Faculty & Staff

Sonia Cantoral is the Spanish teacher for elementary students. She has a BA in Secondary Education Social Studies with K-12 Spanish certification from York College of Pennsylvania. She has taught for 21 years. Sonia has 3 grown children and last year, she was blessed with a granddaughter. She’s been involved in missionary work in South America for the last 15 years. Sonia enjoys singing in the church choir and her hobbies include crochet, cross stitch, sewing and decorating projects. She’s honored to serve the Lord at Living Rock Academy!
 

Lauren Dominguez is the middle school science teacher. She has 14 years of teaching experience and a bachelor of science degree in didactics and nutritional sciences from Texas A&M University. She is married with 3 children. Her favorite verse is “Let all that you do be done in love” 1 Corinthians 16:14. Lauren loves to travel, read, listen to mystery podcasts and spend time with her family and her double doodle dog named Pearl!

Jerry Forster is the fourth and fifth grade math and science teacher and the middle school boys basketball coach. He has a BA in Business from St. Mary's University with a Texas teaching certificate. He has 18 years of teaching experience. Jerry is married with 4 sons, 4 grandsons and a granddaughter. He loves DIY projects, water recreation and reptiles. He has 4 dogs, 2 cats, 30 chickens and lots of reptiles! 

Susan Halsell is the first grade teacher. She has a BS in psychology with art and photography from Sam Houston State University and a BA in Education from Peru University in Nebraska. She is married with 2 grown children. Her husband is retired Air Force and the family lived in Germany for a time which began her love of culture and travel. One of her favorite verses is Hosea 6:3, “Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains water the earth.” Susan loves the reminder that even though our faith walk takes effort, the Lord is faithful to provide what we need. She enjoys art, photography, hiking, biking and her schnoodle, Midnight.

Lisa Johnston is the high school science teacher. She has a BS in Biology, Physical Education, Chemistry from Texas State University and holds certificates for secondary biology and chemistry and PK-12 physical education. Lisa has 30 years of teaching experience in the secondary sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, Forensics, Marine Biology, Aquatic Science, IPC, Environmental Science, Life Science and General Science. She is married with 2 grown daughters. Lisa enjoys traveling, movies, sport events and her pets. She has 2 Labradors named Zeke and Zoe and cats named Dobby, Scooter and Harley. Her favorite verses are Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.” and Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct thy paths.”

Ruth Lansing is the ROCK Intervention specialist. She has a BA in Special Education K-12 and a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors University. Ruth has 15 years of experience in education and loves helping students achieve their academic goals. She loves Jesus and finds she needs Him more and more each day. She has been married to Jim for 24 years and they have 3 children and 4 grandchildren. She enjoys audiobooks, thrifting, crafts, sewing and time at the coast. She has a dog, 2 cats, fish tank and pet snake named Fluffy. Stop by her classroom to meet Fluffy!

Jennifer Lucas is the Kindergarten Teacher. She was born and raised here in San Antonio with her family. Her father is retired military, her mother is a retired teacher, and her older brother lives and works in East Texas. She attended college at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she received a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies EC-6. She has worked in the children's ministry at her church for 6 years. She joined Living Rock Academy in January 2020 in her role as PreKindergarten teacher.  Outside of the classroom, she enjoys walking, paddle boarding, baking/cooking, and hiking. She is looking forward to what God has in store for this new school year! 
 

Laurie Lucas is a substitute teacher. She has BA in Education from Huntingdon College and an Early Childhood Education endorsement from Auburn University. She is married with 2 grown children. Laurie retired from teaching after 34 years and her husband is retired from the Air Force. She likes to garden, bake, read, hike/walk and do puzzles.

