Associate Head of School & Head of High School

History Teacher
HS Student Government Sponsor

Jose graduated with a Bachelor's degree in History at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas and aims to expand history from what is the status quo in History Education.  Jose earned his Master's in Liberal Arts Degree at St. Edwards University in 2017. Jose’s historical and educational philosophies stem from a deep understanding of the need for differentiated instruction to meet the needs of individual students.

“History is much more than just a blow off course taught by the high school football coach in his off hours. It is what makes us who we are. It defines us as a community, a nation, and as world citizens. It should not be about memorizing dates to fill in a worksheet, it should instead be a living thing that students come to know and understand. History is about understanding the story of our people, and recognizing we are all more connected than we know.”

CFO of AESA Prep Academy

Director of AESA Prep International Online

Rick earned his BBA from the University of Texas at Austin. He has 24 years of experience working in the accounting/finance field at UT where he has been responsible for annual budgets ranging from 5 to 30 million dollars. Rick served as Business Manager for the University of Texas Law School Library for 15 years and this past year left UT as the Senior Financial Analyst for PETEX in the Department of Continuing Education. Rick officially joined AESA Prep Academy in 2014, as the Director of AESA Prep International (API) and continues his duties as the CFO of AESA Prep Academy as he has done since 2009.

Rick is very happy to be working with his wife, Barbara.

Head of Elementary School

With a passionate commitment to fostering a love for learning among the youngest scholars, Sarah Harbour stands at the helm of our Elementary School as the Head of Elementary, where she also takes joy in directly shaping the minds of our PK-1st grade students. With her educational experience, Sarah embodies the spirit of nurturing curiosity, creativity, and a sense of community among her students. 

Her educational philosophy centers on the belief that early childhood education is the foundation for lifelong learning, emphasizing the importance of a balanced approach that caters to the academic, social, and emotional needs of every child. Sarah is renowned for her innovative teaching methods that integrate play-based learning with traditional academic foundations, preparing her students not just for the next grade level, but for life.

Under her leadership, our Elementary School has become a beacon of innovative learning, where every child is valued for their individuality and encouraged to explore their potential. Sarah’s dedication to excellence in education, combined with her warm, approachable nature, makes her an invaluable asset to our school community and a beloved figure among students and parents alike.

Head of Academics

Director of Academic Support and AESA College Road Map

Cindy is thrilled to be part of the AESA faculty and brings with her over 28 years of experience teaching and working with children.  She has a BS in Education with a Reading Endorsement from Texas State University and her Master of Education in Advanced Literacy from Concordia University.  She holds Texas Teaching Certificates in Elementary, Reading, ELAR 4-8, and ESL. She is also a Certified Advanced Reading Specialist and a Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist with the International Dyslexia Association.

Cindy enters her 6^th year on the AESA faculty and serves in a full-time role as the Head of Academics and Director of Academic Support and the AESA College Road Map.

She has spent time teaching elementary, middle, high, and even preschool-aged children in both public and private schools.  She has operated her own private tutoring business, conducted numerous teacher trainings and before she came to AESA was an instructional specialist and coach for Austin ISD. This experience fueled her passion for providing individualized, differentiated instruction, and working with families who were seeking something unique and special for their children.

Cindy has been fortunate to teach, learn and live in several states.  Her husband spent 15 years in the collegiate and professional sports industry, where she was a dedicated “coach’s wife” and mother. As native Texans, her family was thrilled to return to Austin permanently several ago and live in the beautiful hill country, her favorite place on earth! She lives in Dripping Springs with her family and loves to read, explore Austin, and travel.

Director of Logistics

Chemistry | Physics 

MS Sciences

Bobbi grew up in Michigan and attended the University of Michigan, graduating with a bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering.  She then moved to Texas to work for Motorola (subsequently Freescale) in technical sales and marketing for almost 15 years.  This career took her around the world, training and working with customers and sales.  As her family grew, she gave up this career to raise her children.

Driven by a passion for working with children and teaching, Bobbi opened the Kumon Math and Reading Center in Dripping Springs.

Dripping Springs Elementary requested that Bobbi come and teach math and reading intervention, which she did for five years.  She also was a substitute teacher for all grade levels in DSISD.

Bobbie currently teaches 7th grade Science, 8th grade Science, Advanced Chemistry, and Physics.

