Please Welcome Our New Faculty and Staff, 2021–22
St. Stephen’s is pleased to introduce the following new faculty and staff members joining us for the 2021–22 academic year. Please join us in welcoming these outstanding educational professionals to our school community!
Michelle Avery joined the St. Stephen’s faculty as a full-time fine arts instructor. She served as a visual arts substitute teacher in our Middle School throughout much of last year. Avery brings several years of independent school experience to the classroom. She taught at Santa Catalina School, The Head-Royce School, Episcopal High School in Virginia and The Dalton School in New York. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design and a Master of Fine Arts/Art Education from Maryland Institute College of Art.
Sam Davis joined our staff this summer as an equity and inclusion coordinator and a library assistant. Davis previously served as a technical support specialist at the Holton Arms School and a technical resource specialist at the Bullis School. Since 2016, they have worked at St. Andrew’s in Austin as a library educational technologist. Davis holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Huston-Tillotson University and currently is completing a master’s degree in educational technology at Texas State University.
Maj Dergham joined College Counseling this summer as a co-director. Previously, he served as associate director of college counseling at Episcopal Academy in Pennsylvania. He also was director of diversity recruitment and associate director of admissions at Lehigh University, as well as assistant director of admissions at Moravian College. Dergham holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Education from Lehigh University.
Dan Fisher, Ph.D., joined the faculty this summer as Upper School chemistry teacher. Fisher comes to St. Stephen’s by way of St. Christopher's School in Richmond, Va. He was a co-founder of Church Hill Academy in Richmond, an alternative high school serving at-risk youth, and was directly involved in shaping the math and science curricula. Fisher holds a doctorate from Virginia Commonwealth University and a bachelor’s degree from University of Richmond.
Malcolm Friend is our new Upper School English instructor. Previously he taught 7th- and 9th-grade English at Winchester Thurston School in Pittsburgh, Penn., as well as composition and creative writing at University of Pittsburgh. Friend proved instrumental in reshaping the 9th-grade English curriculum at Winchester Thurston. He earned bachelor’s degrees in both English and classical civilization from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Fine Arts in poetry from University of Pittsburgh.
Russ Glenn joined the Middle School faculty this summer as a science instructor. Most recently, he served as director of education for Slooh, an experiential astronomy education platform. He also was a science instructor and science department chair at St. Michael's Catholic Academy, a science instructor and environmental program director at University Liggett School, and a teacher and assistant director for the John Dorr Nature Laboratory at the Horace Mann School. Glenn holds a Bachelor of Science in environmental geology from the College of William and Mary and a Master of Science in space studies from American Public University.
Rachel Holiman joined the Middle School faculty as the new 6th-grade English instructor. Previously, Holiman taught 6th-grade language arts at St. Francis School in Austin, and 9th- and 11th-grade language arts at Collegium Charter School in Penn. She earned a Bachelor of Science in secondary English education with a concentration in writing from the Honors College at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Juliann Johnson joined the athletics department as girls’ volleyball program manager. Most recently, Johnson worked for BSN Sports in event coordination, sales and marketing, and she also coached high school volleyball. Johnson graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in communications studies before playing professional volleyball in Europe and Asia for more than 10 years. Johnson was named Big 12 Player of the Year in 2010–11 and was inducted in the UT Hall of Honor in 2020.
Hen Kennedy joined the school recently as our second Upper School learning specialist. Most recently she worked at Endeavor Academics as an executive functioning coach and tutor. Kennedy also was assistant principal and instructional administrator with Austin ISD, resident principal with Chicago Public Schools, and a middle school classroom teacher in Chicago and Washington, D.C. Kennedy holds an Education Specialist degree from National Louis University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Chicago, and a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University. Kennedy lives on campus with husband Adam Varner ’03, Upper School chaplain, and their two children.
Jennie Kim is our new Upper School counselor and wellness instructor. Kim holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from University of Michigan, a Master of Education in multicultural education from Eastern University, and a Master of Science in Education in school and mental health counseling from University of Pennsylvania. She began her career as a middle school composition teacher in Philadelphia and then served as a school counselor at Mastery Charter Shoemaker Campus in Philadelphia, Upper Darby High School in Drexel Hill, Pa., and The Village School in Houston.
