High School Faculty/Staff

List of 29 members.

• 

  Sean Allen 

  Math Guide

  Bio

  I received my BA in Communications from Temple University in Philadelphia. I’ve worked in education in many different forms since then; as a residential tutor for socioeconomically disadvantaged youth in the Philadelphia suburbs, as a carpentry teacher for an elementary after-school program and a job coach for developmentally disabled adults in Northern California, as a building trades teacher for at-risk teen boys in Vermont, and as a public high school math teacher in Austin.
  
  

  I’m thrilled to have landed here at Headwaters as a teacher and a coach. Two of my three children attend the Headwaters Middle School program; as a parent I have seen firsthand how special this community can be and how skilled our faculty are at inspiring enthusiasm for learning in our students. I look forward to bringing out the same joy in learning in the students in my math classes.
• 

  Alex Chew 

  Film Guide

  Bio

  After receiving an MFA in Film Production from the University of Texas at Austin, I found a home at Headwaters in 2010. I’ve written, directed, produced and edited films that have played at South by Southwest, Austin Film Festival, Texas Black Film Festival, Austin Comedy Film Festival, and a few others. In 2013, I founded the Austin Youth Film Festival with another local film instructor, which allows all middle and high schoolers in Texas to showcase their work at the Alamo Drafthouse, compete for prizes up to $1,000, and meet inspiring filmmakers (including Richard Linklater!). Our film department focuses on learning about film through theory, history, and culture. We also make movies that have gone on to play nationwide at Alamo theaters, festivals, and on our Youtube channel “Headwaters Student Films.”  You should definitely subscribe to the channel and check out some of our music videos, documentaries, dramas, horrors, comedies, and experimental fare.
• 

  Paul Cronin 

  Director of Studies, Grades 6-12

  Bio

  I was born and raised in Connecticut, with a move to Washington, D.C. for college, where I graduated from George Washington with degrees in Literature and Religion. I also spent time out west doing a semester long outdoor leadership program with NOLS.  After GW, I began my nomadic life, working and traveling in the States and abroad for two years before landing at the University of Colorado in Boulder for a Master’s in Religion. I focused on African-Diaspora traditions, and was fortunate enough to spend significant time in Cuba doing field research for my Master’s thesis. Somewhere between that thesis and more time in Cuba, I decided to not pursue my Ph.D. Instead, I pursued a teacher’s certification in Secondary Education: English 6-12, first in Colorado and then in California. 
   

  After a seminal start to my teaching in the Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland, California, I moved abroad to begin a career in international education, particularly IB and Experiential education. My wife and I lived in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and then returned to the States for one year, where I was an education coordinator for an Outward Bound program for adjudicated youth. Then it was off to Vienna, Austria and then Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. We returned to the states to live in Charleston, South Carolina, and then most recently in Boca Raton, Florida, where I was the IB Coordinator and English Department chair for a private school there.

  
  I have taught every level and type of English from grades 6-12; courses in Humanities, Religion, and World Cultures; as well as leading faculty in curriculum, literacy, and accreditation work. I have also led school outdoor and experiential programs, with a highlight being the outdoor program in Tanzania.

  
  My wife, Keely, and I have been happy to end our nomadic lifestyle with a long-term commitment to Headwaters and Austin. Our son, Cord, is a Swift on the Creek Campus and our daughter, Cleo, is a Bluebird on the Springs Campus. Keely is an assistant guide for the Phoenix classroom and  has a fascinating background in raptor conservation, both internationally and here in the States. If you ask, I will tell you repeatedly how cool she is.
• 

  Daniel Cummings 

  High School and River Campus Director

  Bio

  Encouraged by an inspirational college professor, I started in education immediately after graduating from Colorado State University. With a BA in English, I began my teaching career in an experiential, alternative school setting. Since then, I have taught in parochial, public, international, and independent schools. Along the way I picked up an MA in English Literature from the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College and, at different points in my career, I served as Department Chair, Dean of Academics, Dean of School, and Director of Upper School. Throughout, I have maintained a teaching load, believing that the truest pulse of a school exists in the classroom. I enjoy photography, appreciate graffiti, and spend much of my free time reinvigorating old homes.
• 

  Brian Derrig 

  English Guide

  Bio

  During my high school years I struggled to find meaning between the bells. My pivotal moment in education came when I enrolled in a semester-long NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) course at the age of eighteen. Finally, education was an experience and every experience was an education. This passion for a progressive education led me to Prescott College where I received a BA in English Language Arts and Letters and Education. In subsequent years, an insatiable academic curiosity led me to pursue a Master’s Degree in English through Sam Houston State University, which I received in July of 2008.
  