Kyle received a Masters in Global Policy Studies from the prestigious LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. Kyle originally joined the team at AESA Prep Academy to teach Spanish language and Latin American culture. At AESA he continues to host the Model UN, organize field trips, and promote cultural exchange. Kyle also serves on the Board of Directors at the Mother Maryam Foundation, where he works on projects that expand access to clean water, healthcare, and education in developing countries.

Kyle has extensive experience and expertise in Latin America, the Middle East, and North Africa. He is fluent in Spanish and has achieved elementary proficiency in Arabic. In his personal life, Kyle is driven by a thirst for international travel. He has been proudly shaped by his hometown, Austin, Texas. He loves to watch live music, eat well, and go on adventures in the great outdoors.

Supervisor

Administrative Staff Bookkeeper

Substitute Teacher

A native Texan and graduate of Southwest Texas University, Carrie has been in the Dripping Springs area for over 25 years. With her degree in Home Economics, Carrie spent most of her career as a wife and wonderful mom, raising 3 (now grown) kids.

It’s her passion for children and education, coupled with her caring personality that make her a great fit for her Jill-of-all-trades role at AESA. From bookkeeping, to planning events and from substitute teaching to picking up breakfast tacos for staff meetings, Carrie ensures the AESA family is in good hands.

Head of Academics

Director of Academic Support and AESA College Road Map

Cindy is thrilled to be part of the AESA faculty and brings with her over 28 years of experience teaching and working with children.  She has a BS in Education with a Reading Endorsement from Texas State University and her Master of Education in Advanced Literacy from Concordia University.  She holds Texas Teaching Certificates in Elementary, Reading, ELAR 4-8, and ESL. She is also a Certified Advanced Reading Specialist and a Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist with the International Dyslexia Association.

Cindy enters her 6^th year on the AESA faculty and serves in a full-time role as the Head of Academics and Director of Academic Support and the AESA College Road Map.

She has spent time teaching elementary, middle, high, and even preschool-aged children in both public and private schools.  She has operated her own private tutoring business, conducted numerous teacher trainings and before she came to AESA was an instructional specialist and coach for Austin ISD. This experience fueled her passion for providing individualized, differentiated instruction, and working with families who were seeking something unique and special for their children.

Cindy has been fortunate to teach, learn and live in several states.  Her husband spent 15 years in the collegiate and professional sports industry, where she was a dedicated “coach’s wife” and mother. As native Texans, her family was thrilled to return to Austin permanently several ago and live in the beautiful hill country, her favorite place on earth! She lives in Dripping Springs with her family and loves to read, explore Austin, and travel.

and travel.

Director of College Counseling

English

Writing Disciplines

Literature

Mr. Mullen is excited to return for his second semester in the AESA English Department. He holds a BA in Psychology from Stanford University and an MFA in Fiction Writing from Texas State, where he taught composition, literature, and creative writing from 2012-2020.

Graeme grew up in Zimbabwe, finished up high school in Massachusetts, and lived on both coasts before moving to the Austin area.

In terms of his teaching philosophy, Graeme believes that the best way to learn to write well is to learn to read well. He'll be assigning an eclectic mix of literary and argumentative texts from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds in his high school English classes.

In addition to his teaching duties, Graeme will also be heading up the college counselling program for AESA this year. He looks forward to tapping into his experience as a college essay coach and his inside knowledge of university admissions in order to support AESA's high school students through all stages of the application cycle

Director of Logistics

Chemistry | Physics 

MS Sciences

Bobbi grew up in Michigan and attended the University of Michigan, graduating with a bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering.  She then moved to Texas to work for Motorola (subsequently Freescale) in technical sales and marketing for almost 15 years.  This career took her around the world, training and working with customers and sales.  As her family grew, she gave up this career to raise her children.

Driven by a passion for working with children and teaching, Bobbi opened the Kumon Math and Reading Center in Dripping Springs.

Dripping Springs Elementary requested that Bobbi come and teach math and reading intervention, which she did for five years.  She also was a substitute teacher for all grade levels in DSISD.

Bobbie currently teaches 7th grade Science, 8th grade Science, Advanced Chemistry, and Physics.

Calculus 1 & 2 | UC Berkley DC Calculus 1 & 2 Statistics

Mr. Bill Carey, math teacher extraordinaire, was born in New England and raised in Florida, where he initially worked at what would become the Kennedy Space Center, to then spend 35 years teaching math at Melbourne High School. While at Melbourne, he coached football, tennis and track, and served as the Athletic and Activities Director.

