Advertise on podcast: People of PS

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Max Mota, Facilities Specialist, and Michelle Mota, Middle School Office Manager, about their longstanding tenure as Presbyterian School faculty and parents. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.  Max and Michelle Mota have been members of the School's faculty since 2015 and 2002, respectively. They have watched three of their four children graduate from the School including Victoria '13, Sol '21 and Cielo '26.  Victoria and Sol have since returned to the School in various capacities including as a guest teacher, substitute, Panther Place teacher, and Panther Camp counselor. The Motas are making Presbyterian School a family business! Spanning across two decades of life at Presbyterian School, the Motas have witnessed hundreds of students walk through the hallways and cherish the opportunity to continue supporting the School's mission each day. In his time at PS, Max has served the School as an athletic coach, facilities specialist, and mascot extraordinaire. He brings an incredible gift of joy and service to everyone at the School. During her time at PS, Michelle has worked with every Head of Middle School in the School's history. She was present for the first graduating 8th grade class and continues to be a steadying presence in the Middle School office.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Cindy Hilton, Lower School 5th grade Language Arts teacher about her professional background including five years in finance and 17 years in education. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.  Cindy Hilton holds an Associate of Science in Biology from San Jacinto College and a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston–Clear Lake. She is certified in EC–6 Generalist, EC–12 Special Education, English as a Second Language (ELL), and Gifted and Talented (GT).  Throughout her teaching career, Cindy has worked with 2nd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, Special Education, and GT students, building a strong foundation in supporting a wide range of learners.   Cindy and her husband Jay, the School's Director of Facility Operations, not only work together at PS, but they also work together in their community. She and her husband pastor a small church in the Clear Lake area where she teaches Sunday School, and is part of the praise team. In their free time, the Hiltons enjoy fishing in Galveston Bay, Port Aransas, and Rockport. Cindy also enjoys bible journaling, reading, sewing, and embroidering.  Jay and Cindy have been enjoying life together for 30 years, and they are proud parents to sons Blaze (24), Bishop (22), and Brooks (13), and bonus son Charles (20). At home, her family also cares for chickens, ducks, and two quirky German Shepherds.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Elliott Roddy, PS Class of '03 alum, about his journey from dishwasher to restauranteur and chef. Elliott was part of the first graduating 8th grade class at Presbyterian School and remembers his time at PS with fondness. He is a member of the  School's Alumni Board, which helps plans alumni events and brainstorm new ways to engage alumni. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.  Elliott holds a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and an associate's degree from the Art Institute of Houston. He worked for several notable local Houston restaurants from fast casual to fine dining.  He currently owns his own restaurant called Elliott's Table and has recently expanded his business to include a private event space. Elliott is passionate about creating a chef-driven dining experience where everything is scratch made. His restaurant is a small intimate place offering only dinner service Wednesday-Saturday. Between using local wine distributors to local pastry chefs, Elliott is bringing together the best of what Houston offers.

Tune in to hear Dr. Mark Carleton, Head of School, Brenton Smith, School Chaplain, Terry Flores, Lower School Art Teacher, and Allison Parker, former PS Bible Teacher, share the inspiration behind their new book, God Is...Writing, which they co-authored and illustrated this year. Check out this podcast episode now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.  God Is...Writing is Presbyterian School's new faith-based children's picture book. This beautifully illustrated picture book introduces children to the foundational truth that God speaks to us through Scripture. With rhythmic, memorable verse and stunning collage artwork inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s own faith journey, God Is…Writing invites families to explore the Bible together, discovering that since God is the Author of all Scripture and the author of the stories of our own lives, we can trust we will find Him (and ourselves) on every page of His Word. Purchase this book on Amazon now!

