, loved, and valued. Her own children inspire her passion for teaching and her commitment to helping young learners grow through meaningful play and exploration.
She believes children learn best through hands-on experiences, curiosity, and joyful discovery. Her goal is to create a classroom where every child develops confidence, builds meaningful relationships, and experiences the joy of learning each day.
She is excited to partner with families and looks forward to making this school year a fun, engaging, and memorable experience for every child.
Gloria Vega - Lead Teacher 2's

This will be my sixth school year at Christ Lutheran Day School and my fifth year as the lead 2s teacher. I am a graduate of the Young Women’s Leadership Academy and Alamo College, where my love for teaching and exploration was nurtured by inspiring mentors. I hold a degree in education and am proud to continue growing within the CLDS community.
Working at CLDS has been a deeply rewarding part of my journey as I strive each day to foster children’s creativity and curiosity while guiding them as they learn, explore, and grow both academically and personally. Outside of the classroom, I stay close by in the Monte Vista area, where I enjoy nature walks, crafting, and antiquing. Play-based learning is my passion, and I feel truly honored to share in the adventures children embark on as they discover the world around them.
Shaviannah Lopez - Lead Teacher Toddler/2's

Bio Coming Soon
Valerie Mortion - Lead 2s/3s Teacher

Bio Coming Soon
Donah Crowley - Lead Teacher 3's

My name is Donah Crowley, and I have been part of the Christ Lutheran Day School family for over 30 years, teaching in our 2’s program. This year, I am excited to be working with a wonderful class of 3-year-olds for the first time.
I hold a B.A. in Early Childhood Education from Concordia University and am proud to be a graduate of Christ Lutheran Day School myself. Having lived in San Antonio my entire life, this community is truly home.
Outside the classroom, I enjoy photography, art, and reading. I also share my home with a lively crew of pets—three cats, one dog, two turtles, and a hamster. I am looking forward to a year filled with learning, creativity, and joyful discoveries with my students.
Sarah Anne Stephens - Lead Teacher 3's

Hi! I am Sarah Anne Stephens and this is my third year at Christ Lutheran Day School. I graduated from Samford University with a degree in early childhood, elementary and special education with a minor in nutrition and dietetics. After graduating from Samford, I took a year off to do the World Race–during this time, I taught English as a second language, helped with orphan care, and other acts of community service through Christian-based ministry. I am married to my husband, Gary, and we have two children, Benjamin (age 5) and Eleanor (age 2). We also have two cats named Piper and Roo and a dog named Nash! I taught kindergarten here in San Antonio until I had Benjamin. I am looking forward to another fun year with your children!
Jennifer Davis - Lead Teacher 4's

Hello! My name is Jennifer Davis, and this is my third year at Christ Lutheran Day School. I hold a B.A. in Multidisciplinary Studies with concentrations in education, history, and sociology from UTSA, and I also completed graduate coursework in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Behavior Analysis at UTSA.
My husband and I are proud parents of four children—two in college, one in high school, and one in middle school—and we share our home with a lively menagerie of pets. In my spare time, I enjoy playing the cello, knitting, and creating in the ceramics studio.
I’m excited for another year of learning, creativity, and discovery with the children here at CLDS!
Amber Aguirre - Lead 4s Teacher

Amber Aguirre is excited to join the Christ Lutheran Day School family and begin her first year at CLDS. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Oral Roberts University and later obtained her Alternative Teaching Certification for Early Childhood through 6th Grade.
Amber brings seven years of experience in Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 with North East ISD. She is passionate about creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging classroom where children learn through exploration, build confidence, and develop a lifelong love of learning.
Originally from Oklahoma, Amber enjoys spending time outdoors, running, hiking, traveling with her family, and cheering on her two children at their baseball games. She looks forward to partnering with families and making this school year a joyful and memorable experience for every child.
Rebecca Hackett - Lead Teacher Kindergarten

Hello!
My name is Rebecca Hackett, and I am thrilled to work with your four-year-olds this year! I have over ten years of teaching experience with NEISD, where I served as both an elementary music teacher and an elementary librarian. I hold a Bachelor of Music Education from Texas Tech University and a Master of Library Science from Texas A&M University.
My husband and I have two wonderful boys who both attended CLDS and loved every minute of it. I am passionate about books, especially children’s literature, and love spending my spare time reading. I can’t wait to watch your children learn, discover, and grow throughout the year!