Meet The Vanguard Administration, Faculty, Staff, Coaches and VCPS Board of Trustees

Administrative/Office Staff

Bill Borg

Head of School

Department:
Administration

Education:
B.A., Huntingdon College
M.A.T., Jacksonville University

Hobbies
Mr. Borg enjoys fishing, hunting and anything outdoors.

Favorite Quote:
“I’ve learned people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Why Education?
The one thing that always motivates me is the students and seeing them grow and learn.

Zach Seifert

Associate Head of School / Faculty

Department:
Administration/Faculty

Education:
B.A., Austin College
M.S., Baylor University

Hobbies
Mr. Seifert enjoys watching sports, eating Mexican food, and spending time with his family.

Favorite Quote:
“The greatest teacher, failure is.” -Yoda

Why Education?
I appreciate that Vanguard teaches the whole student.

Flip Alexander

Assistant Head of School - Logistics and Communications

Department:
Administration

Education:
A.A., Texas State Technical College B.A.A.S. Tarleton State University M.Ed. Concordia University

 

Hobbies
Mrs. Alexander’s favorite thing to do outside of Vanguard is spending time with family. They share in her journey of faith, discovery, and community with encompassing a fulfilling life.

 

Favorite Quote:
“The practice of education is the highest form of intellectual philanthropy.” ― John Maeda, The Laws of Simplicity”

 

Why Education?
It is a joy being a part of the Vanguard family! Every day I have the opportunity to be a support to colleagues that are passionate about being in education, students that are striving to learn in all areas of their lives, and parents that entrust faculty and staff to be a guide for their family.

Chelsa Ressetar

Associate Head of School - Director of Advancement

Department:
Administration

Education:
B.B.M., The University of Texas at Austin – McCombs Business School

 

Hobbies
Mrs. Ressetar enjoys travel, exercising, being outside and time with her family and friends.

 

Favorite Quote:
“Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude”

 

Why Education?
I enjoy working at Vanguard with the outstanding faculty and students. Watching teenagers grow into young adults is important and meaningful.

Hannah VanDyke

Director of College/Career Counseling and International Student Programs

Department:
Administration

Education:
B.A., Baylor University

 

Hobbies
Being outside! Hiking, biking, swimming, boating, skiing, anything active.

 

Favorite Quote:
So… be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea, You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way! -Dr. Seuss

 

Why Education?
Engaging with students on a personal level and watching them as they find their passion and make plans for their future is why I love being a college counselor.

Aline Leslie

Director of Counseling

Department:
Administration/Faculty

Education:
B.A., University of St. Thomas
M.A., Baylor University
MCC Youth Counseling Certification

Hobbies
Mrs. Leslie enjoys gardening — digging in the dirt is a primal, Zen experience, Choir, singing, and handbells — Music is one of God’s greatest gifts. She also enjoys reading historical fiction.

Favorite Quote:
“Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass — it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

Why Education?
The field of education is the most important profession to which one can aspire, in my opinion. Whether we are “teaching” Biology, or Math, or English, what we are really doing is helping children learn skills for surviving in a complex world — skills like resilience, diligence, and creativity.

Will Curtis

Assistant Head of School - External Operations - Middle School Athletic Director

Department:
Administration/Faculty

Education:
B.B.A., M.S.Ed., Baylor University

Hobbies
Coach Curtis enjoys spending time with family, watching movies, and listening to music.

Favorite Quote:
Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out. — John Wooden

Why Education?
I enjoy the ability to work with the future of tomorrow and trying to help those students improve and get better each day.

Margaret Kurzynski

Administrative Assistant

Department:
Administration

Education:
B.S.A.S., Tarleton State University

Hobbies
I have a passion for traveling and exploring new places! I enjoy the outdoors and love going camping, hiking, and fishing. Spending time with my family is important to me. I also enjoy gardening, crafting and volunteering in my spare time.

Favorite Quote:
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.” – Henry David Thoreau

Why Education?
I love working at Vanguard, the atmosphere is amazing and everyone is really dedicated to the children, their education, and success. Children are our future and it’s important to invest in their education.

Rebecca Herron

Finance Administrator

Department:
Administration

Education:
Cedarville College

Hobbies
Mrs. Herron enjoys swimming, hiking, most outdoor activities, watching her husband and son ride Motocross, and hanging out with her family.