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Brandon Walker, Head of Middle School, about his journey from an independent school student to a teacher, administrator, and parent. Brandon’s life and career trajectory was altered by independent school educators who saw his promise and had the capacity and desire to invest in his growth. Their belief in him, coupled with access to rigorous academics and meaningful mentorship, not only changed his life but inspired his commitment to doing the same for others. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.  Brandon holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Statistics from Purdue University and a Master of Education in Independent School Leadership from Vanderbilt University. His leadership is rooted in the conviction that schools are more than academic institutions; they are places where students are known, challenged, and empowered. He considers it both a privilege and a calling to help shape an environment where adults invest in students’ potential and every student flourishes. Outside of school, Brandon enjoys reading, journaling, camping/hiking, and spending time with his family.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Ashley Kennedy, PS Middle School Bible Teacher and Middle School Girls Associate Director at First Presbyterian Church (FPC), about her love for middle school students. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.    Ashley earned her Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources from Texas A&M University, and decided to pair her desire to help people with middle school aged students. After graduating from college, Ashley quickly realized her true passion was investing in students and watching them grow. She currently serves as the Middle School Girls Associate Director at FPC and works part-time as a Bible teacher at PS—two roles that let her spend her days with the most joyful, hilarious, and big-hearted group of middle school girls. Ashley's work with students was heavily influenced by her many transformational years at Laity Lodge, an ecumenical retreat center in the Texas Hill Country, where she was both a camper and camp counselor.  When she's not hanging out with girls, Ashley enjoys exploring The Heights and listening to audiobooks. Some of her favorite moments are walking through her neighborhood anticipating a new street or cozy corner to discover with coffee in hand listening to an audiobook. In everything she does, Ashley is eager to build community, cheer students on, and create spaces where girls feel seen, known, and deeply loved.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Courtney Daniell-Knapp, Director of Fine Arts, about her passion for the arts, this year's 8th grade musical, and what she hopes to continue nurturing in the PS fine arts program. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.  For over 20 years at Presbyterian School, Courtney Daniell-Knapp has enjoyed teaching music at every division. As the Director of Fine Arts, she invests her time in deepening meaningful instruction and programming for students 3 to 14 years old and cultivates partnerships in the surrounding museums and theater districts that allow for the unique fine arts experience at PS. Courtney enjoys curating her fine arts department with diverse practicing artists and professionals who excel in their trade, whether it is in performing art, visual art or digital art. A life-long learner herself, Courtney always knew she would be a teacher. Courtney received her Bachelor of Arts in French from Vanderbilt University, her Master of Music from Rice University and is currently pursuing a Masters in Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from University of Houston. Courtney has conducted choirs of all ages at Palmer Memorial Episocpal Church and University of St. Thomas. She is mother to grown sons Emerson (PS ‘15) and Theodore (PS ‘ 17), and Kirby, the devoted dog. When not at school or at church, she loves to start needlepoint projects, finish non-fiction books, walk in the woods, and try new recipes.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Vasti Adkins, Early Childhood Music teacher and 5th Grade Panther Music Lab teacher, about her path through music education from the Kinder High School for Performing Arts (HSPVA) to Presbyterian School. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.  Vasti holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Houston Christian University and an MBA in Music Business from Berklee College of Music and Southern New Hampshire University. At Presbyterian School, Vasti teaches Early Childhood music as well as 5th grade Panther Music Lab and helps lead worship for Early Childhood Chapel. Vasti helped create the Panther Music Lab, a project-based curriculum where students use digital platforms to create, compose, and arrange music. Once an elective, this popular unit is now part of the core 5th grade music program. Outside of Presbyterian School, Vasti leads the Houston Boychoir Preparatory Choir with Holly Holt, PS Lower School Music Teacher, and is  an active music minister. On any given Sunday you can find Vasti leading congregations around the city across denominations and languages in worship and praise. Vasti is mother to “Baby Joel”, as early childhood students love to call him, and wife to Jake Adkins, her college sweetheart.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Lindsay Renken, Early Childhood PK4 teacher, about her path into education, the inspiration behind creating PreK Airlines and her love for Presbyterian School.  This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.  Lindsay received her BA from Texas A&M University and an M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from University of Houston. Prior to teaching at Presbyterian School, she spent a couple of years developing educational software and working part-time at various private schools in Houston. Lindsay began as a PK3 teacher at Presbyterian School in 2006 and soon thereafter landed in PK4 where she has remained teaching ever since. Lindsay is the co-creator and founder of the School's PreK Airlines curriculum which is used in PK4 to teach students about different international cultures including art, history, music, food, customs, language and more through world travel.  Lindsay is passionate about bringing kids back to being KIDS with less technology, more messiness and more teamwork. Outside of school, Lindsay enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter (Indy '28), trying new restaurants, traveling, reading and watching true crime documentaries

