Our Staff

I am so excited to join the LPA family this year! This will be my 14th year teaching and my 5th year teaching Kindergarten. I studied English and Spanish and Greenville University, got my certificate in Elementary Education from Metropolitan University of Denver, my Montessori credential at Hope Montessori Educational Institute, and started working on my Masters in Education at Johns Hopkins University. I love teaching kindergarten because it is an incredible year of transformation- there is nothing as challenging or as rewarding as teaching a child how to read! I love to find ways to make learning hands-on and fun and strive to make our classroom a warm and welcoming learning community for all children and families. I have 2 children who will also be joining LPA this year, one in Kindergarten and one in 6th. Our family loves baseball, music, hiking, and camping.

Tina Edwards is excited to begin her second year at LPA. Originally from Arkansas (WOOO PIG), she earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas and is currently completing her master's degree. With the 2024-2025 school year marking her fourth year of teaching, Tina is deeply passionate about working with young learners. She is dedicated to making a positive impact on her students’ lives every day and aims to foster a warm, loving, and engaging environment where they can flourish as readers, writers, and mathematicians. Outside of the classroom, Tina enjoys exploring new restaurants with her husband, scuba diving, traveling, and taking walks in Lafayette Park! She’s ready and excited for the 2024-2025 school year!

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 bachelors degree in education and a bachelors 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. When Amy is not teaching, she loves reading, gardening, and riding her bike around the city.

Kayomi Williams is excited to be in her second year at LPA. She is a native of St. Louis and graduated from the University of Missouri- St. Louis last year. She has one son who is a great basketball player and Playstation gamer. Kayomi has been in education for the last seven years working 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.

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.

Jordan Jackson is thrilled to be returning to LPA for her second year! She recieved her bachelor's degree from Thee illustrious Jackson State University in 2023 and is currently enrolled in the Masters program at Lindenwood University. Jordan is very passionate with what she does. She loves having a positive impact with all of the students here at LPA. When she is not teaching she enjoys spending time with her family, working out and watching sports!

Erin Mikel is excited to start her ninth year of teaching and seventh year with the LPA team. She teaches 3rd grade with an emphasis in Reading. In addition, Erin loves to be involved at LPA. She leads the elementary events committee, sponsors Student Council, and coaches cheerleading. 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, and crafting. She can’t wait for your students to join her loving, exciting and innovative treehouse!

Michelle Owens is so excited to be returning to LPA for her fifth year! 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 tenth year in the classroom, and each year keeps getting better! She is passionate about making each lesson engaging and fun while encouraging deeper understanding, especially in math. She’s from St. Charles originally and now lives in South City with her husband, Spenser, and two daughters, Nia and Serena. 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!

Ingrid Herrenbruck is gearing up for her fifth year of teaching and her debut year at LPA! She holds a BSBA from Washington University in St. Louis and received a Masters in Teaching from Saint Louis University. Miss Herrenbruck believes in building healthy communities through education. She hopes to give each 4th grader the space to express their personality, discover their power, and develop grit. Outside of LPA, Ingrid devotes herself to long-distance running and cycling. She also plays the piano and enjoys spending time at all of Forest Park’s amazing FREE places!

Brittani is an educator and mother. She is passionate about social emotional learning, discipline, and fashion. She aims to know every student by name and story. She is intrigued by sense of belonging research and motivated to turn theory into practice to ensure all student feel like they belong at LPA. A free-spirt at heart, Brittani has lived in 6 different states and claimed Missouri as her home for the past eight years. She has a bachelor's in arts from the University of Virginia and a Masters from Saint Louis University. She loves reading, writing, art, and a good belly laugh. Her love for students drives her work, and she dreams of equitable educational opportunities in Saint Louis City. She lives in Benton Park with her son Wes, and you will often see them at your local park or ice cream shop!

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!

