Barbara Garza
AESA Prep Academy CEO & Head of School

For 6 years prior to starting up AESA, Barbara was Dean of Students for the 9th and 10th grades at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School.  Barbara is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.  She was Student Leadership & Wellness Department Chair overseeing Health, Physical Education, Student Leadership and the ROTC classes for McNeil High School.  Barbara was also a member of McNeil High School’s Leadership Team.

Barbara has over 30 years of educational experience, including extensive experience working with at risk students and has received the Governor of Texas Teaching Excellence Award.  She has been the Varsity Boys and Girls Tennis Coach at Katy Taylor High School, Rockwall High School and Pflugerville High School.Barbara has been an Honors Biology teacher, Health teacher, Supervisor of Student Teachers from the University of Texas, CATCH Curriculum Director for AISD, member of the AISD Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Board, a Student Government sponsor, a dorm parent, and House Leader. She developed a Special Education program entitled “Partners in PE” that was recognized by the City of Round Rock for assisting students with special needs.

Barbara founded the McNeil Spirit Blazers, a community service program with over 350 students each year.In 2014, Barbara was featured  in the Austin Women’s Magazine as the Head of School for AESA Prep Academy and was featured in the April 2015 edition of Austin Family Magazine in an article comparing the homework policies and school philosophy’s of AESA, St. Andrews and St. Stephen’s.

Jose Garcia
Co-Associate Head of School
Head of  High School
History Teacher
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 has nearly completed his 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.”

Diego Leal
Head of the Middle School, Global Languages Department Chair, Spanish Teacher, MS Student Government Sponsor

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.

Sarah Harbour
Head of Elementary School | K-2nd Grade Teacher

Sarah teaches kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade and enjoys working with our youngest learners. She also teaches both high school and middle school Social & Emotional Learning, Health, and Life Skills. Being the life-long learner that Sarah is, she is nearing the end of her studies of earning an Occupational Therapy Degree from St. Catherine University. This degree in conjunction with multiple Mindful School certifications, LYH children/teen yoga certification, and Growth Mindset Training have all led her on a mission of creating and enhancing the social emotional well being of young people. 

Sarah has been on multiple school and organization boards where she pursued to influence others about her mission and the importance of it. Sarah is also the owner of Just Be Yoga, which aims to enhance after school curricula and culture. Just Be Yoga is rooted in functional occupational therapy techniques, with a strong focus on body-brain connections; aimed to help children of all ages achieve a healthy and confident self identity.

Kyle Overby
Director of International Programs

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.

Rick Garza
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.

Carrie Cockayne

Supervisor, Administrative Staff

Bookkeeper, Substitute Teacher

Sarah Harbour
Head Fund Raiser & Student Store Operator

Cindy Herring
Reading and Learning Specialist

Audie Acorn
Founder of ATX Tutoring & Academic Solutions, AESA Tutor Supervisor, Test-Prep Coach

AESA faculty alumnus Audie Alcorn is now a full-time tutor and test-prep coach, who works one-on-one with students, both during and outside of school hours, as schedules permit. Audie holds an international Montessori teaching diploma, and his ten years of classroom experience include work in both private and public schools, in elementary and middle-school classrooms, and as a full-time math teacher (through Algebra 1), math tutor, and general (all subjects) Montessori guide. Audie has also worked in the publishing industry and as a freelance copy editor, and has ten years of successful college experience (including three degrees and as a PhD student at Rice). Since founding ATX Tutoring & Academic Services in 2017, Audie has been working one-on-one with students, at home and at school, providing a variety of assistance, including: private tutoring, specifically in math or writing; helping students with organization, study skills, and the timely completion of homework; helping students catch up to ‘grade level,’ or helping them get ahead and move above grade level, into advanced classes; and coaching students through the preparation for tests such as the ACT and SAT. Audie can also help with the college search and application processes. For more information, find ATX Tutoring on the web at atxtutoring.com , or reach out to Audie at [email protected] or at (512) 817-4750.

Bill Carey
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.  

Caro Palmatier
Mathematics
SAT Prep

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.

Adam Santos
Mathematics
Game Design | eSports
Computer Science

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!