Favorite Quote:
“The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is looking.” John Wooten.

Why Education?
I enjoy working at Vanguard because I am surrounded by like-minded, hard working people that love being around students.

Greta Knoll

Director of Development & Alumni Relations

Department:
Administration and 

Education:
B.A., Hamline University

 

Hobbies
Mrs. Knoll’s favorite thing to do outside of work, is to run the trails of Cameron Park with her friends, family, and her two Jack Russell Terriers or hit the road for an adventure on her bike.

 

Favorite Quote:
Theodore Roosevelt’s “The Man in the Arena” – It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena…”

 

Why Education?
I love coaching because it’s a gift to see students learn new things and gain a feeling of accomplishment as they improve and learn they can win.

Williams, Mandy

Mandy Williams

Finance Administrator

Department:
Administration

Hobbies
Mrs. William’s favorite thing is Family time, Hiking, Outdoor Activities, Road Trips.

Favorite Quote:
“You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi

Why Education?
Vanguard has been such a blessing for my family, I am lucky to be part of this welcoming, inclusive school.

Lana Hickok

Part-Tme - Lunch

Education:
A.A., Midland College
B.A. Sul Ross State University

Hobbies
Ms. Hickok enjoys many things outside of Vanguard, but she loves spending time with her family.

Favorite Quote:
Character is how you treat someone that can do nothing for you.

Why Education?
I like working with students because we are a family!

Science Department

Patty Flowers

Department Head, Faculty

Department:
Science

Education:
B.A., University of Northern Colorado


Hobbies
Mrs. Flowers enjoy family time and playing tennis.


Favorite Quote:
The true measure of a person’s character is not what they do when someone is watching, but what they do when no one is watching.


Why Education?
I love teaching at Vanguard because I get to work with amazing colleagues and awesome students.

Lee Kuhl

Faculty

Department:
Science

Education:
B.S., Texas Tech University
M.S., Texas A&M Commerce

Hobbies
So many – including but not limited to: reading, working on the house, cycling, and gaming.

Favorite Quote:
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

 

Why Education?
Teaching gives me the opportunity to help students understand the nature of personal choice and how these choices shape the world around them.

Zach Seifert

Associate Head of School / Faculty

Department:
Administration/Faculty

Education:
B.A., Austin College
M.S., Baylor University

Hobbies
Mr. Seifert enjoys watching sports, eating Mexican food, and spending time with his family.

Favorite Quote:
“The greatest teacher, failure is.” -Yoda

Why Education?
I appreciate that Vanguard teaches the whole student.

Jacob Lefebvre

Faculty

Department:
Science

Education:
B.A., Northern Michigan University

 

Hobbies
Mr. Lefebvre hobbies are weightlifting, swimming, and flying.

 

Favorite Quote:
No man can win every battle, but no man should fall without a struggle – Peter Parker, Spider-Man

 

Why Education?
Mr. Lefebvre chose science because he had a great professor in college who made learning fun. He started to really enjoy the material because the professor made it something fun to learn. and he will try to follow that example. He also like science a lot because it’s truly how we understand everything around us and the way the world works.

Connor McReynolds

Faculty

Department:
Science

Education:
B.A., The University of the South-Sewanee

 

Hobbies
Mr. McReynolds enjoys building Lego sets, Fishing, Games,  and spending time with his family.

 

Favorite Quote:
“I see now that the circumstances of one’s birth are irrelevant… It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.”

 

Why Education?
Teaching gives me the ability to spread my passion for science to the next generation.

English Department

Sarah Lieber

Department Head

Department:
English

Education:
B.A., Wake Forest University
M.A., University of Rochester

 

Hobbies
Ms. Lieber enjoys reading, hiking, and playing the bassoon.

 

Favorite Quote:
“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – Albus Dumbledore (J.K. Rowling)

 

Why Education?
I love sharing my appreciation for literature with students, helping them see the world around them through new lenses, and learning from their ideas, in turn.

Wendy Allman

Faculty

Department:
English

Education:
B.A., M.A., Baylor University
Ph. D., University of California, Berkeley

Hobbies
Dr. Allman loves reading, she also enjoys watching British detective shows with her husband and trying to guess whodunit. Bird watching with her 83-year-old mother is a treat at once calming and stimulating.

