Meet Our Team
Amanda Johnson
Program Director
Mrs. Amanda founded The Helping House in 2008. She directs the day program, summer clinic, and all related events including our Family Kite Fest and Be the Piece that Matters 5K/10K. In addition, she provides resources for families and professionals to help them facilitate a structured learning environment designed for success.
Essence Henderson
Program Manager
Mrs. Essence has been at The Helping House since 2019. She graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in psychology. As Program Manager, she oversees day to day procedures, interns, and volunteers. She loves lists and she especially LOVES checking things off her list!
Maria Tostado
Head Classroom Assistant
Mrs. Maria has been at The Helping House since it was founded in 2008. She worked with Mrs. Amanda in public school before bringing her skill set to THH. She has been with us through many seasons and is always willing to do her best for the students. She is passionate about each child's progress and loves to celebrate small steps! She has worked in every part of all of our programs, but she currently teaches Math!
Abby Schiwitz
Administrative Assistant
Miss Abby started at The Helping House as an intern in 2021 and currently leads Turn Taking! She helps assist in the planning and organizing of the day and summer program. She has a degree in Rehabilitation Services from SFASU. Abby will be pursuing a graduate degree in Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman's University starting in June, 2023.
Quin Hehr
Administrative Assistant
Miss Quin has been at The Helping House since 2022 and currently leads Reading! She has a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from SFA. She helps assist in the planning and organizing of the day and summer program. Miss Quin loves to think of new ways to teach things and is especially good at Adaptive Communication Devices!
Karen Tostado
Classroom Assistant
Mrs. Karen has been at The Helping House since 2013. She loves kids, and when she isn't at work she is surrounded by her nieces and nephews. She has a heart of gold and the patience of a saint, and currently leads Circle Time, which sometimes looks like Circus Time.
Abigail Maldonado-Tostado
Classroom Assistant
Mrs. Abigail has been at The Helping House since 2015 and currently does one-on-one language activities with the students. Abigail has a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from SFA and is working toward a graduate degree in Speech Language Pathology. She's intentional about expanding language opportunities for her students throughout the day, and we love to see her progress with her!
Megan Arnold
Classroom Assistant
Miss Megan has been at The Helping House since 2022. She has a happy heart and is excited to see her kids every morning. Megan facilitates Independent Work Jobs to build appropriate attention and work behaviors.
Connor Parr
Classroom Assistant
Mr. Connor has been at The Helping House since 2023. He is eager to learn strategies and behavior management techniques for classroom use. Mr. Connor has a great rapport with the students and engages them in many fun activities in Handwriting, which is the station he directs this semester.
Morgan Bailey
Classroom Assistant
Miss Morgan has been at The Helping House since 2023. She is quick to pick up on strategies for managing behavior. Morgan builds a good rapport with her students and has lots of creative conversational activities for our fluent communicators in Language.
Griffin Cook
Classroom Assistant
Miss Griffin has been at The Helping House since 2023! She volunteered at Santa Saturday in 2022 and decided that she would LOVE to hang out with us! Griffin is always ready to lend a hand and support her work team. She is a current student at SFA, majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies.
jaida phillips
Classroom Assistant
We are so grateful Miss Jaida joined our team in the Spring of 2023. She is having a good time getting to know the kids in Circle Time with Mrs. Karen.
Robert Kuban
Lifetime volunteer
What would we even do without Mr. Robert? He is consistent and available and patient and always willing to do what we need him to do. He considers it a privilege to be here with us, and we feel the same about him.
Amanda Wallace
Classroom Assistant
Miss Amanda started working at The Helping House in the Spring of 2022. She loves to come in and help the students with their work activities. She is the sweetest addition to our day!