Collaborative Team

Pictured above front row l – r:  Karynn Roye, Faith Bland, Amanda Miller, Stephanie Delgado, DeLisa Rodriguez, Emily McMurray, and Atiya Mujassim.  second/third rows:  Nikita Nichols, Eva Carey, Kaylyn Cipione, Tracey Currie-LaFountaine, Casey Brown, Christina Otwell, Abi Vences, Caroline Harris, Kari Williams, Shereen Hayat, Cari North, and Kelsi Arieno.
last two rows:  Jen Aubele Schaye, Lauren Leopard, Colea Podoloff, Brandy Sykes, Amy Talaber, Joanne Molinyawe, Jason Adams, Michelle Vickery, Lindsey Pittman, Estrella Webb, and Susan Irus

Jason Adams – Hi, im Mr Jason! This is my 5th year at WCHE and my first as part of the G3 team. My son Cooper is in 4th grade here and my wife Jen is a room mom and member of the PTO. I’m originally from MN and we relocated to TX 14 years ago. In my spare time I enjoy hanging out and traveling with my family, woodworking, playing guitar and volunteering with shelter dogs. Our family includes one wonderful mutt named Benjamin and seven beautiful guppies who live with a ceramic triceratops. 

Heather Amitrani – This is my 6th year serving as a Physical Therapist with LTISD and my 16th year in the profession. I feel incredibly fortunate to work with such amazing students and am passionate about helping each one reach their full potential. I have two children—a 3rd grader at BCE and a 6th grader at BCMS—who keep me busy and bring me so much joy. Outside of work, I love traveling, cheering on my kids at their sporting events, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Hailey Bangert – Hi! I’m Ms. Hailey! This is my 2nd year at WCHE as an SLP-A. During my free time, I enjoy painting, hiking, and enjoying the hill country. I came to Austin after getting my undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Can’t wait for another great year!

Lanara Bird --  Hello! I’m thrilled to be the school social worker supporting WCHE this year. This marks my sixth year working with students in LTISD, and I’m honored to continue working with such a wonderful school community. I hold a Master’s in Special Education from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., as well as a Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.  I’m passionate about helping students develop the skills and confidence they need to navigate challenges, build positive relationships, and reach their full potential. I’m also a proud LTISD parent to an amazing daughter and enjoy spending time with my wonderful husband and our family. 

Faith Bland – Hi! I am Faith Bland!  Outside of working, growing, and molding our tiny humans into amazing beings, I enjoy traveling, eating different foods, and spending time with friends enjoying life as it comes!

Casey Brown - This is my 15th year in education and my 7th in LTISD. I am the LTISD Lead Assessment/ARD Facilitator and am so lucky I get to be the Educational Diagnostician at WCHE!  I am also the WCHE ECSE ARD Facilitator.  I am a native Texan, have my bachelors from Texas A&M University (whoop!), and my masters in special education (with a certification as an Educational Diagnostician) from Texas Tech University.  I am proud to work for Lake Travis ISD and have my own kiddo attend WCHE! Go Tigers!

Kaylyn Cipione –  This is my 4th year teaching ECSE!  I am new to WCHE, I taught at SHE last year and LPE the previous year. I started teaching in College Station after graduating from Texas A&M. My degree is in Wildlife and Fisheries, but I quickly started my alt cert after graduating! I am originally from Cypress, Texas but moved here right after my husband and I got engaged (my husband is from Austin!). We got married in April and we have 3 dogs, all labs. In my free time I like to bake, read, spend time with family, and swim in the lake. I am so excited to start at WCHE! 

Kumi Carter –  I’m Kumi Carter and I’ll be the ARD Facilitator for our 4th and 5th graders.  I’ve taught both as a general education teacher and as a special education teacher.  I started at Lake Travis High School back in the late 1980s - when the building was one small rectangle and the annex was the middle school.  I took a very long break to do other things and finally returned back to LTISD.  I attended William and Mary in Virginia but graduated from the University of Texas at Austin (HOOK ‘EM).  My guilty pleasure is traveling across the country during our summer break with my husband - planning our trips around our favorite golf destinations.  I’m excited to be a part of the WCHE family!!

Tracey Currie Lafountaine - Hi I’m Miss Tracey!  My husband of 32 years and I moved to Austin in 2021 from upstate NY to be closer to our grandson, Charlie, who is in 5th grade at WCHE. We have five adult children and three additional grandchildren back east.  Prior to moving to Texas, I owned a daycare/preschool for 15 years and was a teacher at Head Start. This is my fifith year as an Instructional  Aide, and I absolutely love everything about my job!  I’m truly blessed to work with the most amazing children, awesome families, and dedicated staff. I'm looking forward to another fabulous year with my WCHE Tiger family!! 

Stephanie Delgado - Hi! I’m excited to introduce myself and share a little bit about my journey in education and what brought me to SPED. This is my second year as a SPED aide at WCHE, and I’m really happy to be here. I worked as a kindergarten teacher in Mexico for about nine years, where I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Education. I also became a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) three years ago and worked as a Behavioral Technician for about 1 year. 

Caroline Harris – Hi!  This is my fifth year at WCH, and I love the campus! Growing up in Chicago, I moved to Texas to pursue my undergraduate and Masters degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Baylor University. Sic' Em!   I am looking forward to another great year as a tiger!

Susana Irus – I am passionate about helping kids learn and grow.