Favorite Quote:
Endless patience will never be enough /our only hope is to be the daylight from W. S. Merwin, “Living with the News” (2014)

Why Education?
As a member of a cohesive English Department, I enjoy a tremendous sense of purpose knowing that all Vanguard students learn the skills and get the practice they need to go into any college classroom, receive a writing prompt, and know what to do. I take satisfaction in knowing Vanguard offers the best English education—composition and literary analysis—in central Texas, hands down. What I teach now is simply an adaptation of what I taught for years at Baylor. But unlike my experience at university, here at Vanguard, I get to see students grow up over the years as people and as students; I feel like my students are my children.

Jennifer Ferretter

Faculty

Department:
English

Education:
B.A., Vassar College
M.A., St. Andrews University – Scotland
P.G.C.E., University of Cambridge

Hobbies
Mrs. Ferretter loves hiking, traveling, reading, being outside and spending time with her husband and five kids.

Favorite Quote:
Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it. – Mary Oliver

Why Education?
I think that studying the humanities provides students with excellent opportunities to hone writing skills, and more importantly, empathy; reading literature, studying history, looking at art – you broaden your understanding of how others experience this world.

Matthew James

Faculty

Department:
English

Education:
B.A., Baylor University

Hobbies
Mr. James loves playing with kids.

Favorite Quote:
“I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I’ll go to it laughing.” Herman Melville

Why Education?
I enjoy teaching students to think for themselves and open their minds to possibilities that they may not have yet considered.

Adrielle Selke

Faculty

Department:
English / History – 6th Grade

Education:
M.Ed., Tarleton State University B.S., Baylor University A.A., McLennan Community College

 

 

Hobbies
Ms. Selke enjoys reading and to spend time with family.

 

Favorite Quote:
“In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”  Mother Teresa

 

 

Why Education? Teaching is a passion for me and I love the chance to work with amazing educators that are also passionate about students, learning, and excellence and education.

Flip Alexander

Faculty / Administration

Department:
Administration – Focus

Education:
A.A., Texas State Technical College B.A.A.S. Tarleton State University M.Ed. Concordia University

 

 

Hobbies
Mrs. Alexander’s favorite thing to do outside of Vanguard is spending time with family. They share in her journey of faith, discovery, and community with encompassing a fulfilling life.

 

 

Favorite Quote:
“The practice of education is the highest form of intellectual philanthropy.” ― John Maeda, The Laws of Simplicity”

 

Why Education?
It is a joy being a part of the Vanguard family! Every day I have the opportunity to be a support to colleagues that are passionate about being in education, students that are striving to learn in all areas of their lives, and parents that entrust faculty and staff to be a guide for their family.

Ruben Tucker

Faculty

Department:
Athletics  

Education:

B.A., Corderious College – Amersfoort the Netherlands

 

Hobbies
Mr. Tucker enjoys playing and watching sports (mostly soccer, tennis and football), playing board games and spending time with friends and family.

 

Favorite Quote:
There is no “right” time, just time, and what you do with it.

 

Why Education?
Growing in knowledge and life skills is very exciting, and as a teacher you get to help students in this process, I couldn’t think of a better job

Mathematics Department

Shelley Johnson

Department Head, Faculty

Department:
Mathematics

Education:
B.S., Texas A&M University

Hobbies
Mrs. Johnson enjoys reading, exercising, hiking, and spending time with her family.

Favorite Quote:
“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” -Babe Ruth

Why Education?
The reason I love teaching at Vanguard are the students.

Katherine Weaver

Faculty

Department:
Mathematics

Education:
B.S., Vanderbilt University

 

Hobbies
Mrs. Weaver loves being outside: running, hiking, biking, and playing tennis. I also love spending time with friends and my family, especially enjoying good food & music.

 

Favorite Quote:
“Nothing but grace makes a man so humble and, at the same time, so glad.” – C.H. Spurgeon

 

Why Education?
Mrs. Weaver loves helping students become confident in their mathematical abilities and enjoy the process of learning.

