Girls' School of Austin Faculty And Staff
Bonnie Abell — Middle School Spanish
Ms. Abell is new to the GSA faculty. Bonnie teaches middle school Spanish and one section of lower school Spanish. Ms. Abell received her Bachelor's degree in Spanish with a minor in Education from the University of Texas at Austin. She is certified to teach Spanish 6-12. Ms. Abell has studied history and literature at the University of Cadiz in Cadiz, Spain. She has been a camp counselor at a summer camp for girls and volunteered in programs for non-native speaking children in Austin.
Gilles Bonneau — Music, Strings
Dr. Bonneau studied music in France at the Rouen and Chatou Conservatories, and received a degree in Science from the Université de Haute-Normandie. Although primarily a violist, he studied both the violin and the viola in the United States and holds a degree of Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin. He taught in the UT String Project before joining the Girls' School of Austin.
Kristen Brewer — 1st Grade
Ms. Brewer joined the GSA faculty in 2005. She has four years of teaching experience at the pre-school and elementary levels. Ms. Brewer earned a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from Sam Houston State University and holds a Master of Education specializing in Advanced Literacy Instruction from Concordia University.
Dana Burke — 3rd and 4th Grade
Ms. Burke first joined the GSA faculty in 2005. During her first year at the school, Ms. Burke taught fourth grade. She then spent a year as the Gifted and Talented facilitator for the third through fifth grades at Georgetown Independent School District and has returned to GSA this year to teach the third and fourth grades. Ms. Burke has her Masters in Education from Concordia University with an area of specialization in literacy instruction. She received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware in Agribusiness Management with a concentration in food marketing. Prior to coming to GSA and teaching, Ms. Burke was an education and youth marketing manager for Coca-Coca. Ms. Burke recently received a Gifted and Talented certification for K-12th grade.
Paula Cook — Middle School Language Arts & Social Studies
Ms. Cook became part of the GSA faculty in 2006. She has been teaching English and Language Arts at the
middle and high school level for over ten years. Ms. Cook has extensive experience in Gifted and Talented
education and program development. She is also a computer literacy and technical writing teacher. Ms. Cook
earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Texas State University and holds a post-graduate teaching certificate
in Secondary English. Ms. Cook is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, Eta Zeta Chapter- an International
Honor Society in Education.
Linda Elliott — 5th Grade
Mrs. Elliott joined the GSA faculty in January 2007. She has 24 years teaching experience in upper elementary programs in Eanes ISD and Del Valle ISD. In addition to teaching regular education classes, Mrs. Elliott has taught advanced math and academically talented classes in 5th grade. She has been both a team leader and coordinator for her grade level. Mrs. Elliott has had extensive training in network and computer education as well in-depth instruction in thematic learning. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and a member of NEA/TSTA.
Jennifer Flynn — 2nd Grade
Ms. Flynn has been a part of the GSA faculty since 2004. She has over seven years of elementary classroom experience and has trained extensively in clinical practice with school-age children in the areas of Emotional IQ, Friendship Skills, Gender Development, Self-Esteem, Problem-Solving approaches and in Anger Management. She holds a Colorado teaching license. Ms. Flynn earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Arts with Honors in Elementary Education from Colorado College. After joining GSA, Jennie completed Dr. Mel Levine's All Kinds of Minds training, and is certificated to utilize this neurodevelopmental approach in diagnostic and instructional strategies for K-6th grade classrooms. In addition to teaching full-time, Jennie has been an intern with For Kids' Sake since 2003. She is a member of the Kappa Delta Pi Educational Honor Society.
Linda Grey — 4th Grade, After-Care
Ms. Grey joined the GSA faculty in 2007. Ms. Grey received her Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas State. She has volunteered at the Austin Children's Shelter for six years. In addition to her work with children in various venues, Ms. Grey has a background in graphic design. At the Girls' School, Ms. Grey teaches fourth grade language arts and mathematics and supervises the after-care program.
Christine Guedri — Lower School Spanish
Christine taught a very popular after-school Spanish program at GSA in 2006-2007. This year she joins the faculty as the lower-school Spanish teacher. Christine received her Bachelor's degree in Spanish from Mary Washington College and her Masters in Spanish from Middlebury College. She is currently completing her PhD in Romance Linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin. Her dissertation topic is Language Contact and Conflict in Brazilian Portuguese and Lebanese Arabic.
Meredith Hayden — Kindergarten
Ms. Hayden joined the GSA faculty in 2006. She has been teaching at the elementary level for over nine years. Ms. Hayden started the Somerville Elementary after-school tutorial reading program through a grant with Texas A&M University and is an avid participant in math and technology education committees. She earned Texas teaching certifications in Elementary Reading, Elementary Early Childhood, Elementary Self-Contained, and English as a Second Language. Ms. Hayden graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.
