Faculty & Staff

Rebecca Yacono’s career in education began in 1983 at Porter Junior High, when she taught an eighth-grade classmate how to do vibrato on the viola. When her classmate subsequently beat her out for first chair viola in the All-City Orchestra auditions, Rebecca knew she had found her calling, not as a violist, but as an educator.

As an undergraduate in the Plan II Honors program at the University of Texas at Austin, Rebecca researched community-based learning programs for her senior thesis. She went on to earn her Master of Arts in Teaching at Boston University. Throughout her undergraduate and graduate education and in the early years of her career, Rebecca spent ten summers working at Girl Scout Camps in New England and the Adirondacks. It was in those settings – as well as in her five summers as a Girl Scout Camper in Texas – that Rebecca saw how girls thrive, collaborate, grow, and lead in extraordinary ways in all-girl settings.

Rebecca’s first formal teaching position was teaching integrated Humanities at Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill, MA, which reinforced her belief in student-centered, project-based learning. She took that philosophy back to Texas with her, where she taught Humanities and U.S. History in the Austin Independent School District and at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. Rebecca went on to establish the position of Director of Diversity and Multicultural Development at St. Andrew’s, which is also where she met her wife, Robyn Mabry. In 2011, Rebecca returned to New England to teach at The Shady Hill School in Cambridge, MA,  and she became the Head of the Middle School at Worcester Academy in 2017.

In her time at Worcester Academy, Rebecca helped craft the strategic plan, instituted initiatives for social-emotional learning, elevated institutional commitments to equity and inclusion, and alongside the faculty, strengthened the culture of the middle school to address the unique needs of early adolescent learners.  In addition, she was an integral member of the team that shepherded the school through the COVID-19 pandemic by prioritizing health and safety while maintaining a robust academic program and strong sense of community. Rebecca has been the proud Head Firebird at the GSA since 2022.

Chandler Yanke joined The Girls’ School of Austin in 2023 as our Administrative Assistant. She holds a degree in Social Work from Texas Christian University and spent five years in the classroom as an educator before transitioning into school administration. Chandler brings a passion for supporting students, families, and staff, and she is thrilled to contribute to the welcoming environment and smooth day-to-day life at GSA. 

Neely Michaelis joined The Girls’ School of Austin as the Director of Admissions in 2020. She received her BA in Latin American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin and began working in the private sector during the technology boom. A corporate trainer for several years working primarily with Fortune 500 companies, Neely eventually transitioned into Human Resources where she led internal training for a sales and marketing company. A GSA parent since 2016, Neely strengthened her passion for community building through parent volunteer opportunities and co-facilitated parent workshops. Neely is excited to unite her love for the GSA, her passion for building community, and her commitment to creating a space of belonging for young women in Austin.

Olivia has been serving as the Director of Advancement since the summer of 2026. She transitioned into education after nearly a decade in tech, with creative and operational leadership roles including Creative Director at Oracle. Olivia holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Advertising and English from the University of Alabama and an MBA from LSU Shreveport. Outside of work, you can find her reading, crafting, or negotiating with her very opinionated nine-pound rescue dog.  

Jessica Sanchez joined The Girls’ School of Austin in 2023, bringing 17 years of educational leadership and administrative experience from KIPP Austin, where she most recently served as Assistant Principal of Operations at Brave High School. Combining her deep expertise in school operations with her personal perspective as a mother of daughters, Jessica is dedicated to supporting the unique developmental and educational needs of young women. Outside of school, she loves dancing, traveling, and spending time in nature with her family.

Anne Baker joined The Girls’ School of Austin in 2025 as the Director of Instructional Technology. She brought 12 years of experience from Virginia, where she worked as an elementary teacher, middle school math teacher, and instructional tech specialist. Anne earned her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from George Mason University and holds teaching certifications across elementary and secondary math in both Virginia and Texas. In her role at GSA, Anne keeps the school’s tech running smoothly and supports teachers and students with their everyday digital tools. Her main goal is helping girls prepare for a tech-immersive world—without losing the human, hands-on touch in the classroom. Anne loves being back home in Austin and raising her two sons in the city where she grew up.