  

  In more than a decade of teaching, I have taught in public school arenas including a Juvenile Detention Center, a resource center for the disabled, and Dual Credit/ACC on-campus classes. In 2009, I began teaching the English section of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Stony Point High School in Round Rock and it felt like a return to my core principles. IB emphasizes the growth of the individual while maintaining a social contract with the community. For me, joining the Headwaters community at this momentous point in time (as it adopts IB) has a sense of homecoming and I feel genuinely inspired to pursue a purposeful pedagogy. I am here to offer my students discovery, and my sole desire is to share in their experiences.
• 

  Kelly Dickens 

  Math Guide

  Bio

  Being and working with teenagers and children brings me joy. I love being surrounded by people (students and staff) engaged in continual learning and growth. I completed a B.A. in Mathematics at UT-Austin, concurrently earning a Texas Teacher’s Certification in Secondary Mathematics and supporting myself by private tutoring. After teaching for Eanes ISD, I detoured into actuarial mathematics. While working as an actuary for 15 years, my wife Linda and I started our family. Our older son, Michael, started at Headwaters in sixth grade, and was soon joined by his brother, Joel. Being a part of this community inspired me to return to teaching, and Linda to serve on the Board of Directors. I am so grateful to have a vocation in which I am called upon to share what matters most.
• 

  Nora Dock 

  International Studies Coordinator

  Bio

  I received my BA in French Language and Francophone Literatures with a minor in Economics from Mills College. During my undergraduate career I studied abroad in Madagascar, and fell in love with the transformative power of an international experience. After graduation I sought out opportunities to inspire others to explore the world. My work took me to several countries in Central America, Europe, Asia and Africa—and with each chance to explore and connect with a new culture I learned more about myself and my place in the world. Most recently I worked as an International Advisor at St. Edward’s University, where I was fortunate to work closely with over 200 students each year. My role as an advisor involved providing support to faculty, university administrators, outbound study abroad students and incoming international students. 
• 

  Lisa Dubuque Wood 

  Director of College Counseling & Senior Class Sponsor

  Bio

  Thanks to one wonderful English teacher in Minnesota, I discovered the career path that would keep me happy and challenged in my work place for the rest of my life. I earned my Bachelor of Art with a major in English Literature and a Minor in Secondary Education. I filled up my free time volunteering at various schools in Fort Collins and mentoring at-risk youth. After an entertaining and challenging stint of teaching public school in Colorado, I made my way to Texas to teach at a private school. Soon after arriving, I was presented with the opportunity of co-founding Headwaters and have been here since. I believe that all teens deserve individualized attention, and I spend much of my time giving that to each student at Headwaters. I am the Director of Student Life and College Counseling, and hail as the general go-to girl for any of your Headwaters-related needs. I recently received my certificate in college counseling from UCLA to better assist our students in their post-secondary goals.
• 

  Michael Franz 

  Social Studies Guide/HS Athletics Coordinator

  Bio

  Born and raised in California, I received my B.S. degree in Psychology from U.C. Santa Barbara. After finishing my undergraduate education, I traveled the world for ten years, seven of which were spent managing a bicycle tour company in Paris, France. Now settled in Austin, I am thrilled to be teaching and coaching at Headwaters. In the classroom, I am passionate about inspiring others to learn and seek knowledge. On the sporting field, I emphasize hard work, teamwork, and the mental aspect of sports. I am honored and grateful to be part of the Headwaters staff and community. This year I will be the teaching Government/Economics, and coaching high school flag football and soccer.
• 

