AESA
Faculty and Staff
The faculty and staff at AESA Prep International are creative thinkers who are passionate about their disciplines and dedicated to their students. The small size of our classes allows our teachers to meet individual student needs, and creates an environment where students actively engage in the learning process every day.

Leadership
Team

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.
Kyle was born and raised in Austin, Texas, where he earned his bachelor's degree from St. Edward’s University in 2009 in Global Studies with a regional focus on Latin America. Upon graduation, he spent a year exploring Latin America, from the deserts of northern Mexico to the ice-capped peaks of Patagonia and everything in between. He joined AESA in 2011 to teach students about Latin American cultures and the Spanish language. In 2014 he earned his master’s degree in Global Policy Studies from the LBJ School at the University of Texas.
Through international studies, work, and travel Kyle has cultivated a global perspective. He has studied and conducted research in Panama, Spain, Bahrain, the Philippines and Japan. He has lived and worked in Central America, North Africa, Europe and the Middle East. He is driven by a passion to see the world and has traveled to more countries than he can remember.
In his personal life, Kyle 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 (primarily) in the Nubian region of Sudan. In his free time, Kyle enjoys skiing, good food, live music, and stand-up comedy.

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.
Director of Curriculum
Liz originates from Chicago, IL and completed an undergraduate degree in Chemistry at the University of Illinois in Chicago. In 2009, she relocated to Austin, Texas for a graduate program in Physical Chemistry at the University of Texas where she studied and researched at the Center for Nano- and Molecular Science and Technology. Liz identifies as a lifelong learner with a passion for teaching and finding new ways to help students learn. Throughout each stage of her academic career as a student, she has incorporated teaching and mentoring initiatives. She loves to use her science background and real-world experience with laboratory research to craft the rich and unique curriculum at AESA Prep International. She enjoys sparking students' interest by infusing fascinating, real life material into each course to enrich the educational experience that AESA offers.
Outside of education Liz enjoys spending time with her son, family and friends, being outdoors, doing art projects and is always looking for something new to learn.
Liz is happy to be a part of the AESA team!!