Hello, I am Olga Alvarado and I am a career Social Worker and one of the Wellness Counselors. I bleed "Orange", I received both my undergrad and grad degrees from UT!! Go Horns!! Unfortunately, my three children did not have the same passion I did about UT and went to other universities, but that's OKAY... they found their own place and are so HAPPY! Which makes me HAPPY!!! I absolutely love anything crafting, from quilting to embroidery to making T-shirts on my Cricut. This summer I spent my time wrangling Rattlesnakes, well, my husband caught them, I ran screaming the other way... We needed to get the snakes under control since one had already bitten our puppy boxer, Lulu. No worries, Lulu is okay since she has had her Rattlesnake shots...whew! This year I am proud to be LASA's FIRST EVER CHEER COACH! Yeah! I am so excited to be a part of the program! The team has been working really hard and I can't wait to share and spread some LASA RAPTOR SPIRIT!

Coach Cardinale taught at LASA in the English Department from 2011-2025. During that time she coached swimming, soccer, and water polo. She has coached the LBJ/LASA Girls' soccer team since 2014, becoming the head coach in 2019. In 2025 Coach Cardinale moved to Dobie Middle School to teach 8th grade ELA, assist with turning the campus around, and improving test scores. She currently works in the Special Education Department while also coaching Football and Boys' and Girls' Soccer for 7th & 8th grade.
During the 2025-2026 season, LASA Girls' Soccer set records by becoming Bi-District Champions, Area Champions, and making it to the third round of state playoffs.

I started at LASA in 2020 coaching Football and Softball. I was the Head Choir Director and Head Band Director at Dobie Middle School from 2016 to 2023. I am excited to be at LASA starting the 2023-24 school year to support Special Education and Athletics! I received my Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, Pursued a Master's Degree in Theology from Franciscan University - Steubenville and I am currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Athletic Administration and Coaching from Concordia University - Irving.

Sarah Davis has been teaching high school physics since 2016. At LASA Ms. Davis teaches AP Physics, and AP Physics C, and coaches LASA Cross Country. Prior to teaching Ms. Davis worked in labs on multiple projects including helping to develop high energy density capacitors, carrying out comparative phylogeny using bird vocalizations, and exploring saline resistance in certain species of plants.

Ms. Davis grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and attended LSU. During her college years she explored such subjects as musical performance, architectural design, and classical literature before committing to a future in science. During her time working in labs Ms. Davis found her passion for scientific discovery and for physics specifically. Physics describes the world around us at its most fundamental levels. This powerful knowledge makes Ms. Davis’s classroom one filled with excitement and awe for the subject she teaches.

When Ms. Davis is not teaching she enjoys running, competing in triathlons, hiking, reading, and cooking. Ms. Davis lives north of Austin with her husband Noah, her children Penelope and Ravi, and her pets.

I’m Josue Garcia and I joined the social studies department during the 2023-24 school year. I’m from Amarillo, Texas but have lived in Austin close to 20 years. I have a BA in Political Science and an M.Ed in secondary education from Texas State University. Before teaching I worked in various fields that included fundraising for non-profits and voter outreach for local city elections. I love teaching Social Studies and the Humanities because it gives me the opportunity to elevate marginalized voices and show how the different experiences of the past have shaped our society now, and how our current experiences continue to shape our society for the future. I’m a huge soccer fan and can talk soccer all day. My two favorite teams are Manchester United and Austin FC. I also love almost any outdoor activity you can name and recently have started to become a big fan of cruise travel.

Paige Gomez's began her passion for dance at the age of five at APAC Studio with a focus on ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical. Some of her favorite adolescent memories were during her time as a Jersey Village Gold Duster where she helped lead the drill team, serving as Junior Lieutenant and Colonel her junior and senior year. She completed her Bachelor's in Business Administration and a Dance Minor while dancing and teaching with student organizations such as Fade to Black and Dance Arts Society at Texas A&M and the A&M Dance Department.

After graduation, she completed a dance & business internship through Performing Arts Abroad in Barcelona, Spain with Varium Espai de Moviment. Additionally, she has over 15 years of experience teaching and training with various schools and studios in Texas.

