I have been teaching at LASA since 2022, bringing nearly three decades of engineering experience and a deep family connection to the school, having had three of my children attend LASA. My engineering path began straight out of high school at Raytheon, where I worked on Argentina’s national ID card and visa/passport program while earning my degree in Computer Engineering from Texas A&M University. Over the years, I’ve led various engineering projects across diverse industries including early Bluetooth development, missile defense guidance systems, and sponsored defense technology projects.

Following Raytheon, I worked with Schlumberger during the advent of smartcard (""chip card"") technology, laying foundational work for modern mobile phones and secure commerce. This led to global consulting work in biometrics and technology integration, and eventually to founding my own cybersecurity firm, 2FA, Inc., in 2006. By the time 2FA was acquired in 2016, our security products were deployed across all 50 states, 53 countries, and all seven continents.

Since retiring in 2018, I’ve remained deeply engaged in cutting-edge technology, serving as an IT Director at ACC, helping launch the world's first commercially viable solid-state battery, and co-founding a company focused on Agentic AI Security. Outside the classroom, I enjoy scuba diving, playing drums and piano, singing karaoke, and running TTRPG games. Mentoring the next generation of innovators has always been my core passion, and I am thrilled to continue that work every day with the students at LASA.

I’ve been teaching at LASA since 2023. Prior to my days in the classroom, I worked in the programming department for the Austin Film Society and wrote for the Austin Chronicle. I grew up in Asheville, North Carolina and went to school in St. Louis, Missouri. Aside from the mountains and four seasons, I don’t get too nostalgic for those days. 

When I’m not training for a marathon (rare) or out with my pup at Zilker (also rare), I’m at home watching TCM/Criterion or reading a book about whatever I just watched on TCM/Criterion, refining knowledge that only holds value to a very niche group. If you ever want to talk eighties Taiwanese cinema or post-World War II Hollywood, I’m your guy.

Kevin Garcia has been teaching high school since 2006 . He's also been a professional writer since the end of the 20th century (including almost a decade with the Associated Press, a handful of years working with clickbait sites, and a decade with Marvel Comics). Garcia was born and (mostly) raised in Brownsville, Texas, where he began his writing and teaching career. Ask him about any of this and he'll talk your ear off. You have been warned.
He has a bachelors in English and another in history and a Masters of Interdisciplinary Studies. All of this university work was technically through the University of Texas, but the specific schools both exist and don't exist at the same time (Schrödinger's colleges). All of these degrees took way longer than they should have. Don't ask. Or do, it's your time.

Mr. Gonzalez has been teaching in Austin ISD since 2013. At LASA he teaches Sci-Tech and Engineering Studies and serves as the boys' head soccer coach. While his college background is in Kinesiology, he discovered a genuine love for engineering at a young age and enjoys teaching students how to design and build hands-on solutions to real-world problems.

On the soccer field, he has built a successful program. Under his leadership, the team has won four consecutive District Championships (2023–2026) and made an exciting run to the State Semifinals last year. Thanks to these achievements, he has been named Coach of the Year three times since 2020.

His passion for designing, building and improving things doesn't stop in the classroom. Mr. Gonzalez loves the hard work of renovating houses and currently owns multiple properties across Texas, putting the very same problem-solving skills he teaches to practical use.

When he’s not teaching, coaching, or working on a house, he loves being active and outdoors. He enjoys taking his RV out on the open road, hiking, fishing, playing soccer, and riding his mountain bike. A lifelong fan of the beautiful game, he proudly supports Arsenal, Cruz Azul, and, of course, Austin FC. Above all, he loves traveling and spending his free time with his family.

I graduated from LASA in 2006, earned a a BFA in Textiles from UNT, and returned to LASA in 2009! At LASA I've taught Algebra, Art I, Ceramics, Sculpture, Art History, AP Art and Robotics. 

I’m married to a scientist and we have 3 kids William, Nico and Ryn. Our family loves to cook, work on construction projects and explore the outdoors together. As a child, I was drawn to craft and design, but disliked drawing. I found art classes discouraging and felt they focused on those “gifted” at drawing, not students like me. It was not until college that I learned different approaches to drawing and learned to embrace my own style and preferences. It was my experiences at LASA that made me pursue a teaching career. In my academic classes teachers always encouraged me to trust myself, try different strategies and to never give up. I strive to emulate those mindsets with my Art and STEM instruction. I believe that we can all do anything, we just need to trust ourselves, try new approaches and be resilient.

