Lower School Administration
Great Hearts Live Oak
Mrs. Boyd has been a champion of classical education as a Great Hearts parent, teacher, and administrator. She attended Tarleton State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and began teaching. Later she moved into the business sector where she managed data and reports for a company that helped large businesses and school campuses to reduce their energy consumption.
Melissa Louidor is honored to continue her journey with Great Hearts Live Oak as both a parent and an educator. She officially became an owl in the winter of 2022, beginning her Great Hearts career as a 2nd grade Apprentice Teacher. The following year, she transitioned into a 4th grade Lead Teacher role and Dean of Teachers, where her passion for classical education continued to flourish. Now serving as Assistant Headmaster, Mrs. Louidor is eager to support the training and development of teachers while helping to cultivate a strong academic and character foundation for all scholars.
Jackie Bankes is an inaugural staff member of Great Hearts Live Oak. She is the lower school Dean of Teachers.Victoria Cisneros »
Dean of Student Culture (K-2nd Grade)
Mrs. Cisneros is a founding Great Hearts Live Oak teacher and is honored to serve as Lead Teacher for 5 years. She is now excited to serve as Dean of Student Culture for our K-2nd grade scholars. She is a native Texan who is proud to call San Antonio home. Since the age of eight she knew she wanted to be a teacher and pursued that dream at the University of Texas San Antonio graduating with an education degree and a certification in Early Childhood-6th grade studies.Savannah Arismendi »
Dean of Student Culture (3-5th Grade)
Mrs. Arismendi began her career in education in 2003 as a Lead Teacher in an Early Head Start classroom. During her thirteen years with Head Start, she developed a deep understanding of early childhood development and a lasting commitment to supporting children and families. In 2016, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M University. After graduation, she pursued a longtime goal of becoming a certified Early Intervention Specialist. In this role, she collaborated with occupational, physical, and speech therapists to provide Specialized Skills Training to children with disabilities in their homes.Stefanie Bernstein »
Director of Community Engagement & Academy Giving
Stefanie Bernstein is delighted to join GHLO as the Director of Community Engagement and Academy Giving! She is a proud parent of two daughters and has been a part of the Great Hearts Live Oak community since the very beginning as a founding family.Lower School Operations
Operations Team at Great Hearts Live Oak
Ms. Pruette is thrilled to be a member of the Live Oak family. As a mother of four, Ms. Pruette has seen, first hand, the beauty of the Great Hearts Community and culture as her children have attended Great Hearts schools for more than 9 years. Her oldest child graduated with Northern Oaks inaugural class in 2021. Her second has also graduated and the reamining children are continuing to strive for their hard earned diplomas in the years to come.
Ms. Megosh is excited for her new role as the Business Clerk for Great Hearts Live Oak. She previously has served our campus as a lower school Apprentice Teacher and is ready to join the operations team.
Mr. Lozano joined the GHLO family as the Facilities Technician in 2026.
Mrs. Sigala was born and raised in Mexico, where she had her elementary and secondary education, earning a diploma as an Accountant Aid. In 1986 she moved to California where she met the love of her life, got married, gave birth to three beautiful children and lived for 20 years.Co-Curriculuar Programs
After School Programs at Great Hearts Live Oak
Samantha Silvas serves as the Co-Curricular Coordinator at Great Hearts Live Oak, where she manages the campus’s afterschool and summer programs, including Athenaeum and Homework Club. Driven by a commitment to the Great Hearts mission that she has grown to love over the past 5 years she has served with GHLO. Ms. Silvas focuses on curating a safe, orderly, and deeply enriching environment that naturally extends the virtues and culture of the school day. She is dedicated to ensuring that every scholar has a supportive space to excel academically during homework hours and thrive socially through cultural, hands-on activities.Lower School Exceptional Student Services
Special Student Services at Great Hearts Live Oak
Effie Schneider, MA, LPC »
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Mrs. Schneider was born and raised on a farm in Ohio. She then entered the military, which brought her to the great state of Texas where she met her husband of 33 years. She attended Park University where she earned her BS in Social Psychology, and a Master of Arts in Counseling through Wayland Baptist University.
Ms. Lowry is originally from Missouri. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelors in elementary education. She then began her career teaching 1st grade in Fort Riley Kansas.