  Lorena Germán 

  English Guide
• 

  Laura Gordon 

  Photography Guide

  Bio

  My love for teaching became apparent while working as a teaching assistant in college. I graduated with my BS in Photographic Sciences from the Rochester Institute of Technology where I focused on the technical qualities of image making and utilizing photography for scientific research. My personal work combines my love of science with fine art practices, using photography as a tool for creating visual narratives. Prior to moving to Austin, I taught Digital Art, Filmmaking, and Photography at a magnet arts high school in South Florida. I am very excited to be focusing on teaching photography at Headwaters School and helping students develop (pun intended) their photographic eye. Outside of the classroom, I love competing with my team in Trivia Night and playing with my dog, Taffy.
• 

  David Heroy 

  Science Guide/ODL

  Bio

  As a kid, I spent nine summers at Nature Camp in Baltimore while attending Gilman School. Since 2008, I have been teaching Environmental Science and Outdoor Leadership at Headwaters. I wanted to be a professor for many years, and published research on climate change and did field work in Antarctica and Bangladesh. My research was presented at Cambridge, UK and was written-up in the journals Science and Discover, among others. But I found my true calling in teaching and being with the youth. I have a BA from Colgate, a MS from William and Mary, and a PhD from Rice. After college, I attended NOLS, Outward Bound, and I've led backpacking trips in California under my own LLC. Finally, I was Assistant Guide for 1st-3rd graders here in Austin at Parkside Montessori, led a cabin at Global Youth Peace Summit, and taught at Lee College in Baytown, TX. Perhaps my most proud achievement, I founded Blackwood Nature Camp in Hempstead, Texas, which received a national award and is still going today. But best of all, in 2003 I met a beautiful architect at a swing dance class. We got married, have two girls named Cleo and Marion, and our dog's name is Hero. 
• 

  Kelley Janes 

  Science Guide

  Bio

  I love science. It is a way for me to connect with nature and life on the most meaningful levels. I love teaching as much as I love science. I love Headwaters as much as I love teaching. Hence, I love my work. I teach physics (8th grade physical science, 10th grade Physics, and IB Physics) and astronomy. Much of my formal science education was done in Bellingham, Washington at Western Washington University, where I left the creative writing department and landed happily in the physics department. My studies have taken me to Southern Chile, Baja California, Italy, Mauna Kea, and the McDonald Observatory, which I find to be the happiest place on earth. In my spare time, I can be found practicing Ashtanga yoga, listening to Radio Lab or This American Life, reading old diaries at the Ransom Center, conducting experiments in my kitchen, and oogling over my three kids and my charming husband.
• 

  Paul Lambert 

  Math Guide

  Bio

  Learning and teaching are at the core of our family culture. My mother was a teacher and high school counselor, my brother is a teacher, and my wife is a teacher and university academic counselor. I have been an educator for sixteen years–thirteen as a teacher and basketball coach, and the last two teaching special education mathematics. I am passionate about the Houston Astros, solar energy, and spending time with my family. I am excited to guide my students to build the skills they need to become their best, authentic selves.
• 

  Andrew Lantz 

  Spanish Guide

  Bio

  I come from a pretty long line of teachers, so I always had a feeling that I would end up in the classroom. Over the past several years, I have had the great opportunity to teach students of nearly all ages, and it has brought me so much joy. In my mind, there is nothing more satisfying than playing a role in students’ successes, guiding others to pursue their passions in life, or having a captive audience for my many bad jokes. I am excited and honored to do so this year as a Spanish teacher at Headwaters School.
  
  

  I received my teaching license and BA in Spanish from Luther College in 2007, taught elementary and middle school Spanish back in my Wisconsin hometown, and then changed things up by teaching math at an American school in Querétaro, Mexico, for one year. Since 2009, I have been pursuing my PhD in Hispanic Studies at Texas A&M University, where I have taught Spanish and Film Studies courses. In my free time, you can find me exploring the outdoors, catching a live music or comedy act, cheering for Minnesota sports teams, and searching for my next cup of espresso.
• 