Jess got her Bachelor of Arts from Southwestern University, where she studied Theatre Arts and Production, and Business and Marketing. After college, she worked for various businesses around Austin as a Marketing Director, theater director, deviser, and actor. When she first arrived at the GSA in 2022, she worked as an aftercare instructor. Since then, she originated the role of Operations & Events Assistant, while also being the full-time campus sub and 7th grade adviser. She created the Firebird Fun committee, which works to bring fun and cheer to faculty and staff. In the Fall of 2026, she moved to the Advancement Office, where she holds the role of Communications and Digital Marketing Manager. She also organises and works with the 7th grade class to produce the school’s Annual Talent Show, a cherished tradition at GSA.   

Malia Wagner, LCSW, has served as the school counselor at GSA since 2022. She received her undergraduate degree from Carleton College in Minnesota and her Masters’ of Science in Social Work from UT Austin. Prior to joining GSA, she worked in a variety of social work settings, including 4 years in AISD schools with Communities in Schools. As an alum of an all-girls school, she loves working in this special, close-knit community. Malia lives in Austin with her wife, Julia, and their children, Ella and Simon. 

Kelsey joined The Girls’ School of Austin as Finance Assistant after 11 years in finance and operations, most recently leading a finance team in sustainability consulting. She has called Austin home for six years and shifted to nonprofit work to put her experience behind a mission she believes in. Outside of work, Kelsey recently completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training and enjoys spending time outdoors with friends, reading, and trying new local restaurants.

Sheni initially joined the Girls School of Austin community in 2023 as a Chef Instructor for an after-school program &  is now excited to officially continue supporting the school as an Operations & Special Events Assistant as well as Campus sub. Originally from Lafayette, Louisiana, Sheni has called Austin home since June 2021. After graduating high school, Sheni attended McNeese State University, where she studied psychology for a year before choosing to enter the workforce. With experience in culinary education, childcare, behavioral health, customer service, and hospitality, she brings a diverse background and a passion for supporting young people to her role.

Sheni especially enjoys being a positive presence for the girls and creating a safe, welcoming space where they can be themselves, ask questions, and explore their curiosity. Although she is now part of the operations team, many students still affectionately know her as “Chef Sheni.”

With 30 years of elementary education experience, Meredith is thrilled to continue her journey at The Girls’ School of Austin, where she has been teaching since 2006. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University and holds state certifications in Elementary Reading, Elementary Early Childhood, Elementary Self-Contained, and English as a Second Language (ESL). Passionate about fostering a joyful, supportive, and engaging learning environment, she helps young learners build confidence and problem-solving skills. Outside the classroom, she lives in Dripping Springs with her husband and two teenage sons.

Terry Parks has been teaching since 1994 and has been teaching first grade since 2004. She joined the GSA in 2021. Prior to that, she taught second grade and prekindergarten. Ms. Parks loves getting to know her students and learning how to best engage them and excite them about learning. One of her central goals for each new class is to guide her students in being supportive of one another and appreciative of the gifts and talents that everyone brings to the group.  Ms. Parks received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and has a Texas teaching certification for Early Childhood through sixth grade.  

Lindsay joined The Girls’ School of Austin in 2023. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Tech University in Human Development and Family Studies with a focus on early childhood development. She received her teaching degree in graduate school and holds a Master of Ed degree in Educational Leadership, also from Texas Tech. She began her teaching career in 2009 and has taught kindergarten, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades. She is an Austin local who graduated from Westlake High School. Lindsay enjoys reading, traveling, the outdoors, and spending time with her niece and nephews.  

Ms. Lee joined The Girls’ School faculty in 2009. She has taught elementary and middle school French at the United Nations International School in New York City and third and fourth grade at the American International School of Bucharest, Romania, and the International School of Prague in the Czech Republic. She received her Bachelor of Education (Honours) from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Ms. Lee is an accredited International Baccalaureate instructor and is a Texas educator certified.