In 1972, Mr. Carey received a NSF grant to attend Florida State University where he received his Master’s Degree in Math Education. Before ending up in Austin, Mr. Carey taught an additional 5 years in North Carolina at West Rowan High School.  Fortunately for AESA Prep Academy, Mr. Carey moved to Austin to be with 3 of his 10 grandchildren and has been with us for the past 2 years teaching calculus.  

Co-Associate Head of School 

HS Social Studies

HS Student Government Sponsor

Jose studied History at St. Edwards University in Austin,Texas and aims to expand history from what is the status quo in History Education.  Jose also has Master’s Degree at St. Edwards University in Education. Jose’s historical and educational philosophies stem from a deep understanding of the need for differentiated instruction to meet the needs of individual students.

“History is much more than just a blow off course taught by the high school football coach in his off hours. It is what makes us who we are. It defines us as a community, a nation, and as world citizens. It should not be about memorizing dates to fill in a worksheet, it should instead be a living thing that students come to know and understand. History is about understanding the story of our people, and recognizing we are all more connected than we know.”

Kurt comes to AESA with a wealth of previous experience. He was a Naval Officer in Special Warfare and Oceanography and Financial Analyst for Hewlett Packard He is also a National Champion Indoor Men's Volleyball and is still a lifelong passion, coaching various age groups. He even patented the plytower to improve vertical jump in athletes. 

With his combination of professional and personal experience we are thrilled with the knowledge he will be able to impart on our students. 

AESA is very excited to have Kurt join our teaching team for the 2023-2024 academic year!

MS Social Studies 

Health | Nutrition

Kyei-Han Ko, or Mr. Ko, to his students is in his 4th year at AESA and teaches Middle School Social Studies and Health. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from California Baptist University and a Master of Divinity from Baylor University. Before teaching, he worked in church music ministry for over ten years, meeting people from around the world. Along the way, he decided to pursue teaching, starting as an Assistant Preschool Teacher in Fort Worth and then working as a substitute teacher at Midway ISD. Kyei also taught music at a local private school in Waco.

Kyei is ethnically Korean and originally from South Korea. His family immigrated to the United States in the 1990s, they first settled in New York City, and lived there for several years before moving to New Orleans. Later, his family relocated to sunny Southern California and they now reside in Texas.

In addition to academics, Kyei has a passion for food and travel. He has had the opportunity to visit several countries, including India, Germany, Mexico, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, South Korea, Japan, and Colombia. There is so much in this world to explore, learn, and enjoy, and he is ready for the journey ahead!

Spanish & PE Teacher 

David Leal is honored to teach Spanish and P.E. alongside a team of skilled educators and personalities at AESA Prep Academy. His lifelong dream of becoming a teacher began with his role as a tennis coach at the Cimarron Country Club in Mission, Texas, a position he held for 17 years. There, he gained valuable teaching experience as the director of the after-school junior tennis program. He discovered that incorporating joy and humor as key teaching components helped students succeed on the tennis court, and this approach proved effective in the classroom as well. His coaching experience extended to mentoring students, further fueling his passion for working in education.

Teaching at AESA has allowed David Leal to utilize his bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. His dedication to psychology has served as a solid foundation for his teaching career, offering him a teaching philosophy rooted in compassion and providing him with the communication skills needed to maximize each student's potential both inside and outside the classroom.

Head of Middle School

Global Languages Department Chair

Spanish Teacher

Diego has been a very positive force at AESA Prep Academy.  For Diego,  “Teaching Spanish is much more than merely imparting on young minds the ability to read, write, and speak a foreign language.  I believes the importance of opening one’s mind to learning about and embracing other cultures, and the perspective and enrichment it brings to one’s life.

I bring a lifetime of multiculturalism that I will leverage to broaden students’ to learn a love for learning and an appreciation for other cultures, and grow up to be a successful, contributing members of society.  I was born and raised in the culturally diverse border-town of McAllen, Texas, where both Mexican and American cultures have blended together to make one very unique community. I had the privilege of experiencing both cultures first hand and was raised by parents of Mexican decent who only spoke Spanish in the household, and while assimilating into the American culture through the education system.”

Diego holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Texas – Pan American. Over the past ten years, he has had a wide array of professional experience, thriving in globally diverse industries by utilizing my bilingual proficiency and ability to recognize and bridge the gaps in different cultures. He looks forward to sharing his experiences and knowledge and as well as continuing to learn from my students.

