People of PS

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with James Menephee, Middle School Ethics teacher, about his path into education and his role in teaching ethics at Presbyterian School.  This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.  James received his Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Phoenix and a Certificate of Biblical Leadership from the Vineyard Institute. After serving 10 years in the military followed by jobs in the corporate America, James decided to pursue a career in teaching and went back to get his alternative teaching certificate. He came to Presbyterian School from A+ Up Charter School where he was a Middle School Social Studies teacher. At PS, James teaches ethics to 6th-8th graders and also leads the Middle School Student Senate. James enjoys volunteering as a teaching pastor at the Brazos Church in Richmond as well as working with the Multicultural Center “Hunger Truck” to support the homeless in downtown. A lifelong learner, James is a seventh degree black belt in martial arts and in his free time enjoys reading, music, and learning how to do new things like acrylic painting.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Seven Mile Road Church pastor Jeremiah Morris about his calling and experience with developing house churches, church planting, and leading a mission-minded group while creating much-needed connection.  This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Jeremiah s a husband, dad, disciple-maker and church planter. He is a seventh generation Texan but was raised throughout the eastern United States.  He returned to Texas to attend TCU in Fort Worth. It was during college that he came to Houston for the first time as a result of his connection with the youth program at First Presbyterian Church. After college he served for nearly ten years at FPC in a variety of positions. He also earned a Master of Divinity degree during a brief hiatus at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA.  He planted Seven Mile Road Houston 8 years ago and currently serves as the Pastor of Preaching and Vision.  He is also passionate about the work he does serving as a board member for the Houston Church Planting Network. Jeremiah Morris has close ties to Presbyterian School as his wife, Ashley was a former PS teacher and his sons, Finn, Caleb, and Judah are current students at the School.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church pastor Jeff Smith about his career in ministry and his thoughts on responding to anxiety, parenting and more.  This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Jeff was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana but got to Texas as fast as he could! After spending his elementary and middle school years in Houston, Jeff attended Texas A&M University and graduated with a BBA in Marketing. After graduation, he spent the first two years working in the business world before sensing a call to ministry. After 11 years of ministry, nine of which were at First Presbyterian Church, Houston, Jeff attended Princeton Seminary and earned his Masters of Divinity. Jeff served at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York City, and First Presbyterian Church, Pasadena, TX before receiving the call to St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Houston in 2004. Jeff has very close ties to Presbyterian School as his wife, Amy, was a former PS teacher and Chaplain, his daughter Brenton, is an alum of the School and the School's current Chaplain, and his son, Craig is an alum of the School and a former member of the School's Alumni Board.  

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with author Curtis Chang. Presbyterian School was honored to host Curtis earlier this month for a parent ed event focused on his book, The Anxiety Opportunity.  If you missed this parent ed event, tune in to our podcast to hear some of his thoughts. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. A graduate of Harvard University and former Rockefeller Fellow, Curtis Chang bridges the worlds of secular institutions and theology. He is the founder and CEO of Consulting Within Reach (CWR), a firm serving nonprofits and government agencies. His consulting work has won an award in social innovation from the Obama White House, and he teaches strategic planning as a faculty member of American University's School of International Service. Curtis is also a consulting professor at Duke Divinity School and a Senior Fellow at Fuller Theological Seminary. Prior to his career in consulting, Curtis served as the senior pastor of an Evangelical Covenant Church in San Jose, California. He is the author of The After Party: Towards Better Christian Politics (with Nancy French), The Anxiety Opportunity: How Worry Is the Doorway to Your Best Self, and Engaging Unbelief: A Captivating Strategy from Augustine and Aquinas. Learn more from Curtis on his Good Faith podcast where he discusses how Christian faith intersects with culture, law and politics.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with author Felicia Song. Presbyterian School was honored to have Felicia on campus earlier this month for a parent ed event focused on her book, Restless Devices and the tyranny of the digital age and the meaningful pathways of resistance that can be found in Christian tradition. If you missed this parent ed event, tune in to our podcast to hear some of her thoughts. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Felicia Song is a sociologist, writer, speaker and former professor. She received her Bachelor of Arts in History from Yale University, an MA in Communication Studies from Northwestern University and a PhD in Sociology from the University of Virginia. She taught journalism, mass communication, and an array of sociology classes for over two decades at higher institutions of learning including Louisiana State University and Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. Her research and wrtiing revolves around the place of media and technology in our contemporary lives and how it shapes the most fundamental ways in which we interact, think, and even perceive reality. The publication of her book, Restless Devices, has opened many opportunities for Felicia to speak, teach, and consult with Christian faith communities and leaders around the world on how we can work collectively towards living more humane lives in an otherwise digitally-saturated and consumer-oriented society. For more information on Felicia Song, visit https://feliciawusong.com/

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with First Presbyterian Church Pastor of Outreach, Emmanuel Paulpeter. Get to know Emmanuel as he and Dr. Carleton talk about a wide range of topics including how individuals can navigate through questions of faith and doubt together to how technology forms us spiritually. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Paulpeter is the Pastor of Outreach at First Presbyterian Church (FPC). Emmanuel grew up in India, got his bachelors in Engineering and worked in the software industry for 10 years before he got God's call to ministry. Emmanuel went to seminary at the Houston Graduate School of Theology and has been working at FPC since 2017.Emmanuel loves to read on a range of topics from psychology to literature to philosophy to theology. He especially enjoys engaging with people about current movies and stories while connecting them with the Gospel. He is passionate about creating communities where people can explore their questions and doubts about faith and helped to bring Alpha to FPC. Alpha is a a listening community designed to help participants explore questions about spirituality and faith in a non-judging space. Individuals, whether Christian or non-Christian, skeptic or seeker, are invited to process their questions about faith and spirituality together in honest reflections. Click here for more information on Alpha and/or to join the community. Emmanuel  and his lovely wife Rachael have been married for almost three years. They enjoy hikes, and going on long roadtrips to the southwest. 

