Who are the people behind The Studio?

Alecia’s passion for learning was sparked early on by her innate curiosity and relentless desire to understand the world.  

Alecia began her career as an electrical engineer, working for companies such as:  IBM, Texas Instruments, and Los Alamos National Laboratory.  After becoming a mother, she began to sense that she was being called to walk a different path.  She left her engineering career in order to raise her children full-time.  It was in this season of life that she began to explore her vocation as an educator.

She began investing in her four children, which later resulted in three graduates from their homeschooling academy.   She has now accumulated over two decades of experience spanning public schools, homeschool programs, and private tutoring. Each stop of her journey has provided her with valuable insight that has shaped her understanding of education.  

Alecia believes in the importance of cultivating a supportive learning environment for a diverse student body. Having navigated her own children’s educational experiences as they experienced environments which didn’t consider their cultural perspectives or unique challenges, she is committed to integrating diverse cultural experiences into the learning process.  She believes that such exposure not only honors the richness of each culture but also prepares students to navigate a world that requires strong cross-cultural competency.

Alecia seeks to be a conduit of the extravagant love of God.  Her prayer is that every person she encounters recognizes their belovedness because they have experienced the generous overflowing love of God being poured out through her.  She also believes every person was born with special God-given gifts that were meant to be shared with the world, bringing the goodness of Heaven to earth. 

Formal Education:

• Master of Science, The University of Texas at Austin, Electrical Engineering
• Bachelor of Science, Grambling State University, Electronics Engineering Technology

Esther Iluyomade is a first-generation Nigerian-American from Illinois and the first person in her family born in the United States. Her background has shaped her deep commitment to access, equity, and ethical support, ensuring that systems are not only efficient but also fair and humane. She is passionate about building environments where people feel respected, heard, and treated with integrity. Esther has a college educational background in design, which strengthened her foundation in communication, organization, and thoughtful problem-solving. She approaches her professional path with intention, choosing roles that align with both purpose and meaningful impact.

Before joining Studio Prep, Esther worked as a Legal Assistant at a law firm, where she developed strong skills in document management, confidentiality, compliance, and operational precision. She also served as a licensed Teacher Assistant and held multiple administrative and child-centered roles, gaining experience in both structured professional settings and mission-driven educational environments. These experiences sharpened her ability to manage complex systems while remaining attentive to the people those systems serve. In addition, Esther is a commissioned Texas Notary Public, reflecting her commitment to professionalism, accuracy, and public trust.

In her role as Administrative Operations Manager, Esther views operations as the foundation of a thriving school community. She believes that clear systems, consistent follow-through, and thoughtful communication create the conditions necessary for staff and students to succeed. She is known for her steady presence, discernment, and attention to detail, and she brings both structure and care to her work each day. Esther is passionate about building operational frameworks that reduce chaos, support collaboration, and allow educators to focus fully on teaching and learning.

Jesica Gierke was born in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and moved to Chicago with her family when she was twelve years old. There she met her future husband, David, who would eventually become her best friend and partner in life. Jes earned dual degrees in Marketing and Management from the University of Illinois at Chicago and later studied abroad at the Complutense University of Madrid, where she deepened her love for language, culture, and lifelong learning.

After college, Jes worked in international education, helping students pursue study abroad opportunities, and later served in the Financial Aid Office at The University of Texas at San Antonio, where she helped students navigate the path to higher education. Along the way, she also became a business owner, tutor, volunteer Spanish program coordinator, homeschool educator, co-op tutor, and co-op director.

When Jes and her family discovered Studio Prep, they immediately recognized something special. The school’s commitment to learner-driven education, character development, and meaningful relationships aligned closely with the values they had cultivated throughout their homeschooling journey. What began as a desire for her children to attend soon became an opportunity to serve the community herself as a Spanish Guide and Director of Admissions.

Jes is passionate about helping students and families discover their unique gifts and take ownership of their educational journey. She loves creating meaningful learning experiences, encouraging curiosity, and building strong relationships within the Studio Prep community. Outside the studio, she enjoys reading, gardening, crocheting, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Education & Qualifications:

• B.S. in Marketing and Management, University of Illinois at Chicago
• Diploma of Spanish Language Proficiency, Instituto Cervantes and the Ministry of Education of Spain
• TExES EC-4 Generalist Certification & TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental EC-4 Certification
• Fluent in English and Spanish

Tiffany Cortright is not only the glue that holds our administrative pieces together, but she’s also a true servant leader. You’d never know she worked long hours at The Studio while homeschooling her children because she’s the first one to bring a meal, make a comforting call, or attend your child’s event.

