Our Staff

Kristy Baynes is excited to join the LPA community as a 3rd grade Math teacher. She graduated from the University of Missouri–St. Louis with degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education. Kristy brings experience teaching 2nd grade at Walnut Grove Elementary, serving as a long-term substitute in several elementary schools, and supporting students in a variety of classroom settings. Outside of the classroom, Kristy enjoys spending time with her 3-year-old daughter, rock climbing with friends, and getting lost in a good book. She is looking forward to meeting her new 3rd graders and is excited to help her students build confidence and discover a love for math.

Lisa began working at LPA in the 2014-2015 school year. Before working at LPA, Lisa gained experience in both early childhood and special education settings. Lisa resides in St. Louis with her husband, stepson and daughter.  When she is not working, she loves to read, watch movies, and be with her family.  Lisa believes that teaching is a lifelong learning process. She is consistently inspired by the LPA community of teachers, parents, and students to always learn and grow. She works to instill that same love of learning in her students.

Ingrid Herrenbruck is in her 3rd year at LPA and 7th year in education! She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2020 with a degree in Organizational Management & Marketing, with a minor in Philosophy, followed by a Master’s of Arts in Teaching from Saint Louis University in 2022. As the 4th grade Math teacher, she is passionate about helping students (and their families!) understand and apply a wide array of mathematical thinking strategies. She is an active student of history and always enjoys a new book, documentary, or visit to a museum. Beyond LPA, Ingrid likes to explore the arts, keep up with her sports teams, and is an avid runner.

Amy Hertert joined the first grade team at Lafayette Preparatory Academy in 2014. Amy moved to St. Louis from Oregon where she taught for 4 years. Amy graduated from the University of Oregon in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in education and a bachelor's degree in ethnic studies. In 2009 she received her masters degree in educational studies. Before attending graduate school, she worked for several years providing early intervention services for young children and has a strong background in differentiated instruction. She is dedicated to supporting each student individually and creating a learning environment that is purposeful, meaningful, and empowering. In July of 2024, she received an additional certification as an Elementary Mathematics Specialist. When Amy is not teaching, she loves reading, gardening, cooking and being outside with her dogs Henry and Carbon. 

Jordan Jackson is excited to continue her journey at LPA as a fourth-year second-grade teacher! A proud St. Louis native, Jordan earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Thee Jackson State University in 2023 and recently completed her Master’s degree in Special Education from Lindenwood University. She is currently pursuing her second Master’s degree in Gifted Education. Jordan is passionate about creating a classroom filled with learning, laughter, and joy while helping every student feel valued and confident. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, working out, watching sports, and spending time with her adorable dog Marlee.

Erin Mikel is excited to start her eleventh year of teaching and ninth year with the LPA team. She teaches 3rd grade with an emphasis in Reading.  In addition, Erin loves to be involved at LPA. During her time at LPA she has led the elementary events committee, coached cheerleading, and started the LPA Student Council. Erin grew up in Eureka and after college she moved to the city. She attended the University of Missouri where she received a bachelor’s degree in Communication and minors in Human Development in Family Sciences and Leadership & Public Service. After college, she joined Teach For America Saint Louis where she taught 2nd and 3rd grade at Aspire Academy. In addition, Erin has earned a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis. Erin loves to spend time with her puppy, Auggie, her husband, Jake, and crafting. She can’t wait for your students to join her loving, exciting and innovative treehouse!

Emilie Moroney is starting her 3rd year at LPA and 15th year teaching.  She received her undergraduate degree in English and Spanish from Greenville University and her teaching credential at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Emilie loves teaching kindergarten and getting to be a part of the magical transformation and growth that happens during students' first year of elementary school.  Emilie is a proud LPA parent of an 8th and 2nd grader.    When not teaching Emilie enjoys reading and crocheting. 

Michelle Owens is so excited to be returning to LPA for her sixth year! This year she is moving up to fourth grade and teaching Reading, and she can’t wait. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Truman State University and her Master’s in Teaching from Saint Louis University. This will be her eleventh year in the classroom, and each year keeps getting better! She’s from St. Charles originally and now lives in South City with her husband, Spenser, and two daughters, Nia (6) and Serena (4).  When she’s not teaching or chasing after her girls, you can find Mrs. Owens watching documentaries, attempting a DIY house project, reading, or trying out new Mexican restaurants.