Philip King joined our modern languages department as an Upper School Spanish instructor. Most recently, King taught French and Spanish at Vista Ridge High School; prior to joining Vista Ridge, he taught both languages in public high schools for more than 13 years. He holds a post-master’s principal certification from Stephen F. Austin University and a Master of Arts from New Mexico State University, as well as master’s degrees from Durham University in England and Heriot-Watt University in Scotland.
Tamu King recently joined “the Brew Crew” in Brewster Hall as registrar and Upper School administrative assistant. King has more than 20 years of administrative experience and great expertise in school operations, project management and administration support. Prior to joining St. Stephen’s, she served as assistant director of operations for career and technical education at Manor ISD. King lives on campus with husband Coach La-Mont King and their two children. In addition to her administrative duties, she will serve on the residential life team, supporting our boarding students.
Connor Martin is a new security guard who will work the morning shift. He comes to us after having served a four-year tour of duty with the U.S. Navy as a corpsmen and field medic. He served on two humanitarian missions and gained security and firefighting experience while aboard ship.
Jon Monterrosa is a new security guard who will work the afternoon shift. After moving to Austin last year, Monterrosa worked security for a number of charter schools in the area.
Luis Enrique Murillo, Ph.D., recently joined the Upper School faculty as a history instructor. He also will serve as a soccer coach. Murillo holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Hamilton College, a Master of Arts in international affairs from George Washington University, and a doctorate in history from the University of California San Diego. Murillo served as assistant professor of religion at Trinity University for seven years and as a history teacher, coach and department chair at TMI Episcopal beginning in 2011.
Alumna Megan Watkins Phillips ’03 has returned to The Hill to teach Upper School mathematics. Phillips earned her Bachelor of Arts in human biology from Stanford University and Master of Science in teaching from Pace University. Most recently, she served as principal of Endeavor Academics. Previously, she taught at Bridgepoint Elementary School and at IS151 in the Bronx through Teach for America.
Mariza Rosado-Mangal joined our faculty as Middle School and Upper School Latin instructor. Rosado-Mangal is a doctoral candidate at Columbia University. She holds a Master of Philosophy in classics from Columbia, dual bachelor’s and master’s degrees in literae humaniores (classics honors) from Oxford University, and a Bachelor of Arts in classical studies from The University of Chicago. Most recently she served as chair of the English department at Awty International School in Houston, where she was a dean, grade-level sponsor, advisor and DEI coordinator. She has extensive experience teaching Latin, Greek, English and modern languages in domestic independent schools and international schools in the Philippines and Vietnam.
Lindsay Rosenthal was appointed full-time Spartan coach and boys’ volleyball program director. She brings a highly competitive spirit to the court and her players. Rosenthal was a four-year starter and team captain at University of Notre Dame and has more than 20 years of coaching experience. Additionally, she led her club volleyball team to the 2019 USA Volleyball (USAV) National Championship in the National Division, the highest division of USAV.
Ilan Sanchez joined our modern languages department as Upper School Spanish instructor. Sanchez most recently taught at The College Preparatory School in Oakland, Calif. He has experience leading Spanish-language immersion trips in Spain, and he worked as a research and teaching assistant at the University of Connecticut. Sanchez holds a Master of Arts in international studies with a concentration in Latino/Latin American studies from University of Connecticut and Bachelor of Social Communication from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana in México City.
Angela Slutz, C.P.A., joined the St. Stephen’s Business Office in June as our controller. Slutz most recently served as director of accounting at Regents School of Austin. Prior to that role, she worked as director of accounting at St. Edward's University, and held accounting and audit positions at the Texas State Comptroller's Office and KPMG. Slutz earned a Master of Science from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Notre Dame.
April Speck-Ewer has been appointed our new director of Advancement. Prior to joining St. Stephen’s, Speck-Ewer currently served as assistant vice president for Advancement at Eckerd College, where she also had served as director of major gifts and assistant director of major gifts. She holds deep experience in volunteer recruitment and development, as well as capital campaign fundraising and donor stewardship. Speck-Ewer holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Lyons College.
Britt Thorp joined the fine arts faculty as Middle School and Upper School ceramics teacher. Thorp most recently was a professor and ceramics studio manager at Syracuse University. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in ceramics from The Ohio State University and a Master of Fine Arts in studio art from Syracuse University. Additionally, Thorp was a resident artist at University of Arkansas and Michigan State University.