English

Writing Disciplines

Literature

Mr. Mullen is excited to return for his second semester in the AESA English Department. He holds a BA in Psychology from Stanford University and an MFA in Fiction Writing from Texas State, where he taught composition, literature, and creative writing from 2012-2020.

Graeme grew up in Zimbabwe, finished up high school in Massachusetts, and lived on both coasts before moving to the Austin area.

In terms of his teaching philosophy, Graeme believes that the best way to learn to write well is to learn to read well. He'll be assigning an eclectic mix of literary and argumentative texts from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds in his high school English classes.

In addition to his teaching duties, Graeme will also be heading up the college counselling program for AESA this year. He looks forward to tapping into his experience as a college essay coach and his inside knowledge of university admissions in order to support AESA's high school students through all stages of the application cycle

Mathematics

Glen Meyer, is an educator, writer, and philosopher living and working in Austin, Texas. At AESA, he teaches middle and upper-level mathematics. H grew up in the Midwest and has an undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of Iowa and a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Minnesota (with a specialization in the philosophy of science, including a minor in studies of science and technology).

He has over 17 years of professional work experience and over 15 years of teaching and tutoring experience;  former students have ranged from seventh grade through graduate school. He has worked in a variety of occupations: as a high school teacher and a college professor, in artificial intelligence (as an ontologist, developing ontologies and designing inference paths), and, more recently, as a rate making property and casualty insurance actuary, both in private industry and in rate regulation. A few years ago he left this last occupation to return to his true passions: teaching and writing.

Caro Palmatier is a fabulous all-level Math teacher who excels in teaching Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, Pre Calculus, Calculus, and Physics. Caro writes and constructs math problems for the Princeton Review, the SAT and the ACT. She is a resourceful and committed teacher, with excellent communication skills, relating well to all types of people. Caro has taught Math at the elementary, middle school and high school levels, and has created and introduced new curriculum for middle and high school math courses. Caro has been recognized as the teacher of the month/year many times.

Caro has been teaching for 35 years! Caro has planned and organized Math work shops and has extensive experience in PSAT, SAT, and ACT prep.  She has taught in the Lake Travis ISD, Edinburg ISD, has worked with Oakhill technology and Ignite Learning. Please check the Lakeway newspaper that recognizes Caro’s excellent teaching skills, under our News and Events tab.

Mathematics

eSports Director

Adam has been a middle school math teacher for 10 years, starting in Bryan/College Station after graduating from Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas. Adam has lived and taught in the Austin area in both Austin ISD and Eanes ISD since his move here in 2009. He knew he wanted to be a teacher after having joined the PALS (Peer Assistance Leadership Skills) in high school and having been hired by the school district to tutor elementary students. Adam feels that it is a privilege to teach and is grateful to have been able to follow a career sought out at 16 years old!

Adam’s educational philosophy is that all people are math people, and he wants all his students to believe this! His goal is for each student to become a lifelong learner. In the spirit of leading by example, Adam will be finishing his Master’s Degree from Texas State University in Educational Technology. When Adam is not studying, he often finds himself leading various local training sessions for teachers in state-wide teaching and learning conferences as he enjoys teaching other teachers just as much as students! 

Adam is a former collegiate track & field and cross country athlete who enjoys staying active by running and swimming with his wife. Other hobbies he enjoys include watching sports with friends and playing Nintendo Switch with his kids!

Electives

Jessica Santos has worked in Education for 10 years, serving within private and charter school settings. Ms. Santos believes in the value of a well-rounded education and is excited to teach a variety of elective courses to Middle and High School students. Her teaching philosophy revolves around creating an environment where it is safe, and even important, to make mistakes. This is because she believes it is often within recovery from mistakes that resiliency and character are built, the most important lessons of all. 

Jessica currently teaches Adulting: Life Skills, Culinary Arts, Debate, SAT Prep, Sewing & Needle Arts, Tabletop Gaming, and Yoga.

Laura studied Anthropology at Texas State University.  While attending college, she worked as a teaching assistant for both Educational Psychology and General Studies. Laura finds she is happiest when she is engaging young minds and fostering their love of learning. 