Mrs. Hancuff is thrilled to continue being a part of Great Hearts Live Oak! She is originally from Austin where she graduated from The University of Texas with a bachelor’s degree in education. After graduating she had the joy of teaching 3rd Grade for six years and loved helping all of her students reach their fullest potential. Her husband’s military career brought her to San Antonio.Kimberly Partridge-Staveley »
Exceptional Student Services Teacher
Ms. Partridge joined GHLO in April 2024 on the Exceptional Student Services team.
Mrs. Gonzalez will be starting her 6th year as a Special Education teacher and 2nd year at Great Hearts Live Oaks. She is excited to continue shaping the hearts and minds of her scholars as an ESS Teacher.
Mr. Mills graduated in 2014 from UTSA with a BA in creative writing. After graduating, he developed a passion for educating children with special needs while working as a paraeducator in Northside ISD, then Fort Bend ISD, and most recently Fort Sam Houston ISD.
Angela Overman is a returning teacher to Great Hearts this year. She will be a special education resource and inclusion teacher. She is excited to meet the students and continue learning about classical education.
Mrs. Cervantes is on her third year at Great Hearts Live Oak serving the special education program. She has served in special education a total of thirteen years in classrooms that serve pre-school students to adulthood. Prior to coming to GHLO, she taught in the moderate to severe special education setting in the state of California. She completed her masters in Curriculum and Instruction at Concordia University Irvine during the pandemic.
Mrs. Manuel has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Middle Georgia State University. She is a wife, and mother of two beautiful little girls. She moved from Georgia to San Antonio in 2017 to teach children in underserviced communities as a mentor and tutor.Ashley Heidbrier »
Exceptional Student Services Assistant Teacher
Ms. Ashley Heidbrier has been with Great Hearts for 3 years, as an Exceptional Student Services Apprentice Teacher, and she is so excited to support these exceptional students to reach their goals!Leandrea Rodriguez
Exceptional Student Services Assistant Teacher
Judith Guerrero
Exceptional Student Services Assistant Teacher
Ana Arriaga Chio
Exceptional Student Services Assistant Teacher
As a founding member of Great Hearts Live Oak Lower School, Mrs. Melgoza passionately supports our emergent bilingual students and their families. Her dedication to the education of “all of our children” and the formation of the true, good, and beautiful was inspired by her own children, drawing her to GHLO’s unique classical mission. With a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (Education) from the University of the Incarnate Word and minors in Special Education and Reading, she previously worked as a paralegal and now has been a certified Texas state educator for the past 8 years.
Mrs. Vallejo is ecstatic about being part of Great Hearts Live Oak as Apprentice Teacher; after serving the past three school years in 5th grade as an AT, Mrs. Vallejo is excited to be part of our ESL team.
Mrs. Wiedower is excited to begin her fourth year with the Great Hearts Live Oak family, now serving as the 504 Coordinator and Math Interventionist.
Mrs. Canales is delighted to continue with her role as a math interventionist -now in her fifth year at GHLO- while also stepping into a new role as MTSS Coordinator.
Ms. Aguado is delighted to begin her 5th year with the Great Hearts Live Oak community as a Reading Interventionist serving our Kinder-5th Grade Scholars!Essential Curriculars
Fine Arts and Physical Education Faculty
Ms. Plasencio is proud to start her second year at Great Hearts Live Oak as the K-2 Art Teacher!
I graduated from the University of the Incarnate Word, where I studied Fine Arts, Communication Arts, and Production Media. This is my fourth year at Great Hearts Live Oak and my second year as the 3rd–5th Grade Art Teacher. I began my time at Live Oak as an Apprentice Teacher, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue growing alongside such an amazing community.
Mr. Snethen is excited to join Great Hearts Live Oak as the K–2 Music Teacher. A native of Irving, Texas, he earned his Bachelor of Music from Ouachita Baptist University and a Master of Theological Studies from Liberty University. Before entering education, Mr. Snethen served in the U.S. Army Band, dedicating many years to serving others through music and military service. He’s also served several years in the children’s ministry at his church, and this marks his fourth year in professional education.
Mrs. Marianne Orton is honored to be a founding faculty member of Great Hearts Live Oak. Three of her four children have attended Live Oak, including her daughter, who was part of the first graduating class.
Mrs. Maria Guzman is excited to join the Great Hearts Live Oak team as the K–2 Spanish teacher. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration. Before joining Great Hearts, she taught preschool and kindergarten, served as a Kindergarten AT, and worked as an assistant supervisor for an extended school program.
