Executive Director & Head of School
President of the Executive Board of Directors
Dean of Students for the 9th and 10th grades at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School for the past 5 years, Barbara has over 30 years of educational experience, including extensive experience working with at risk students. She has received the Governor of Texas Teaching Excellence Award. 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. She has been the Varsity Boys and Girls Tennis Coach at Katy Taylor High School, Rockwall High School and Pflugerville High School. She 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, dorm parent, and House Leader. She developed a Special Education program entitled “Partners in PE" that was recognized by the City of Round Rock. She founded the McNeil Spirit Blazers, a community service program with over 350 students each year. For the past six years, Barbara and her husband Rick have directed the University of Texas Men’s Varsity Tennis Team’s Ball Boy and Ball Girl program as a volunteer service for the tennis community. This is the only Division 1 ball kids program in the country. They have supervised the ball boys and girls for yearly professional tennis events that come to Austin as well. Barbara and her family were voted Tennis Family of the Year by the Capitol Area Tennis Association. She is currently CPR and AED Instructor certified.
Math Department Chair
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 is a graduate of Pan American University and has taught for 32 years. 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 and for 100% of her students passing the end of the year Algebra 1 exam for six straight years. Caro has planned and organized Math work shops. She is also fluent in Spanish, and has extensive experience in PSAT, SAT, and ACT prep. Caro has taught for 32 years and will also be teaching Junior English this year. 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.
Math Teacher
Erin Brack has a passion for helping students understand mathematics and reach their full potential academically. She graduated from Trinity University, and has taught in a classroom for seven years serving as Department Head and Curriculum Coordinator. She has taught all core subjects, including math classes ranging from 4th grade to pre-calculus and SAT prep. Outside the classroom, Erin consulted for the College Board and opened her own company that has sold mathematics materials to teachers throughout the country. She designs and leads teacher training for individual schools and districts, encouraging teachers to expect excellence from their students. Erin also writes and edits for textbooks and testing companies, and tutors students who need that extra help to succeed in their classes. While she enjoys the nuts and bolts of curriculum design and implementation, she loves teaching because of the students and the treasured relationships that are formed. More than anything, she loves being with her family and traveling!
Physical Education
Dance and Spanish Teacher
Ana received her BA from the University of Texas at Austin in Anthropology with a minor in Art History . Anna also attended the Savannah College of Art and Design focusing on Illustration and Dance, graduating with a GPA of 4.00. Ana is a former National Figure Skating Champion of Mexico, has a background in Dance, and has experience playing on the tennis team for Savannah College. She now brings her skills and experience to AESA Prep Academy's Dance and Physical Education classes. Ana is also fluent in Spanish, English and French and teaches conversational Spanish for AESA. Ana is the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, including the Artist of the Year Title for the American School Foundation for S.A. de C.V., Mexico. She was also the recipient of the College of Liberal Arts Scholarship for the University of Texas at Austin.
Foreign Language Department Chair
Spanish 1-4 Teacher
Kyle received his Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies with a Latin America concentration from St. Edwards University in Austin, graduating Summa Cum Laude and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Global Policy Studies from UT's LBJ School of Public Affairs. Kyle comes to us with many academic achievements including the Academic Excellence Award 2008; Dean’s Scholarship 2007, 2008; Dean’s List, 2006-2009 as well as the Trustee Scholarship, 2006-2009. In Panama, Kyle studied tropical ecology and Panamanian culture and history. In Spain, he studied Spanish language, history, politics and culture. Kyle has traveled extensively in Central America, South America and Mexico. He has been the recipient of a research grant studying the social attitudes towards migrant labor forces in Baharain, southern Spain, North Africa, Morocco and Dubai. Kyle has over 100 hours of academic training in teaching English as a foreign language. Kyle is fluent in written and oral Spanish.
Mandarin Chinese Teacher
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Digital Arts and Technology Teacher
Video Production Teacher
AESA Prep Academy Webmaster
Matt Hannon is a working video and web producer in Austin, TX. He got his undergraduate degree from Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA in 2005, and is currently producing his thesis film for his M.F.A. in Digital Cinema Production. In 2002, Matt co-created and directed an experimental digital movie production project called the Arc2 Project. The Arc2 Project, which eventually became the feature length movie Cactuses, partnered with local high schools to select and train 24 students to be the primary crew of the film. Cactuses visited several film festivals before becoming one of the first full-length movie ever to be streamed online at Google Video and YouTube, and was featured on the Google Video Blog in 2006.
