Who are the people behind The Studio?

Alecia Baptiste loves all things math and science. Her love of these sometimes-scary subjects helps to guide the Studio Prep students to move from fear and avoidance to comfort and success.

Before joining the team, she created curricula for Duke University’s TIP Program (Talent Identification Program for gifted students), served as Director of a Classical Conversations chapter, worked as an Application Engineer with NameAvant!, taught electronics in the public school setting, and helped struggling students as an instructor with Brain Balance.

Mrs. Baptiste has been a conference speaker in Tanzania, empowering women in evangelism, parenting, and their personal relationship with the Lord. She is an accomplished singer, mother of four, and passionate encourager.

Formal Education:

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

Felecia Baptiste graduated from Studio Preparatory in 2022 and is currently teaching a songwriting class available to Highschool and Lower school 2. She is preparing to study esthiology at Aveda Institute to become a licensed skin care specialist. In her free time she enjoys listening to music, singing, reading, and cooking for family and friends.

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

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.

Whether riding in a helicopter to get photos or taking 50 students on a day trip to the Windy City, Laura Hull does not back down from a challenge. Her background may be in public relations and event management, but she shines brightest when building relationships and crafting content PR.

Laura previously worked as the Public Information Officer for the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, serving as a strategic communications advisor and spokesperson for the sheriff and his administration.

Before her work in law enforcement, Laura held various positions on the administrative side of academia. Her favorite experiences allowed her to create, organize, publicize and orchestrate events for visiting students and staff of Purdue University.

Laura is an active member of her church and has volunteered with the Cookeville-Putnam County Animal Shelter, Putnam County CASA, SXSW, and the Austin Fashion Association. She enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her dog.

Megan Johntz thought she could change the world by becoming a TV newscaster, but soon realized her hero’s journey was to be in psychology.  After returning to school for her Master’s Degree, Megan is now a National Certified Counselor, a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, and a Licensed Professional Counselor. Before transitioning into full-time public speaking, Megan ran a successful private practice in Dallas.

With the birth of her two sons, she cut back on public speaking but still enjoys bringing solid psych tools to a conference room of a thousand people since many of them will never seek counseling.  Her past clients include Fina Oil, Delta Airlines, Mensa, McKinsey and Company Consulting, and the FBI

With young children and no local family, God called Megan to start a ministry, Moms Mentoring Moms, which is still thriving in the Tampa Bay area today.

Megan has been homeschooling for 16 years, was a Classical Conversations Tutor, a Bible Study Fellowship Discussion Leader and Children’s Leader, and started a homeschooling mom’s support group. In 2015, God led Megan and her husband to start the first Christian, homeschool-hybrid Acton.

Believing travel is one of the best teachers, Megan and her husband enjoy showing their two sons as much of the world as they can.

Kind words from Public Speaking Clients:

• “You did an excellent job.” -University of Texas
• “Thoroughly impressive. The [PsychTools] you gave us are actually useable – no sleepy theory here! Thanks. – Fina Oil Executive
• “It was such a pleasure having you with us again. The employees had a great time.” – AT&T Wireless

How students describe Mrs. Johntz:

• You’re amazing! You are so servant-hearted- Joyful, kind, loving and wise.
• A great example of what a Christian woman should be.
• Challenges us to think things we don’t usually think.
• And you’re sweet and fun, but wise and smart.

Formal Education:

• Master of Science, Counselor Education, University of North Texas
• Bachelor of Arts, Communications, Trinity University
• Associate of Arts, Musical Theater, High School for the Performing Arts (New World School for the Arts, Miami, FL)

Before children, Courtney taught public middle school math and science in Durham, N.C.  Curious about adult education as well, Courtney worked for ExecuTrain developing and implementing computer training programs for companies throughout North Carolina.  With a new itch to enter the business world, Courtney eventually went back to school for her Masters in Accounting and worked in finance for Northern Telecom.

In 2000, Courtney and her husband decided it was time to return to Texas to start a business and focus their attention on being new parents.  Once Courtney’s kids were school-aged, she volunteered in their schools creating after-hours programs to support the arts and sciences and enrichment math programs for 2nd and 3rd grades.  The past three years, Courtney worked as a substitute teacher in elementary and middle schools in the Lake Travis ISD.

When not volunteering or watching her children play sports from the sidelines, Courtney enjoys traveling, gardening, jogging, sudokus, handiwork, and backpacking/camping.

Certification:

• Certified Public Accountant

Formal Education:

• Bachelor of Arts, Baylor University, Mathematics
• Master of Accounting, University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School, Accounting

Bio and photo coming soon!

Hola! My name is Jisela Lomas. I am a Spanish teacher and have been teaching since 2017.

I was born and raised in Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas, a small town in Mexico. In 2001 I moved to Corpus Christi, TX, where I lived for 14 years.