Mrs. Grisell Winstead is a founding member of GHLO and our 3-5 Grade Spanish Teacher. She has served in various roles including Receptionist, Apprentice Teacher for Kindergarten, First, and Second grade, before joining the Essentials Team in 2025.Cortney Gonzalez »
Physical Education Teacher (K-2nd Grade)
Mrs. Cortney Gonzalez is a founding member of Great Hearts Live Oak. She loves teaching and guiding students on their journey to becoming well-rounded individuals in pursuit of learning alongside her fellow Great Hearts educators.
This is Coach Frye’s 3rd year as the 3rd-5th Grade PE teacher and 4th year overall at Great Hearts Live Oak! He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a minor in Sports Management, from King College in East Tennessee. He also played on the baseball team at King College. He is currently enrolled in a master’s program for elementary education.Lower School Faculty
Great Hearts Live Oak Faculty
Mrs. Handa was born in New Delhi and Mumbai, India, before moving to the United States in 1996 to pursue her Bachelor’s degree. She has lived in New Jersey, Virginia, and San Antonio for the past ten years, where she shares her home with her husband, who works at USAA, their two sons aged 19 and 13, and their golden retriever, Simba. Her eldest son will attend Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, while her younger son will start 7th grade this fall at Lopez Middle School and enjoys soccer and football.
Ms. Sotelo is a proud native of San Antonio and is ecstatic for her first year at GHLO as a Kindergarten Apprentice Teacher! She is currently wrapping up her bachelor’s degree and is excited to be transitioning back into general education as she prepares to have a classroom of her own after graduation.
Mrs. Katrina Williams is honored to serve as a Kindergarten Lead Teacher at Great Hearts Live Oak, where she brings a strong commitment to nurturing young minds.
Mrs. Gonzalez is excited to begin her second year at Great Hearts Live Oak, and her first full year as a Kindergarten Apprentice Teacher at GHLO. She is currently finishing her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is passionate about supporting young learners as they build a strong educational foundation.
Mrs. Chapa is excited to return to Great Hearts Live Oak community as a Lead Teacher serving the Kindergarten Team!
Hello! My name is Kourtney Velasquez , and I am excited to be joining the kindergarten team this year. I hold an Associate of Arts degree and a Bachelor’s degree in Business, and I look forward to helping my students develop a love of learning.
Waiting for the right place to express her love for children, Ms. Esparza encountered Great Hearts Live Oak in 2022. She joined the team as a Second Grade Apprentice Teacher where she spent her first four years. She is returning for her fifth year as a first time Kindergarten Apprentice Teacher and is excited for the new adventure!
Ms. Piñón is thrilled to be teaching first grade at Great Hearts Live Oak. Originally from Mexico, she moved to the U.S. at the age of thirteen. As a bilingual student herself adjusting to a new environment, she developed a strong passion for creating a place where all students feel welcomed, supported, and valued.
Ms. Ortiz is excited to be joining the Great Hearts Live Oak community as an Apprentice Teacher.
Ms. Castaneda has recently graduated from Grand Canyon University with her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She is eager to begin her first year as a lead teacher in first grade alongside her team.
Mrs. Beheler is a founding Great Hearts Live Oak Apprentice Teacher and she is excited to continue her journey at GHLO serving as a first grade Apprentice Teacher.
Mrs. Day is a founding staff member of Great Hearts Live Oak and has been teaching in First Grade from the beginning. While a majority of her 9 years of teaching has been in the first grade, she has taught third and second grade as well.
Ms. Athalia Peralta is excited to join Great Hearts Live Oak as a first grade Apprentice Teacher.
Mrs. Maiorano is in her 4th year here at Great Hearts Live Oak. She born and raised in Puerto Rico before moving to New Jersey where she graduated from Montclair State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Ecology and Early Childhood Education, Pre-K to 3rd grade with a Minor in Special Education. She also has a Master’s Degree in Education from Concordia University.
Ms. Briseno is excited to join our GHLO teaching staff as a first grade Apprentice Teacher and is someone who values family, education, and personal growth.
Ms. Honeycutt is elated to be a part of the Great Hearts Live Oak community as a second-grade lead teacher. Although she is from San Antonio, Texas, her time served in the World’s Finest Navy as an aviation electrician allowed her to travel countries throughout the western Pacific Ocean while onboard the famous CVN 70 USS Carl Vinson during various deployments in 2018.
Ms. Jones is a GHLO parent and joined us at the end of the 2022 school year. She has lived in Seattle, Northern Virginia, and Columbia, South Carolina, but has been in San Antonio since 2013. Her daughter is in 6th grade, and her two sons are in 3rd and 1st grade.
