Tia Banks, Intervention TA – tia.banks@austin.utexas.edu
Scarlett Calvin, STEAM – scarlett.calvin@austin.utexas.edu
Ms. Calvin has been a teacher at UTES for 5 years. Her expertise lies in creating engaging, hands-on lessons that challenge students to develop essential 21st-century learning skills such as collaboration, communication, self-control, and tolerance. In her free time, she is a mother to her two children and loves to be outside.
Class site: utsteam.wordpress.com
Kevin Cofield, Café – kevin.cofield@austin.utexas.edu
LuLu Cordoza, Café – lcardoza@austin.utexas.edu
Courtney Castaneda, Orchestra – courtneycastaneda@utexas.edu
Ms. Castaneda is the orchestra teacher at UT Elementary and the assistant director of the UT String Project. She has a master’s degree in cello performance and a master’s degree in music and human learning from UT Austin. She began her musical career at her Houston elementary school where she started on the violin the 1st grade!
Class site: littlelonghornsorchestra.wordpress.com
Lily Dominguez, Counselor – lily.dominguez@austin.utexas.edu
Mrs. Dominguez is entering her third year at UTES and as a school counselor. She has been working in the field of education going on her thirteenth year. Her passion is working with students to understand their emotions and social behaviors so that they have the tools to be able to self-manage and advocate for themselves. During her free time, she loves hanging out with her son, husband, and family.
Jan Evans, Librarian – jaevans@austin.utexas.edu
Mrs. Evans has been at UTES for 14 years. She enjoys wearing many hats, including librarian, math and reading interventionist for 2nd grade, and gifted and talented testing coordinator.
Megan Ferrell, Nurse – megan.ferrell@austin.utexas.edu
Maria Figueroa, Reading Interventionist – mfigueroa@austin.utexas.edu
Mrs. Figueroa has served as a reading interventionist at UT Elementary School for eight years. She has been in the education profession for almost 20 years, previously teaching at both Austin ISD and Pflugerville ISD. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, she enjoys going to the beach, eating Caribbean food, listening to Latin music, and singing.
Melissa Garcia, Assistant Principal – melissagarcia@austin.utexas.edu
Nick Hall, Fifth Grade – nicholas.hall@austin.utexas.edu
Mr. Hall is an exceptionally enthusiastic educator that was born and raised in the great state of Michigan. The super son of two wonderful teacher parents loves to play sports, share kindness with others, sing, rap, and dance with passion yet without purpose, and be the very best teacher and person he can be! He is always happy to meet new people so be sure to find him and say hello! Class site: utes.fifthgrade.com
Thelma Herrera, Kindergarten – thelma.herrera@austin.utexas.edu
This will be Ms. Herrera’s 18th year of teaching. She earned her undergraduate degree at The University of Texas at Austin and her master’s in elementary education at Texas State University. She is a National Board Certified Teacher. Ms. Herrera and her husband Steve are proud parents of Laura, a UT Austin graduate and Monica, a senior at Johns Hopkins University.
Molly Kelly, First Grade – mkelly@austin.utexas.edu
This will be Molly’s 31st year of teaching/training/writing curriculum! She grew up in the military and lived all over the US. Austin has been her home for the past 40 years. She can’t wait for the new school year to start.
Carly Kennedy, Third Grade – carly.kennedy@austin.utexas.edu
Coming from a long line of educators, Ms. Kennedy knew she wanted to become a teacher. She attended The University of Texas at Austin where she earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in multicultural special education. Ms. Kennedy taught for three years in special education classrooms, three years as a reading specialist and is currently in her fourth year of teaching Pre-K.
Kameron Koeffler, Third Grade – kameron.koeffler@austin.utexas.edu
Mr. Koeffler is the 3rd grade reading and social studies teacher at UTES. He graduated from UT Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Learning and Development with a focus in Special Education as well as English-Second Language and Early Childhood certifications. His hope is that students can have fun and foster a joy of learning as they prepare to follow their own passions.
Class site: www.imxprs.com/free/koeffler/koeffler-website
Jessica Loredo, Office Staff – jessica.loredo@austin.utexas.edu
Ellen Mangelsdorf, Kindergarten – emangels@austin.utexas.edu
Ellen Mangelsdorf has a BS in Elementary Education and received her Master’s Degree in Curriculum Studies from the University of Texas. She has been teaching for 16 years – this is her 10th year at UT Elementary! Mrs. Mangelsdorf has taught grades from 4th to Kindergarten. She is excited to start another year in 2nd grade teaching Language Arts and Social Studies.