Alma Wlazlinski

Faculty

Department:
Math

Education:
B.S., University of Mary-Hardin Baylor, M.S., Tarleton State University

 

Hobbies
Mrs. Wlazlinski loves walking and reading.

 

Favorite Quote:
I choose the path less traveled and that has made all the difference. by-Robert Frost

 

Why Education?
Life is always learning and mathematics gives you a path of reasoning.

Melissa Price

Faculty

Department:
Mathematics

Education:
B.A., Arizona State University
M.A.T., Western Governors University

Hobbies
Ms. Price likes to read and snuggle with her kitties.

Favorite Quote:
“The square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the squares on the other two sides.” ~ Pythagoras

Why Education?
I love connecting with students and helping them overcome any fears they have about math.

Social Sciences Department

David Foti

Department Head

Department:
Social Sciences

Education:
B.B.A., University of Texas at Austin
M.B.A., University of Houston
M.S., Georgia Southern University
M.A., Sam Houston State University
PhD, University of Birmingham (in progress)

 

Hobbies
Mr. Foti enjoys reading, weight lifting, stock picking, and ballroom dancing.

Favorite Quote:
If I knew the world was to end tomorrow, I would still plant an apple tree today. — Martin Luther

Why Education?
Enjoy interacting with smart hard-working students who desire to better understand the world we live in.

Mirko Murillo

Faculty

Department:
Social Sciences

Education:
B.S., Texas Christian University

 

Hobbies
Mr. Murillo enjoys board games and reading. 

 

Favorite Quote:
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. -Wayne Gretzky

 

Why Education?
Mr. Murillo enjoys teaching because it allows me to teach students about important ideas, people, and events that they have not heard of before and will assist them later in their lives.

Brad Livingstone

Brad Livingstone

Faculty

Department:
Social Sciences

Education:
B.S., M.S. Ed., Oklahoma State University

Hobbies
Mr. Livingstone loves hanging out with his family as they cheer on the Baylor Bears!

Favorite Quote:
“I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life. He gave me life that I might enjoy all things.” —Anonymous

Why Education?
I love teaching the History of World War II class, it allows me to share with students the passion I have for my subject area, and I love teaching at Vanguard because it allows me to share my passion at one of the best schools in Texas.

Adrielle Selke

Faculty

Department:
Social Sciences/English

Education:
M.Ed., Tarleton State University B.S., Baylor University A.A., McLennan Community College

 

Hobbies
Mrs. Selke enjoys reading or spending time with my family

 

Favorite Quote:
“In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”   Mother Teresa

 

Why Education?
Teaching is a passion for me and I love the chance to work with amazing educators that are also passionate about students, learning, and excellence in education.

Bogan, Wyatt

Wyatt Bogan

Faculty

Department:
Social Sciences

Education:
The Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park, NY) – Associates, Bachelors The University of Maryland Global Campus –

BA (Hist), BA (Eng), BA (East Asian studies)

The University of Edinburgh (Scotland) – MSc (Hist), PGCert (Ancient Worlds)

 

Hobbies
Mr. Bogan enjoys  watching English Premier League soccer and playing historically-based conflict-simulation boardgames.

 

Favorite Quote:
When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

 

Why Education?
Mr. Bogan loves to teach and is   thankful for the opportunity to work with Vanguard’s faculty, staff, and students.

Ressetar, Chelsa

Chelsa Ressetar

Faculty - Administration - Speech

Department:
Social Sciences

Education:
B.B.M., The University of Texas at Austin McCombs Business School

 

Hobbies
Mrs. Ressetar enjoys travel, exercising, being outside and time with her family and friends.

 

Favorite Quote:
“Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude”

 

Why Education?
I enjoy working at Vanguard with the outstanding faculty and students. Watching teenagers grow into young adults is important and meaningful.

Fine Arts / Visual Arts Department

William Priest

Department Head

Department:
Fine Arts – Theater – Language-French/Latin

Education:
B.A., Baylor University

Hobbies
Mr. Priest loves singing, performing in community theatre, and costuming.

Favorite Quote:
Γνῶθι σεαυτόν (Know thyself) – Oracle at Delphi

Why Education?
Learning a language opens up so many doors to communicate with others and learn about their lives, and I love learning and teaching languages to increase understanding in our diverse and interconnected world.