  Marc Lionetti 

  HS & MS Counselor

  Bio

  I received my undergraduate degree in Music Education from Northwestern University, and was a full-time music teacher for eight years at a small progressive private school in the San Francisco Bay Area. After that time, I felt an inner calling to interact with students as a counselor in addition to as a teacher. That calling ultimately led me to the Educational Psychology department at the University of Texas at Austin, where I received a Masters of Education in Counselor Education in 2008. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Texas, and I have been serving as Headwaters School counselor (and vocal music guide) since 2009.  In addition, I am certified as a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 500-hour level, with specialized training in Kundalini yoga.  Outside of my work at Headwaters, I also perform music regularly around town with various bands, and teach private music lessons.
• 

  Terra Lynch 

  Learning Specialist/Middle &High School Spanish Guide

  Bio

  I come from a long line of teachers, but it wasn’t until I moved to New York City that I became one myself. I taught Humanities, Spanish, and Music Appreciation at high school in Manhattan. I got my Master’s in Social Studies Education from New York University, and became an affiliate of the School Reform Initiative. Since moving to Austin several years ago I have been an instructional coach, a tutor, and a volunteer.  I return to NYU each summer to teach a Facilitative Leadership Seminar for school administrators and teacher leaders.
  
  

  My brain changed when I became an educator, and now I can’t stop thinking (and talking) about teaching and learning! My experiences living in Brazil, Spain, and Egypt attuned me to the challenges of language learners. My years in project management help me think about lesson planning, data, and outcomes. I am constantly looking for creative ways to make teaching more effective and efficient, and to make learning engaging and equitable for all kinds of students. As the parent of dyslexic children, I am especially attuned to the needs of those who may not succeed in a traditional classroom–I even became trained in Dyslexia Therapy at the Rawson Saunders Institute to better understand and support their learning. As a graduate of an International Baccalaureate program myself, I felt a connection to the Headwaters School. I am so happy to be the Learning Specialist at the River Campus, collaborating with thoughtful teachers in ways to meet the needs of our diverse students.
  
  

  When I’m not talking about education, you can find me reading, cooking, leading a robotics team, or on the greenbelt with my husband, our two children, and our energetic dogs. Please stop and say hi!

• Sean Manning 

  Spanish Guide

  Bio

  I have a B.S. in Geology, an M.A. in Spanish, and a Ph.D. in Spanish and Latin American Poetry. Scattered among these degrees are travels and years of living in Ireland, Spain, and France. We are always searching for a reality that better suits our self while also trying to find our self inside a reality, and language is how we attempt to render each of them concrete. When considering the mystic accuracy between certain words and their meanings, Jorge Luis Borges wondered, “who discovered the word “pampa,” that infinite word that is like a sound and its echo?” Resembling those expansive Argentine plains, we chase our horizon with a devotion equal to that of the echo endlessly following its sound.
  
  

  As a Spanish instructor, my goal is to direct students towards words that they might want to keep, to thoughts that might better explain their own, and to develop their gazes so that they may see themselves and others more clearly. I feel fortunate to have been welcomed into Headwaters School where sincerity and creativity thrive in a rare form of academic affection that embraces the billowy “cloud,” the thundery “nube,” and the wispy “nuage” alike.
• 

  Caitlin McDermott 

  Science Guide

  Bio

  I grew up on the East Coast and attended Mount Holyoke College, an all-women’s institution in Massachusetts, during which time I found my love for science. I was fortunate enough to do research on everything from the mating behavior of fiddler crabs in Kino Bay, Mexico to the celestial navigation patterns of meat ants in Australia, both during and after completing my undergraduate degree. I spent the last four years teaching, coaching, and being a dorm parent at a boarding school in Central New Jersey. I met my significant other while completing my Masters at UT Austin during the last three summers, and soon decided it was time for a change of location. I come to this fabulous city with my fur baby, Miss Nola.
  