Michelle Avery joined the St. Stephen’s faculty as a full-time fine arts instructor. She served as a visual arts substitute teacher in our Middle School throughout much of last year. Avery brings several years of independent school experience to the classroom. She taught at Santa Catalina School, The Head-Royce School, Episcopal High School in Virginia and The Dalton School in New York. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design and a Master of Fine Arts/Art Education from Maryland Institute College of Art.
Sam Davis joined our staff this summer as an equity and inclusion coordinator and a library assistant. Davis previously served as a technical support specialist at the Holton Arms School and a technical resource specialist at the Bullis School. Since 2016, they have worked at St. Andrew’s in Austin as a library educational technologist. Davis holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Huston-Tillotson University and currently is completing a master’s degree in educational technology at Texas State University.
Maj Dergham joined College Counseling this summer as a co-director. Previously, he served as associate director of college counseling at Episcopal Academy in Pennsylvania. He also was director of diversity recruitment and associate director of admissions at Lehigh University, as well as assistant director of admissions at Moravian College. Dergham holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Education from Lehigh University.
Dan Fisher, Ph.D., joined the faculty this summer as Upper School chemistry teacher. Fisher comes to St. Stephen’s by way of St. Christopher's School in Richmond, Va. He was a co-founder of Church Hill Academy in Richmond, an alternative high school serving at-risk youth, and was directly involved in shaping the math and science curricula. Fisher holds a doctorate from Virginia Commonwealth University and a bachelor’s degree from University of Richmond.
Malcolm Friend is our new Upper School English instructor. Previously he taught 7th- and 9th-grade English at Winchester Thurston School in Pittsburgh, Penn., as well as composition and creative writing at University of Pittsburgh. Friend proved instrumental in reshaping the 9th-grade English curriculum at Winchester Thurston. He earned bachelor’s degrees in both English and classical civilization from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Fine Arts in poetry from University of Pittsburgh.
Russ Glenn joined the Middle School faculty this summer as a science instructor. Most recently, he served as director of education for Slooh, an experiential astronomy education platform. He also was a science instructor and science department chair at St. Michael's Catholic Academy, a science instructor and environmental program director at University Liggett School, and a teacher and assistant director for the John Dorr Nature Laboratory at the Horace Mann School. Glenn holds a Bachelor of Science in environmental geology from the College of William and Mary and a Master of Science in space studies from American Public University.
Rachel Holiman joined the Middle School faculty as the new 6th-grade English instructor. Previously, Holiman taught 6th-grade language arts at St. Francis School in Austin, and 9th- and 11th-grade language arts at Collegium Charter School in Penn. She earned a Bachelor of Science in secondary English education with a concentration in writing from the Honors College at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Juliann Johnson joined the athletics department as girls’ volleyball program manager. Most recently, Johnson worked for BSN Sports in event coordination, sales and marketing, and she also coached high school volleyball. Johnson graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in communications studies before playing professional volleyball in Europe and Asia for more than 10 years. Johnson was named Big 12 Player of the Year in 2010–11 and was inducted in the UT Hall of Honor in 2020.
Hen Kennedy joined the school recently as our second Upper School learning specialist. Most recently she worked at Endeavor Academics as an executive functioning coach and tutor. Kennedy also was assistant principal and instructional administrator with Austin ISD, resident principal with Chicago Public Schools, and a middle school classroom teacher in Chicago and Washington, D.C. Kennedy holds an Education Specialist degree from National Louis University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Chicago, and a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University. Kennedy lives on campus with husband Adam Varner ’03, Upper School chaplain, and their two children.
Jennie Kim is our new Upper School counselor and wellness instructor. Kim holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from University of Michigan, a Master of Education in multicultural education from Eastern University, and a Master of Science in Education in school and mental health counseling from University of Pennsylvania. She began her career as a middle school composition teacher in Philadelphia and then served as a school counselor at Mastery Charter Shoemaker Campus in Philadelphia, Upper Darby High School in Drexel Hill, Pa., and The Village School in Houston.
Philip King joined our modern languages department as an Upper School Spanish instructor. Most recently, King taught French and Spanish at Vista Ridge High School; prior to joining Vista Ridge, he taught both languages in public high schools for more than 13 years. He holds a post-master’s principal certification from Stephen F. Austin University and a Master of Arts from New Mexico State University, as well as master’s degrees from Durham University in England and Heriot-Watt University in Scotland.