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with PS Innovation and Technology Strategist, Dani Filas. Get to know Dani Filas as she and Dr. Carleton talk about the exciting opportunities technology brings to the horizon of teaching and learning. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Dani Filas currently serves as Presbyterian School's Innovation and Technology Strategist after two years teaching 6th grade Habits of Learning, four years teaching 8th Grade English, and two years serving as 8th Grade Dean. She holds a Master's Degree from Northwestern University in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Playwrighting and a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre and English (Writing) from Knox College. Prior to her work at Presbyterian School, Danielle worked at the Village Academy in Powell, OH, where she taught courses in English and Theatre, also serving as the school's Technology Integration Specialist and Thespian Director. Her teaching career began in 2001 when she was hired as an English and Theatre teacher at the Chicago Academy for the Arts in Chicago, IL. Before answering her calling in education, she worked as a theatre artist nationally; highlights included work with the Columbus Opera Project, St. Louis Fringe Festival, and the Second City National Touring Company. Dani is a published poet, a certified yoga instructor, a volunteer onstage and off with community theater companies, and serves on the board of the St. Louis Fringe Festival.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with psychologist Stewart Pisecco. Presbyterian School was honored to have Steward on campus earlier this month for two parent ed events focused on bringing out a child's best behavior. If you missed these events, tune in to our podcast to hear some of his thoughts on child behavior. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.  Dr. Stewart Pisecco is a licensed psychologist who specializes in child and adolescent psychology. For the past 20 years, he has done extensive research on the assessment and treatment of ADHD, behavioral problems, and reading difficulties. Dr. Pisecco's work has focused on the development of evidence-based digital interventions for disruptive child behavior. He is also a former Fulbright Research Scholar and the past recipient of several research and teaching awards while at the University of Houston. Additionally, his 2011 TEDx Talk titled Behavior Matters has been named to the top 100 ranked psychology talks.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with acclaimed children and adult author, Candace Fleming. This episode which takes a peek behind the scenes at Candace's writing is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Candace Fleming is the author of more than forty books. Among her nonfiction titles are Giant Squid, Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart, and The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion and the Fall of Imperial Russia.  Her award-winning titles include The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh which won the 2021 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction, and Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera, winner of the 2021 Sibert Medal.  She is also the recipient of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the Orbis Pictus Award, as well as a two-time recipient of the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Nonfiction, the ALA Sibert Honor, and SCBWI's Golden Kite Award.Presbyterian School was honored to host Candace Fleming on campus last month. She visited with all PK3-8th grade students and tailored her presentations to the different age students: for Early Childhood, the focus was on discovering and sharing stories; for Lower School, Fleming delved deeper into the writing process, discussing topics like structure and revision; and for Middle School, she focused on her writing research methods, the use of primary documents, and editorial choices. Fleming's interactive presentations, accompanied by visually stimulating slides, incorporated elements of storytelling and humor to ignite students' enthusiasm for the wonderful world of writing and reading.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Director of PE and Wellness, Ann Horne, Middle School Counselor, Cortney Kindall-Ritchey, and Chaplain, Brenton Smith. This episode introduces you to some of the individuals behind our school's first annual Wellness Week and shares how we define wellness and what we hope students and parents will take away. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Ann Horne is in her 24th year at Presbyterian School. She serves as the Director of PE and Wellness. Ann received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a minor in Biology from Grand Valley State University and her Master of Education, Administration and Supervision from the University of Houston. Prior to coming to Presbyterian School, Ann taught and coached at Richmond Grade School in Illinois and Ridgecrest Elementary in Houston. She has coached basketball, softball, volleyball, lacrosse, and track. Ann is passionate about teaching students how to be healthy, productive members of society. In her time off, she enjoys stitching, crafts, reading, puzzling, and baking. Ann is married to Mike and has two step-children and six grandchildren. Cortney Kindall-Ritchey has served as the Middle School Counselor at Presbyterian School for 5 years. A graduate of the University of Houston, Cortney holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology through the Honors College and a Master of Education in Counseling. Before her time at PS, she served as one of the counselors at Duchesne Academy for 8 years, where she had attended as a K-12 student. In addition to daily support of our students in their wellness development, Cortney actively engages in various programs, coordinating cross-divisional activities, facilitating Puberty and Sex Ed discussions, and promoting healthy relationship boundaries. She spearheads the middle school advisory programming, manages middle school clubs, and teaches a 6th grade fine arts class. Cortney is married to Nick, and they have a son in second grade at Presbyterian School, and a daughter joining PK4 next year.Brenton Smith's involvement in Presbyterian School has run deep and wide spanning over 14 years since she began as a second grade student in Lower School. Brenton graduated PS with the Class of 2011 and attended St. Agnes Academy, followed by Westbury Christian. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Texas A& M University and her Masters of Theology from Fuller Seminary. In 2019, Brenton began as a Chaplain Intern and now works full time as one of the School Chaplains. Brenton leads Early Childhood and Lower School Chapels, teaches bible classes and coordinates service learning projects for each grade level. Brenton comes from a rich heritage and family of faith, and follows in her mother, Amy Smith's footsteps who served as Presbyterian School's Chaplain from 2007- 2015.  Brenton is also actively involved with the PS Alumni Association. 