  

  Austin captured my attention, but Headwaters has captured my heart from the moment I stepped on campus. I am so excited to be joining the community this year and to begin working with environmentally conscious partners around the city as an integral part of my science courses. What better way for kids to learn than to serve the bountiful natural beauty that is Austin!
• 

  Martha Melendez 

  Spanish Guide

  Bio

  
  I am originally from Los Angeles, California, but I lived in San Francisco for a large part of my adult life. My passion for foreign languages came at an early age for me. My maternal language is Spanish and as a child, I lived in Mexico. When my family returned to the U.S., I was able to understand English, but I didn’t know how to speak, read, nor write it. I was therefore put in ESL classes in elementary school and before I knew it and before anyone expected it, I was completely literate and fluent in English. I loved it! From then on, my parents were very strict on keeping Spanish the household language and English whenever we were outside of the home. In high school, I was given the opportunity to appease my appetite for foreign languages and took up French. I went on and graduated from Saint Louis University in St. Louis, MO with a Masters in French and have travelled extensively around France and Western Europe. I am excited to be a part of the Headwaters community and I hope to inspire and transfer that same passion for languages onto my students.

• Dennis Morehead 

  Maintenance & Transportation
• 

  John Mulvany 

  Art Guide

  Bio

  I am an artist and art educator originally from Ireland who has been living and working in Austin for the last 20 years. I have been teaching art for 25 years and this is my 11th year at Headwaters where I teach studio art in the IB program, the high school and middle school.

  
  

  Teaching art in collaboration with young people at Headwaters School has been my most rewarding and inspiring experience in education.I graduated from the College of Art, Design and Print in Dublin, Ireland with a Fine Art degree, and I also have a degree in art and design education from the Crawford College of Art in Cork, Ireland. As an artist my work has been shown in Ireland, the UK, Germany, and the U.S. I was featured in the 2009 Texas Biennial and was nominated for best artist in the 2009 Austin Visual Arts Association awards. I was a founding member and editor of Cantanker, an art magazine and non-profit art organization and am a regular participant on the East Austin Studio Tour.

  
  

  I live in east Austin with my wife, Monique, and our two sons, Henry and Cormac, who are students at the Creek Campus.
• 

  Paula Pacotti 

  River Campus Manager

  Bio

  I am excited to be joining the Headwaters' community as the River Campus Manager. I have a bachelor of science degree in Architecture Studies from the University of Texas. I had a home remodeling and design business for many years, which comes in handy managing the old buildings on the River Campus. I also have managed several popular restaurants in Austin.

   

  I live close to downtown with my husband, two teenage children, and my mom. I grew up in the Northwest Florida panhandle on a small farm. I have brought the small farm mentality to the city. I have chickens, cats, dogs, and grow a lot of my vegetables. I enjoy reading, cooking, and running; in fact, I am running my first half marathon in January 2020. 

   

  What has drawn me to Headwaters is the community. I began substituting across the campuses and was impressed by the commitment of staff and administrators to help the students think and speak up for themselves. I believe those are valuable lessons to teach our kids today, and I am proud to be part of a community that cultivates values.
• 

  Hilda Reilly 

  Spanish Guide

  Bio

  I love the Spanish language and have been teaching it for over 20 years. I have been a foreign language instructor in different settings: universities, private, charter and public schools in Mexico, Ecuador, and the United States. Through these years the driving force has been to see my students experience the language and succeed at being proficient in Spanish. I was born in Monterrey, Mexico, and my undergraduate work is in Spanish Literature from Tecnológico de Monterrey. I received a Master’s Degree also in Spanish Literature from Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León and a Master of Arts in Hispanic Linguistics from the Ohio State University. For this academic year, I am thrilled to join Headwaters because the commitment to foster the personal growth of individuals in a global community resonates with my personal beliefs.
• 

  Stephanie Roach 

  Math Guide/MS Athletics Coordinator

  Bio

  After earning my BS in Sport Management from Georgia Southern University, I decided to pursue a masters degree in education on the advice of my dad. Unbeknownst to me, I would quickly fall in love with teaching and influencing the lives and minds of younger generations. Since then, I have earned a MA in Teaching Middle Grades Education from Armstrong Atlantic State University and another MA in Teaching Mathematics Education from Western Governors University.
  