Christina Rubio Wong is a proud Air Force spouse and devoted mother of two adult daughters, a teenage son, and a beloved dog named Cali. With extensive experience in education, she has taught English in Japan and worked with students ranging from preschool through high school. She holds a Master’s degree in English, a certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and 18 units in Early Childhood Education.
Mrs. Lilly is overjoyed to start her third year at Great Hearts Live Oak. She will be continuing as a Team Lead Teacher for 2nd grade.
Mrs. Menn is thrilled to return to Great Hearts Live Oak as Apprentice Teacher in 3rd grade.
Ms. Harper is excited to start the 2026-2027 school year as a Lead Teacher serving in our 2nd grade classrooms.
Mrs. Leiwig was born in New Mexico but has been in the San Antonio area since 2009. She graduated from Wayland Baptist university in December 2023 and has enjoyed growing her career in education.
Mrs. Martinez is returning to GHLO for her second year as an apprentice teacher, this time joining the third-grade team.
Amanda Turner is excited to be a part of the Great Hearts Live Oak community!
Mrs. Susan Kyker is excited to begin her fourth year with Great Hearts Live Oak! With a B.A. in Philosophy and Political Science from Texas Lutheran University, the classical education model drew Mrs. Kyker to Great Hearts when her oldest child started kindergarten in 2019. Her favorite subjects in school were Latin, logic, and of course, her philosophy courses, so she was eager to have her children study those same topics.
Mrs. Vazquez graduated from Texas A&M University in 1998 and married the love of her life in 1999. She finished her Master of Science in Applied Cognition and Neuroscience at the University of Texas at Dallas in 2000.
After serving in several different roles in both private and charter schools over the years here in San Antonio, Mr. Carson is excited to be joining the Great Hearts Live Oak community as an Apprentice Teacher. He is very much looking forward to serving our 3rd grade students.
Mr. Martinez is delighted to begin his sixth professional teaching year at Great Hearts, and his first year teaching 4th grade. He has a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis on percussion and is excited to explore the parallels between rhythm and math. Mr. Martinez found his niche with the classical education philosophy and strives to impart the significance of this paradigmatic model in his daily teaching. Opposing viewpoints should not be in conflict but rather in conversation; by helping our scholars learn through questions we equip them with the tools of discovery.
Ms. Casillas is delighted to start her third year serving as a lead teacher in our 4th grade classrooms!
Ms. Christensen is delighted to join the Great Hearts Live Oak community as a fourth grade Lead Teacher!
Mrs. Garcia is entering her fourth year of teaching at Great Hearts and is excited for another wonderful school year! She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Communication Arts from the University of the Incarnate Word.
Ms. Miller is grateful to be back a part of the 4th grade team for her 3rd year at GHLO.
Ms. Banda is delighted to join the Great Hearts Live Oak community as an Apprentice Teacher serving in our 4th grade classrooms as well as Head Coach to the Cross Country Team.
Ms. Cooper is excited to join the Great Hearts Live Oak community as a fifth-grade teacher. After several years in corporate communications, she answered a calling to teach, eager to invest more directly in the lives of young people and cultivate a lifelong love of learning.
Ms. Castaneda returns to Great Hearts Live Oak for her fifth year of teaching. She has previously served on the 4th grade team for four years and is excited to move up to the 5th grade team.
Mrs. Chelsea Hendry grew up in Marion, Texas, and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Rhetoric from Texas Lutheran University. Before joining Great Hearts Live Oak, she worked in business and higher education, where she taught and mentored students in writing, communication, and critical thinking.
Mrs. Hughes is in her second year working at Great Hearts Live Oak with our 5th grade team. She is delighted to be part of the Great Hearts Live Oak community as an Apprentice Teacher.
Mrs. Woolbright is a retired Pharmacy Technician. She worked for Eckerd’s, now known as CVS, for twenty years. She then went on to work at JCPenney as the Operations Supervisor for nineteen years before retiring the second time. She has served as a Kindergarten AT at Monte Vista South before transferring to Live Oak last school year. This past year she served in KA as the Kindergarten AT. This will be her first year in Fourth grade and she is eager and excited to meet all her new scholars.
Ms. Goodman is excited to begin a new chapter at Great Hearts Live Oak as a 5th grade teacher after spending the past three years serving the kindergarten community. With eight years of experience in education, she is passionate about helping students grow academically, build confidence, and develop a love of learning.