Lucy McCoy, Second Grade – lucy.mccoy@austin.utexas.edu
Ms. McCoy is so excited to be working with The University of Texas Elementary School this year as a first grade teacher! She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in social work from Texas State University. This will be her fifth year teaching in the Austin Area.
Jennifer Montoya, Office Staff – j.montoya@austin.utexas.edu
Jennifer Montoya’s smile has been welcoming UT Elementary School families and students to the school for the past four years. “Helping someone—whether parent or child—is the favorite part of my job,” she said.
Danna Oakes, Second Grade – danna.nelson@austin.utexas.edu
Mrs. Oakes is a born and raised Austinite and attended The University of Texas at Austin. This is her eigth year teaching and her third year with the UT Charter School System. She loves spending time outdoors with her son and husband, as well as trying out new recipes in the kitchen. She is excited to inspire and nurture a love for learning in all students!
Mary Roark, Special Education – mary.roark@austin.utexas.edu
As Ms. Roark enters her third year at UTES, she is excited to move into the role as lead special education teacher. Moving into her eighth year of teaching, she began her career working with students of all ages at a residential treatment center, where she developed a love of helping students learn in the way that works best for each individual. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, reading, writing, and enjoying a cup of coffee with her husband and her cat, Queenie.
Norma Robinson, Pre-K – norma.robinson@austin.utexas.edu
Norma Robinson has been with UTES since last year. She comes to us with ten plus years of teaching in the classroom, as well as, a PE teacher/coach, Art, Music and Drama teacher. Mrs. Robinson’s passion for helping grow students through challenging age appropriate activities is evident in her creative, engaging and fun classroom. Her positive attitude is infectious and she passionately imparts her love of the arts upon each of her students. Through the arts students gain self-awareness and an understanding of who they are which in turn helps them gain an appreciation for all people and cultures. Mrs. Robinson is married and has a daughter at UTSA on a track scholarship, as well as, a foster daughter who they hope to adopt soon.
Tori Sheard, Physical Education Teacher – tori.sheard@austin.utexas.edu
Ms. Sheard is a first-year teacher at UT Elementary and a recent graduate of Texas State University where she majored in Exercise and Sports Science with received a minor in Communication Studies. Her my goal this year is to build and expand students’ skill set while motivating them to be lifelong participants in physical activity.
Eunice Tanco, Pre-K – eunice.tanco@austin.utexas.edu
Ms. Tanco was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She earned a bachelor’s and master’s in child development from the University of Puerto Rico, and earned another master’s from Texas State University in curriculum and instruction/bilingual education. She has worked more than 30 years in every area of early childhood education. Her hobbies include traveling and reading.
Juanita Vazquez, 1st Grade – j.vazquez@austin.utexas.edu
This will be Ms. Vazquez’s seventh year at UTES. She has a four-year-old, Gracelyn and an 18-month-old, Adelyn. This is an exciting year for her family as Gracelyn will be in Pre-K at UTES! She and her husband enjoy spending time with family and love watching the Longhorns and Cowboys, but kindergarten is her passion. Her students are going to have a fun and fabulous year!
Rebecca Vore, Wellness – rvore@austin.utexas.edu
Ms. Vore has been teaching gardening and science in Austin for 20 years. She is a certified Master Gardener, Junior Master Gardener Specialist, and Project Wild Specialist. Her biggest joy is her two grown daughters. She spends her time gardening, hiking, and enjoying living in Austin.
Class site: utschoolgrown.blogspot.com
Noura Wakim, Math Specialist – nwakim@austin.utexas.edu
Ms. Wakim is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and has lived in Austin her entire life. She is pursuing her master’s in educational psychology at UT Austin. She taught 5th grade in the Del Valle school district for two years and is entering her fourth year at UTES. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family and friends.
Dr. Nicole Whetstone, Principal – nwhetstone@austin.utexas.edu
Nicole Whetstone, Ph.D. is in her third year with the UT Charter School System and her 18th year in education. She serves as the Interim Principal and Deputy Superintendent/Special Education Director for the UT Charter School System. She earned a Ph.D. in Multicultural Special Education from The University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining UT Charter School, Dr. Whetstone served as a special education teacher, campus administrator and central office administrator. In her spare time she enjoys creative writing, reading and shopping.
Kimberly Wilson, Chef – kimberlywilson@austin.utexas.edu