Welcome Raptor Families!  I'm Jen LeCompte, and I teach things.  Over the years I have taught all sorts of fabulous classes, including Scitech, PLEARTH, Woodshop, Astronomy, PAP Algerbra II, Architecture, Senior English, Geometry, AP Psychology, Comp Sci, and probably another one I'm forgetting.  

I'm a chronic learning geek, which means I kind of can't help needing to learn about many different things.
 

Vanessa Mokry has been teaching Audio Video Production at LASA since 2007. Before teaching, she worked on film crews around Austin and various AV jobs including a wedding video business. Like most filmmakers, Ms. Mokry taught herself much of her skill, beginning in middle school with the family's first VHS camcorder and rigging two VCRs together- a far cry from later years splicing film on a six-plate Steenbeck as a student at the New York Film Academy, and further still from the non-linear editing software she offers to students in class today. Mokry believes her formal education at Texas State University where she earned a BFA in Theatre Directing gives her a unique foundation to balance art and technology in her teaching. She has a wealth of knowledge of movies and TV which she cites as her most valuable education, and therefore when pitching a new movie idea to her she is likely to assign you an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer to watch for reference. "When I began teaching at LASA, I wondered how I should focus the Audio Video Production program. Should I help the kids supplement their academic work by having them design instructional Science animations, historical re-enactments, literature adaptations, etc? While all of those are worthy projects (and could still end up on a screen one day if they choose), I realized that these kids are storytellers. And they have a specific brand of LASA story to tell. Chinese folklore love connections, prom-posals gone wrong, musical westerns, hyper-colored crime-fighting trios, Jesus stealing Christmas presents: I get to talk story every day with these students, figure out the puzzle, and I love it.

I have been teaching at LASA since 2013 after a 22 year career as a digital chip designer here in Austin. I have a MS from UT in Electrical Engineering and BSEE & minor in CS from Missouri S&T. I have worked on CISC & RISC microprocessors as well as networking ASICs. I teach Fundamentals of CS, AP CS (sometimes), and Digital Electronics. Teaching at LASA has enabled me to share my passion for engineering & CS with my students. My wife (MS in Chemical Engineering), daughter (BS in Aerospace Engineering), and son (BS in Electrical Engineering & BS in Computer Science) are all working engineers.

Originally from Houston, I've lived in the Austin area since 2010 where I raised my family. My degree is in Applied Design and Visual Arts, and soon after graduation I jumped into the field of Graphic Design by working for a newspaper. After that, I found my place working primarily for small agencies although I did survive a few corporate gigs, and most recently ran my own design agency. But my goal from the beginning has always been to teach, sharing my passion for publication design with others, and I'm thrilled to have joined the LASA family.

Other than graphic design, my passions include art, trail-running, reading, exploring Austin, volkswagens, and dreaming about the small farm populated with goats, chickens, rabbits and cats I'm going to have some day.

I have been teaching Computer Science at LASA since 2015. I teach AP Computer Science, Advanced Computer Programming, and Web & Mobile Applications. Prior to teaching at LASA, I was in the tech industry for 20+ years developing software with a period of time in marketing. I have a Bachelors in Computer Science and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. And, I have an M.S. Computer Science from Texas State University. I keep my finger on the pulse of the industry with a step son who is a software developer developing web apps and a step daughter in UX/UI design. I enjoy programming, reading, history, and travel.

I am from Santa Cruz, CA - but went to high school in San Antonio. I graduated from Grinnell College (in Grinnell, Iowa) in 2016 with a B.A. in Psychology. 

Since then I have been a College Counselor, Financial Analyst, and a Veterinary Technician. I am an avid DIYer, gardener, and cat father to two boys, Big Cat and Small Cat.

As a lifelong Austinite, I have always been able to call Austin home. I love teaching geometry, so much so that I have been teaching it for over 30 years. For 20 of those years I prepared students at Kealing Middle School so that they might become LASA students someday (like both of my own children were able to do).

For many years I would spend my summers dancing and singing in local musicals and even did a few shows during the school year. I met my wife in a production of West Side Story and was able to share the stage with her for many productions. 

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.