Lindsay Rector is excited to be returning to LPA for her second year of teaching 4th grade reading and writing! She received a Masters in Education at Marian University in 2020 and received a Masters in Administration and School Supervision at Loyola University in Spring of 2023. After 6 yeras of teaching, Lindsay is passionate about all aspects of education, including curriculum creation, individualized support, and community involvement. She is thrilled to be a part of the LPA team and is looking forward to continuing to connect with the staff, students, and families!

Janie Robinson is a dedicated educator at Lafayette Prep Academy with a passion for helping young learners grow academically, socially, and emotionally. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Maryville University, where she developed a strong foundation in child development and effective teaching practices. Janie is committed to creating a positive, engaging, and inclusive classroom environment where every student feels valued, supported, and encouraged to reach their full potential. She believes in fostering a love of learning through hands-on experiences, meaningful relationships, and high expectations. Janie is excited to partner with students and families to help every child succeed throughout the school year.

Kayomi Williams joined LPA in 2019. She is a native of St. Louis and graduated from the University of Missouri- St. Louis. She has two boys. Kayomi has worked in education as a Teacher's Assistant and long term substitute. She has worked at many schools in the St. Louis area. Kayomi loves spending time with family and friends. Her favorite thing to do is to sing karaoke. She loves watching her students get excited about learning and reaching their goals.

Kristen Young was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and is a proud graduate of Harris-Stowe State University. She is also currently pursuing her graduate degree at the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL). As she begins her third year of teaching, Kristen believes she found her purpose by becoming the person she once needed. Kristen is passionate about helping every student who enters her classroom achieve not only academic success but also develop strong character, integrity, and the confidence to embrace who they are. She believes learning should be engaging, meaningful, and FUN while meeting the unique needs of every student.  Her passion for education was inspired by the mentors who invested in her throughout her  journey of life.. Their encouragement and guidance shaped the educator she is today and continues to influence the way she teaches and connects with her students. She is honored to continue her journey as a full-time member of the LPA team and looks forward to growing professionally, building meaningful relationships with students and families, and making a lasting, positive impact in the lives of her students.  Outside the classroom, Kristen enjoys collecting vinyl records, creating DIY crafts, and spending time with friends/family and her fur baby, Kingston.

Meg has always loved math, especially because when she was in school she could check her work and know that she was right before turning in her assignments. When she's not problem solving or analyzing data, she spends time with her family - her spouse, young sons, and their opinionated dog. Meg enjoys traveling, cooking (and eating!) new foods, reading, and spending time outdoors. In the summer, she volunteers with the American Youth Foundation at their National Leadership Conference held at Camp Miniwanca, a place where she spent her summers growing up and learned to strive to be her own self, at her very best, all the time.

Ibrahim Chalhoub is excited to start his 4th year at LPA. Coming from a family of educators, he feels compelled to share his love of learning and curiosity with students. He loves being a husband, father, musician, chess player, curiosity-wizard, cook, and math teacher. He can’t wait to meet everyone this year and watch them grow and make memories that will last a lifetime. 

Dan Clark is so excited to start his 8th year at LPA! When he's not teaching, playing video games, or making music in his punk rock band, he spends all of his time with his wife Stephanie, daughter Evie and puppy Zelda! Dan is a proud history nerd and loves bringing civic discussion and engagement into his lessons. Dan is a self-proclaimed kid at heart with a focus on helping each child find their own strengths and passions. Dan can’t wait to meet new students this year and continue to help grow amazing citizens and humans.

Lexie Hays is looking forward to her sixth year of teaching, and fourth year with the LPA community as the 7th and 8th grade science teacher! Ms. Hays graduated from the University of Dayton with a degree in Health Sciences in 2020 and from St. Louis University with a Master's of Arts in Teaching in 2023. Ms. Hays spends her free time training for triathlons, watching and playing sports, and trying out restaurants and coffee shops in St. Louis. She believes that education is one of the most powerful tools to provide opportunities for our young people and looks forward to working with LPA's amazing students and families this year!