Katie James

Faculty

Department:
Fine Arts

Education:
B.A., M.M.Ed., Baylor University

Hobbies
Mrs. James enjoys raising kids, playing music, going for walks or small adventures

Favorite Quote:
“A man who does not think for himself does not think at all.” -Oscar Wilde

Why Education?
I love creating and being a part of an environment where critical thinking and self-discipline develop.

Tonya Shanholtz

Faculty

Department:
Visual Arts

Education:
B.F.A., The University of Texas at Tyler
M.F.A., Tufts University

Hobbies
All things Art!

Favorite Quote:
“Every artist was first an amateur” Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Why Education?
Art inspires students to see the world in new ways!

World Languages Department

Katie James

Department Head

Department:
Language – Latin

Education:
B.A., M.M.Ed., Baylor University

Hobbies
Mrs. James enjoys raising kids, playing music, going for walks or small adventures

Favorite Quote:
“A man who does not think for himself does not think at all.” -Oscar Wilde

Why Education?
I love creating and being a part of an environment where critical thinking and self-discipline develop.

William Priest

Faculty

Department:
Language – French and Latin

Education:
B.A., Baylor University

Hobbies
Mr. Priest loves singing, performing in community theatre, and costuming.

Favorite Quote:
Γνῶθι σεαυτόν (Know thyself) – Oracle at Delphi

Why Education?
Learning a language opens up so many doors to communicate with others and learn about their lives, and I love learning and teaching languages to increase understanding in our diverse and interconnected world.

Seir Lopez

Faculty

Department:
Language – Spanish

Education:
B.A., M.A., Baylor University

Hobbies
Ms.Lopez loves to spend time on the open road, listening to music and exploring new places.

Favorite Quote:
When something bad happens, you have three choices. You can either let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you.

Why Education?
I love teaching at Vanguard because of the diversity of the student population and their willingness to help their community.

Technology Department

Joe Flowers

Department Head

Department:
Technology/Math

Education:
B.S., The University of Texas at Arlington

Hobbies
Mr. Flowers spending time with his family and working on classic cars or anything mechanical.

Favorite Quote:
3 life lessons:
Working together is about compromise.
Failing is okay; giving up is not.
Perseverance pays off.

Why Education?
Education and Technology are constantly changing and both keep you learning and adapting to the changes…..it never gets boring.

Eichenberg_Gretchen_4455_HS

Gretchen Eichenberg

Faculty

Department:
Technology

Education:
B.A., University of Missouri

Hobbies
Mrs. Eichenberg enjoys cooking and baking in the kitchen.

Favorite Quote:
If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.

Why Education?
I like advising the yearbook and newspaper staffs because it gives kids real-world experience working for a professional, self-sustaining business that creates award-winning publications which are viewed by thousands of people each year. Seeing the look on a student’s face when they have captured an amazing photo or sold an ad to a brand new client – it’s worth everything. I hope that sense of accomplishment sticks with them!

Athletics Department

Athletic Director

Will Curtis

Department:
Administration/Athletics

Education:
B.B.A., M.S.Ed., Baylor University

Hobbies
Coach Curtis enjoys spending time with family, watching movies, and listening to music.

Favorite Quote:
Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out. — John Wooden

Why Education?
I enjoy the ability to work with the future of tomorrow and trying to help those students improve and get better each day.

Ruben Tucker

Faculty - Athletics

Department:
Athletics – Speech 

Education:

B.A., Corderious College – Amersfoort the Netherlands

 

Hobbies
Mr. Tucker enjoys playing and watching sports (mostly soccer, tennis and football), playing board games and spending time with friends and family.

 

Favorite Quote:
There is no “right” time, just time, and what you do with it.

 

Why Education?
Growing in knowledge and life skills is very exciting, and as a teacher you get to help students in this process, I couldn’t think of a better job

2022-2023 – Board of Trustees

Christy Holze, Chairperson

Matt Morrison, Vice Chairperson

Emily Offill, Secretary

Shanna Mattson, Past Chairperson

Jessica Burch

Jed Cole

Darin Davis

Katherine Haynes

Suzanne Kelly

Ryan Lindsey

Libby Starr

Robb Fitzke

Casey Rollins

Gay Padgett