Wendy Johnson –  This will be my 5th year as an OT with LTISD and 18th year as an Occupational Therapist. My husband and I have raised four sons in the Lake Travis district: a current sophomore and senior at LTHS and college students at Elon University and Colorado School of Mines. Our other family includes one dog, three cats, two goats and 12 chickens.  I'm originally from the St. Louis area and spent 11 years in Phoenix before moving to Austin in 2011. I enjoy gardening, traveling, hiking and live music. 

Ashlyn Koenning – Hi, my name is Ashlyn Koenning and I will be WCHE’s school psychologist for the 2026-2027 school year. This will be my 6th year as a school psychologist in the district and I am excited to work at WCHE. I was born & raised in Texas and I am a proud alum of both Texas State and Texas Tech. My love for San Marcos and TTU sports is unmatched. When I’m not at work I enjoy spending time with my husband, hanging out with friends, reading, going to concerts, and exploring new places to eat around Austin. 

Lauren Leopard - This is my third year at WCHE, working with the best team imaginable! I’m so grateful! I am certified in special education, EC-4, and all-level art.

I hope to bring compassion, kindness, and empathy to the students and staff at WCHE each and every day!

During my downtime, I enjoy cards, crafts, car stuff, listening to music, painting, and a little retail therapy. Most of all, I cherish being with my two sons, Charlie and Henry (both graduates of LTHS)! Go Cavs!

Amanda Miller - Hey! I'm Amanda Miller and have lived in Texas for 12 years. I am married to my husband, Tim, and have 3 children.  My daughter is a 7th grader at LTMS, my middle son graduated from  LTHS, and my oldest attends Texas State.  I’m looking forward to another exciting year.

Joanne Molinyawe – I am looking forward to another amazing year at West Cypress Hills! This will be my 8th year teaching, and I'm super excited! I earned both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Elementary Education from Texas State University. I went on to teach 1st and 3rd grade in San Antonio. Then, I spent several years substitute teaching for LTISD before going back full time to the classroom.  In my spare time, I enjoy crafting and volunteering at Austin's city animal shelter.  I am married to Matt, and together we have a senior, Alexis, who attends LTHS.  We also have 3 rescue pups! 

Christina Otwell - This will be my 5th year as a WCHE teacher, and 7th year teaching Special Education for LT school district.  I am happily married with two girls.  I enjoy teaching yoga and hiking in my free time.  I am greatly honored to be named by my peers as West Cypress Hills Teacher of the Year for the 2024-2025 school year.

Colea Podoloff –  I am a born and raised Texan and have been in Austin for 27 years. My husband, Mike, and I have 2 amazing children Clara and Caleb. Clara is a graduate of LTHS and will be attending Baylor to pursue a degree in Speech, Language Pathology. Caleb will be a freshman at LTHS. As for me, this will be my 14th year with LTISD. I graduated from both Southwest Texas State University and Texas State University, earning my undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and my masters degree in Education. Most recently I have obtained my Certified Academic Language Therapy (CALT) Certification through the Rawson Saunders Institute in Austin to provide intensive therapy for dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. I am thrilled to be back supporting students and staff at WCHE!  I am greatly honored to have been named by my peers as WCHE Teacher of the Year for 2025-2026.

DeLisa Rodriguez --  I am excited to enter my 2nd year at WCHE, with over 19 years of experience working with students of varying abilities in education. I am dedicated to creating inclusive, supportive learning environments where every child feels valued and empowered to succeed. I focus on meeting students where they are and helping them grow through engaging, meaningful, and motivating activities. My passion lies in helping each child reach their full potential in a safe, consistent space that encourages curiosity and celebrates individual strengths.

Originally from Oklahoma, with a few years in California, I’ve called Texas home for the past six years. I hold a B.S. in (Psych/Social) Family Studies and Gerontology from Southern Nazarene University and an M.Ed. from the University of Oklahoma. I’m a proud wife, mom to two amazing boys, and pet parent to two pups. Our family enjoys exploring the Hill Country, traveling, hiking, kayaking, the lake, live music, dancing, and spending quality time with loved ones.

Karynn Roye -- My name is Karynn Roye, I have lived in the Lake Travis area since 2000.  This is my 4th year as an Instructional Aide, and I couldn’t be more excited!  I’ve been a part of the Lake Travis community for 26 years and love it here.  I have two boys—one at WCHE and one at LTMS.

Jennifer Aubele Schaye --  I am a Special Education teacher who is passionate about helping students become confident, successful learners. I specialize in supporting students with dyslexia and am committed to using evidence-based literacy instruction to meet each child's unique needs. I believe that strong relationships, collaboration with families, and a positive learning environment are essential to student success. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy running, baking, and spending time with my husband, my two sons, our dog Clyde, and our guinea pig Rocky.

Brandy Sykes –  This will be my 10th year teaching and my 5th year teaching at WCHE! I love being a part of the Tiger family! I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Midwestern State University, and I am certified to teach PreK - 8th grade and Special Education. My husband and I are college sweethearts and have been married for 24 years! We have four precious children that are my world! We also have the cutest Mini Goldendoodle named Goldie. I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, baking, decorating, birding, going to sports events, and watching movies. I am truly honored to have your child this year and love creating a classroom where everyone feels safe, encouraged, and supported. Go Tigers!!! 

Abi Vences – This is my fourth year working in G3, I couldn’t be more excited to continue doing what I love. I graduated from St. Edward’s University with a bachelor’s degree in Criminology. I’m excited to support our students and help make this a great year! 

Kari Williams – I have lived in Texas my whole life, and last November my husband and I moved to the Hill Country and love it here!  This is my 4th year as a paraprofessional, and I absolutely love it.  I strive to help students find their voice, reach their goals, and find their purpose in life.  It’s going to be a great year!