  For the last decade, I have taught various middle and high school level math classes and coached numerous sports at schools in Georgia, Florida, and Texas. I am very excited to be joining Headwaters and guiding students as they build their mathematical understanding. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, running, biking, and any other outdoor activities as well as taking advantage of the amazing restaurants around Austin!
• 

  Joseph Sokolik 

  Social Studies Guide

  Bio

  My passion for history emerged while I was enrolled as a Civil Engineering student at the University of Texas. My degree plan required me to take an American History course, and thanks to the efforts of one inspiring professor, I developed an insatiable thirst for historical knowledge and made up my mind to become an educator. I have taught at Headwaters School since 2007 and am constantly humbled to be surrounded by such a talented staff and so many sharp young minds. I hold a BA in History from the University of Texas at Austin and an MA in History from Texas State University. I also dabble in the musical arts, have played at most Austin music festivals, and my main ensemble, Hard Proof, has won more than one Austin Music Award.
• 

  Michael Stavitz 

  Music Guide

  Bio

  As a 9-year-old, I watched a 6th grader named Dave Coniglio play “Wipeout” on the drums in the school concert, and I was hooked. Dave later became my first teacher, college roommate and best friend. After realizing as a middle schooler that playing shortstop for the New York Mets probably wasn’t in the cards, I focused on music. Growing up an hour north of NYC, I was lucky enough to get to witness and perform a lot of music there. After high school, I decided to further my passion at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where I earned a BA in Music Education in 2005. While in Boston I shoveled a lot of snow, played a lot of music, and met the woman whom I would marry. In Boston, I found my passion for bringing the same excitement and inspiration Dave and other teachers brought to me, by teaching music to students of my own. I was able to work as an outreach teacher for Community Music Center of Boston, co-teach percussion at a Puerto Rican cultural center with one of my professors, work with kids at a Boys and Girls Club, as well as lots of private instruction. I also got the the opportunity to join a great band and tour the country for the better part of two years. After pretending to be a rock star for a bit, my wife and I decided to completely uproot our lives and move to Austin in 2011. The snow literally followed us as far south as Memphis but we finally made it. I had the great honor of joining the amazingly talented staff at Armstrong Community Music School in 2011, and for the last 6 years have taught there, been involved with some of their many outreach programs, and joined the Austin music scene. In October 2015 my wife and I had our first child, Elliot. I will very likely show you pictures of him whether you ask or not.
  
  

  I am extremely grateful and excited for the opportunity to be a part of the Headwaters community, and can’t wait to share my passion for all things musical with students and teachers alike.
• 

  Yi-Wen Su 

  Mandarin Guide

  Bio

  I am so honored to be a part of the Headwaters family! I am originally from Taiwan. Knowing that I have always wanted to become a teacher, I started tutoring as a university student. After graduating in Taiwan with a Bachelors Degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures along with a minor in Middle/High School Teacher Education, I decided to come to the U.S. to further my study. Graduating as a Longhorn, I got my Masters Degree in Foreign Language Education at the University of Texas at Austin. My research interests are foreign language anxiety and Chinese pedagogy. I have been teaching Mandarin as a foreign language in the Austin area for two years, and I am truly enjoying it. I believe that learning a foreign language can not only broaden one’s horizon to different cultures but also provide a different way to look at the world.
• 

  Sarah Youree 

  English Guide

  Bio

  Reading and talking about books is by far my favorite pastime, so I see teaching English as a pleasure and a privilege. I earned a B.A. in Spanish and Communication from Southwest Baptist University and an M.A. in English Literature from Texas State University. I have been a teacher for more than 15 years, having taught middle school, high school, and university students. I have taught Spanish, English, and ESL at the secondary level. Recently, as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at Texas State University, I taught classes in American literature, rhetoric and composition, and teacher preparation. I also worked at Texas State’s innovative Writing Center. I love exploring the spaces in and among language, literature, and culture.
  
  

  International travel has been an integral part of my life and my approach to the classroom. I have lived in Brazil, Costa Rica, and Spain for extended periods, and I have also been greatly influenced by long stays in Italy, Mexico, and Sweden. The many reasons I am drawn to Headwaters include the IB curriculum and our commitment to creating peaceful global citizens. This hopeful vision of the future is what guided me when I joined the Headwaters family in 2016.