Olivia Pocost is so excited to be back at LPA for her seventh year to teach the best class ever, 5th and 6th grade science! She believes that everyone is a scientist and hopes her students feel the same! Prior to LPA, she taught middle school science and pre-school in the St. Louis area. Olivia graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in communications and then went on to get her Master’s degree in Education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Olivia loves being creative, reading, cooking, and spending time out and about St. Louis with her husband, Jack, and puppy, Leo!

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.

My name is Cassidy Palan. I grew up in a small town in west-central Illinois. I went to Eastern Illinois University for my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and middle-level endorsements in Social Sciences, English Language Arts, and General Sciences. I earned my master’s degree in Curriculum Development from my alma mater as well. After seven years in education, I am so excited to be returning to LPA as the 5th and 6th grade English Language Arts teacher. I love this community and can’t wait to continue to grow as an educator!

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 Chris, young son George, and their opinionated dog, Vixen. Meg enjoys traveling, cooking (and eating!) new foods, reading, hand lettering, 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.

Lexie Hays is looking forward to her second 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. When Ms. Hays is not encouraging creativity and problem solving in the classroom, she enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling, as well as 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!

Dan Clark is so excited to start his third year at LPA! When he's not teaching, playing video games, or making music, he spends all of his time with his wife Stephanie, dog Desmond, and daughter Evangeline! Dan is a proud resident of Lafayette Square and is so happy to be able to be a part of the community in a big way by teaching at LPA! Dan is a self-proclaimed a 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 craft some amazing learning friendships!

This will be Emily's sixth year teaching at LPA, and her first 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, doodling, going for walks, eating new foods, playing with her family’s three puppies, 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.

My name is Ibrahim Chalhoub and I am ecstatic to be entering my 2nd year as LPA's Algebra and 8th Math teacher. Coming from a Lebanese American background and a family of educators, my passion for education is envigored by the community of parents and fellow educators at LPA. I can't wait to see how your child glows and grows as the year progresses.

Casey McBride is going into her 10th year of education and is so happy to be at LPA. She graduated from Transylvania University in Lexington, KY with a B.A. in Psychology in 2014 and University of St. Louis- Missouri (UMSL) with a M.A. in Elementary Education in 2016. She recently re-enrolled in UMSL to obtain her M.S. in Education Administration. Casey began her career in education as a fifth grade teacher and transitioned into school leadership in 2020. In her experience, she has codified school-wide systems and restorative practices, created proactive support systems for the student body, and collaborated with students, staff, and families in the enhancement of the school experience. In her free time, Casey enjoys traveling, cooking, watching UK basketball, playing tennis, and spending time with her husband and 2 dogs, Luna and Jinx.

Jess Arnold, aka Coach Arnold has spent the last 16 years as a PE Teacher and coach of various youth sports. Her experience in those positions has equipped her to take on the role of PE Teacher and Athletic Director here at LPA. Jess moved to St. Louis from Alabama 6 years ago to be closer to family. She enjoys playing any kind of sport, especially outdoors and spends a lot of her free time doing that. Jess is excited to get to know the LPA students and help them learn the benefits of moving their bodies.

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!

My name is Bethany Miscannon (or Ms. M), and I’m very excited to be returning for my third year 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, reading, and playing with my two dogs.

Hello! My name is Anne Williamson. This is my third year at LPA. I am the English Language Learner Coordinator and I also teach 8th grade Spanish. I am not the only Williamson here at LPA, as my four nephews are students: Liam in 5th grade and the triplets Henry, Malcolm and Owen in second grade. I am a born and raised St. Louisan and proud lifelong resident of the Shaw neighborhood. I graduated with a B.A. in Spanish and a Masters in Teaching (Communication emphasis) from Webster University. I spent 19 years teaching Spanish (and also French and Latin) at MICDS. Prior to that, I was a travel agent. I also taught English for a year in France. I love to play the bass and sing with my band The Sadie Hawkins Day String Band. One of my dreams is to be on Jeopardy someday. I have two amazing twin daughters, Rosie and Mayme, who are three years old. If I can be of any help to you please just let me know. 

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.

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 6th year at LPA, this year teaching K-5 students. He is also the proud parent to a 5th 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.