Nancy Hoover — Art Director
Ms. Hoover has been the Art Director at GSA since 2002. She has over thirteen years experience as an art teacher and personal art instructor for children and adults. Ms. Hoover has developed and implemented external showcase opportunities for GSA students including the FACET city-wide art show and The White Buffalo Project. Ms. Hoover holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honors from College of Charleston, SC and has completed graduate studies in Fine Arts at the University of Central Florida. Nancy is a working artist and her work can be found in shows and galleries around the city.
Mary Lamare — Middle School Science
Ms. Lamare has been a member of the GSA faculty since 2006. She has over fifteen years of teaching experience and additional expertise as a child and adolescent therapist. Ms. Lamare is a published researcher and poet. She holds a Texas lifetime teaching certificate in Psychology and Biology, a Florida Professional Educator's Certificate for Biology, a Nevada License for Educational Personnel (Secondary: Psychology, Biology, Biological Sciences) and a New Zealand Teacher Certification in Biology, General Science, and Psychology. Ms. Lamare received her Bachelor of Science degree with Honors in Psychology and a minor in Biology at the University of Texas at El Paso. She earned a Master of Science with Distinction in Psychology at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Thomas Matthews — Middle School Math
Mr. Matthews joined the GSA middle school faculty in 2006. He previously taught Math and Algebra at Gonzales High School. Mr. Matthews brings to the classroom over twenty years experience in the semiconductor industry where he designed and constructed digital and analog circuits. He was also a software developer, test engineer, and trainer with Austin Semiconductor. Mr. Matthews holds Texas teacher certifications in Math and Physics. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Le Tourneau University.
Frances Ramberg — Middle School Language Arts & Social Studies
Ms. Ramberg joined the GSA faculty in 2004 as the librarian. She has been a full-time classroom teacher for two years. Prior to GSA, she was the Technical Services Librarian for the Austin Public Library. She is a certified Conflict Resolution Mediator. Ms. Ramberg holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Cum Laude, from Wellesley College and earned a Master of Library and Information Science degree from The University of Texas at Austin.
Jennifer Read — Music, Piano - Algebra
Ms. Read joined GSA as Piano Instructor in 2003 and has also taught middle school Algebra. Ms. Read has
been teaching and coaching piano and voice for over ten years. She is an accomplished performer and accompanist,
in a variety of styles and time periods including collegium/Baroque orchestra and other chamber
music projects. Ms. Read graduated magna cum laude from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Music and
obtained her Master of Music in Ethnomusicology from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a member of
the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, as well as the College Music Society professional organization.
Jenny Sparks — Physical Education
Ms. Sparks has taught physical education for sixteen years. She was a teacher, coach and physical education department head at Round Rock High School where she coached volleyball, basketball and outdoor education programs. Ms. Sparks was also the creator, owner and operator of the FUNBUS-a popular preschool gymnastics academy on wheels. After six years of operating the FUNBUS, she sold her business and has now joined the GSA faculty. Ms Sparks earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Texas A&M with a K-12 teaching certificate for Physical Education and Health. She is an avid runner and has participated in numerous marathons and triathlons.
Lisa Schmitt — Head of School
In addition to administrative positions as an academic dean, Ms. Schmitt has taught math and physics for over 17 years. Prior to GSA, she was Dean of Curriculum at the Emma Willard School, a private girls' school in New York. Ms. Schmitt has a strong interest in interdisciplinary math and science education and in the use of technology to advance teaching and learning. She has published in Science Teacher and has presented at numerous national and international conferences on the subject of interdisciplinary math and science education. Ms. Schmitt earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and her Masters of Arts in Teaching in science education from Boston University. She served in the U.S. Air Force as a research physicist specializing in space physics. She has received numerous awards for her research and teaching, including the Rubendahl Faculty Fellowship and a Tandy Technology award for integrating technology into interdisciplinary algebra-physics classes at Northfield Mount Hermon. While at Emma Willard, she developed a partnership project with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to encourage students to pursue math and science. She has taught in the Expanding Your Horizons program for middle-school girls and served on the board of the Rubin Community Fund in Troy, New York.
Jenny Smrekar — Development Director
Jenny Smrekar received her Bachelor’s degree in Art History from Oregon State and her Masters of Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon. She has served in several development capacities--as Events Coordinator at the San Francisco Art Institute, Development Director of New Langton Arts, and Campaign Associate and Individual Giving Director at the California College of the Arts.
Sylvia Sanchez — Administration
Ms. Sanchez joined the GSA administration in 2005. She previously served over twenty six years with the City of Austin where she held administrative and supervisory positions in Human Resources, Parks and Recreation, Minority Business Affairs, and Financial Services. Ms. Sanchez has extensive experience with budgeting, contract management, employee relations, and policy development. Ms. Sanchez graduated from Nixon-Clay Business College and has earned credit hours in Business Management & Accounting at Austin Community College.