Ms. Castillo is a teacher assistant for K-4th grade at the Girls School of Austin. Born and raised in Austin, TX. Ms. Castillo earned a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Texas State University, with a minor in Art History and Psychology. In addition, she earned a Master’s in Education from Relay Graduate School of Education in San Antonio, TX. She brings three years of classroom experience before joining GSA in 2023. Outside the classroom, she enjoys spending her summers as an Activity Specialist working with participants with neurodivergent needs. 

With over four years of classroom experience from Tennessee and Texas, Ms. B has been fostering confidence and curiosity in GSA’s middle school mathematicians since 2025. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics. Her minor in education and teaching certification preparations were completed through MTSU’s MTeach program, a sister-program to UT Austin’s UTeach program. Prior to joining GSA, Ms. B led middle school math planning and curriculum departments at school and district levels, where she collaborated with educators to align practices and enhance instruction. Ms. B pairs her teaching experience of middle school mathematics, Algebra 1, and Geometry with a post-graduate certification in Data Science & Business Analytics from McComb’s School of Business to further enhance GSA’s mission to make data-informed, relationship-driven decisions for students’ mathematical journeys. She is a passionate member of a learning community that values creativity, empowerment, and whole-child education. When she’s not teaching, you’ll likely find Ms. B exploring Austin’s community theatres, participating in her gym community, or reading a library book in the sunshine.

Jeremy Goheen’s path to teaching began at the University of Washington, where he earned his B.A. in English Literature and developed a deep belief that the study of the Humanities has a powerful capacity to affect the world, both individually and collectively. Jeremy worked his way through college at a leather tannery—one of the last remaining in the United States—as well as in various kitchens and odd jobs. These experiences, along with his study of literature, shaped his conviction that the Humanities are most powerful when they connect intellectual inquiry to the world beyond the classroom.

After graduating from the University of Washington, Jeremy went on to earn his Ph.D. in English Literature at the University of Texas at Austin, focusing his research on representations of infrastructure in British literature. His scholarship has appeared in Studies in Romanticism, including an article exploring what he calls “transitory Blackness” in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century chimney-sweep literature. During his doctoral studies, Jeremy developed his teaching practice both in the undergraduate classroom and at Kirby Hall, where he taught high school students.

In 2021, Jeremy joined The Girls’ School of Austin, where he has taught Middle School Humanities ever since. He is particularly drawn to the opportunity an all-girls school provides for students to develop their voices, take intellectual risks, and grow into confident critical thinkers and leaders. He believes strongly that students are capable of thinking at a high level when given the space and chance to do so. In his free time, Jeremy enjoys swimming laps daily at Barton Springs, viewing films at the Alamo Drafthouse, and dancing in Austin’s vibrant two-step scene.

Dale Bobar is an Austin native and Ph.D. candidate in theoretical astrophysics at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he researched supermassive black hole formation and taught undergraduate physics. He has a B.S. in Physics with minors in Astronomy and Math, as well as an M.S. in Astrophysics from UTSA. He has been teaching at the GSA since 2025. With extensive experience as an independent tutor and teaching assistant, he is passionate about making STEM education accessible and engaging for students of all backgrounds. In addition to his academic work, Dale has held leadership roles with the City of Austin Aquatics Division, where he has trained and mentored thousands of lifeguards. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he brings a strong commitment to collaboration, mentorship, and community to both his scientific and educational endeavors.

Liliana Herrera joined the GSA faculty in 2023. She earned her bachelor’s degree in All-Level Spanish with a minor in Secondary Education from Texas State University. She also holds an associate degree in Early Childhood through Grade 6 Bilingual Education from Austin Community College. Throughout her career, Liliana has gained valuable teaching experience in schools throughout the Austin and New Braunfels areas. She has worked with students at both the elementary and high school levels. As a native Spanish speaker from Mexico, Liliana is proud of her heritage, culture, and traditions. She loves sharing her passion for the Spanish language and her cultural background with her students while creating a positive and welcoming environment where they feel supported, encouraged, and excited to learn. 