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Reverand Nathan Tenney, School Chaplain. This episode which highlights a  is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Rev. Nathan Tenney is in his second year at Presbyterian School. He serves as one of the School Chaplains alongside Brenton Smith. Nathan received his Bachelor of Arts in Race and Ethnic Studies from the University of Redlands and his Master of Divinity from Claremont School of Theology. Prior to coming to Presbyterian School, Rev. Tenney worked for over 16 years in children's ministry most recently from First Christian Church and School as the School Chaplain. He has also developed, written and edited children's curriculum for Cokesbury, a United Methodist Publishing House. Rev. Tenney is passionate about walking alongside students in their faith formation and helping them develop strong roots in Christ. In his time off, he enjoys reading, jogging, and watching professional rugby. Nathan is married to Eliza and has a 14 month old son, Samuel.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Lois Geiger, Head of Early Childhood. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Lois Geiger is in her nineteenth year at Presbyterian School. She has served as a classroom teacher, the Assistant Head of Early Childhood and is currently the Head of Early Childhood. She graduated from Southern Methodist University with a BA in Advertising. After several years in the corporate world, Lois made a career change into education where she found her passion and has never looked back. She holds a master's degree in Education with an emphasis in Reading and Literacy. Lois is a true believer in play-based learning for young children and enjoys partnering with parents during this pivotal time of development in a child's life. When not at school Lois and her husband, Doug, can often be found at the beach with their two yellow labs. Lois is a mother to two adult children. She enjoys travel, reading, hiking, yoga, and cooking.

Parents have 936 weeks between a child's birth and graduation to clue into and participate in what's happening during the critical spiritual and developmental phases of a child's life. Join Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton in a two part series as he discusses how to be more present and show up for our children. The session on children in Middle School.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Kristi Brown, Director of Admission. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.  Kristi grew up in Huntsville, Alabama and earned bachelor's degrees in history and English from Birmingham- Southern College.  After college she earned her M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Alabama, Birmingham. Kristi taught in Alabama public high schools before moving to Texas where she began teaching history at St. Agnes Academy.  She came to Presbyterian School as a middle school humanities teacher in 2000 and was a member of the founding middle school faculty.  While at PS, she has served as teacher, Associate Head of Middle School, and Admission Director.  Kristi has seen every 8th grade class graduate in the history of the School and is passionate about sharing how the School has impacted the lives of so many students and families. Kristi's experience with admission and enrollment management has opened doors for her to present and lead conferences across the country for Independent School Association of the Southwest (ISAS) as well as the Enrollment Management Association (EMA).  In addition, Kristi has served for over 10 years on the Board of Houston Area Independent Schools (HAIS) which includes presiding as President over the group.Kristi has two daughters who were PS Lifers, Allie, Class of 2014, and Anna, Class of 2017. In her free time, Kristi loves to cook for her husband, Adam, and children. She still fries chicken and makes things like macaroni and cheese, biscuits and cornbread the way her grandmother taught her when she was seven years old. 

Parents have 936 weeks between a child's birth and graduation to clue into and participate in what's happening during the critical spiritual and developmental phases of a child's life. Join Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton in a two part series as he discusses how to be more present and show up for our children. The session on children in Early Childhood and Lower School.Click here for the presentation slides. 

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Public Safety Expert and Crime Stoppers CEO, Rania Mankarious. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Rania Mankarious received a Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Houston Law Center. A Boston native who relocated to Houston in 2006, Rania Mankarious was chosen to head Houston's leading public safety non-profit organization, Crime Stoppers, in March of 2013. She was named the organization's first CEO in 2018. Mankarious' ongoing legacy Crime Stoppers includes the first-ever Crime Stoppers Safe School Institute - a full suite direct service crime prevention program for students, teachers, administrators, counselors, school-based law-enforcement and parents. Mankarious has also helped to establish Crime Stoppers' first webinar series with local, statewide and national experts in addition to creating Parents Against Crime and the critically important Fallen Hero Program and expanding the organization's Safe Community Program.In 2021, Mankarious authored her first book with a plan designed to keep kids safe anywhere they go online. In her new book, The Online World: What You Think You Know and What You Don't, Mankarious pulls back the curtain to the online world and helps parents take all the intangible gray space that can seem so overwhelming, and turn it into defined territories with boundaries to protect our tweens and teens. We encourage parents to buy the book and attend our in-person parent ed with Rania Mankarious. 