In the Fall of 2018 - Spring 2021 she was the Dance Teacher and Drill Team Director for the LBJ/LASA First Ladies. Under her direction, she established the LASA Velocity Varsity Dance Team in 2021 and Dynasty Junior Varsity Dance Team in 2023.

Through her years of directing, she's led the all teams to great success earning numerous outstanding competitive awards, beloved traditions, group travel in and out of state, and strives to help each student grow to their personal best. Ms. Gomez also trained in a 200 Vinyasa YTT through Wanderlust Yoga. To her, dance and movement is a beautiful source of creativity, health, friendship, storytelling, and a way to connect with your community. She loves to inspire these joys within her students and is grateful to be a part of the LASA Raptor's story.

Coach González is the head coach of the LASA High School boys' soccer program, which he launched in 2020, and teaches Sci-Tech and Engineering Studies at the LASA. Having worked in public education since 2011, he brings over a decade of coaching experience to the pitch and has quickly established a culture of excellence. Under his leadership, the team has secured four consecutive District Championships (2023–2026, including undefeated title runs in 2023 and 2024), made a Regional Quarterfinal appearance in 2023, and achieved a State Semifinal run in 2026. His coaching philosophy centers on developing responsible student-athletes and applying modern coaching to help players reach their full potential.

Before joining LASA, Coach González served as the Freshman coach for Bowie High School's undefeated 2019 Freshman District Championship team. Prior to that, he spent three years coaching at Northeast High School and led the Clint High School club team to a 2013 league title in his hometown of El Paso. Growing up on the U.S.-Mexico border allowed him to develop his game internationally before walking on to UTPB and completing his studies at UTEP.

Today, Coach González continues to play competitively in the AMSA O-30 Premier League. He holds a National U.S. Soccer Federation coaching license and earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from UTEP in 2010.

Rebeca Guerrero graduated from UT El Paso with a Microbiology degree.

She has a Masters in STEM education from UT Austin. After 10 years of working in research laboratories she became a lecturer for college which inspire her to become a teacher. She has been teaching in Texas schools since 2006.

Coach Gary Howard was born and raised in Kansas City, MO. He is a disabled veteran of the US Army, where he served in the Desert Storm War. He began his coaching career as a volunteer baseball coach with the YMCA. He coached his youngest son in baseball and soccer for 3 years. He enjoyed coaching so much that he decided to leave corporate America and become a coach full-time. He served five years as a middle school football and soccer coach, 3 of them as the Head Football Coach and Athletic Coordinator at Jane Long Academy in Houston ISD. During his time at Jane Long Academy, he successfully revamped and developed the athletic program, which had been defunct for over 10 years.

Coach Howard made the transition to high school in 2016 at Scarborough High School as a O-Line coach. Shortly after arriving on campus, he was promoted to Athletic Coordinator and Head Coach for Football, he also served as the Special Education Department Chair. He held both positions for 4 years, during which time was able to improve on the record of the football team, create a Tennis program, and develop the softball program, winning 3 district championships in the process. He has also served as a 6A Defensive Coordinator and Head Softball Coach at Sam Houston MSTC, and 6A Offensive Coordinator and Head Softball Coach at Northbrook High School in Houston.

Though he is proud of his accomplishments so far as a coach, his most important starring role is husband, and as a father to his three incredible children. Coach Howard says, he is looking forward and is very excited about the future of his career as the new Athletic Coordinator and Head Football Coach at LASA High School

Ms. Kossa is a first generation college graduate. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Texas A&M University, and a Master’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from San Francisco State University. She previously taught science courses at the high school, undergraduate, and community college levels, and joined LASA in the Spring of 2022 to teach Advanced Magnet Biology and co-teach AP Psychology.

Ms. Kossa is especially passionate about making science courses equitable, inclusive, and accessible, for all her students. She’s really looking forward to getting to know everyone, and helping provide whatever support her students need to succeed!

Ms. Kossa lives in Austin with her partner and two (very mischievous) cats, named Big Cat and Small Cat. In her free time, she enjoys playing video games and board games, reading, playing basketball, painting, singing in choir, and constantly trying out new hobbies.

