Administration

Ms. Amy Russ, Principal

Hello, Tiger Families!  It is an honor to serve you as Principal at West Cypress Hills Elementary.

I have twenty-three years of experience in Education and, before moving to the Lake Travis Independent School District, I had the privilege of holding district- and campus-level leadership roles in the Canyon, Austin, and Hays school districts. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies-Mathematics and a Master of Education in Administration/Educational Leadership from West Texas A & M University.

A bit about me personally...I am a proud mother of two amazing daughters, Madison has a master's in architecture and is here locally in Austin working as a UX designer for a start-up tech company. Chelsey and her husband Derek live in Connecticut, where she is an OBGYN physician. In my spare time, I love hanging out laughing with my family on Lake Austin, on the Texas Coast, or planning my next trip up to the tiny coastline of Connecticut.

We are most fortunate at West Cypress Hills to have fabulous support from our PTO and community partners.  We have a great staff and wonderful volunteers.  I am very excited to have the opportunity to welcome back our returning Tigers and look forward to meeting our new Tigers.  It's going to be a great year!

Mrs. Chareese Hatfield, Assistant Principal

Mrs. Chareese Hatfield is excited and honored to be the Assistant Principal at West Cypress Hills Elementary. She feels privileged to serve your children and the families of the Lake Travis community. 

Mrs. Hatfield graduated from Texas Tech University in 2002, and soon began her teaching career in Coppell ISD near the DFW area. In 2008 she relocated back to Austin and joined the Eanes ISD where she spent 3 years before joining LTISD in 2012. Her strong passion for learning and leading led her to receiving her M. Ed. in Education Administration from Concordia in 2013. 

She and her husband have two amazing boys who attend school in the LTISD.  Although Luke and Haden are former Tigers, Luke is now in 7th grade at Lake Travis Middle School, and Haden will be a 9th grader at Lake Travis High School. Her life at home is filled with all things sports, outdoor activities, traveling to the mountains and beaches, and just enjoying time with family and friends. 

Ms. Becky Wright, Registrar

Hi.  I am from Louisiana but have lived in Texas since I attended college at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas.  Before joining the LTISD family ten years ago, I was the Director of a Child Development Center in Lewisville, Texas.  I am the mother of three human children, Morgan, Dorothy, and Marshall and have two precious granddaughters.  I am the mother of a couple of fur babies, Talion who doesn't know he's a dog and Wilkie the dog.  

I enjoy meeting our Tiger families and look forward to assisting you with enrollment and registration.

Mr. Dustin Boren, Counselor

The 2021-2022 school year was my 1st year as a Lake Travis High School counselor and my 19th year as an educator.  I spent 7 years at LTHS, where, in addition to serving as a counselor, I taught AP Psychology, various Social Studies classes, and coached football and track.

Before coming to Lake Travis, my family and I lived in San Antonio, Texas, where I was most recently employed at John Marshall High School, in the Northside ISD, for 2 years, teaching World History, as well as Government and Economics, and coaching football. My first 5 years in San Antonio were spent at Louis D. Brandeis High School (also in Northside ISD.)  There, I taught English I and II for 1 year, followed by 4 years of World Geography. I also coached football and basketball there.  My career in education began at Spring Branch Middle School and Smithson Valley High School, in the Comal ISD, where I taught Reading, English, Physical Education, Leadership classes, and coached football, basketball, and track.  I was with the Comal ISD for 5 years.

I am a native of Bulverde, Texas, and a graduate of Smithson Valley High School. Upon graduating from Smithson Valley, I attended Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Texas, where I majored in Kinesiology and minored in English Studies. I was also a member of the football team for 4 years. Along with my undergraduate degree, I hold a M.Ed. from the University of Texas San Antonio with a concentration in Health Promotion. My studies then continued at Lamar University, where I completed my internship in Educational Administration in 2014, before ultimately deciding to pursue my certification in School Counseling through Region 4 in 2020.

My wife Brandace is the Head Volleyball Coach at LTHS, where she also teaches Physical Education. Together we have two children, Brody and Blakely, who are WCHE Tigers, too.  Brody is a 5th grade Tiger, and Blakely is a 4th grade Tiger. 

I am extremely excited about being a part of the WCHE family, and look forward to another outstanding school year.

Ms. Kate Neal, RN

Hi! I'm Nurse Kate Neal, and I am thrilled to have an opportunity to become better acquainted with our Tiger families. First, I'll tell you a little about myself.

I am a native Austin-ite. In fact, I'm a native Lake Travis-ite! I graduated from Lake Travis High School. I went to TCU nursing school and worked in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for 13 years. I loved my time working with infants but decided it was time for me to get out of the hospital setting to try something new.

I am so excited that my "something new" is to be the school nurse at West Cypress Hills!

I have four wonderful children. I have two girls, Sawyer and Caroline, who are 9 and in fourth grade at WCHE. I have two boys, James, who is 7 and a Tiger second grader, and Connor, who is age 6 and a Tiger first grader.   My parents, in-laws, and most of my extended family live in the Lakeway area, making for lots of fun grandparent and cousin time.

As you might imagine, my children keep me very busy, but in addition to spending time with the family, I love to read, cook, and spin...whenever I get the chance.

I can’t wait to get to welcome back our returning Tigers and get to know our new Tigers.  Welcome!

Mrs. Candice Shrout, Teacher on Special Assignment

Our Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA,) Mrs. Shrout, comes to us with a range of experience in Education.  Many of you may recall that she has, for some time now, headed our Collaborative Team.  We are very pleased that she has agreed to expand her area of responsibility to provide her experience and support to all of our teaching teams. 

Mrs. Shrout holds a Bachelor’s degree from Southwest Texas University and a Master’s Degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio.  She has been an educator for over 19 years.  

She and her husband have two beautiful daughters who also happen to be Tigers.  (Technically, one is a former Tiger, but once a Tiger, ALWAYS a Tiger!)

Mrs. Donna Richardson, Administrative Assistant to the Principal

Donna Richardson, Administrative Assistant to the Principal, has been on duty at West Cypress Hills Elementary since February 2015.  Originally from Garland, Texas, Donna has lived in Lakeway since 1986. Prior to joining the team at West Cypress, Donna was Vice President of Client Services at National Western Life Insurance Company. As the Principal's Administrative Assistant, Donna is dedicated to helping everyone feel welcome at West Cypress Hills Elementary. 

Ms. Michelle Harper, Receptionist

I am originally from Austin, Texas, and graduated from Southwest Texas State, which is now known as Texas State University.  My family consists of one husband, one lovely daughter, a delightful son, and a few "fur kids."  My husband and I enjoy being on the lake.

I love meeting new people and look forward to getting to know all of our Tiger families.