Tiffany is a Certified Information Systems Auditor and has worked for corporations such as Ernst & Young and Dell Computer Corporation. She left corporate life to homeschool her three daughters and two sons, but her strong leadership skills helped her become a Director with Classical Conversations while homeschooling.

She left CC to join The Studio and has shaped the program from its foundations. She’s worn every hat imaginable while having the unique ability to nurture relationships to build a tight Studio Prep community.

Formal Education:

• Bachelor of Science, The University of Texas, Communications

Michelle Audenaert grew up in Houston, Texas in a core family and church family with a love of creativity in the arts and everyday tinkering.  She took a gap year after high school to do handiwork jobs before entering Pomona College in Claremont, California.  She graduated with a B.A. in Studio Art and spent most of the next year working in the camp kitchen at Campus by the Sea, an InterVarsity retreat.

She then completed the Career Change Year in Architecture at Texas A&M University, before finding her place in the Urban Planning program there and meeting her husband, Neal, in the Graduate Student Christian Fellowship.  She graduated with a Masters of Urban Planning with a Certificate in Historic Preservation and worked for the City of Bryan, Texas as an urban planner before their oldest child arrived.  She has engaged in urban planning consulting work in the interim and continues to maintain her AICP certificate.

In 2017, her family moved from Texas to Sunnyvale, California for Neal’s work and enjoyed 7 less humid summers there, before they moved to Austin in July 2024.  Her family has been on a journey of understanding and working with their own learning modalities, for their 3 children as well as Michelle and Neal.  Michelle comes from a family of teachers and is excited to become a Guide at Studio Prep as her youngest son enters the LS-1 pod.

Sharon Ellerby is a native Austinite, dedicated wife, mother of three and grandmother of eight. Sharon’s faith and personal relationship with Christ is her core and has resulted in a lifetime commitment to her ongoing spiritual growth as well as the lives others she has touched along her journey. She has a deep passion for family history and drive for helping others that was cultivated from her experience as a caregiver for her beloved Grandmother.

Sharon’s gift of connecting with people especially young people has allowed her to empower many along her path. From a young age as a big sister she began developing creative ways of inspiring and awaking others to embrace their education while tapping into their own creativity. Sharon’s natural leadership abilities at a young age led to being a successful cheerleader coach of young girls and now as her Husband calls her a cheerleader for God thru Christ.

As a teenage parent Sharon developed very creative teaching techniques to spark her Son’s passion for learning. She is a vibrant leader and volunteer for the Alliance for African American Health in Central Texas, “A Better Me” program supporting participants making a healthier lifestyle change. Sharon’s dedicated work contribution as a Practitioner with the Austin Health Commons includes the facilitation of multiple Truth Racial Healing Transformation Circles designed to lead participates to develop a deeper understanding of our shared humanity through telling their stories.

Cristina Scott is an educator, mentor, and lifelong learner with more than 10 years of experience in public education. Her passion for helping children grow as thinkers, creators, and problem-solvers has guided her work both in the classroom and beyond.  Cristina is excited to help students develop confidence in their voices, strengthen their communication skills, and discover the power of storytelling and self-expression. She is passionate about creating a learning environment where questions are welcomed, creativity is celebrated, and mistakes are viewed as opportunities for growth.

Cristina and her husband, Bryan, have lived in Austin most of their lives. They have three children and two beloved dogs. Their two oldest children are pursuing careers in the arts, and their youngest daughter is a student at The Studio Prep. As both an educator and parent within the community, Cristina feels especially grateful for the opportunity to partner with families and support students as they discover their strengths, passions, and potential.

Outside of school, Cristina enjoys spending time with her family, exploring nature, reading, and supporting creative projects that bring people together. She is grateful to be part of The Studio Prep community and looks forward to partnering with students and families throughout the learning journey.

Allison was inspired by her grandmother, who taught math and history for more than 30 years, to be a teacher. She always had an interest in history and thought that the best way to enjoy history would be to teach it to students. Allison’s passion for history and social studies has continued to grow as she has been a teacher, specifically in American Government and Economics. Her love of the past, culture, and politics has fueled her flame to learn more and dig deeper into these areas to better teach her students.