I’m Eric Martanovic, teacher of AP Government, AP Macroeconomics and baseball coach.
I have been a coach, mentor, and teacher for many years. Prior to teaching, I was a store executive for Target. I have a BS in Criminal Justice from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, where I was a scholarship athlete and graduated in four years. I still appear in some of the single season and career top-10’s for baseball statistics at the school. After a two-season stint in professional baseball, I went on to earn my MS in Criminal Justice from Texas State University in 2005, where I focused my interest in the topics of constitutional law and Supreme Court cases. In 2012, I earned my MA in Teaching from Northwestern State University in Louisiana.
I’m an active volunteer in youth sports. I serve as Vice President for Oak Hill Youth Sports Association, coach 9u baseball and flag football. I love to bake a variety of breads and sweets around the holidays and host gatherings around my backyard barbecue.
Running, hiking, golfing, and mountain biking are some of my favorite outdoor activities… other than baseball of course!
I have two amazing children, a son Callen (9) and a daughter Carley (8), along with two delinquent dogs and one well-behaved cat… that sometimes knocks things off counter tops. This summer I watched countless baseball games, went to Lake Tahoe and swam in 55 degree water and hiked a black diamond mountain slope, taught the kids how to surf at South Padre Island, had a weekend stay at the Commodore Perry Estate, and coached the 8u Raptors to two championships.

Hi! I’m Mary Beth Metcalf, LASA’s Girls’ and Boys’ Cross Country Coach. I have been a teacher in AISD for twenty years, and I currently teach Dual Language 2nd Grade at Maplewood Elementary in East Austin. I am a life-long runner, who has competed at every distance from the 400m to the marathon. I live and breathe and totally geek cross country!

I grew up in a big noisy house with six brothers and a sister in Buffalo, New York. I graduated from Canisius College in Buffalo where I ran cross country and track. More than 30 years ago, I moved to Austin to become a Longhorn, and I’ve never left. I have degrees in Latin American Studies and Social Work from U.T. Hiking, biking, kayaking, reading good books, and running (of course!) are the things I like to do in my free time. I'm the mother of three amazing young adults—all LASA grads.

It is an honor and a privilege to be coaching such an outstanding group of athletes as our LASA runners! Go Raptors!

Hi! I'm John Nelson and I have been teaching and coaching in AISD since 2011. Currently I serve as the Head Boys Basketball Coach and Special Education Department Chair at LASA. I also teach a section of Algebra.

After spending my first 12 years in education at Navarro High School, I made the move to LASA in 2024, joining forces with my Wife, the esteemed, Dr. Pinkston of the English Department. If she were editing this for me, it might have fewer grammatical errors.  My hope is to become a true power couple, to be feared and respected within the LASA community. 

My wife and I have two sons, Jamie and Silas and a dog named Thelma. They occupy 99.9% of my time away from LASA HS. The other .1% I spend playing sports, exercising, fishing, traveling, snowboarding, and really any adventuring I can do. 
Oh! I also have an identical twin brother so there is one more fun fact. 

I attended Warren Wilson College, which is a tiny, beautiful, liberal arts school in the mountains just outside of Asheville, NC. It was great. I ended up walking onto the basketball team, an experience only possible at a tiny school like WWC. (I am still waiting on my first NIL check). I studied psychology in college and thought I might go into clinical therapy only to scrap that idea immediately following graduation. After a stop in the service industry, followed by a few years in social work, I ended up getting certified to teach and I haven't looked back. 

I have been teaching languages since I graduated from SMU and returned from studies in Berlin in 2006. My passion for German language, literature, and culture grew out of my time spent with my grandmother, who was born in Berlin in 1942. Outside of teaching English, German, and Italian before coming to LASA, I also took classes to improve my Spanish and Dutch, along with some beginner courses in Mandarin Chinese and French. Languages have been a lifelong passion of mine since I first learned German nursery rhymes from my Oma. Alongside my fascination with languages and cultures, I grew up being very active in marching band and team sports.

Joseph Saldana brings 13 years of dedicated teaching and coaching experience to the classroom and the court.