Bobbi Bone 
Chemistry | Physics
MS Sciences
Computer Sciences

Clay Laughrey 
Environmental Science | Biology | Marine Biology | Zoology
MS Sciences

Jose Garcia
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.”

Kyei Ko
MS Social Studies
Health | Nutrition

Paul Love
English
Social Studies

Paul Love is originally from San Antonio, Texas.  Coming from an Air Force family, he lived in a lot of places before finally returning to San Antonio and graduating from East Central HS.  He entered the USAF right after that and lived in Southern Italy for several years.

Upon his return to civilian life, he began his college career and became a charter member of the Palo Alto Writer’s Guild.  Later on, he and his fellow writers began the Ed’s poet society at the Turner Theater in San Antonio.

Mr. Love traveled to Austin to attend the University of Texas.  He graduated with a BA in Russian and Eastern European Studies with a minor in History.  This field of study included components in literature, film, history, political science, and economics.

He has been a teacher in public schools in Pflugerville and Austin for eight years and has had the privilege of working with some of the brightest and most positive students in the world (in his humble opinion).  He believes in the transformational power of great stories and individual self-expression.  He also believes that education is a gift that endows us with the ability to change the world and bring light into darkness. That’s why he teaches.

Diego Leal
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.

David Leal
Spanish & PE Teacher

My name is David Leal and I am honored to be teaching Spanish and P.E. along with such a dream team of fine educators and personalities at AESA Prep Academy. My lifelong dream to be a teacher began as a tennis coach at the Cimarron Country Club in Mission, Texas – a tenure that lasted 17 years where I acquired invaluable teaching experience as the director of the after school junior tennis program. I found that the success in using joy and humor as a key teaching component to fulfilling a student’s development on the tennis court also holds true in the classroom. My experience as coach extended to being a life mentor to my students and further fueled my passion to work in education.

Lorin Bryce
Creative Arts

My career as a teacher began more than 30 years ago when I started teaching art in the Round Rock school district. I went on to teach at Parkside Community School, a Montessori school here in Austin. I have taught drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture and mosaic. In 2003, my husband, Robert Bryce, and I decided to begin homeschooling our three children: Mary, Michael, and Jacob. We did so because we wanted the freedom to develop our own curriculum and to travel. Now that our children are grown, I am excited to get back in the classroom so I can share my passion for art and the art of making.

I am an artist, swimmer, cyclist, tennis player, and birdwatcher. I am also a master potter and have been creating functional ware from porcelain and other types of clay for more than 30 years. I have lived in Austin since 1985. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado in art and English and a teaching certificate from the University of Texas at Austin.

Graeme Mullen
English

Graeme Mullen is excited to join the AESA English Department for the Spring 2021 semester. He holds a BA in Psychology from Stanford University and an MFA in Fiction Writing from Texas State, where he taught College Writing, 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 plans to assign an eclectic mix of literary and argumentative texts from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds in his classes. Also, he’s a little nutty about punctuation, so there’ll be plenty of comma practice going down.

Cindy Herring
5th Grade | Reading and Learning Specialist

Deanna Bogan
3rd & 4th Grade

Hi everyone! My name is Deanna Bogan and I am the 3^rd and 4^th grade teacher here at AESA Prep Academy. I am an Austin, Texas native, needless to say I have seen many changes throughout the years! I received my bachelor’s degree from Texas State University. My teaching career started in Eanes ISD, splitting time between Special Education and First Grade. I am truly excited to get back into the classroom, especially at a school like AESA! A little bit about me and my family. I am married to my husband Jesse, we have two children, our son Jack who’s 10 and our daughter Addison who’s 6. They will also be attending AESA which we couldn’t be more thrilled about!

When I am not at work, I enjoy exercising, taking golf cart cruises in our neighborhood with my family and most recently, taking up fly fishing on the coast with my husband. It is much harder than I thought it would be but so fun and relaxing at the same time.

I love teaching kids and watching them develop into lifelong learners. My goal is to grow a classroom of compassionate, eager to learn, confident boys and girls. I want them to feel like they are in a positive and safe environment when they are in my classroom. I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you!

Bonnie Brookby
ES Creative Arts, Drama, and Music

Anna Khayyat
ES Motor Movement | Spanish