Allison is originally from Georgia where she taught American Government and Economics for 6 years at her local public high school. During her time at Carrollton High School, she had the opportunity to grow professionally and personally as a teacher. Her husband, Avery, was pursuing a Master of Divinity following his call to be a pastor. This eventually led to the relocation of her family to Austin where her husband is now an assistant pastor at a local church.

During this transition, Allison decided that she would like to shift her focus a little in teaching and was granted that opportunity through The Studio, where she works part time, allowing her to care for her children while also supporting her husband in full time ministry.

Allison has a deep desire to see students know and understand the importance of history and how it can impact their lives. She also has a passion to see the love of Christ abound in and through her to her students, so that they may also love and know him. 

Formal education:

• Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of West Georgia
• Concentration in secondary education (grades 6-12)

Teresa Carter-Collins grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana with a deep love for learning, music, art, and creativity. From an early age, she was drawn to education and the way meaningful relationships can shape a child’s learning journey. Over the years, that passion developed into a career dedicated to supporting students both academically and personally.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree before completing a Master of Business Administration and later received her Georgia Teacher Certification in PK-5 with a Gifted and Talented endorsement. She subsequently earned her Texas Teaching Certifications in EC-4 and ESL. Since 2013, she has worked in both Texas public and charter schools, teaching and supporting students from a variety of backgrounds and learning styles. Her experience in education has strengthened her belief that every child learns differently and deserves an environment where curiosity, creativity, and individuality are valued. She was a 2024 State Finalist for the HEB Educator of Excellence Award for her work in the classroom.

In addition to classroom teaching, Teresa enjoys creating engaging learning experiences, encouraging student confidence, and building strong connections with families. She is excited to be part of the Studio Prep community and looks forward to helping students grow both academically and personally in a supportive, student-centered environment.

Teresa is the mother of two beautiful children. Her son, Anderson, is a middle schooler and a musician. Her daughter, London, is a student athlete at Duke University.

Formal Education:
Master of Business Administration
Georgia Teaching Certification in PK-5 and GT
Texas Teaching Certification in EC-4 and ESL

Gwyneth Lenfest is an engineer who loves to teach. Her professional experience as an engineer includes designing HVAC systems, construction management, and RF and cell network testing. Her experience as a teacher runs the gamut from remedial geometry and long-term substituting AP physics, to homeschooling her four children through early elementary. She has tutored calculus, taught American Heritage Girls skills ranging from how to recycle jeans into quilts to basic aerodynamics, and she established the pre-engineering program at Walton High school in Marietta, GA. 

In her spare time, she is a crocheter who loves listening to various history podcasts. She loves to camp and hike with her family, enjoying the amazing world the Lord has created. 

Certification

• Teaching certification through the University of Texas at Dallas

Formal Education 

• Bachelor of Science, Georgia Institute of Technology, Mechanical Engineering

Jeanette grew up in Carrollton, TX, attended Tarleton State University (2014), studying chemistry, and most recently graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with an MS in nutritional sciences (2018). She taught in various capacities throughout undergrad and grad school and is delighted to teach math and science at Studio Prep.

In her free time, she enjoys working out, reading, crocheting, being outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.

Kathy Sweet is a reader who turned that love of books into a career. She attended graduate school in NYC to become an editor, yet found her way to the classroom teaching ESL for international students. That opened the door for her to teach English at Valencia Community College and Orangewood Christian High School in Florida. When an opportunity for her husband to pastor in Brooklyn arose, Kathy taught for a high school prep program for at-risk teens while intermittently having three children. After her husband accepted a call to a church in Northern California, she worked as a substitute teacher at her children’s elementary school. Kathy now teaches here in Austin for an online Christian school and here at The Studio.

Kathy thoroughly enjoys reading, crafting, any Marvel movie, and watching all three of her kids play soccer. She and her family have visited eleven national parks and enjoy listening to audiobooks on their various road trips. She recently celebrated 25 years of marriage in Paris while watching the World Cup.

Formal Education:

• Master of Arts, CUNY at Hunter College, English Literature
• Bachelor of Arts, California Polytechnic University at Pomona, English Education