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat Think.Make.Talk teacher, Gail Kirkconnell, and her daughter, Brigette O'Brian, who is a middle school fine arts teacher. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Raised in Michigan, Gail Kirkconnell attended St. Mary Academy, an all-girls Catholic high school, and then went on to graduate cum laude from Eastern Michigan University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Education with an Industrial Arts major and a minor in Children's Literature. Prior to coming to PS, Gail taught Kindergarten and first grade students for 10 years in the Alief public schools and at Grace School. In 2005 Gail came to Presbyterian School and taught Kindergarten for seven years before joining the Academic Enrichment Team. Following that, she spearheaded and helped to create the Lower School Think.Make.Talk (TMT) class. As a a TMT teacher, Gail inspires young learners to confront challenges with boundless imagination, embrace the power of teamwork, and grow the courage to explore uncharted territory. Gail is also the Coordinator for Odyssey of the Mind at Presbyterian School. Gail has two adult twin daughters, Jillian and Brigette. Her most cherished moments are spent with family and friends including her little dog, Lottie June, who adds an extra layer of joy!In her own way, Brigette O'Brian, followed in her mother's teaching footsteps. Brigette received an Elementary Education degree from the University of Oklahoma. She currently works at Presbyterian School as a middle school fine arts teacher specializing in drama and dance electives. She produces and choreographs the 8th grade musical each Spring. Brigette is the owner of Relevé Productions LLC that serves as Presbyterian's after school dance program teaching Ballet, Tap, and Jazz classes to students in PK3-6th grade.  Brigette has over fifteen years of experience teaching and choreographing dance. She is certified in over twelve dance styles and has been professionally trained in ballet, tap, and jazz. Brigette is an award-winning professional ballroom dancer, and has had the privilege of teaching at the Fred Astaire Dance Company. Outside of teaching performing arts, Brigette works on choreography and production teams for the Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA and other state pageants. Brigette lives with her husband, Daniel, and their two dogs, Ruby and Beau. 

This year, we are adding new elements to our podcast. In addition to featuring PEOPLE in our People of PS podcast, we are going feature signature PROGRAMS of the School as well as PARENT ED topics.In our first episode of the year, tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, dig into our Odyssey of the Mind (OM) program with Lower School Think.Make.Talk (TMT) teacher, Gail Kirkconnell, and former PS parent and OM Coach, Lori Cook. Odyssey of the Mind (OM) is a worldwide program that brings together teams of students to showcase their creative problem-solving skills in a series of competitions at the regional, state and world levels. Teams of students work together to solve a variety of challenges that require them to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions completely independent of adult assistance.Currently, Odyssey of the Mind is the School's most popular extracurricular activity. In the 2022-23 school year, 112 students participated across 16 teams ranging from 2nd-7th grades Not only is this the highest number of teams Presbyterian School has ever had to participate in OM, but it is also the greatest number of teams any school in Houston has sent to competition. Moreover, Presbyterian School is currently the only Houston private school to support an Odyssey of the Mind program.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Center for Teaching and Learning Math Specialist, Amanda Reimer, in a new episode which is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. A native Houstonian, Amanda Reimer grew up in Southwest Houston and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education from Texas State University. As a young child, school was difficult for Amanda, however, her love for math and learning was ignited in college through the help of a trigonometry professor who was passionate about his subject and showed her real world applications for math while patiently working with her to fully understood the concepts.  Inspired to become a great teacher to help struggling students like herself, Amanda pursued a teaching degree in mathematics. Following graduation, Amanda taught fourth and fifth grades at Briargrove Elementary and St. Francis Episcopal before coming to Presbyterian School in 2018.  Amanda has been a key leader in evaluating and creating an intentional K-8 math program at PS to help students become stronger conceptual thinkers. Besides supporting the development of the Lower School math curriculum, Amanda works in the School's Center for Teaching and Learning to help students develop their math skills. Outside of teaching, Amanda and her husband Aaron enjoy traveling and spending time with family. 