Lester is very excited to return for another year at LPA as the 5th and 6th grade Social Studies teacher! He graduated from Westminster College in Fulton MO, with his Bachelor of Arts in Curriculum Instruction, and Adolescent Development. He is currently finishing his Masters of Education at Missouri Baptist University.

Cassidy McIIwain (Ms. Mac) grew up in a small town in west-central Illinois. She went to Eastern Illinois University for her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and middle-level endorsements in Social Sciences, English Language Arts, and General Sciences. She then earned her master’s degree in Curriculum Development from her alma mater as well. Entering her tenth year in education, she is so excited and grateful to be working at LPA as the 5th and 6th grade English Language Arts teacher. She loves this community and can’t wait to continue learning and growing with her students! Ms. Mac’s number one priority is ensuring everyone feels cared for, included, and important within her classroom.

Olivia Pocost is excited to be back at LPA for her ninth year, teaching 5th and 6th grade science. She believes that everyone is a scientist and wants students to understand the power they have to question the world around them. She loves that moment when she sees one of her students really connect with a science topic. Olivia graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in communications and went on to get her Master’s in Education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Olivia loves being creative, reading, cooking and baking and spending time out and about in St. Louis with her husband, Jack, daughter, Chloe and puppy, Leo!

Ebony Sanders is excited to be returning to LPA for her 7th year. She has earned a bachelor's degree from Harris-Stowe State University and a master's from Fontbonne University. Ebony is excited to be teaching her second year as the 5th-grade math teacher and 3rd-4th interventionist. When she is not teaching she enjoys spending time with her two children who also attend LPA. They enjoy fishing, traveling, and watching movies together. Ebony is committed to teaching students to think critically and in new ways, encouraging them to solve problems and understand math in a fun and engaging manner. She believes that every student can succeed and strives to make learning an exciting adventure!

This will be Emily's eighth year teaching at LPA, and her third year as the 7th and 8th grade ELA teacher. Before working at LPA, she earned her Master of Arts in Education from Truman State University. She is a St. Louis native who loves reading, art, going for walks, eating new foods, playing with her family’s three dogs, and laughing with her students. She believes education is one of our greatest opportunities to work for equity, and looks forward to working with her students to build a better world.

Mr. Smith is a proud native of North St. Louis. He attended Vashon High School, where he earned a scholarship to play basketball at Mount Marty University in Yankton, South Dakota. In 2015, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Recreational Management and Exercise Wellness, with a minor in Business Administration. He later earned a Master of Education in Leadership from Grand Canyon University in 2021. For the past nine years, Mr. Smith has been a member of the KTA team, serving in a variety of roles, including teacher, paraprofessional, Dean, intervention teacher, basketball coach, after-school coordinator, and Assistant School Leader. These experiences have shaped his passion for supporting students both academically and personally. He remains committed to empowering and motivating youth, ensuring they are successful not only in school but in life beyond the classroom. Outside of work, Mr. Smith enjoys playing and coaching basketball, having coached high school teams for eight years. A fun fact about him is that he comes from a big family with nine siblings and is the proud father of two daughters. He is excited to continue this journey and partner with everyone to make a lasting impact on the students at LPA.

Jess Arnold, better known as Coach Arnold, has spent the past 19 years teaching PE and coaching just about every youth sport you can think of. Jess began working at LPA in 22-23 as 6-8th pe teacher and Athletic Director. She earned her degree in Human Performance and Exercise Science and is passionate about helping students build healthy, active lifestyles. Originally from Alabama, she moved to St. Louis nine  years ago to be closer to family. When she's not at school, you'll probably find her outside playing a sport, hiking, or looking for any excuse to be active. Coach Arnold is excited to help LPA students discover that moving your body can actually be fun!

Danny graduated in 2013 with a degree in Kinesiology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He taught Physical Education for five years at a K-8 school in Decatur, Illinois before coming to St. Louis in 2019. Danny is currently teaching in his 8th year at LPA, this year teaching K-5 students. This will be Danny’s 3rd year coaching the JV girls’ volleyball team, as well as the varsity boys’ volleyball coach.  He is also the proud parent to a 7th grade student at LPA, Delia. When he is not teaching, he loves spending time with his wife and daughter, going on outdoor adventures, playing games, watching movies & shows, and hanging out with friends. Danny has a passion for PE and wants to instill his love for physical activity, games, and sports to all of his students.