Coach Saldana attended St. Edward’s University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Education while competing as a student-athlete on the Hilltoppers men's basketball team. His time on the college court reinforced his passion for sports, leadership, and student mentorship.

Now in his third year at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA), Coach Saldana serves the school as a Special Education teacher, PALS (Peer Assistance and Leadership) teacher, and the head of the Girls Basketball program. Throughout his 13-year career in education, he has remained committed to empowering students of all abilities, fostering peer leadership, and building a competitive, supportive atmosphere for student-athletes.

Outside of school, Joseph is devoted to his family. He and his beautiful wife, Megan, are the proud parents of two sons: eight-year-old Santiago and eight-month-old Asher. Whether coaching on the court, guiding student leaders, or spending quality time with his family, Coach Saldana is driven by a lifelong passion for community and mentorship.

Hi! I'm Ms. Sparacin!

I teach ADV Chemistry and AP Chemistry here at LASA and I am also the JV Volleyball coach!

I hold a MS in Chemistry and a BS in Chemistry from The University of Texas at Dallas. I have a passion for green chemistry and environmentalism as my graduate research focused on synthesizing bio based resins for 3D printing.

I love to travel and spend time outdoors. My hobbies include volleyball, taking care of house plants, thrifting, and playing with my dog!

I am the other athletic trainer at LASA High School. I am from Houston, TX and enjoy playing volleyball (indoor and sand), rock climbing, working out, and trying out different places to eat. I started out as an athletic trainer in 2022 when I graduated from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center with a Master's in Athletic Training. My office is right across from the athletic training room so feel free to pop in and say hi! 

I grew up in New Mexico, and I graduated from New Mexico State University in 1981. That same year, I accepted my first teaching assignment at Dobie Middle School in Austin, and I've remained an educator for almost 40 years.

During my career, I taught math at both the middle and high school levels for 30 years, served as a high school department chair and instructional coach for over ten years, and coached middle and high school tennis for over 25 years. I also earned a Masters in curriculum and instruction at Concordia Lutheran University. I retired from teaching in 2011, but I returned later that year to coach tennis at Pflugerville Connally HS--where I remained until May 2020.

Now I am excited to be a Raptor, and I am looking forward to great things for LASA Tennis.

Hi! My name is Hannah Weems and I've been teaching at LASA since August 2021. In my time here, I've taught AP Statistics, Advanced Geometry, Algebra II AB, and Advanced Mathematical Reasoning.
I grew up right here in Austin and graduated from McCallum's Fine Arts Academy in 2009. I have a Bachelor's in Statistics and a Master's in Secondary Math Education, both from the University of Rochester in upstate New York.
I live with my wonderful husband (LASA's own Mr. Ganesan!) and our cat Coco. I spend my free time watching horror movies, painting, and gardening.

I am from Houston, TX and got my undergraduate degree in biology with a minor in psychology at the University of St. Thomas (Houston), where I also played soccer.

I have my Master's in Athletic Training from the University of Houston, and before joining LASA I worked at Rice University and Austin Achieve HS.

In my free time I love hanging out with my fiancé and our dog Koda, watching any and all sports, playing board games, and doing crosswords. 

Hi! I’m the Animation and Ezine teacher at LASA, and I’m also one of our Head Track Coaches. I joined the LASA community in 2022, but I’ve been teaching since 2014.

I earned my BFA in Media Arts & Animation, and I’ve always loved film, animation, and graphic novels. I enjoy sharing that passion with my students and helping them explore creativity, storytelling, and the many ways they can bring their ideas to life.

Outside of the classroom, I’m a very active person and a big believer in taking care of both physical and mental health. I love running, yoga, and, of course, a little healthy competition!

I’m originally from San Juan in South Texas, but I’ve called Austin home for the past 19 years. I’ve explored quite a bit of the city over the years, so if you ever need a good coffee shop recommendation, I’m your person!

Most of my free time is spent with my daughter and my 4-year-old foster child. We’re usually watching movies, going for a run, climbing, trying something active, or exploring Austin together. I’m excited to be part of the LASA community and look forward to another great year of creating, learning, and coaching.