Instructors
Margy Pryor
Mrs. Pryor received her B.S. in Education from the University of Kansas. She is approved to teach Advanced Placement (AP®) coursework in English Language and Composition and in English Literature and Composition. Mrs. Pryor has fourteen years of experience teaching AP English Literature, AP English Language, and Pre-AP English and ten years of experience teaching Latin. She has taught middle school grammar and middle school writing. Mrs. Pryor is also the author of two books published by the Institute for Excellence in Writing: Succeeding on the AP English Language Exam: with College-Level Analysis and Succeeding on the AP Literature Exam: with College-Level Analysis. She believes in teaching students how to analyze literature effectively as they read and how to recognize and apply the basic skills necessary for writing cogent essays.
Valerie Lietz
Mrs. Lietz received her bachelor’s degree in music education from Illinois State University. She is certified to teach grades K-12 and has 20+ years teaching experience at all levels. She has led both instrumental and vocal groups and continues to teach private lessons, as well as music theory. She has led student trips to Walt Disney World to learn Disney performance methods and to experience performing music in a professional environment. She seeks wonderful local performance opportunities for her students including pastor conferences, mayor’s prayer breakfasts, Rampage games, and Spurs games.
Jessica Melott
Mrs. Melott was an active member of her student council at Sam Rayburn High School in Pasadena, Texas. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M University in 1996 while also participating in T-Camp, Parents’ Weekend, and other student government activities. After four children and many years in healthcare marketing, she left the healthcare world to pursue homeschooling her children. Mrs. Melott and her husband have taught Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University at their home church many times and have come to understand the joy of living debt free. Mrs. Melott enjoys teaching the high school girls Sunday School class at FBCNB, reading, working out with Camp Gladiator, and all things fair-trade fashion!
Sara Hull
Sara Hull graduated from Texas State University with a B. S. in Education and a minor in Mathematics. She has a lifetime certification from TEA in teaching mathematics in grades 1 – 12. In 2014 she returned to her alma mater to refresh her upper-level math knowledge and add chemistry and physics to her applied math skills. In 2021 she completed a Master of Education degree in Mathematics Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Texas at Arlington. In addition, Mrs. Hull is professionally trained in Advanced Cooperative Learning, Interdisciplinary Studies in Middle School, and Gifted and Talented Programs. She has over 25 years of teaching experience in various settings including public schools, private schools, home school and private instruction. She has worked in leadership roles in home school organizations and now serves as the Math Specialist for Grace Preparatory Academy of New Braunfels.
Mrs. Hull was widowed in 2014, has 3 adult “children” and loves working with young people of all ages and helping them to see the amazing things they can do with math. Although young people and mathematics are a great passion for her, Mrs. Hull loves serving Jesus Christ more than anything and tries to bring His light and influence into everything she does.
Erika Salas
Mrs. Salas received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Universidad de Montemorelos (Montemorelos, MX). She has a specialization in Educational Psychology and spent three years teaching bilingual education at Monterrey City School in Monterrey Mexico. She has extensive experience as a Spanish tutor working with all ages of children.
Dale Parish
Mr. Parish graduated from North Texas State University with a double major in political science and history. Prior to teaching, he was a supervisor at the Oaks Treatment Center of the Brown Schools in Austin, where he worked with ED adolescents. He then pursued a career in retail grocery management in the DFW metroplex. In 2002 he became certified as a Special Education teacher and worked with Special Needs children for the next 4 years. In 2006 he became certified in 8-12 history as well as social studies grades 4-8. He taught middle school history for the next 10 years. He retired from teaching public school in 2017. He has been a Cross Country coach since 2004, and presently leads the Grace Preparatory Running Knights cross country team. He is very much involved in church activities and volunteers at Church by the River ministry. He and his wife Rachel have a blended family of 10 children and 5 grandchildren. He is an Eagle Scout and an avid runner as well.
April Walley
April Walley has a bachelor’s degree in pediatric nursing from University of Southern Mississippi and a Master’s degree in Christian Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Originally from Mississippi, she and her family have lived in New Orleans and South Carolina, and currently live in New Braunfels.
Ms. Walley has four children, which she homeschools. Her husband is a pastor. They are active members of FBC New Braunfels. She has taught many women’s Bible studies and serves in the missions ministry.
Her hobbies are restoring furniture, volunteering at CYT, and organizing everything. She considers hospitality one of her spiritual gifts, often hosting families in her home. Her relationship with Jesus is the most important aspect of every part of her life. She is very blessed to be teaching at Grace Prep!
