FACULTY & STAFF

My name is Stacey Baxter, and I have had the privilege of working within the University Model schools

for the past twenty years. As a mother of two grown children, a teacher and administrator, I have seen

the fruit of the labor in this model of education work. I work to help build family relationships and the

partnership between school and the home. This is key for student confidence and their success.

Nothing makes me happier than seeing a student grow into young adults with a foundation secure.

My passion is discipling students and ensuring the learning environment at school is challenging and

nurturing. I also want to be a part of God’s plan to strengthen Christian families. After earning a

bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas, I began a career as an elementary teacher.

Parenthood sent me on the mission of finding a way to be involved in my children’s education while

ensuring our family’s faith and values were upheld. I found the University Model and my search was

over! As Principal of Crestmont Christian Preparatory School, I want to help our students discover their

God given gifts and God’s plan for their lives. Encouraging students, parents and faculty is what I love to do.

Christians are seeing a call to faith within our current culture. The need for Christian education is

essential now more than ever. The goal is to teach the truth in love and within all educational

disciplines. More and more families are searching for a way to fulfill their God given command to raise

their children to know, love and follow God. Together we collaborate and persevere in this effort. I am

thankful to be a part of this important work.

Whitney Wills

Administrative Assistant

Whitney Wills and her family moved to Boerne in 2018. She is originally from Midland, TX and graduated from Texas A&M with a dual BA in History & Psychology. After college, she and her husband, Michael, moved all over the US courtesy of the Air Force. They have been married for 16 years and have three kids who are all enrolled in Crestmont. In her spare time, Whitney enjoys reading, hanging out with family, friends, and snuggling with their Boston Terrier named Tater. Her favorite verse is Exodus 14:14.

Caycee Mann

Registrar

Caycee is from Waco, TX and moved to Boerne in 2019 after finishing her undergraduate degree in math. She married her husband, Michael, in January of 2020 and started here masters in math the following fall. They recently acquired a Morkle (Maltese Yorkie mix) puppy named Minnie. She is a Morkie (Maltese Yorkie mix) and is the perfect pet. She is excited to be working at Crestmont this year and see what the Lord has planned in the lives of the students.

High School Staff

Carol Lester, PhD

HS History, English

Carol L. Lester is a published author who has taught English/Language Arts for over forty years in North

Carolina, Kansas, and Texas, but she has also taught ASL, U. S. and World History, various Literature

courses, and Psychology. Even though the majority of her teaching career has involved middle school

and high school-aged students, she has taught elementary-aged students as well as those at the

collegiate and graduate school levels. She holds advanced degrees in both education and sport

psychology and served as the academic adviser and sport psychologist for the KU Men’s Basketball team

when Roy Williams was head coach. Carol is a member of Boerne Bible Church and participates in two

Bible study groups.

Larry Arnold
HS Bible, HS Speech

Larry Arnold came to Crestmont in 2017 with decades of experience in preaching and professional public speaking. In addition to teaching Bible and speech to our secondary students, he also is the teaching minister for North Central Fellowship in San Antonio. He’s been married to Maureen since 1980, and together they have 4 children and 4 grandchildren.

Matt Rector

HS Music

Matt Rector and his family moved to Boerne in 2019 following a call to serve as Worship Pastor at Cibolo Creek Community Church. He has been a worship leader since the early 2000s, first with his youth group band, then serving other churches and youth retreats and camps around his hometown of Chattanooga, TN. He also spent a number of years mentoring student-led worship bands in Chattanooga. He has also served in churches in Carthage, MO, and Starkville, MS. After coming to Boerne, Matt was offered the unique opportunity to teach the Worship Elective at Crestmont - and he was thrilled - he loves student bands! In 2022, he was named a Fellow with the Colson Center for Worldview. He can't wait to teach Worldview at Crestmont this year. He and his wife, Stephanie, and their three girls, Nora, Lily, and Mary, love everything about Crestmont, and couldn't be happier to serve this community.

Pam Boutte

HS Algebra

Pam Boutte graduated from Texas A&M University with a BBA in Accounting and had a full and varied career in the energy trading industry. After leaving corporate life in 2005 to raise her family, Pam found her way to teaching through public, private, and homeschool education models. She is a believer in lifelong education and development. The Boutte family came to Crestmont in 2016 followed by Pam joining the teaching staff in 2021. Pam enjoys making complex ideas and concepts simple and approachable by helping students experience the math skills they are learning in their everyday life. Pam believes we are all young at heart at our core and uses Matthew 19:14 as her guiding principle in teaching.

James Helper

HS Government & Economics

This will be Mr. Hepler’s 5th year at Crestmont. He has been at Crestmont on and off since 2016 when he worked as a teacher and coach. At the present he is teaching government and economics. James received his BA degree from Sterling College (Ks.) and master degree in education from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. After 35 years in education, James

retired from Boerne ISD in 2015, he then wcame to work at Crestmont a year later. I really enjoy teaching at Crestmont. The small class size allows for a more individualized approach to teaching and the Christian atmosphere makes the school a special place. Mr. Hepler’s wife Brenda is also a retired teacher and he has two sons and one grandson..