Alyrose Manahan is the middle school ELA, Bible and Social Studies teacher and outreach coordinator. She has a BS in Multidisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas San Antonio with a EC-6 certification. Alyrose is married with 3 sons, one attends LRA. Alyrose loves to read, cook and spend time with her family. She has 2 dogs, Ruger and Joey. Her favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11, “'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. '” 

Julie Mergele is the middle school math and Bible teacher. She has a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies and MS in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi. Julie is married with 2 grown daughters. She enjoys hiking, walking, floating the river, reading, and playing games like Dutch Blitz and Chicken Foot. She has 4 dogs. Her favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11, “'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. '” 

Amber Meyer is the pre kindergarten teacher. She has a BA in general studies with an emphasis on education from Northwestern State University.  One of her favorite verses is Deuteronomy 31:6, “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Amber enjoys hiking, fishing and enjoying state parks.

Ryan Olsen is a middle school (sixth grade history and Bible) and high school (ELA, government & economics, creative writing) teacher. He has a Bachelor's of Fine Arts degree in Film & Video Production from The Art Institute of San Antonio. He is engaged to be married to his fiancee who teaches at Longs Creek Elementary. Ryan loves a good book; his favorite authors include J.R.R. Tolkien, Michael Crichton and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He loves storytelling, history, drawing and sketching, visiting museums and historical sites. His favorite verse is John 1:1-5: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."  More than anything, Ryan enjoys spending time with friends and family.

Nehi Quiroa is the 3rd grade teacher. She has a BA in Environmental Design from University Colorado Boulder. She has taught elementary for 10 years. She's married with 2 children ages 5 and 3. Nehi loves to read novels and write. The family has a needy black Labrador retriever/shepherd. One of her favorite qualities about God is being slow to anger. It tells a lot about the sort of patience needed to be a parent and caretaker.

Alba Ramos is the middle school and high school Spanish teacher. She has a Bachelor's of Arts degree in sociology from the The University of Texas Brownsville and Texas Southernmost College. She is married with 2 daughters. Her favorite passage is Matthew 6:25-30. She enjoys reading ,baking and spending time with family!

Madison Raposo is the middle school ELA teacher. She attended Texas A&M University and graduated with an education degree in English Language Arts and Social Studies. As a prior substitute teacher, she is no stranger to LRA. She is the Girls Varsity Head Basketball Coach this year. 

Dennis Rathburn is the high school Bible teacher. He’s been a substitute teacher at LRA for the past 5 years and previously taught Bible for 10 years. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a BS in Social and Behavioral Psychology with a teaching certificate from Texas Tech University. Dennis has 3 children, 1 granddaughter and a grandson due to arrive in September. He’s excited to be back in the classroom and looks forward to a great 2023-24 at LRA!
 

Kelsey Shaffer is the elementary fine arts teacher. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history with a minor in English from Baylor University. Kelsey is married with twin daughters. Her favorite verse is Matthew 22:27-30, "Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Kelsey enjoys reading and tackling do it yourself projects. She is renovating her house in downtown San Antonio and enjoys visiting the museums and cultural activities nearby. 

Linda Swierc is the high school social studies teacher and director of student activities. She has a BS in Physical Education and History from the University of Texas at Austin. She holds a lifetime Texas teaching certificate and a ACSI certificate. This year marks her 40th year of teaching! She is married with 2 daughters and 2 granddaughters. Linda enjoys traveling, reading, listening to podcasts and being a grandparent! A verse that is extremely important to her faith is Psalms 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God." While it was the verse at the core of her testimony, it remains a steadfast reminder that He is in control.

Rebecca Wicks is a high school math teacher and yearbook advisor. She has a BA in Secondary Education from Cornerstone University and BS in Religious Education from Grace Christian University. Becca is married with 3 sons who attend LRA. She enjoys creating with her hands (crochet, sewing, journaling) and loves spending time in the yard and garden. Her favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11, “'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. '” and her favorite quote is from Elizabeth Barrett Browning, "Because God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame."

Mr. Bill Wicks is the PE teacher and the IT support technician. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Digital Media from Grace Christian University. He and his wife, Mrs. Wicks, have three sons who all attend LRA! Mr. Wicks is part of the chapel team and enjoys leading worship. He enjoys art, music, writing, tactical training, video games, movies and podcasts! He has a German Shepherd/Husky dog named Sokka nad three cats. One of his favorite verses is Ephesians 4:1: "Therefore as a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."