Beverly Rase

Beverly Rase founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Director and donor of Kirby Hall School, is the wife of U.T. Professor of Chemical Engineering , Dr. Howard F. Rase, and the mother of two Kirby Hall graduates. Victoria is a cum laude graduate of Wellesley College, received an M.D. with honors from U.T. Medical School in Houston and is a pediatrician in Dallas. She is the mother of two daughters who attend Hockaday School in Dallas. Howard entered U.T. with a National Merit Scholarship and two U.T. Merit Scholarships, graduated with Highest Honors, and is presently living in California, working with Alpha Therapeutic Drug Company. A native of Fort Worth, Mrs. Rase graduated from Dana Hall Preparatory School and Wellesley College. She taught at the Fort Worth Children's Museum, edited the West Side Post, and organized the Fort Worth Wellesley Club. She served four terms as president of the Austin Wellesley Club and was founding co-chairman of the Wellesley Children's Art Show. Mrs. Rase served as the Wellesley Fund Director for the Texas-Louisiana District and organized the Eastern College Parents Committee. She helped organize the Laguna Gloria Women's Art Guild and the first Laguna Gloria Fiesta. She also served as the first vice-president of Laguna Gloria Art Museum, Inc. and president of the Texas Fine Arts Association. Mrs. Rase was the leader of a Camp Fire group and was Program Director of Austin Area Camp Fire. She founded the Elizabet Ney Museum Guild and was its first president. Her community work has included serving on the Good Shepherd Altar Guild and, in 1970, a term as the president of Casis School PTA. In 1971, she began work on the formation of a private school for college-bound students. Since Kirby Hall School's opening in 1976, she has served as Director and Chairman of the Board, working without salary until 1985 and donating summers until 1996. She served as Secretary-Treasurer on the board of the Accreditation Commission: Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools and is listed in Who's Who in the South and Southwest and other biographical volumes.

Helen Roberts

Helen Roberts, Kirby Hall School's Administrative Assistant, was born and raised in New York City. She joined the Internal Revenue Service in the Treasury Department in 1967 and enjoyed a 19-year career. Helen and her husband left New York in 1984 and moved to New Hampshire. Helen transferred to the Boston District Office of the Internal Revenue Service where she worked as a Security Analyst and Assistant Chief of the Publishing Services Section until the birth of her daughter Sasha in 1986. Helen and her family relocated to Austin Texas in 1986 where Helen was a stay-at-home mom. When Sasha turned 5 years old, she entered Kindergarten at Kirby Hall School. Helen then began to take on many volunteer tasks at the school. Besides acting as homeroom parent and party planner, she has acted as Chairperson of the Silent Auction, Sally Foster Gift-Wrap, Magazine Drive, Christmas Bazaar, and many other fundraisers over the years. She gave birth to her second daughter Emily in 1992. In 1998, when Emily entered Kindergarten, Helen was offered the position of Administrative Assistant at Kirby Hall. She gladly accepted this position, and has successfully made the transition from mother of two to the adopted mother of approximately 200 students. Sasha graduated from Kirby Hall in 2004 and was valedictorian of her class. She joined the Long Horns at the University of Texas at Austin, and earned sophomore standing in mid-year of her first year at U. T. Sasha has graduated from U.T. with a B.A. in Psychology and is now Kirby Hall School's Counselor. Sasha holds the distinction of being the first Kirby Hall student to go all the way from Kindergarten through the 12 grade. Emily entered the 12th grade in August 2010.

Page Arnell

I look forward to returning to the Kirby Hall community and sharing my love of literature with my students. I so enjoy helping young people develop, examine, and express their own ideas.I spent this summer in Vermont, escaping the Texas heat and finishing up my Master's Degree in English from Middlebury College. When I am not teaching or studying, I enjoy gardening, hiking, canoeing, sharing a good meal with friends, and-- most of all-- exploring the world with my daughter, Althea.

Julio de la Llata

Julio de la Llata teaches Spanish, and served as Faculty Administrator at Kirby Hall for six years, where he has worked since 1984. He attended Universidad de las Américas in Puebla Mexico, where he received his B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature. At U.T. he earned an M.A. in Spanish Language and Literature, and has pursued further post-graduate studies at U.T. and Southwest Texas State University. At Kirby Hall and Austin Community College he teaches all levels of Spanish. He received the Excellence in Teaching Award from A.C.C. in 1997. He has also taught Spanish for Business Professionals at U.T.'s Thompson Conference Center. Mr. de la Llata is married and is the father of two sons and a daughter. He has been honored at Kirby Hall after his 20th year of service to the school and its students. He is now entering his 25th year with Kirby Hall.

Michelle Escuder

Michelle Escuder holds a B.A. in Theater from Florida State University, where was active in both the University's theater and opera programs. While at FSU she was cast in her first operatic role at the collegiate level as a first semester freshman. She was subsequently cast in an opera each year until her graduation. Michelle was the 1999 winner of the Florida Suncoast Opera Guild and also acted in many additional plays and musicals, winning honors and scholarships for acting as well as for voice. She has been a private theater instructor and speech coach in Florida as well as in Austin. Ms. Escuder is excited to be a part of the Kirby Hall School for her third year teaching drama and music.

Teri Fickling

Teri Fickling is returning to teach middle school English grammar, composition, and literary studies at Kirby Hall for her fifth year. She is also excited to be teaching grammar and composition studies to fourth and fifth grades. Teri graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in English and a minor in History. She later earned her Texas teacher certification in English for grades 4-8. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in literature at Texas State University. She looks forward to sharing her passion for literature, and hopes to encourage her students to develop a lifelong interest in learning. When Teri doesn’t have her head stuck in a book, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with her cat Sappho.