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with First Presbyterian Church Senior Pastor, Curtis Bronzan, in a new episode which is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Curtis Bronzan began his ministry career in 2003 as a pastoral assistant at Christ Presbyterian Church in Lakewood, CA. In 2006 Curtis was recruited to Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Los Alamitos, CA, where he served in a series of ordained ministry positions until his final role as Lead Pastor and Head of Staff. In November 2022, Curtis accepted a call to serve as the Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Houston. He and his family relocated to Houston the following January. Curtis holds B.A. degrees in Religious Studies & Sociology from Westmont College, an M.Div. in Worship, Theology & the Arts, as well as a Th.M. in Postmodern Culture from Fuller Theological Seminary, and is completing a Doctorate in Ministry in Leadership in a Changing Church Context from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. Curtis is married to Cassie Bronzan, and they have two children, Moses and Zoe, who both attend Presbyterian School.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Presbyterian School Think.Make.Talk (TMT) teacher and Museum District Liaison, Eby Harvey, in a new episode which is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Born and raised in Houston, Eby comes from a multi-generation, long line of Longhorns. Eby graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in photojournalism and a minor in Spanish and art history. During college, Eby spent a year studying in Florence and Barcelona which ignited her love for living, learning, and traveling abroad. After graduation, Eby toured Australia and New Zealand and taught English in South Korea. She also served as a travel guide for Third Rock Travel for six years. Eby returned to Houston to get her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction and began working at Presbyterian School in 2014. As an experiential learner, Eby is passionate about connecting students to authentic, firsthand experiences and resources that will help them learn by doing. Eby helped to develop the Think.Make.Talk. curriculum at the School and currently teaches Lower School students how to think deeply about problems, ideas, projects, and research; creatively make real-world applications that flow out of that thinking; and talk to members of our community about what they've made and how to make it even better. This year Eby expanded her role as TMT teacher to include serving as the School's Museum District Liaison. Eby and her partner, Matt, have two daughters, Birdie and Ouisie, who will join the PS Class of 2033 in the Fall.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Presbyterian School trustee and former parent, Dr. André Napier, in a new episode which is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. A man of multiple talents, pursuits and stories, Dr. André Napier, has been part of the Presbyterian School community for over 10 years. Three of his four children including Andre '14, Arden '16, and Emery '22, attended Presbyterian School. André will always be best known for creating the PS Dad's: Hot Dog Takeover, an annual Spring lunch cookout sponsored by PS dads. Andre is the owner of Avalon Diner in Stafford. Prior to becoming a restauranteur, Andre's professional career included working as a concert tour manager and with professional athletes. In recent years, André earned his doctorate in Behavioral Health Management and has added Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Suicide Prevention Coordinator for the Houston VA to his resume. He is also a therapist and consultant for the National Basketball Players Association.André is someone you will want to get to know better. Our short bio does not do justice to his extensive work in the community. After you listen to our Podcast, attend our Parent Ed series on Supporting our Students: Understanding Suicide and Self-Harm in Today's Youth on February 6 at noon to learn more from André. He is one of three mental health professionals presenting and will discuss the prevalence of suicide among today's youth, and highlight useful tools and strategies on how to approach real life scenarios concerning thoughts of suicide.Excerpt from André Napier in the People of PS Podcast: One of the tipping points for me deciding to go back to school was my then firstborn son was in school, in private school, and he was having some challenges, and ultimately that led to us getting him a neuropsych evaluation, and we determined that he had ADHD. So I was very reluctant, frustrated about the diagnosis. I did not want to accept it. It didn't make sense. ADHD didn't make sense. Folks telling you that your child's brain may not be wired the same as other folks, and then they start talking about what the effects of that will be for him long term. So I think that that really was the deciding factor for me to go back to school, was that I needed to find out more. And the more I found out, the more I needed to find out. And that's how I started out in clinical therapy.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Presbyterian School Director of Facility Operations, Jay Hilton, in a new episode which is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. A steadfast man of faith, Jay felt a strong calling as a teenager to follow God. A graduate of Texas Bible College, Jay served on staff for three churches prior to coming to Presbyterian School. His work in ministry included youth ministry, directing young married couples, and serving as associate and lead pastor. Concurrent to working in churches, Jay had his own successful marina construction business for over a decade. To allow more time for ministry and family, Jay sold his business and began working at Presbyterian School as the Directory of Facility of Operations in 2017. Jay currently pastors The Home Church of Clear Lake. In his spare time, Jay enjoys fishing and being creative. He is an avid artist and loves mixed media, painting, drawing, wood carving, and making things with his hands. Jay is married to Cindy, a fifth grade Language Arts teacher at PS, and they are parents to four boys ranging in age from 10 to 21 years old.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Presbyterian School Alum, Jorge Ortiz, in a new episode which is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. A graduate of one of PS's first graduating classes in 2004, Jorge is a proud alum and supporter of the School. Following Presbyterian School, Jorge attended St. John's for high school and then earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. Jorge has established himself as an experienced entrepreneur with a successful history of working in media, sports and the technology sector of the start up world. Jorge's expertise ranges from building and growing companies from the initial ideation stage through acquisition in the technology space. He is currently the founder of and CEO of Varsity Hype and has been an integral part of numerous other start-ups including Silly Box, Inc,  GameDay Films, The FrontRow.Media, Vype Media, and Come and Take It Apparel. Presbyterian School is grateful for the use of Varsity Hype to livestream the School's athletic games. Jorge is married to his high school sweetheart, Laura, and they have a one year old daughter, Isla.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with First Presbyterian Church Senior Pastor, Rev. Jim Birchfield, in a new episode which is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.  A graduate of Michigan State University, Dr. Jim Birchfield was a senior executive with a magazine publishing company when he became a Christian and sensed a calling to go full-time into Christian ministry. Accordingly, Jim resigned from his lucrative career in advertising and marketing and entered Fuller Seminary where he earned his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry. In his early years of Christian service, Jim worked as a director of high school ministry, director of missions, and director of single adult ministry, before moving into the role of associate pastor for young adults, singles, missions, and discipleship, and finally executive pastor. Jim served in two churches in California before moving to Houston to lead First Presbyterian Church in 2009. Jim is a voracious reader, who tries to stay current on Christian theology and its practical applications to his ministry. He is active in encouraging local and global ministries in addition to serving on the board of The Nehemiah Center, Main Street Ministries and Strategic Resource Group.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Brenton Smith, School Chaplain, in a new episode which is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Brenton's involvement in Presbyterian School has run deep and wide spanning over 14 years since she began as a second grade student in Lower School. Brenton graduated PS with the Class of 2011 and attended St. Agnes Academy, followed by Westbury Christian. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Texas A& M University and her Masters of Theology from Fuller Seminary. In 2019, Brenton began as a Chaplain Intern under Jo Leever, former PS Chaplain, and now works full time serving alongside Rev. Nathan Tenney as one of the School Chaplains. Brenton leads Early Childhood and Lower School Chapels, teaches bible classes and coordinates service learning projects for each grade level. Brenton comes from a rich heritage and family of faith, and follows in her mother, Amy Smith's footsteps who served as Presbyterian School's Chaplain from 2007- 2015.  Brenton is also currently serving as the president of the PS Alumni Association.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Dr. Melissa Carbajal, NICU Physician, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, and Director of the Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship Program for Baylor College of Medicine, in a new episode which is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Dr. Melissa Carbajal wears numerous hats as a faculty member at Baylor College of Medicine and an attending physician Texas Children's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Units as well as at the NICU at Ben Taub General Hospital.  She graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a Bachelor's of Science and went on to earn her MD from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston.  She completed a General Pediatrics Residency followed by Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine and currently serves as the Director for the Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship Program at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Carbajal's care of newborn infants, her involvement in medical education, and her work with physician trainees reflects her passion for helping people reach their greatest potential.  Outside of the medical profession, Dr. Carbajal is married to her husband Chris Carbajal, she is the mother of three PS students/alum (Sophia '20, David '22 and Mark '24), serves on the Presbyterian School Board of Trustees and is an active member of First Presbyterian Church.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Mike Cobb, the Head of School at All Saints Episcopal School in Tyler, Texas in a new episode which is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. With a passion for student engagement and authentic learning, Mike Cobb currently serves as the head of All Saints, a 3K-12 school of 650 students. The school has received national recognition for innovative learning and leadership with Mike at the helm. All Saints has created innovative learning spaces and progressive programs that emphasize authentic learning and student agency. The design and implementation of ground-breaking spaces like their Collaboratory, Center for Innovation, Learning Farm, Learning Villages, STEM Zone, Outdoor Learning Center, Science Explorium, and more demonstrate the very best of active learning.  Like PS, All Saints is a member school in the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest, and Mike will be leading the Visiting Team considering Presbyterian School's ten-year re-accreditation at the end of March.*************Excerpt from Mike Cobb in the People of PS Podcast:At All Saints, our working definition of authentic learning means having relevancy in your learning, having it be applied today, and having it be as real world as possible. For example, we have students run their own media agency at our school, and they don't just make ads for pretend. They actually represent companies and businesses and nonprofits, not only in our community, but all across the United States. We have students run our retail store. They 100% run the store. We have an E-cafe, and we have students that nurture and nourish chickens to sell eggs and carpool. That's what authentic looks like... having that intrinsic desire to be involved because it is yours which then flows into agency. Letting students actually have voice and choice about what their  learning looks like is so important to me. And it looks differently across ages. Our kids get to decide how many chickens we have, how they're going to sell the eggs in carpool all the way up to kids in our upper school building prosthetic devices for people around the world and deciding what that looks like. And so I think it's so important, though, for us to understand that school has changed.*************

