Situated in a small free-standing studio in a shady suburban Cedar Park, Texas, neighborhood,
Heart and Hands Family Center, LLC, is owned and operated by Leslie Castaneda. Leslie is the mother of four children, and has been married to her husband Jesse for over 25 years. Leslie has worked as a teacher, program coordinator, assistant director, director and owner of early childhood programs in Virginia and Texas for nearly the entirety of her career, most recently Good Earth Day School/Good Earth Farm School for 15 years. In addition to years of direct experience and continuing education hours, Leslie possesses:
Bachelor of Arts, Secondary Education (English and Science), West Virginia Wesleyan College
LifeWays North America Early Childhood Certificate
CPR/First Aid Certified
Williamson County Food Handlers Card
2023/2024 Student, Patisserie and Boulangerie, Le Cordon Bleu Paris
Leslie loves time in nature, travel, and cooking as well as time spent with her family. Heart and Hands Family Center is a relaxed space to nurture young children and their families, drawing from her professional and personal experience as a mother and early childhood professional.
Iris Castaneda is Leslie’s daughter and the assistant teacher at Heart and Hands Family Center. She has assisted in a nature-based preschool setting her entire life, and besides her cooking/baking skills, she is adept at flower arranging, crafting, crochet, knitting and other artistic pursuits.
CPR/First Aid Certified
Williamson County Food Handlers Card
Human Development Coursework, Leander ISD
Barista, Shift Lead, Assistant Manager in-training, local coffee shop
Certificate, Floral Design