I currently live in Pflugerville, TX, with my husband, Daniel, and our three kids, Denisse, Jesenya, and Daniel. I love teaching Spanish to my students and sharing about Mexican culture. I enjoy listening to Spanish music, dancing, and spending time with my family and dogs.

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

Haven Mass is Studio Prep’s perfect marriage of left and right brain: her engaging projects are creative works of art, and yet her research and technical skills help strengthen the bridge between home and Studio Prep. Prior to joining Imprimis, Haven used her creative, organizational, technical and research skills in such ministry/education organizations as Young Life, Hope Chapel, and City School as well in the corporate sector. She was an admissions counselor at her alma mater, Missouri State University, worked on Springfield City Utilities Wellness Program and worked with students at the Springfield Family Violence Center.

She’s been homeschooling her two daughters since kindergarten, teaches community computer classes at the Austin Library, is active in her church, and is married to a man dedicated to keeping her laughing.

How students describe Mrs. Mass:

• Thoughtful and loving
• Amazingly creative
• Tremendously joyful
• Super sweet and yet strong
• A very hard-worker
• A Godly woman

Formal Education:

• Bachelor of Science, Missouri State University, psychology major / technical writing minor

A boy mom through and through, Amy McAllister is happiest when adventuring with her family—exploring nearby hikes, or finding last-minute cheap flights to somewhere new. 

While attending Utah Valley University, Amy traveled the country competing in business case study competitions, and spent a semester in China teaching English. She graduated with a B.S. in Business and Hospitality Management. 

The funniest person she’s ever met is her husband, Cort, and they laugh all the time. After getting married, Amy and Cort moved to Columbus, Ohio for Cort to attend graduate school at The Ohio State University. While there, Amy worked for the admissions committee for the Fisher College of Business and frequently uses this background to help high school seniors draft their college admissions essays. 

Always active in the church community, Amy has held positions teaching all ages, including two years where she taught a daily Bible study to high school students.  

After a brief stint in Washington, D.C., the McAllisters headed to Austin in 2013 and haven’t looked back since. They have never lived by family but love creating family wherever they are, referring to them as “Fram-ily” (friends who are family). 

Serving in the community has always been a mainstay for Amy—most recently she has been an active volunteer with refugee resettlement in Austin and enjoys delivering Meals on Wheels with her sons. 

Amy has been a teacher at The Rock Enrichment Academy for several years and considers teaching a creative art. She loves Jesus Christ, and He helps her do all kinds of things she never thought she could do, like homeschooling! 

Amy started out as a parent at Studio Prep but then loved it so much that she was determined to play a bigger role. She thinks it’s one of the coolest places she’s ever worked. 

• “Tsh shows it’s possible to combine a love for adventure and travel with a love for family and home.” – Gretchen Rubin, NYT bestselling author of The Happiness Project
• “Tsh is a remarkable example of how to balance the rooted stability of family with the winged adventure of wanderlust.” – Chris Guillebeau, NYT bestseller of The $100 Start-Up
• “I’ve always found Tsh’s voice to be warm, practical, and inspiring.” – Shauna Niequist, NYT bestselling author of Present Over Perfect

How students describe Mrs. Oxenreider:

• Very genuine and sweet
• Helps us see why writing is important
• Engaging, merciful and chill
• Genuinely care about us wanting to learn to write well instead of just trying to teach us
• Space out our work so well that even though it’s a lot, it’s never overwhelming
• Help us be creative (which I needed when forming this sentence). And you bring a fresh perspective!

Formal Education:

• Bachelor of Arts, University of Texas, English Literature and Cultural Anthropology

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 join Studio Prep as the HS biology guide.

She also works as the administrative assistant at her church and is active in ministry. In her free time she enjoys working out, reading, crocheting, being outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.

• Masters of Arts, CUNY  @ Hunter College, English Literature
• Bachelor of Arts, California Polytechnic University @ Pomona, English Education

Professionally, Heath is an entrepreneurial executive with experience founding start-ups, creating and expanding new businesses, and leading a Fortune 500 enterprise.

Currently, he is a partner at the Pilot Wall Group which invests in healthcare and other sectors. Previously, he led the Integrated Care Group for Fresenius Medical Care, the largest dialysis equipment manufacturer and treatment provider in the US and globally. As President, he oversaw the creation of a division to manage the full cost of caring for dialysis patients, divisions providing national lab and pharmacy services to dialysis patients, and MedSpring Urgent Care centers. Heath joined Fresenius in 2014 when it acquired MedSpring, the Austin-based company he co-founded in 2011.