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Associate Head of Middle School, Toni Mouton, in a new episode which is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Toni Mouton grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from LSU and her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Louisiana. She has been in education for 25 years with 15 years teaching and leading at Presbyterian School. Toni began her teaching career as a middle school English teacher, but her infectious and genuine love for middle school students made her a natural fit for middle school administration and leadership. In her current role as Associate Head of Middle School, Toni is one of the School's biggest cheerleaders advocating on behalf of academic support for students, instructional support for teachers and educational support for parents as each go through the middle school years. Toni's work to bring together counselors, teachers and tutors in support of a student's success plan is instrumental for students with learning differences. Toni and her husband, Onezieme, are parents of Presbyterian School alum, Oni, (Class of 2019). 

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with 5th Grade Math Teacher, Ralph Head, in a new episode which is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Ralph Head grew up in West Columbia, Texas which is the first capital of the Republic of Texas. He received his Bachelors of Science from Southwestern Assemblies of God University and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Houston Baptist University. A man of deep faith, Ralph had a deep passion and calling to become a pastor and to serve doing mission work. After serving as a youth pastor, associate pastor and lead pastor for different churches, Ralph made a decision to switch careers and went back to school to get his graduate degree and teaching certifications in education. Tune into the podcast to hear about how his dream of shepherding and teaching people began in the church and is now being fulfilled in the School. Ralph is a Presbyterian School parent of four students (Tori '19, Natalie '21, Alie '24, and Walter '29) and husband to 7th Grade Science teacher, Anna Head.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Director of Athletics, Alvaro Baltodano, in a new episode which is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.  Alvaro Baltodano grew up in Nicaragua and moved to Houston, Texas when he was in middle school. In the Podcast, Alvaro shares about this difficult transition and the challenges and choices he had to meet head on. Soccer played a pivotal role in his transition to the United States and he played for the Houston Football Association (HFA) until he had a sport-ending injury. Following this, he graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Sports Administration. Prior to coming to Presbyterian School 14 years ago, Alvaro worked at Emery Weiner. Over the years at PS, Alvaro has served as PE teacher and Assistant Athletic Director, in addition to coaching soccer, volleyball, girls and boys lacrosse, and baseball for the School. He assumed the role of Director of Athletics in the 2020-21 school year. Alvaro is also a Presbyterian School parent (Noah '24, Natalia '27, and Naomi '31).

