Administration Directory

Beverly Rase

Founder

Mrs. Rase and her husband, Dr. Howard Rase, opened the doors of Kirby Hall in 1976. 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.

Since opening Kirby Hall School in 1976, her dedication to the school remained profound throughout her life. She worked without salary until 1985, donated summers until 1996, and continues to be a significant donor. She served as secretary-treasurer on the Accreditation Commission Board of the Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools and is listed in Who’s Who in the South and Southwest and other biographical volumes. Her two children are Kirby Hall graduates.

Helen Roberts

Director

Helen joined Kirby Hall in 1998 as part of the administrative staff. She developed a close working relationship with Head of School Beverly Rase, serving as her unfailing right hand. Helen worked diligently with faculty, parents, and students to ensure the mission of Kirby Hall continued. In 2014, when Mrs. Rase stepped down as head of school, it was only natural that the board of trustees appointed Helen as the new director.

Having originally started in 1991 as a Kirby Hall parent when her daughter Sasha entered kindergarten, Helen uniquely understands both the parent and student perspective. She gave generously of her time as a volunteer. In 1998, Helen was offered the position of Administrative Assistant at Kirby Hall. She gladly accepted and has successfully made the transition from mother of two to the adopted mother of hundreds through the years. Her own daughters went on to have very successful college careers, with Sasha entering the University of Texas at Austin with sophomore mid-year standing and Emily graduating Summa Cum Laude from Texas State University.

Helen was born and raised in New York City. Prior to entering education, she had a 19-year career with the Internal Revenue Service in the Treasury Department, including being a Security Analyst and Assistant Chief of the Publishing/Services in the Boston District Office.

Emily Gonzales

Director of Admissions

B.A. Sociology – Texas State University

Emily joined Kirby Hall the second semester of the 2017-2018 school year. Being a student at Kirby Hall from Kindergarten and graduating in 2011, she is extremely familiar with what it means to be part of the Kirby Hall family. Emily graduated from Texas State University with the highest honors, Summa Cum Laude. Emily’s love for Kirby Hall has brought her back to be a part of the staff and help as Kirby Hall had helped her growing up.

In her spare time, Emily loves to play pool with her sister, Sasha. When she’s not hanging out with her big sister, she is at home taking care of her two cats, Ninja and Samurai (Sammy).

“Our students are amazingly kind,
keenly intelligent, and joyful.”

“Kirby Hall is family, love, belonging.”

“I value the opportunity to spend my work days surrounded by
loving, compassionate, intelligent
children. Every day they remind me that
the future is bright indeed.”

Claire LaChance

Financial Officer, Librarian

MS in Systems Engineering – University of Pennsylvania

BS in Electrical Engineering – Worcester Polytechnic

Claire joined Kirby Hall in 2008. Originally from Massachusetts she earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a MS in Systems Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. She spent fifteen years working in engineering until she moved to Austin in 1994. After this distinguished engineering career, Claire trained in accounting, where her analytical and precise mathematical skills served her well.

Summer McInerney

Academic Dean and Special Project Coordinator

BS – Applied Learning and Development with a Concentration in Special Education, the University of Texas at Austin

After seven wonderful years of teaching at Kirby Hall, Summer is thrilled to have been offered the opportunity to contribute in a new capacity.  She has been affiliated with the school since 2007 as a parent and volunteer, and has served as a long-term substitute teacher, Primer teacher, and second grade teacher.  She can hardly imagine a life without Kirby!

Summer grew up as the child of a career Air Force officer, and spent her childhood in Colorado Springs, Colorado;  Montgomery, Alabama;  and Dayton, Ohio.  She graduated from high school in Colorado Springs, and chose to attend the University of Texas at Austin to be closer to her extended family.  While attending UT, Summer was nominated for Student Teacher of the Year, and during her first year of teaching elementary school in Austin Independent School District, she received a Teacher of the Year nomination. She has experience working with elementary and middle school students who have wide range of abilities, and has participated in numerous professional development workshops in Gifted Education.

Summer is a voracious reader and enjoys sewing, DIY projects, and spending time with her husband and two children, both of whom began their educational journeys at Kirby Hall.

Javier Medina

Facilities Manager

Javier joined Kirby Hall in 2012 and has become a beloved member of the Kirby Hall family. He was born and raised in Cancun, Mexico, and spent the majority of his life there before moving to Austin eighteen years ago. Javier has two daughters, one son, and three grandsons. During his free time, he enjoys spending time with loved ones, cooking his specialty chile rellenos, and playing futbol with friends and family.