Laura’s 10 years of experience in the classroom at private schools in both Dallas and Austin, taught her that students thrive when you give them the opportunity to nurture their curiosity and engage in challenging, meaningful work. She embraces a teaching style that empowers students to move beyond subject comprehension to the application of knowledge in their personal lives and in their community. In her experience, children are far more capable than they may believe. When we step aside and let them lead, they gain confidence to excel and work toward amazing endeavors.

Head of Elementary School 

PK-1st

With a passionate commitment to fostering a love for learning among the youngest scholars, Sarah Harbour stands at the helm of our Elementary School as the Head of Elementary, where she also takes joy in directly shaping the minds of our PreK-1st grade students. With her educational experience, Sarah embodies the spirit of nurturing curiosity, creativity, and a sense of community among her students.

Her educational philosophy centers on the belief that early childhood education is the foundation for lifelong learning, emphasizing the importance of a balanced approach that caters to the academic, social, and emotional needs of every child. Sarah is renowned for her innovative teaching methods that integrate play-based learning with traditional academic foundations, preparing her students not just for the next grade level, but for life.

Under her leadership, our Elementary School has become a beacon of innovative learning, where every child is valued for their individuality and encouraged to explore their potential. Sarah’s dedication to excellence in education, combined with her warm, approachable nature, makes her an invaluable asset to our school community and a beloved figure among students and parents alike.

Jennifer Bristol grew up in Louisiana and earned her BA at Centenary College of Louisiana, her MA in Literature at the University of Notre Dame, and her MA in Education at Pepperdine University. She has studied abroad in France multiple times and considers travel to be one of the best learning opportunities. Jennifer lived in Japan for two years teaching English and traveling throughout Asia. She is certified to teach all ages, preschool to adult.

In her 27 years as an educator, she has taught university, high school, middle school, elementary school, and preschool students in the United States, Japan, and France. For several years, she taught both French and English at AESA Prep Academy at the Middle School and High School levels. She is currently having the time of her life teaching Social Studies and Creative Arts in the Elementary School and is looking forward to many more adventures at AESA.

She is married to her husband, Mark, who works in the film industry. Together, they have two children Evelyn and Walter. Evelyn is currently a sophomore in college and Walter is a sophomore in high school. They are both Eagle Scouts, which is a great source of pride for their parents. Jennifer loves the adventure of travel, playing with her dogs, and exploring the great outdoors as a lifetime Girl Scout and long time volunteer with Scouts BSA. 

ES Physical Education | Spanish

In her 3rd year at AESA, Anna teaches Spanish and Physical Education. She majored in Psychology, minored in Child Development, and has her Texas Teachers Certification.

Before beginning her career in teaching, she worked for Americorps in New Orleans, conducted cognitive-behavioral studies through Texas State, and worked at the Gladys Porter Zoo. She has a passion for dance, yoga, and self-expression through movement and wants to share that with her students. Creating an inclusive environment for students to feel their best and confident within themselves and around their peers is her goal.

Outside of her “teacher life”, she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen with new recipes, traveling, and making jewelry.

ES ELAR

Alyssa Kitch, known as Ms. Kitch to her students, teaches ELAR and all components of literacy to AESA's elementary school children. She grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and attended both The University of Oklahoma and The University of Central Oklahoma where she studied Education and Speech-Language Pathology. Alyssa's teaching career started off in Moshi, Tanzania where she was able to combine her passions for culture, people, travel, and phonics. She spends her free time in Austin hiking, paddle boarding, and hand-throwing pottery. Being around young people has always brought her so much joy and she looks forward to working with each of your families!

Having always been passionate about working with young children, Peace is delighted to be co-teaching in the K-1 classroom this year. After years of coaching and teaching art to elementary and high school students in the Austin area, Peace decided her future as an educator lay in the early childhood classroom. She can't wait to learn alongside the amazing students here at AESA!

In her free time, Peace enjoys spending time in nature, painting, and reading- all of which inform her joyful and literature-rich approach towards teaching.

Marge Morle

Math and Science

Marge is in her third year at AESA and is proud to teach Elementary Math and Sciences. This is her 5th year of teaching experience.
She believes children should be enabled to reach their potential by developing positive self-concept within the classroom and beyond.
Marge lives with her husband and 8 year old son, who also attends AESA, in beautiful Dripping Springs. She also has three wonderful step children, who live in the UK. She has many fur-babies at home, including 3
cats and a recent addition - a puppy, who keeps her sufficiently busy! In my free time she loves listening to books, gardening and swimming!