Judge Hensley

Judge Hensley is joining Kirby Hall this year and teaches AP Government and AP Microeconomics. He is a graduate student at UT Austin where he studies Political Theory. He moved to Austin from Northern California in 2009 after finishing his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Judge grew up in San Diego and still regularly makes trips back to California to visit family and friends, though Austin has quickly become his home.

Barbara Horan

Barbara Horan teaches math to grades five through eight at Kirby Hall where she has been a distinguished member of the faculty since 1989. Formerly, she taught GED classes, English as a Second Language, and Competency-Based High School Diploma classes at Odessa Junior College. Mrs. Horan earned a B.S. degree in math and science with high honors from The University of Texas. She also completed her Master of Education degree from Texas A&M University. Mrs. Horan has three children and four grandchildren, Abigail, Corbin, Daniel and Samuel.

Trisha Kummer

Trisha Kummer is joining Kirby Hall for the 2010-2011 school year to teach Art. After growing up in North Dakota she attended college at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis where she earned a degree in Studio Art. After moving to Texas she finished the graduate certification program for education at Texas State and was certified to teach all-level Art. She owned and ran her own studio photography business and has three years of experience teaching and working with students in the Arts. When not teaching or making art of her own she enjoys spending time with her daughter who is two and a half years old, biking, practicing yoga, reading, and swimming.

Terry Parks

Terry Parks is excited to be returning to Kirby Hall for her seventh year as a first grade teacher. Terry grew up in Longview, Texas, and moved to Austin to attend The University of Texas where she earned a B.A. in psychology, focusing on child psychology and child development. She began her teaching career with preschoolers and has been fortunate to work at various private schools in Abilene and Austin for the past 13 years. During that time, she enriched her education through ongoing training in various aspects of early childhood education such as promoting independence, creative writing and science in the elementary classroom. Terry and her husband Wade have a four year old daughter, Avery who keeps them on their toes. Terry enjoys spending time with her family, playing with her dogs, cooking, reading and staying fit! She is excited to begin another year as a part of the K.H.S. team!

Hallye Smith

Hallye Smith is returning for her 3rd year teaching Kindergarten at Kirby Hall. She grew up in Sugar Land, Texas. Hallye graduated with honors from Texas Tech University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She obtained her M.S. in Child Development from Texas Woman’s University. Following the completion of her education she became a Certified Child Life Specialist through an internship at Cook Children’s Hospital. She taught her first year in Mansfield ISD. In 2005 she relocated to Pasadena, CA. Ms. Smith worked for the Child Educational Center, a Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA) and California Institute of Technology Community. In 2007 she was affiliated with the Westridge School for Girls, also in Pasadena, CA. Her favorite past times include travel, spending time with friends and family, and most importantly bonding with her corgi, Sketch.

Joe Rumrich

Joe Rumrich teaches history to Grades four through eight. Born in Niagara Falls, New York, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University in Restaurant and Hotel Management. He then spent ten years in management positions with Ponderosa Steakhouse and the Marriott Corporation. He moved to Austin in 1988 and received his teaching certificate from the University of Texas. Joe has taught at Kirby Hall since 1993. He enjoys playing softball every Monday and Wednesday night in the Austin City league.

Kelly Smith

This is Kelly Smith's third year to teach at Kirby Hall School. Kelly earned a B.A. in Psychology, with a minor in Sociology, from Texas State University. Additionally, she is a certified teacher in Early Childhood through the 4th Grade, as well as ESL Certified and GT Certified. She and her husband, Cary, have a 10-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son. Kelly loves spending time with family and friends, reading, traveling, and outdoor activities. She truly feels blessed to be a part of the KHS family!

Katie Stephens

Katie Stephens is back for her second year, teaching Precalculus and AP Calculus again, and adding AP Statistics. Originally from Long Island, NY, she received her B.A. in Mathematics from the State University of New York at Buffalo and migrated to warmer temps to receive an M.A. in Mathematics from UT Austin. After teaching math at UT, ACC and LBJ High School (now LASA), Katie took some time off to stay home with her amazing children who are now in the 2nd and 6th grades at Kirby Hall. She looks forward to another great year with her fantastic students.

Mitchell Whittier

Mitchell is joining the Kirby Hall School for the 2010-2011 school year.  He is the 4th - 8th grade science teacher and also teaches 4th grade math.  After receiving a Bachelor's of Science in Physics from the University of Denver, Mitchell returned to his Alma Mater, Jesuit College Prep in Dallas, to teach Physics, Algebra and Geometry for a couple of years.  The pursuit of a Master's in Education brought him up to the University of Washington in Seattle.  During the graduate program Mitchell taught middle school students at Island Wood, an environmental education center.  He is most recently moving from Colorado where he continued to pursue his passion for outdoor education at The Keystone Science School.  Mitchell is excited to be a new member of the Kirby Hall School community and hopes to combine his classroom and environmental education teaching experiences to create a dynamic and healthy learning environment.

Jenifer Wiese

Jenifer Wiese has taught second grade at Kirby Hall since 2003. Jenifer graduated and earned her certification from the University of Texas at Arlington, where she developed a passion for history and world cultures. She has worked with children of all ages in both private and public schools. Jenifer and her husband Robert are busy with three children-Hannah, age 10, Alec, age 8 and Joe, age 4. In her spare time Jenifer enjoys reading, cooking and scrapbooking. Jenifer loves the enthusiasm for learning her Kirby Hall kids have and thinks second grade is the best grade in the whole world.