Kar'Mel Brewer is an Elementary Music Educator with 3 years of experience teaching music in Northeastern Missouri. He was born and raised in Saint Louis, Missouri, and attended Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School where he graduated in 2017. He continued his education at Culver-Stockton College where he studied Vocal Music Education and graduated in December of 2021. Kar'Mel enjoys performing in his free time, whether on stage doing a theatre production or singing at various events. He also reads and binge-watches popular Movies or TV shows when he can. Kar'Mel is beyond excited to join the LPA Family and he cannot wait to get started!

Sarah Hunt is excited to begin her ninth 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, playing video games, working on projects around the house, and spending time with her husband, Colin, and their three dogs, Texas, Journey, and Sirius.

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.

Tory is returning for her 2nd year at LPA. She is originally from Aurora, Illinois, and is proud of her Chicago-ish roots! Tory graduated from St. Louis University in 2022 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. In her free time, Tory loves coaching volleyball, trying new recipes, camping, and hiking with her dogs, Bonnie and Riff.

Gianni Gardiner is excited to return for her 9th year as part of the special education team at LPA. Gianni is both a parent and a teacher at LPA - her two children, Milo (8th) and Scout (7th) also love being a part of our LPA community. Gianni has a master's in social work and worked in social work education and evaluation, specializing in and teaching research methods, prior to coming to LPA. She has taught learners of all ages, from Kindergarten through graduate school, and finds something special about teaching at all levels. She has a firm belief that all people deserve the opportunity to learn, and is excited to support the growth and learning of all students in an intentionally diverse environment. When she is not at school Gianni enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, making music with her sisters, and finding a few spare minutes to stick her nose in a good book.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Amanda Armer is in her third year as a full-time member of the LPA community and in her fourth year working After Care. When she's not assisting staff and students, she can be found taking care of books for the school library. Amanda loves sharing and discovering stories with students as well as recommending personal favorites and classic gems. She lives a short drive away with her fuzzy feline monsters, Felix and Muddy, as well as shelves of treasured books which she started collecting as a child. Amanda has been a resident of Saint Louis since 2014, after growing up in Hermosa Beach, California. She got her bachelor’s degree in English and minored in Studio Arts at Loyola Marymount University, in Los Angeles. Working with kids of all ages inspires her curiosity and sense of wonder. Helping students explore worlds within literature is an endless source of joy, and one she’s very excited to continue at LPA.

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!

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.

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.

Christy feels so lucky to get to live out her passion for math and science with students and teachers at LPA every day. Christy was a founding fourth grade teacher at LPA and has also taught middle school science, 7th and 8th grade math, and Algebra. Prior to joining the LPA community, she taught third grade and worked as a Program Director for a mentoring and tutoring program in Saint Louis Public Schools. She attended William Jewell College and Lindenwood University, earning her M.A.T. in Elementary Education. She recently completed her Elementary Math Specialist certification through UMSL. Her unwavering belief in the genius of every student drives her teaching every single day. Christy is from rural Missouri, but now enjoys living in Benton Park. She frequents ice cream shops, hiking trails, and the many restaurants along Cherokee Street with her husband and two kids--who are also LPA Lions! You can find her working in her garden with her two chickens and chasing around her pug puppy, Benny.

 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.

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.

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.

Dee Dee is entering her sixth year of teaching and is excited to be at LPA! She has an eclectic background in education and has worn many different hats during her career. She started as an elementary PE teacher in San Francisco, then transitioned to an Auxiliary Programs Coordinator in Arizona, and most recently was an Office Manager at Kairos Academies.  She graduated from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, with a B.S. in communications studies and from Manhattan Christian College with a B.S. in bible and leadership. In her free time, she loves spending time with her husband, playing competitive sports, and rooting for her favorite Kansas City teams!

Dr. Sarah Ranney has been with LPA since 2014 and is a proud parent to an LPA 8th grader. 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 is also an Assistant Scoutmaster 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 War Chest or Settlers of Catan or hanging out in Tower Grove park with her family.