Tamu King recently joined “the Brew Crew” in Brewster Hall as registrar and Upper School administrative assistant. King has more than 20 years of administrative experience and great expertise in school operations, project management and administration support. Prior to joining St. Stephen’s, she served as assistant director of operations for career and technical education at Manor ISD. King lives on campus with husband Coach La-Mont King and their two children. In addition to her administrative duties, she will serve on the residential life team, supporting our boarding students.
Connor Martin is a new security guard who will work the morning shift. He comes to us after having served a four-year tour of duty with the U.S. Navy as a corpsmen and field medic. He served on two humanitarian missions and gained security and firefighting experience while aboard ship.
Jon Monterrosa is a new security guard who will work the afternoon shift. After moving to Austin last year, Monterrosa worked security for a number of charter schools in the area.
Luis Enrique Murillo, Ph.D., recently joined the Upper School faculty as a history instructor. He also will serve as a soccer coach. Murillo holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Hamilton College, a Master of Arts in international affairs from George Washington University, and a doctorate in history from the University of California San Diego. Murillo served as assistant professor of religion at Trinity University for seven years and as a history teacher, coach and department chair at TMI Episcopal beginning in 2011.
Alumna Megan Watkins Phillips ’03 has returned to The Hill to teach Upper School mathematics. Phillips earned her Bachelor of Arts in human biology from Stanford University and Master of Science in teaching from Pace University. Most recently, she served as principal of Endeavor Academics. Previously, she taught at Bridgepoint Elementary School and at IS151 in the Bronx through Teach for America.
Mariza Rosado-Mangal joined our faculty as Middle School and Upper School Latin instructor. Rosado-Mangal is a doctoral candidate at Columbia University. She holds a Master of Philosophy in classics from Columbia, dual bachelor’s and master’s degrees in literae humaniores (classics honors) from Oxford University, and a Bachelor of Arts in classical studies from The University of Chicago. Most recently she served as chair of the English department at Awty International School in Houston, where she was a dean, grade-level sponsor, advisor and DEI coordinator. She has extensive experience teaching Latin, Greek, English and modern languages in domestic independent schools and international schools in the Philippines and Vietnam.
Lindsay Rosenthal was appointed full-time Spartan coach and boys’ volleyball program director. She brings a highly competitive spirit to the court and her players. Rosenthal was a four-year starter and team captain at University of Notre Dame and has more than 20 years of coaching experience. Additionally, she led her club volleyball team to the 2019 USA Volleyball (USAV) National Championship in the National Division, the highest division of USAV.
Ilan Sanchez joined our modern languages department as Upper School Spanish instructor. Sanchez most recently taught at The College Preparatory School in Oakland, Calif. He has experience leading Spanish-language immersion trips in Spain, and he worked as a research and teaching assistant at the University of Connecticut. Sanchez holds a Master of Arts in international studies with a concentration in Latino/Latin American studies from University of Connecticut and Bachelor of Social Communication from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana in México City.
Angela Slutz, C.P.A., joined the St. Stephen’s Business Office in June as our controller. Slutz most recently served as director of accounting at Regents School of Austin. Prior to that role, she worked as director of accounting at St. Edward's University, and held accounting and audit positions at the Texas State Comptroller's Office and KPMG. Slutz earned a Master of Science from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Notre Dame.
April Speck-Ewer has been appointed our new director of Advancement. Prior to joining St. Stephen’s, Speck-Ewer currently served as assistant vice president for Advancement at Eckerd College, where she also had served as director of major gifts and assistant director of major gifts. She holds deep experience in volunteer recruitment and development, as well as capital campaign fundraising and donor stewardship. Speck-Ewer holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Lyons College.
Britt Thorp joined the fine arts faculty as Middle School and Upper School ceramics teacher. Thorp most recently was a professor and ceramics studio manager at Syracuse University. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in ceramics from The Ohio State University and a Master of Fine Arts in studio art from Syracuse University. Additionally, Thorp was a resident artist at University of Arkansas and Michigan State University.
Address: 6500 St. Stephen's Dr., Austin, TX 78746
Phone: (512) 327-1213
Phone: (512) 327-1213