Laura Bayer is so excited to be joining the LPA community. She can’t wait to share her love of art-making and art-learning with the artists of LPA. Ms. Bayer has a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Art from Seattle University and a Master of Fine Arts in Comics from California College of the Arts. Before teaching, Ms. Bayer was a graphic designer at local firms and companies in St. Louis. She is looking forward to exploring many diverse mediums with the students at LPA, and creating an Art space where we can question, collaborate, and create!

Sarah Hunt is excited to begin her eleventh year at LPA. As the technology teacher, Ms. Hunt enjoys working with students to build basic computer skills, dynamic portfolios, and an understanding of the role of technology in our lives. A St. Louis native, Ms. Hunt graduated from Webster University with two B.A. degrees, one in Studio Art and one in Communications. She also earned her Masters in Education from the University of Missouri – St. Louis. Ms. Hunt enjoys cooking, reading, needlework, writing letters, playing video games, working on projects around the house, and spending time with her husband, Colin, and their three dogs, Texas, Journey, and Sirius.

Steve "Kupp" Kuppinger Jr. graduated from Washington University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in printmaking and drawing and a minor in art history in 2004, he graduated from Bradley University with a Master of Fine Arts in printmaking in 2008, and he is currently working on a Master of Arts in Teaching at St. Louis University.  In 2014 he unexpectedly found himself working at LPA for four hours on Fridays helping with aftercare.  With some hard work and a lot of luck he moved his way up and was promoted to art teacher in the Autumn of 2015 and continued in the position until 2019.  After taking a few years away, he returned to teaching in 2023 and is elated to be returning to LPA for the ‘24-’25 school year.  In addition to being a teacher, he is an artist whose favorite focus is drawing and carving for a live audience, usually alongside musicians.  Kupp is very happy to be returning to his place in the LPA family and incredibly excited to share all the magic that’s behind the scenes of art making with the students and show them how the arts connect us to the world and each other.

My name is Bethany Miscannon (or Ms. M), and this is my fifth school year teaching at LPA.  I am incredibly passionate about performing arts education and the benefits it has for students. Seeing young performers learn and grow, whether in class or in school play rehearsals, brings me so much joy! I have a BFA in Acting from Lindenwood University and a Masters in Teaching from Saint Louis University.  Outside of school, I enjoy attending theatrical productions, spending time with my husband and daughter, and getting lost in a good book.

This is Steven’s 15th year as a teacher, which had been interrupted by a 5 year stretch as a missionary, 5 years as a bilingual minister and 5 years in the corporate world. There was a time of adjunct professorship that reminded him that teaching has always been the greatest passion so he returned to full time teaching as a 7th grade English teacher.  Quickly opportunities arose to teach Pre-K through 8th Art for 6 years and now he is at LPA teaching k-5 Art.  Outside of school, time is with his wife and grown children (when he can), teaching classes at church, painting or hiking in the woods.

Anne Williamson is excited for her fifth year at LPA. Anne will be returning as the Multilingual Learner Support Coordinator and also teaching Eighth Grade Spanish. She is delighted to be a part of the LPA community.  There are many Williamsons around LPA since her four nephews and twin daughters all attend the school. Anne was born and raised in St. Louis and is a proud lifelong resident of the Shaw neighborhood. She graduated with a B.A. in Spanish and a Masters in Teaching (Communication emphasis) from Webster University. Anne spent 19 years teaching Spanish at MICDS. Prior to that she was a travel agent and also taught English for a year in France. Anne loves to play the bass and sing with her band The Sadie Hawkins Day String Band. One of her dreams is to be on Jeopardy someday. Anne enjoys dancing,traveling, and sitting on her porch with her kids. She has two crazy cats named Cora and Midgie.

Tory joined the LPA team in 2023 as a special education resource teacher in the middle school. This year, she is excited to support the team in her new role as Special Education Coordinator. Tory graduated from St. Louis University with concentrations in Early Childhood Special Education and Special Education K-12. She is passionate about school-wide inclusion practices, Universal Design, and multi-tiered systems of support to benefit all learners. Tory is originally from Aurora, Illinois, and is proud of her Chicago-ish roots! In her free time, Tory loves coaching volleyball, trying new recipes, camping, and hiking with her dogs, Bonnie and Riff.