Jessica Knight

HS English

Jessica holds a degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Texas Tech University. She is very involved with the literary world and is on the Regional Team for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Jessica joined the Crestmont team in 2017. Her verse for serving in the school is Psalm 34:3. “Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.”

Barbie Parkinson

HS Spanish

Barbara (Barbie) Parkinson studied at San Antonio College and has had 6 yrs of coaching volleyball at at previous school. She also was a substitute PE teacher for years. Barbie began teaching PE at Crestmont in 2019. What Mrs. Parkinson loves about Crestmont is the true faith of Jesus Christ that is demonstrated by all the faculty and staff on a daily basis. Mrs. Parkinson has a family of 5, police officer hubby, 2 daughters and a son, along with 3 dogs (one of them being a retired K-9 police dog.) Mrs. Parkinson's guiding Bible verse is Phillipians 4:13.

Mike Russell

HS Math, Test Prep, Physics, MS Bible

Mike Russell spent 30+ years in leadership positions in the private sector before being called to teach in 2017, when Mike became the Algebra teacher at Crestmont. Mike received a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from UT-Austin in 1994, and in between classes he is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Mathematics from West Texas A&M University. Mike’s classroom motto is "Don't Be Afraid." “God tells us every day not to be afraid because He is with us every day, including in the classroom. The Holy Spirit is a great teacher.”

Jennifer Schoenfeld

HS Latin, World History, Geography

My name is Jennifer Schoenfeld, and I am first the daughter of the King, second, wife to Chris, and third, mom to my three children. All three of my children have attended Crestmont since Kindergarten. This is a big deal as my oldest is a senior, my middle is entering high school, and my youngest is entering middle school. I have been a co-teacher for almost thirteen years. I love my Crestmonth family and am so grateful for the fruits of the labors that this school has given to my family and me. My goal as a teacher and the high school team lead teacher is to remain focused on what is truly important. My desire is to show my students, every day, that Jesus is Lord over all. He has made this big wide world, and we are responsible for good stewards of our gifts in our world, country, community, church, and family. Giving our children a safe place to learn book knowledge, spiritual growth, and who they are because of Jesus is a tremendous job that I am passionate about. I love my Crestmont family and my job. It is because of the passion that Jesus gave me that I love coming to work daily and being with my Crestmont family. In our challenging and broken world, these amazing Christians are truly cooperating together to cultivate a culture of Christian disciples. Their greatest gift is to teach our students to eagerly chase after God's will for their lives.

Lee Towell

HS Spanish, Elementary & MS Music

Lee Towell is happy to be a part of the Crestmont family again this year. She is beginning her second year at Crestmont and her 42nd year of teaching. Lee has a Masters in music education and a secondary teaching degree in English. She has been married for 41 years and has 6 children ages 37- 17. Lee loves to incorporate scripture into the music she writes and Isaiah 61 is one of her favorite Bible passages.

Thad Flournoy

HS Physics, Biology, Computer Science

Thad Flournoy is teaching HS Physics, Biology, and Computer Science this year at Crestmont. He comes to Crestmont from San Antonio Christian Academy where he served as the Commandant. He is graduate of the United State Air Force Academy where he was commissioned and served as an Acquisitions Officer prior to separation. This married to Beth, who is also a teacher at Crestmont, and is an avid swing dancer in their spare time.

Middle School Staff

Maureen Arnold
MS History

Maureen Arnold has been a disciple of Jesus Christ since 1966. The privilege of helping parents live out Deuteronomy 6:5-9 has motivated her to teach history at Crestmont since 2010. Her credentials include a BSEd from Abilene Christian University and 20 years of homeschooling. She's been married to Larry since 1980, and together they enjoy their 4 children and 4 grandchildren.

JoAnne Burch

MS Science

JoAnne Burch graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, but was certified through eighth grade and added an endorsement in Biology. She taught for twenty years in public education, did a stint at a museum (outreach teacher) and state aquarium (specialty education) in Chattanooga, TN, and now has taught in San Antonio, first in a Christian home school cooperative and then (starting in 2019) at Crestmont. Her FIVE children are all grown now and she has eleven grandchildren! Mrs. Burch is often heard quoting Colossians 3:23 "And whatsoever you do, do heartily, as unto the Lord ..." She loves Crestmont, because of the prayerful undergirding she feels regularly ... and her "WONDERFUL students!”

Gwen Kandt

MS English, Theatre

Gwen Kandt has been a part of the Crestmont family since 2013 -- first as a parent, then as an English and Drama teacher, and now also as the Middle School Academic Lead Teacher. She has taught in homeschool, public school, and private school for over a quarter of a century now. She also teaches, writes, and directs for a Christian youth theater in San Antonio. She loves the flexibility and opportunities the University Model offers . . . but even more, she loves the wonderful family that she and her daughters (now college students) have come to be a part of at Crestmont.

Courtney Oliver

MS History

Courtney Oliver graduated from Texas A&M in 2002 with a BA in History. She and her husband Matthew, both natives of Texas, have spent the last 20 years moving from coast to coast and overseas courtesy of the Air Force. Along the way, they had three kids join their adventure. The Olivers joined the Crestmont family in 2017. She and her husband have been serving and teaching in various ministries ove