Mr. Abernathy has joined CRD as an Integrated Math 3 and Freshman Physics Teacher. He is beyond excited to join our community. He read about Cristo Rey Schools years ago, and as he read the article, the only thought he had was: “I want to work at a Cristo Rey school.” He love playing with his children: a 6 year old son, and 3 year old daughter. He enjoy learning, especially history of ancient Rome and ancient China. Mr. Abernathy also paints miniatures, and watches science fiction.
Jocelyn Bell joined Cristo Rey Dallas in 2023 and serves as an environmental science teacher and biology teacher. Previously, she attended Southern Methodist University, obtaining a MA in Anthropology, and the University of Nottingham to achieve an LLM in Human Rights. Jocelyn received her undergraduate degree from Texas State University, majoring in anthropology and minoring in biology. She has previously worked with entities like the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University and the World Health Organization. In her free time, she enjoys eating at all the restaurants Dallas has to offer with her partner and baking delicious pastries.
Christopher Burge teaches Government and Economics and AP Government and Economics. He has a BA in Government with a minor in Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin, and is pursuing an MA in Political Science at the University of West Florida. He has previously served as a social studies teacher in Dallas ISD and at a private school in Saudi Arabia. Chris grew up in Farmers Branch and is a graduate of Jesuit Dallas. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, watching and playing rugby, and finding deals on travel. He is a volunteer with the National Hispanic Institute and the Texas Interscholastic Rugby Association, and hopes to compete on Jeopardy! one day.
Zoe Butler teaches World 
Literature at Cristo Rey Dallas. She earned a BA in English with a minor in Biology from St. Louis University and is currently working toward a Master of Education through the University of Notre Dame’s ACE program. Outside of school, she enjoys running and catching up with friends.
Tonya Cardoso serves as Academic Support/Staff, she previously worked at CRD and love being part of the team. Tonya has an Associates in Health Information Technology, and is pursuing her Bachelors Degree in Liberal Art and is currently on the President list. She will graduate from Southern New Hampshire in December 2024 and looking forward to teaching in 2025.
Bryan serves as the Theology teacher for seniors. In this role he hopes to inspire students to live a life toward heaven. Bryan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from the University of Dallas.
Bryan has led a variety of Church groups from high schoolers to university students. Bryan has volunteered and held a talk show on Guadalupe Radio 850AM and currently gives talks with his wife in a variety of Church groups in the Diocese of Dallas- marriage groups, teens, young adults, etc. Bryan is married to Adilene, and they hope to be parents to as many children that God gives them to form their own house of Loreto.
Alejandro serves as one of the Integrated Math teachers. In this role, he teaches the Math 1 and 2 classes for freshmen and sophomores. He also is in his first year of being the head coach for the boys basketball program. Alejandro earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Child and Family Studies from The University of North Texas at Dallas, and an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from Dallas Community College.
Alejandro has many ties to the local Pleasant Grove community. He previously served as a teacher at St. Philip St. Augustine Catholic Academy for 4 years before joining the CRD team. He is also a product of this community, attending St. Augustine Catholic School from 1997-2007. Alejandro continued his Catholic education at Bishop Lynch High School. He started coaching at SPSA for several years, winning multiple championships as a basketball and soccer coach before joining CRD and returning to serve the community that raised him
Amie Contreras is entering her 2nd year of teaching at Cristo Rey Dallas. She currently teaches Freshmen Integrated Math I and II. Amie has close ties with the Pleasant Grove community and attended St. Augustine Catholic School and Bishop Lynch High School. She earned her Associate of Science and her Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science with a concentration in science, mathematics, and education with honors (Magna cum Laude).
Amie hopes to help many students who face similar challenges while growing up in a low-income community. In her spare time, she enjoys trying out new food, being out with friends and family and has recently taken an interest in learning Japanese.
Rosaura joined Cristo Rey Dallas in 2017. She has served in various roles, including Integrated Math 1, 2, and 3 teacher, Engineer Your World teacher, engineering and robotics club sponsor, advisor, past after-school academy and Saturday school academy coordinator, tutor, past grade team lead, and recently AP Calculus AB teacher.
Rosaura earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s degree in Education from SMU. Prior to joining Cristo Rey Dallas, Rosaura worked in consulting engineering and then shifted her focus to education. She’s happy to merge her passion for STEM and her love for teaching at CRD.
Alex Fraile, a native of Spain, worked as a professional musician and private music instructor in Spain and Texas before joining Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep. At the age of 9, he started to learn music and it has been his passion ever since.
He relocated to Barcelona to get his undergraduate degree in Jazz Performance. While in Barcelona, he toured and recorded with numerous musical groups around Spain and France. Mr. Fraile attended University of North Texas for his graduate education. While earning his Master and Doctorate degrees at UNT, he worked as a Big Band Director, Private Lesson Teacher, and played and recorded with the Grammy Nominated One O’Clock Lab Band. He has also worked with Mountain View Community College serving as an adjunct professor in charge of private lessons and music appreciation courses.
Mr. Fraile performs and records on a regular basis in the DFW area, and is excited to use his background as a professional musician and educator to help the students at Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep gain an understanding of the many important roles that music plays in our modern society
Scott Garbacz teaches Physics and AP Physics at Cristo Rey Dallas. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M, his master’s from the University of Toronto, and his PhD from The University of Texas in Austin. Scott is married to Hannah Garbacz, and they are the parents of two children, Joseph and Samuel.
Rhonda Hyde teaches AP Biology and AP Statistics at Cristo Rey Dallas. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology from Yale University and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University.