Holly Melear is a native born Austinite raised by a family of artists, sculptors, and musicians. Her professional career has included art restoration and volunteer conservation support with the University of Texas, gallery management, and her own artistic pursuits. Holly has pursued Visual Art education and instruction for the past three decades and has taught at the Girls’ School of Austin for the past four years. 

Her surrealistic style, blended with ancient and modern symbolism, has appealed to audiences for commissioned works, solo, and group exhibitions. She has shown her work at numerous venues including the Texas State Capitol, Austin City Hall, RAW, and EAST, the Austin Studio Tours, and numerous shows outside of Austin and Texas. Her series have included serious commentaries on political topics, modern iconic imagery, and whimsical illustrative works. Her academic studies include her graduate studies at St. Edward’s University, focusing on ancient Middle Eastern art and text. 

By using art as a universal language and as a vehicle to blend culture, spirituality, time, and ideas, she strives to create a dialogue about the connection of humanity across the globe, connecting humanity regardless of age, gender, or culture and bringing more empathy and understanding to the world.

Gilles Bonneau studied viola in France with Pierre-Henri Xuereb and Tasso Adamopoulos, and later with Anatole Wieck at the University of Maine. He received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he taught in the UT String Project. He joined The Girls’ School of Austin when it opened in 2002.

Victoria Wernicke is passionate about string pedagogy and historical performance. She joined the GSA in 2025, where she enjoys teaching violin and seeing the sense of accomplishment the girls gain from learning new skills. 

Originally from San Antonio, she graduated with her M.M. in Baroque Violin from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, previously earning her B.M. in Violin Performance at the University of North Texas. She also studied historical performance at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. In addition to her role at the GSA, Victoria teaches violin and viola privately and frequently performs with baroque ensembles in Texas including the Texas Early Music Project, La Follia and the Dallas Bach Society.

In the small town of Port Lavaca, TX, in 1993, the Victoria Symphony performed at Point Comfort Elementary.

On that fateful day, Will Krause’s musical journey started.

Will worked through the public school music program to become a UIL state concert band competitor on tuba and state jazz band competitor on bass

He continued his studies in the University of Texas Honors Program, graduating with a BS in Psychology/Pre-Med, and Music in 2006.

After briefly flirting with other interests in college, Will decided the next decade of his life honing his craft through professional performance. He toured internationally with various touring groups, including a broadway performance, and he eventually landed as a coach and music director for Carnival Cruise Lines in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Unsettled by the distance from Texas and seeking a calmer lifestyle, Will remembered the school music education that had made all these adventures possible, and found his next true passion. In 2018, Will discovered he had a talent for early music education, and dove in headfirst. Aside from working with the wonderful students at the Girl’s School of Austin, Will maintains over 50 private students at any given time, and still performs at as many weddings, events, and local performances as his schedule will allow. 

Will cannot get enough playing music and sharing that joy with as many people as possible. His future goals include continuing all this, and also sharing as much time as possible with his family and their pets.

Monica joined the GSA community in 2022 as the Student Support and High School Placement Coordinator. In these roles, she gets to focus on what she loves, building trusted relationships with families and teachers to create collaborative pathways and supportive structures that help students recognize their strengths, creatively push through challenges, and confidently take the next steps in their learning journey. 

Her approach is shaped by years of hands-on experience in Texas public schools and grounded in a strong educational foundation. She holds a Master’s in Special Education specializing in Dyslexia, a BA in Economics, and specialized certifications as a Bilingual Educational Diagnostician and Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) that elevate her diverse perspective. Outside of work, she is a culinary enthusiast always hunting for the city’s next best bites, and a design lover always inspired to reimagine a space and give it new life.

Gabrielle has been at the GSA since Fall 2026. She loves to bake, dance, and hike. 

She grew up in Paris, France, and Houston, Texas, and is now a proud Austinite. She recently graduated from UT Austin and is excited to meet everyone at the GSA!