Kathy Lehmann
Miss Lehmann is a native of New Braunfels and a graduate of NBHS. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Texas Tech University and has taught all levels of secondary mathematics since 1974, including AP Calculus for the past 12 years. She retired from Marion High School where she was twice named Teacher of the Year.
Miss Lehmann gave her life to Jesus during her freshman year at Tech. He led her there and has given direction to her life ever since. She serves Him at Eastside Baptist Church as Worship Leader and Choir Director. She also plays piano and guitar.
Miss Lehmann loves all kinds of puzzles, which served her well when she was on Wheel of Fortune in 1987. She won a Cadillac convertible and lots of cash!
Miss Lehmann is single, is blessed with a brother and three sisters, and is Aunt Kathy to 9 nieces & nephews, 17 greats and 6 great-greats!
Patty Benitez
Patty Benitez grew up in a migrant farm-working family, living in Florida during the school months and in Mexico the rest of the year. She attended Hillsborough Community College in Tampa and has an Associate Degree in Business Technologies from National Institute of Technologies. She has been homeschooling since 1999. Over the years she has been involved in leading and developing homeschool support groups. She has also had the opportunity to teach art both in co-op settings and private lessons. In 2020 she had the privilege of starting a homeschool program in the Comal County Crisis Center providing in-person classes for staff and shelter children who would have otherwise had to attend classes online due to COVID. Art has always been a huge part of her life. She took as many art classes as she could in high school and college. She has had the opportunity to design logos and t-shirts for several organizations and businesses. While in college, she was hired to produce a painting that would be awarded to Wendell N. Rollason, founder of Redlands Christian Migrant Association. Her artwork later became the cover for his biography titled A Life of Purpose.
Joshua Jarma
Mr. Jarma has a B.S. degree in Computer Science from Texas A&M. He has been certified to teach 8-12 mathematics and has worked as a substitute teacher including assisting with special needs children. Mr. Jarma’s teaching experience began as early as his senior year of high school when he helped instruct his Academic Decathlon team in mathematics as they made their way to the state championship. His wife and he have homeschooled their children for six years. He loves math and science, and is adept at observing how other people learn and adapting his style to match their needs. Mr. Jarma’s favorite thing about teaching is watching a student move from confusion to understanding to success.
Cheryl Barkley
Cheryl Barkley has been working in student ministry since 1990. This has been a long-time passion which has included opportunities to direct youth theater, teach homeschool classes at ENAACT Academy, and spend some time on staff as Elementary Ministry Director at Tree of Life Church in New Braunfels. Cheryl received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology with Psychology and Theater emphases from Illinois Wesleyan University. Cheryl was the only Biology major on staff in the Theater department, and was able to join other landlocked midwestern students studying marine life in Florida and Australia. After six years as a Marine Mammal Trainer in Florida, Ohio, and Maryland, she quit to start a family. Cheryl and her husband Dave have three home-schooled children, the oldest of which graduated from GPA in 2021. Cheryl continues to volunteer in student ministry at Tree of Life Church, and she enjoys horseback riding, keeping chickens, cooking and baking, and interior art.
Krystal Barber
Mrs. Barber grew up in Rockport, Texas where she lived until enlisting in the United States Air Force as a Security Forces Officer. After her enlistment she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Human Services at the University of Phoenix. Upon earning her degree she quickly went to work for the State of Wyoming as a Case Manager with Child Protection Services. After the birth of her youngest daughter, Mrs. Barber decided to leave the workforce and focus on her family. During this time she also decided to continued her education and was accepted into the accelerated Master’s program at University of Phoenix. In early 2018, mid-way through her program, she and her family relocated to New Braunfels. In January of 2019, Mrs. Barber earned her Master Degree in Education. Mrs. Barber has been teaching Pre-K children as well as teaching at a homeschool co-op since 2019, which has been a wonderful blessing, allowing her to work while never taking away from her husband and two daughters. Mrs. Barber is very active and energetic. She enjoys all sorts of adventures with her family and dogs, but also looks forward to the times where she can enjoy some "down time" with a good book!
Karen Hopkins
Karen teaches two of the art classes at Grace Prep on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor's Degree in Exercise and Sport Science and a minor in Art in 1990 and has enjoyed drawing and doing creative things since she was a little girl. She grew up in the Houston area near the NASA Johnson Space Center. When she was a junior in high school she won her school district's logo contest. Her winning design was made into a patch and flown on the Spacelab 3 Mission STS-51B of the space shuttle Challenger. Clear Creek ISD used her logo for almost 20 years. Karen came to Grace Prep in the fall of 2018. She has enjoyed her time teaching, growing, and promoting the art program here and, even more, getting to know the students and being a part of such an encouraging staff.