Mrs. E has been a joyful part of the LPA community since 2016 in the role of Speech-Language Pathologist (CCC-SLP). She has a Bachelor’s in Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Saint Louis University (2010). Before joining LPA, she worked in various settings with children from preschool to high school. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, and cheering for St Louis City SC with her husband and 2 daughters.

Gianni Gardiner is excited for her 11th year teaching special education at LPA. When she is not teaching, you can likely find Gianni with a book or a puzzle. She would ALWAYS like to know what you are reading, and likely has a good book recommendation for you. She is the proud parent of two LPA alumni. Her son, Milo, is a sophomore and her daughter Scout is a freshman at Metro High School. Along with her husband and children, her home is always full of pets - right now, two of the coolest cats on the planet and a sweet dog named Jack. Gianni believes firmly in the power of education to change lives, and is specifically passionate about teaching reading and writing. She feels very fortunate to be a part of our community. 

Kaelin Lawler is excited to start her eighth year of teaching and fourth year with the LPA team. She teaches elementary and middle school special education. In 2017, Kaelin graduated from Saint Louis University with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. She has a dual degree in Elementary (1st-6th) and Special Education Mild/ Moderate Cross Categorical (K-12th). When not working, Kaelin likes to spend her time with friends and family, playing with her cat, Fiona, and reading.

Ty Waranimman is excited to officially begin his teaching career as part of LPA's special education team! Ty is already a familiar face around campus, having completed his student teaching here in Fall 2025 and worked as a building substitute in Spring 2026. A graduate of Saint Louis University with a bachelor's degree in Elementary and Special Education, he loves turning everyday lessons into joyful learning experiences. Ty places a high value on connecting with students, families, and colleagues, and he is so grateful for the warm welcome into the LPA community. When he is not in the classroom, Ty enjoys spending time with friends and family, watching sports, and cooking food for others.

Hello LPA family my name is Eric Cooper and I am truly excited to be joining the Lion Family! A little bit about myself, I am the man of many titles but the titles I am most proud of are Husband to my wife Jasmine and Father to my son, LPA second grader, Eric Cooper. I am originally from East St. Louis, IL, but have been living in St. Louis since I graduated from college. Prior to joining LPA, I served as Head of School at St. Louis Catholic Academy, where I revitalized school operations, grew enrollment, and increased brand awareness. My background also includes eight years leading enrollment and marketing at Cardinal Ritter College Prep—spearheading capital campaigns and tripling application volume—along with early leadership experience in higher education admissions at Lincoln University. I believe in the power of lifelong learning. I have a bachelor's degree from Lincoln University of Missouri, along with a Master of Arts in Marketing and Advertising Communications from Webster University. I am currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration at Saint Louis University. I was honored as a St. Louis Business Journal "40 Under 40" recipient (Class of 2023) in recognition of my leadership and professional contributions across the region. Additionally, I am a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. I am an avid lover of basketball, professional wrestling, hot wings, medium rare ribeye streaks, fireworks and the Christmas holiday. I can’t wait to get the school year started and push the brand of LPA forward!

Brandy is excited to join LPA this school year as an administrative assistant. She will be supporting the school community through her work with enrollment and by managing the many important tasks at the front desk. Originally from Missouri, Brandy recently relocated to the City and is enjoying this new chapter. Prior to joining LPA, she worked as a Business Office assistant at a retirement community, where she developed strong organizational and communication skills. Brandy looks forward to bringing her experience into the educational setting and being a welcoming presence for students, families, and staff. She is thrilled to be part of the LPA team and contribute to a positive school environment.

My name is Kim Hinton. I’m a mother of two adult children and I have seven fantastic grandchildren. I will be joining the support staff at Lafayette Preparatory Academy as their Office Assistant. I come with over 15 years of experience in the field of administrative assistance. I am organized, hardworking, very versatile and have excellent communication and people skills. I love children. The mission of LPA aligns with my beliefs. I am passionate about preparing children for academic excellence and truly believe in creating a diverse and healthy environment for them to succeed. My approach is to always treat parents in a way that assures them that their students are in a safe and caring environment. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, swimming, bowling and watching gymnastics. I plan to meet my social obligations of volunteering and giving back to my community. My bucket list includes traveling outside of the US to explore beautiful destinations throughout the world.