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Dean of Faculty, Christy Heno, in a new episode which is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Christy Heno graduated from LSU with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and received her Masters of Education from Walden University. Christy was an elementary school teacher in Richardson ISD, Tyler ISD and Houston ISD for eight years. Following this, she served as the Director of Children's Ministries at St. Luke's United Methodist Church and then moved to Presbyterian School where she has worked for the past 14 years in various positions including Chaplain, Early Childhood and Lower School Head and now Dean of Faculty. Christy is also the Houston Representative for Camp Mystic and author of two books, My Tummy Talked in Church Today and The Christmas Pageant.In 2016 Christy became a Gallup Certified CliftonStrengths Coach to help individuals discover what is best about themselves and how their strengths contribute to their daily performance. Hear more on the podcast about how she utilizes CliftonStrengths in her new position as Dean of Faculty to create more of a cohesive, happier and high-functioning work environment at the School.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Lower School Art teacher, Terry Flores, in a new episode which is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Terry's passion for the arts and love for sparking and developing creativity in children is incredible. Get to know Terry, her background, what she hopes to teach kids at PS and how she is making a difference in the greater Houston community.Terry earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Houston and her Masters of Fine Arts from Rutgers University. Prior to becoming Presbyterian School's Lower School Art teacher, Terry taught at Veritas Christian Academy and St. Andrew's Children's Place.  In addition to over 15 years experience serving as both a Visual Arts teacher and a Fine Arts Director, Terry's work has been on exhibit in museums and galleries in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Texas. Recently, her work was selected by jury to be included in the inaugural NAEA Member Exhibition. Terry is the founder and executive director of ArtPark Studios, a gospel-minded, non-profit arts organization designed to bring free summer arts programming to Houston's under-served communities.  Their primary focus is to combat summer knowledge loss of low income students through community based visual arts projects and creative instruction. In 2018, Terry opened ArtPark Studios with her son, who was 15 years old at the time. Their dream of sharing the love of Christ through creativity became a reality when Terry and her son won a large grant from First Presbyterian Church's Project Flourish Initiative.  Prior to COVID, they served over 40 children giving each student 70 hours of free instructional time in a studio setting. ArtPark partnerships include the Nehemiah Center, Spark Park, Texas Art Supply, First Presbyterian Church of Houston, Mayor's Department of Neighborhoods' Anti-Gang Initiative, The Art of Love: Healing for a Woman's Soul and Camp Blessing. Tune into the podcast to hear more about how Terry pivoted with ArtPark Studios during the pandemic.

Jessica holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Kansas as well as a master's degree in Elementary Education from The George Washington University.  Additionally, she has completed post-graduate work in Literacy at Chapman University, in Reading at Columbia University, and in Mathematics at Stanford University. Prior to joining the Leadership Team at Presbyterian School, Jessica served at the Lamplighter School in Dallas, Texas for six years. In the midst of the pandemic, Jessica became Lamplighter's Virtual and Hybrid Learning Committee Chair, supervising a 10-member committee as it developed and communicated virtual and hybrid learning plans across all divisions.  In addition, she served as the Makerspace and Innovation Curriculum Coordinator, leading a team charged with creating and advancing a makerspace and design-thinking curriculum as well as developing and implementing technology standards in accordance with the School's strategic plan. 

We are wrapping up Season 1 of the People of PS Podcast with a recap from our Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton. Tune in to hear our final episode for the 2020-21 school year which reflects upon the themes touched upon during the last eight episodes including what surprised and did not surprise him about the people he interviewed. The episode is live and available for download now on our People of PS Podcast.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Early Childhood teacher, Karell Williams, in a new episode which is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Karell Williams received her undergraduate degree in psychology and her M.Ed. in Educational Counseling from St. Thomas University. She has been teaching Kindergarten for seven years and this past year helped facilitate online learning for our Early Childhood students.  Listen in and get to know Karell in this deeply personal and intimate podcast episode. Karell shares her lifelong struggle with sickle cell anemia, and gets candid and honest about a difficult pregnancy loss and how God helped to move her past a very dark place. She has recently published a book called Before You Were Here to celebrate her daughter's memory and to encourage other women who have experienced this unexpected loss to do the same for their sons or daughters.This version of the People of PS Podcast focuses on some very personal and emotional subject-matter dealing with health and wellness, pregnancy, and the loss of a child.  It is intended for a more mature audience.  Listener discretion is advised.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Houston Police Department Officer Mike Garcia, in a new episode which is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Mike Garcia received his undergraduate degree in political science from Texas Southern and later graduated from the Police Academy. He has served in the Houston Police Department for six years. He came to work as one of Presbyterian School's HPD officers in 2017 and has enjoyed getting to help the School's faculty, staff, parents and students. Listen in and get to know Mike's background and love for music, his mentors, and how he came to realize his calling to serve as an officer. And when you see Mike around campus, give him a high five! We appreciate him and his colleagues serving in the police department and at Presbyterian School.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Rice University Athletic Director and PS Trustee and Parent, Joe Karlgaard.Joe Karlgaard (Charlie '22, Danny and Luke '30), received his undergraduate degree in history from Stanford University and his Ph.D. in educational policy and administration from the University of Minnesota. Listen in as the conversation spans from Joe's mentors to the changing landscape of college athletics to the challenges of a pandemic. Joe also gives a candid glimpse at an important commitment he has made to deepen his learning around issues of racism, discrimination, and bias. This is an incredibly enriching episode you don't want to miss!