Previously, Heath served as CEO at Tampa-based WellCare (NYSE:WCG) in 2008 and 2009, where the team stabilized the $6.8 billion, Fortune 500 health insurer while it resolved a federal investigation concurrent with the 2008 credit-market crisis and 2009 turmoil of health reform. He returned to the company after retiring and spending a year in Spain with his family. Before that time, he led a team in the successful launch of a $950 mm prescription drug division and oversaw marketing and sales during the LBO, IPO, and rapid expansion of the company.

Prior experience includes five years at McKinsey & Co., co-founder of an online pharmacy in the first Internet frenzy, a six-month life lesson at Enron as it imploded in 2001, and a start in the glamorous world of agricultural mowing equipment.

The best deal he ever managed to close was his wife, Megan Johntz, with whom he has had two boys and many wonderful adventures.

Formal Education:

• Master of Business Administration, Harvard Business School, Business
• Bachelor of Arts, Trinity University, San Antonio, Business major / English minor

Since 2008, Kelly has worked as a freelance writer and editor for corporations, small businesses, bloggers, and other writers. She began her career by teaching English Language Arts for public and private high school and middle school students. 

Kelly most closely identifies as a reader — she loves books and libraries and book shops. She loves to talk about books and write about books and recommend books to others. She has homeschooled her three children from the get-go, so coming to Studio Prep has been a blessing to her entire family.

RECENT WRITING PROJECTS:

• 2018-2019: Writing Assistant for a legacy project at Harding University. With my writing collaborator, I organized and crafted a narrative taken from decades of personal writings and Harding University history kept by Dr. Clifton L. Ganus, Jr.
• 2019: Writer for The Key2Free, a non-profit organization in Georgetown, Texas, focused on helping victims of human trafficking. I shaped and edited the written materials used for The Key2Free’s annual gala and yearly report to their donors.
• 2019: Writer and Editor for Clarkson Premier Team. I wrote and edited blog copy for the Clarkson Premier Team real estate agency based in Fort Worth and Granbury, Texas.
• 2017: Writing Collaborator for the Journey to Greatness online leadership curriculum course produced by Don Yaeger and his company, Greatness, Inc.
• 2015: Writing Assistant and Editor for the book Great Teams: 16 Things High Performing Organizations Do Differently by Don Yaeger (Thomas Nelson).
• 2015: Editor for the revised edition of Greatness: The 16 Characteristics of True Champions by Don Yaeger (Center Street).

EDUCATION:

• Masters of Education, Harding University, Searcy, Arkansas, 2003
  • Emphasis: English Literature and Writing Instruction

• Bachelors of English, Harding University, Searcy, Arkansas 2001
  • Emphasis: Education

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE

• Freelance Writer and Editor 2008-present
• Children’s Education Coordinator, Granbury Church of Christ, Granbury, Texas, 2016- 2018
• Writing Instructor, Ganado High School, Ganado, Texas 2007-2008
• Literature and Writing Instructor, Westbury Christian School, 2005-2007
• Literature and Writing Instructor, Fort Stockton, Texas, 2003-2005

Tyler has always had a sense of adventure and wonder. Since starting piano lessons at the age of 6, he has always been the one who can pick up an instrument and immediately can make you think he’s been playing it for years. Whether it’s his sister’s flute, his mom’s clarinet, his aunt’s trumpet, or his brother’s saxophone, music has always been his language of choice.

However, growing up in a tiny town in the panhandle of Oklahoma (named Hooker, OK of all things, seriously look it up) did not afford many musical opportunities. So when he attended and majored in music at Harding University in Searcy, AR, he was able to be part of a world class marching band, jazz band, orchestra, brass ensembles, and even a 100 piece choir. In fact, it was in that choir that he met the love of his life, Kelly (yes, that Kelly who is now the LS2 pod guide at The Studio Prep). They were married in 2002 and have been making each other laugh ever since.

After graduation in 2003, he and Kelly moved to Texas and he spent the next 12 years as a middle school and high school band director at multiple schools around the state. During this time, he also became a successful drill designer for marching bands as well as a composer of works for concert and marching bands. In 2004, he was commissioned by the Louisiana District I Band Directors’ Association to compose and perform a piece for the Region Concert Band concert. He also performed with numerous ensembles such as the Greater Texoma Jazz Ensemble, the Houston Symphonic Band, and the Paluxy Valley Community Band.

In 2016, Tyler decided to step into church ministry, spending the next 6 years in various ministry roles including Children’s Minister, Worship Minister, and general tech-guy on staff. When the world was turned upside down by COVID-19 in 2020, he quickly pivoted to become the lead video producer for the church, combining his love of music and technology to create community with people all over the country.

His favorite things to do are play piano and guitar, travel to new places, listen to his wife laugh, annoy his teenage kids (Keynan, Parker, and Hannah Beth), and nap with his dog, Ella.

Formal Education:
Bachelor of Music Education, Harding University