Matt loves adventuring in many different forms of digital art and new media, and has found himself working for an interesting mix of clients including Pepsi, Kellie Pickler, and The Vietnam Veterans of America. He was recently hugged by Snoop-Dogg.
Matt is passionate about creative ways that technology can enhance education and inspire students. He has taught a variety of digital art and video classes to a variety of students, and most recently worked as a dorm parent at St. Stephen's Episcopal School.
Business Teacher in the AESA Center for Young Entrepreneurs
Investing and Regulation Teacher
Dan graduated from Stanford University with Honors and Distinction in 1989, and he graduated from the University of Chicago Law School with Honors in 1992.
Dan is President of Vida Capital Management, an asset manager and hedge fund. Dan began his law career as a clerk on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals before practicing at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York, New York. Dan became an in-house attorney at New York Life Insurance Company in 1999, and shortly thereafter was appointed CEO of New York Life's broker-dealer, NYLIFE Securities, and of its Registered Investment Advisor, Eagle Strategies. In his executive role Dan was responsible for supervision and compliance of more than 300 employees, 8000 registered representatives and 900 investment advisor representatives. Dan was President and CEO of NFP Securities before becoming an adjunct professor of regulatory law at the University of Texas Law School. Dan holds both securities licenses (Series 7, 24 and 63) as well as insurance designations (CLU, ChFC and CASL).
2D Art Teacher
Bio Coming Soon! Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin ullamcorper velit in enim scelerisque mollis. Nulla ullamcorper, tellus ut porttitor pharetra, lacus turpis elementum orci, eget rhoncus velit ipsum vitae elit. Aliquam non ornare quam. Duis bibendum iaculis dolor, in commodo lacus rutrum eget. Aliquam sed arcu molestie nulla tristique dapibus eget pellentesque ligula. Sed sed nisi et sem sollicitudin ultrices ac vitae eros. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Sed non lorem quis sapien feugiat volutpat. Sed vitae magna in purus facilisis congue. Proin sit amet risus lacus, non pellentesque quam. Nunc nisi elit, egestas vitae convallis nec, adipiscing vitae nulla. Proin metus ante, malesuada a sollicitudin nec, tempus eu metus. Donec lectus nisi, vulputate et vehicula vitae, pellentesque at nibh. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Morbi euismod facilisis ligula. Praesent tristique, sapien at sollicitudin iaculis, massa libero malesuada enim, malesuada elementum metus libero vel dui.
Middle School Teacher
Middle School Head of School
Many of you know Jill Varnell as Andy and Emily’s Mom but we know her as our Middle School teacher. She is described by a former principal as a “magnificent teacher who’s classroom is always well organized and she is always on top of things.” She exudes energy and maintains a warm, welcoming, and positive demeanor. Jill is a certified K-8th grade teacher having taught in both traditional private and public schools including AISD. Jill graduated from Southwest Texas State University and has been a private school Assistant Director. Jill specializes in reading comprehension and technical writing at the Middle School level. Jill has owned her own business and has taught the recreational tennis program at the Polo Club. Jill’s tennis experience allows her to have a clear picture of the amount of work our young ladies and men exert on the courts. Her nurturing demeanor will allow her to support all of our student athletes as they work to obtain their goals.
Middle School Teacher
Tonya Barlow, our newest teacher in the Middle School, is an excellent and vibrant educator! Tonya has a gift for identifying her students' learning styles and designing her lesson plans accordingly. Her positive attitude and lively personality will also help to keep her students engaged in the learning process.
Tonya has been in the education arena for more than 20 years. Tonya has experienced education from many different fronts; as a classroom teacher, serving on a textbook adoption committee, as a tutor, and as a School Board Vice President in California. Mrs. Barlow earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree from Indiana University and received her Education Second Language (ESL) endorsement from Weber State University.
Mrs. Barlow has been married for 21 years and has two sons. Her sons are both athletes so she knows and understands the dedication and amount of time that is required to balance extracurricular activities and school. Her organizational skills and nurturing demeanor will be an invaluable asset to our students here at AESA.
Head of High School