Kristine is excited to return to the LPA team for a 4th year! She comes to us from the Carondelet Leadership Academy where she was the Business Manager for 7 years. Mrs. Wentzien is a graduate of Truman State University with a B.A. in Business Administration. Born and raised in St. Louis, she loves to explore and enjoy the city and its parks, see live music, enjoy great food, and spend time with her family and their dog Russell. She is looking forward to a another great school year at LPA!

Natalie has been a part of the LPA community since 2017. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Registered Play Therapist (RPT). She received her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Southeast Missouri State University, her Masters in Clinical/Counseling Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and a Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy from The Adler School. Before coming to LPA, she worked for the Miriam Learning Center providing therapeutic services for Head Start Programs, and provided counseling for children and adolescents at DePaul’s Inpatient Behavioral Unit. Natalie grew up in southern Missouri but has called St. Louis home for the past 13 years. She enjoys cooking, board games, gardening, and exploring new foods and places with her husband Jon, their two boys Rafferty and Jasper, and their dog, Leo.

Ciera has been part of the LPA community since the 2015-2016 school year and cannot imagine spending her time working anywhere else! She is excited to work alongside our community rejuvenating our family involvement and continuing to build our Family Resources this school year! Ciera is continuously in awe of the educators she is surrounded by and cannot wait to lean into the future with LPA in its 12th year as the Director of Family Support and Operations. Before LPA Ciera spent time as a Director in several aftercare programs, as a youth leader, working in early childhood, and as a co-teacher in a lower elementary Montessori classroom. She continues to ground herself in her belief that all children deserve a quality education and someone to believe in them. When Ciera is not at LPA she loves exploring the city, spending time with friends and watching their kiddos grow, and hanging out with her 2, four-legged children. This fall she will be finishing her Social Work degree and is excited to bring things she has learned into her LPA community.

Jill McInnis is excited to be working in her 11th year at Lafayette Preparatory Academy.  Jill has worked as a Kindergarten teacher, 4th Grade teacher, and now an Instructional Coach at LPA. She graduated from Mizzou in 2009 and UMSL in 2018 with her Master’s. Jill has experience working with students from many different backgrounds in both St. Louis County and St. Louis City, and she was a founding Kindergarten teacher at LPA. Jill loves working at Lafayette Prep! Jill and her husband, John, welcome baby Mara in June 2023. When she is not at LPA, Jill and her family like to catch a musical at the Muny or the Fox, travel, read, walk their dog, and explore this wonderful city.

Déja Miller is excited to return for her third year as a Teacher’s Assistant here at LPA! Déja always wanted to work with the youth for the betterment of the world and found LPA to share similar values. Déja is big on emotional and social learning after studying psychology. She enjoys navigating the rollercoaster of life with children as they grow into the future.

Amanda Riley, Manda as I prefer to be called, is so excited to be starting my 3rd year at LPA. These past 2 years have flown by and I have loved getting to know each and every child here in our community. When not out enjoying the outdoors, I enjoy spending time with my kids and now my granddaughter, Juniper. My family is what I value the most and love spending time with them when the come home to visit. I look forward to the year ahead and am excited to watch the children grow and learn and become the best humans they can be.

I am excited to be joining the LPA family this year. While I have been in the education environment for 7 years, I took a break from teaching to homeschool my own child. Now he is finally ready to get back out there and I am so happy to be taking that leap right with him! LPA has welcomed both my son and I with open arms and we can not wait to see what the year brings. Outside of teaching, I do work as a massage therapist and I own and co-own a business or two. My hobbies are reading, and modeling, and I do a little music. I am honored to be welcomed into a school as special as LPA and I look forward to growing here. Most of all, I appreciate having the opportunity to watch my child grow here as well. I plan on being here for many years to come. So watch out LPA! We are here to stay!