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Middle School Music and Choir Teacher, Charles Harrison in a new 2-part series.Mr. Harrison has been teaching music to elementary and middle school students for 16 years and came to Presbyterian School in 2015. He also currently serves as the Director of Music at Jones Memorial United Methodist Church and The Director of Phillip Hall Singers, a local professional singing ensemble, and teaches as a vocal coach at the Ensemble Theatre. Part 1 shares the story of Mr. Harrison's upbringing in Houston's Third Ward, his dream of playing basketball in the NBA, and the impact of significant musical mentors in his life. These mentors shaped and changed the trajectory of his life.Part 2 dives into Mr. Harrison's love for teaching choral music. He shares his philosophy on what kind of teacher he strives to be, the role of faith in his life, and how he sees his purpose in teaching unfolding at Presbyterian School.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Middle School Music and Choir Teacher, Charles Harrison in a new 2-part series .Mr. Harrison has been teaching music to elementary and middle school students for 16 years and came to Presbyterian School in 2015. He also currently serves as the Director of Music at Jones Memorial United Methodist Church and The Director of Phillip Hall Singers, a local professional singing ensemble, and teaches as a vocal coach at the Ensemble Theatre. Part 1 shares the story of Mr. Harrison's upbringing in Houston's Third Ward, his dream of playing basketball in the NBA, and the impact of significant musical mentors in his life. These mentors shaped and changed the trajectory of his life.Part 2 dives into Mr. Harrison's love for teaching choral music. He shares his philosophy on what kind of teacher he strives to be, the role of faith in his life, and how he sees his purpose in teaching unfolding at Presbyterian School.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Academic Enrichment Team Literacy Specialist, Tenesa Smith. Get to know one of our faculty members, how she came to Presbyterian School, and where her journey has taken her today. During the pandemic, Tenesha began a non-profit organization, Right to Read, to serve the Houston community by supporting at-risk youth through free reading support. Right to Read provides free literacy resources to promote observable reading growth, confidence and success for students PK3-3rd grade. Tune in to our podcast today and hear Tenesha's story, and click here to learn more about her non-profit, Right to Read.

Join Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, as he spends time with Presbyterian School 7th Grade History teacher, Gordon Center, discussing how forging relationships has been the defining centerpiece of his life work.

Join Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, as he spends time with Presbyterian School Coach Darnell Cleary and 8th Grade Algebra teacher, Brandon Walker in a 2-part series getting to know these individuals and how they found their passion in life and are on their way to leading young students to do the same. Part 1 shares the story of how these men met and came together to found The Summer Institute at Presbyterian School, a nonprofit educational enrichment program helping underserved students in Houston. Part 2 dives into the three viruses facing America including the coronavirus, the virus of racism and the virus of polarization. Listen in as Coach Cleary and Mr. Walker share their reaction to the issues of racism in America.Check out more information about the Summer Institute at Presbyterian School!

Join Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, as he spends time with Presbyterian School Coach Darnell Cleary and 8th Grade Algebra teacher, Brandon Walker in a 2-part series getting to know these individuals and how they found their passion in life and are on their way to leading young students to do the same. Part 1 shares the story of how these men met and came together to found The Summer Institute at Presbyterian School, a nonprofit educational enrichment program helping underserved students in Houston. Part 2 dives into the three viruses facing America including the coronavirus, the virus of racism and the virus of polarization. Listen in as Coach Cleary and Mr. Walker share their reaction to the issues of racism in America.Check out more information about the Summer Institute at Presbyterian School!

Presbyterian's Summer Camp created a Radio Play; a new version of the classic fairy tale, Jack and the Beanstalk. The cast recreated characters, produced their own sound effects and composed their own soundtracks. We hope you enjoy the new story, Jaqueline and the Beanstalk!

"The Wizard of Oz" is a story that spans decades, written one hundred and twenty years ago. The students in Presbyterian School's 7th grade drama class are bringing it back again in Radio Theater Form! Radio Theater once united the nation during World War Two when families gathered around their radios to listen to important announcements and were transported from the comfort of their living rooms to new worlds where their beloved stories came to life. This Wizard of Oz broadcast uses the original radio theater transcript broadcasted Christmas Day in 1950. Presbyterian School students have worked hard learning new technology and recording their lines and songs. They've utilized iMovie and Garageband producing character voices, sound effects, and musical techniques. We hope that our Panther Radio Theater can once again unite our families and Presbyterian School Community. We invite you to enjoy, "The Wizard of Oz" on our PS Podcast

"The Wizard of Oz" is a story that spans decades, written one hundred and twenty years ago. The students in Presbyterian School's 7th grade drama class are bringing it back again in Radio Theater Form! Radio Theater once united the nation during World War Two when families gathered around their radios to listen to important announcements and were transported from the comfort of their living rooms to new worlds where their beloved stories came to life. This Wizard of Oz broadcast uses the original radio theater transcript broadcasted Christmas Day in 1950. Presbyterian School students have worked hard learning new technology and recording their lines and songs. They've utilized iMovie and Garageband producing character voices, sound effects, and musical techniques. We hope that our Panther Radio Theater can once again unite our families and Presbyterian School Community. We invite you to enjoy, "The Wizard of Oz" on our PS Podcast.

"The Wizard of Oz" is a story that spans decades, written one hundred and twenty years ago. The students in Presbyterian School's 7th grade drama class are bringing it back again in Radio Theater Form! Radio Theater once united the nation during World War Two when families gathered around their radios to listen to important announcements and were transported from the comfort of their living rooms to new worlds where their beloved stories came to life. This Wizard of Oz broadcast uses the original radio theater transcript broadcasted Christmas Day in 1950. Presbyterian School students have worked hard learning new technology and recording their lines and songs. They've utilized iMovie and Garageband producing character voices, sound effects, and musical techniques. We hope that our Panther Radio Theater can once again unite our families and Presbyterian School Community. We invite you to enjoy, "The Wizard of Oz" on our PS Podcast.