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with James Menephee, Middle School Ethics teacher, about his path into education and his role in teaching ethics at Presbyterian School.  This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.   James received his Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Phoenix and a Certificate of Biblical Leadership from the Vineyard Institute. After serving 10 years in the military followed by jobs in the corporate America, James decided to pursue a career in teaching and went back to get his alternative teaching certificate. He came to Presbyterian School from A+ Up Charter School where he was a Middle School Social Studies teacher. At PS, James teaches ethics to 6th-8th graders and also leads the Middle School Student Senate. James enjoys volunteering as a teaching pastor at the Brazos Church in Richmond as well as working with the Multicultural Center “Hunger Truck” to support the homeless in downtown. A lifelong learner, James is a seventh degree black belt in martial arts and in his free time enjoys reading, music, and learning how to do new things like acrylic painting.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Seven Mile Road Church pastor Jeremiah Morris about his calling and experience with developing house churches, church planting, and leading a mission-minded group while creating much-needed connection.  This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.  Jeremiah s a husband, dad, disciple-maker and church planter. He is a seventh generation Texan but was raised throughout the eastern United States.  He returned to Texas to attend TCU in Fort Worth. It was during college that he came to Houston for the first time as a result of his connection with the youth program at First Presbyterian Church. After college he served for nearly ten years at FPC in a variety of positions. He also earned a Master of Divinity degree during a brief hiatus at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA.  He planted Seven Mile Road Houston 8 years ago and currently serves as the Pastor of Preaching and Vision.  He is also passionate about the work he does serving as a board member for the Houston Church Planting Network.   Jeremiah Morris has close ties to Presbyterian School as his wife, Ashley was a former PS teacher and his sons, Finn, Caleb, and Judah are current students at the School.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church pastor Jeff Smith about his career in ministry and his thoughts on responding to anxiety, parenting and more.  This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Jeff was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana but got to Texas as fast as he could! After spending his elementary and middle school years in Houston, Jeff attended Texas A&M University and graduated with a BBA in Marketing. After graduation, he spent the first two years working in the business world before sensing a call to ministry. After 11 years of ministry, nine of which were at First Presbyterian Church, Houston, Jeff attended Princeton Seminary and earned his Masters of Divinity. Jeff served at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York City, and First Presbyterian Church, Pasadena, TX before receiving the call to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Houston in 2004.   Jeff has very close ties to Presbyterian School as his wife, Amy, was a former PS teacher and Chaplain, his daughter Brenton, is an alum of the School and the School's current Chaplain, and his son, Craig is an alum of the School and a former member of the School's Alumni Board.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with author Curtis Chang. Presbyterian School was honored to host Curtis earlier this month for a parent ed event focused on his book, The Anxiety Opportunity.  If you missed this parent ed event, tune in to our podcast to hear some of his thoughts. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.  A graduate of Harvard University and former Rockefeller Fellow, Curtis Chang bridges the worlds of secular institutions and theology. He is the founder and CEO of Consulting Within Reach (CWR), a firm serving nonprofits and government agencies. His consulting work has won an award in social innovation from the Obama White House, and he teaches strategic planning as a faculty member of American University’s School of International Service. Curtis is also a consulting professor at Duke Divinity School and a Senior Fellow at Fuller Theological Seminary. Prior to his career in consulting, Curtis served as the senior pastor of an Evangelical Covenant Church in San Jose, California. He is the author of The After Party: Towards Better Christian Politics (with Nancy French), The Anxiety Opportunity: How Worry Is the Doorway to Your Best Self, and Engaging Unbelief: A Captivating Strategy from Augustine and Aquinas. Learn more from Curtis on his Good Faith podcast where he discusses how Christian faith intersects with culture, law and politics.

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with author Felicia Song. Presbyterian School was honored to have Felicia on campus earlier this month for a parent ed event focused on her book, Restless Devices and the tyranny of the digital age and the meaningful pathways of resistance that can be found in Christian tradition. If you missed this parent ed event, tune in to our podcast to hear some of her thoughts. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.  Felicia Song is a sociologist, writer, speaker and former professor. She received her Bachelor of Arts in History from Yale University, an MA in Communication Studies from Northwestern University and a PhD in Sociology from the University of Virginia. She taught journalism, mass communication, and an array of sociology classes for over two decades at higher institutions of learning including Louisiana State University and Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. Her research and wrtiing revolves around the place of media and technology in our contemporary lives and how it shapes the most fundamental ways in which we interact, think, and even perceive reality. The publication of her book, Restless Devices, has opened many opportunities for Felicia to speak, teach, and consult with Christian faith communities and leaders around the world on how we can work collectively towards living more humane lives in an otherwise digitally-saturated and consumer-oriented society. For more information on Felicia Song, visit https://feliciawusong.com/

Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with First Presbyterian Church Pastor of Outreach, Emmanuel Paulpeter. Get to know Emmanuel as he and Dr. Carleton talk about a wide range of topics including how individuals can navigate through questions of faith and doubt together to how technology forms us spiritually. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast.  Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Paulpeter is the Pastor of Outreach at First Presbyterian Church (FPC). Emmanuel grew up in India, got his bachelors in Engineering and worked in the software industry for 10 years before he got God's call to ministry. Emmanuel went to seminary at the Houston Graduate School of Theology and has been working at FPC since 2017. Emmanuel loves to read on a range of topics from psychology to literature to philosophy to theology. He especially enjoys engaging with people about current movies and stories while connecting them with the Gospel. He is passionate about creating communities where people can explore their questions and doubts about faith and helped to bring Alpha to FPC. Alpha is a a listening community designed to help participants explore questions about spirituality and faith in a non-judging space. Individuals, whether Christian or non-Christian, skeptic or seeker, are invited to process their questions about faith and spirituality together in honest reflections. Click here for more information on Alpha and/or to join the community.  Emmanuel  and his lovely wife Rachael have been married for almost three years. They enjoy hikes, and going on long roadtrips to the southwest.