Sarah was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She is Haitian-American and speaks Haitian Creole fluently. Sarah attended Stony Brook University in New York where she received a BA in English. In 2011, Sarah moved to St. Louis and started her career as an Early childhood educator with the support of Teach For America-St. Louis. Sarah worked at Sigel Elementary as a preschool teacher for 3 years. During her time at Sigel, she gained her MEd in Early Childhood Education at University of Missouri-St. Louis. She was a Kindergarten teacher for 4 years and a 2nd grade teacher for 4 years at LPA. She is now taking her skills and strengths as a teacher to help coach teachers to be the best educators for students. She enjoys reading, singing, loves to try new food, and spending quality time with friends, family, and her dog Pharah.

Jodi Boyd is excited to begin her tenth year with the LPA team. Jodi graduated from Missouri Baptist University in 2011 with her degree in Early Childhood, Elementary and K-12 Cross-Categorical Special Education. She worked with the Special School District of St. Louis County for four years in an early childhood special education classroom and was then chosen to help start an intensive behavior intervention team in May 2012. While working on the behavior intervention team, she had the opportunity to work in districts all over St. Louis County helping students with high frequency and high intensity behaviors become successful within their classroom. Jodi believes that all students can succeed and enjoys helping them reach their fullest potential. She is happy to be a part of establishing Lafayette Prep and their Special Education program. In her free time, Jodi likes hanging out with her friends and family, exploring the city and spending time outdoors.

Casey McBride is going into her 13th year in education and 5th year at LPA and is so happy to be here! She graduated from Transylvania University in Lexington, KY with a B.A. in Psychology in 2014, University of St. Louis- Missouri (UMSL) with a M.A. in Elementary Education in 2016, and again from UMSL in 2025 with her Ed. Specialist Degree and School Administrator Certification.  Casey began her career in education as a fifth grade teacher and transitioned into school leadership in 2020. Her favorite thing about LPA is the community and the opportunities the school and staff create to interject fun into learning. In her free time, Casey enjoys traveling, watching UK basketball, and being outdoors. She and her husband have 2 dogs, one son, and are expecting a baby girl this November.

Ms. Niewald loves the LPA students, staff, families, and collective community. She considers her role as Head of School as an honor and responsibility of a lifetime.  Ms. Niewald has bachelor’s degrees in Biology and International Studies from Mizzou. She is a 2008 NYC Teach for America Alumni. She has been a school leader for the last 9 years of her 18 years working as an Educator. She has a Masters of Science in Teaching Biology from Fordham University. She has served in fellowships for Math for America, Fund for Teachers, Relay National Principal Academy, and a Miles Family Fellow. Ms. Niewald has a Masters of Administration in Education and an EdS in Superintendency and School Leadership from Missouri Baptist University. She is a certified Biology teacher, building administrator, and superintendent.   She is currently completing a doctorate in Social Justice at UMSL.  Outside of school and getting too many degrees, Ms. Niewald enjoys spending time with her family and her beautiful, brave nieces. She also likes to read, cook, garden and travel. Ms. Niewald has been to 49 countries and is exploring #50, Portugal, in Fall 2025. 

Dr. Sarah Ranney has been with LPA since 2014 and is a proud parent to an LPA Alumnus (c/o 2025). She believes that every child has an inalienable right to attain an excellent education no matter their economic status, residential location, or background. Sarah joined LPA after four years working as an instructional coach with Teach For America where she focused on developing Early Childhood and Elementary teachers across the metropolitan area. She supported more than 300 teachers in more than 40 schools during her tenure there. Prior to Teach For America, Sarah spent several years in the classroom in the St. Louis Public Schools and an Independent, Private School. Sarah has an Ed.D in School Administration as well as an Education Specialist and Masters in School Administration from the University of Missouri- St. Louis, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Webster University, a Bachelor of Arts in Media Relations and a Bachelor of Arts in Women's and Gender Studies from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is a certified Teacher, Principal, and Superintendent. Sarah is also a Doula and Certified Lactation Counselor. She serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster and Committee Treasurer with Troop 362 and loves helping youth develop leadership skills in the great outdoors. When not at school, you might find her playing strategic games like Wingspan or Settlers of Catan or hanging out in Tower Grove park with her family.