Although she enjoyed doing research, Dr. Hyde was always drawn to teaching, as she values how teachers have impacted her journey from growing up in a low-income neighborhood in the Bronx, NY. In 2013, she transitioned to a high school teaching career, and in 2017, joined the faculty at CRD. She loves teaching at Cristo Rey Dallas, where she is able to help students enjoy learning about science but more importantly, help them develop the character traits to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens.
Lauren is a sophomore chemistry teacher and junior biology teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Boston College and her Masters of Education through the ACE program at Notre Dame. Lauren loves working at CRD because of the incredible students, families, and faculty/staff who bring her joy each day and who inspire her to keep growing to be the very best teacher and person she can be.
Jordan Kaderli has taught mathematics at Cristo Rey Dallas since 2017, and he currently teaches precalculus and AP Calculus AB. He earned a BS in Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science from St. Mary’s University, and he earned a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Dallas. Jordan and his wife Cynthia have two children, Ana and Oscar.
Emily Lazor teaches junior AP Seminar and senior World Religions at Cristo Rey Dallas. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Theology & Religious Studies from the Catholic University of America and her Master of Education degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Emily joined the faculty at Cristo Rey Dallas in 2016, and has taught various courses in the Theology and English departments. She has also worked in Cristo Rey’s academic support program, and currently heads up the diversity and inclusion initiatives on campus. In her free time, she enjoys working out and practicing yoga, which inspired her to start the Women’s Strength Training Club for CRD girls and women faculty and staff. Emily loves the familia culture of Cristo Rey, and has loved being able to teach so many CRD alumni over the past seven years!
Irving Medina teaches World History and coordinates the Student Life department at Cristo Rey Dallas. Prior to this school year, Irving worked in the Admissions department at CRD. Irving received bachelor’s degrees from the University of Texas at Austin in Latin American Studies and International Relations & Global Studies.
Irving taught middle school English in West Dallas before joining the Cristo Rey Dallas family. Outside of school, Irving enjoys reading, cooking, and attending concerts.
Elizabeth Nuter serves as a Science Teacher, and currently teaches 10th grade Chemistry and 12th grade AP Environmental Science. Elizabeth earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Master of Education degree, both from the University of Notre Dame. She earned her M.Ed. through Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education Teaching Fellows Program.
Shyla Pena is entering her third year of teaching Freshmen Introduction to Literature. She grew up traveling with her family, who served in the Army, and has lived in places like Hawaii, Colorado, Arizona, Germany, Japan, and South Korea. She earned her Associates of Science in Chemistry from El Paso Community College and her Bachelors of Arts in Mass Communications Broadcasting in The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. When Shyla’s not teaching, she can be found in Frisco with her family, Funko Pop Hunting, and adding music to her MANY Spotify playlists.
Alvaro Rosales is the Aesthetic Literacy Teacher, the head cheer coach, the Ballet Folklorico/Latin Dance Team Director, and the CRD Art Club Director. He received his Bachelor of Science in University Studies and a Minor in Spanish. Next, he attended Southern Methodist University for his Master’s in Dance Education. Alvaro has his own Dance Studio, Ballet Hispanic of the Arts, established in 2015. He enjoy being with his family and pets, cooking, and making art in the art studio.
Maria Salinas serves as our Intervention Specialist at Cristo Rey Dallas College Preparatory. She graduated from The University of Texas Permian Basin with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Special Education. She likes to play soccer and spend time with her family in her free time.
Rebecca joined Cristo Rey Dallas in 2019 and serves as the American Literature Teacher. She enjoys collaborating with her colleagues to create student-centered units that challenge students to think critically and prepare them for rigorous college writing.
Rebecca is originally from Tacoma, WA and is a proud product of Jesuit formation at Bellarmine College Prep. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Loyola University Chicago and a Masters of Education from Southern Methodist University. Before coming to CRD, she was a reading teacher at The Young Men’s Leadership Academy. In her free time Rebecca enjoys playing her favorite sport, Ultimate Frisbee, and spending time with her dog, Jack.
Stuart Thomas teaches theology and enjoys exploring Scripture with CRD’s 9th Graders. Stuart earned an A.B. in English from Georgetown University and an M.Th. from the University of Dallas. He has extra appreciation for corporate work study since mentors and internships helped prepare him for work in airline revenue management and planning after college. His career in Southwest Airlines’ home office, inspiration from the Jesuits and other prompting from God led to an interest in ministry and the Cristo Rey Network.
Stuart joined CRD a couple of months before the pandemic and is proud of what students have accomplished in the time since then. He happily recalls 15 seconds of fame in his Big Bird Halloween costume when introduced as CRD’s mascot (before we met Fuego!).
Jason joined Cristo Rey Dallas in 2017 and serves as the Theatre Arts Teacher. Jason works with students in and out of the classroom to learn the power of storytelling and the importance of taking ownership of one’s own story.
Jason earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Education, with a minor in Spanish Education from Utah State University. He graduated with a Masters of Fine Arts in Theatre from Indiana University in 2017. Outside of Cristo Rey Dallas, Jason performs and directs professionally in local theatres. Most important to him is his Family. Made up of his wife Kristi (who also teaches at CRD) and his four children (Haven, Jenna, McKay, and Avery.)
Kristi West is entering her 4th year teaching at CRD. She was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah and earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Utah State University. Here at CRD, she loves working with the best students in the world, eating Chef Juan’s lunches, and working alongside her husband – Mr. West. Together, they have four amazing kids who are growing too fast. When Mrs. West isn’t at CRD, she can be found playing games with her family, cooking in the kitchen, or watching her favorite TV shows.
Zack Wojcik teaches 10th grade AP World History and 12th grade Modern Literature. He also coaches the girl’s basketball team. Originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, Zack achieved a Bachelor’s of Science in both History and Political Science from the Florida State University. When not teaching, he enjoys reading, writing, and walking his two dogs around White Rock Lake.
