Jamie Sonnier – Arts
Mrs. Jamie Sonnier joins DBA this year as Arts Coordinator and Afternoon Academic Coach. Mrs. Sonnier brings to DBA outstanding expertise and understanding as an arts educator and shaper of young minds. In a career spanning 25 years at institutions such as Episcopal High School and the Houston Center for Photography, she has introduced a wide range of young people to the joys of photography and helped them achieve outstanding results through her coaching. Her students’ work has appeared in numerous competitions such as Scholastic Art and Writing and the TAEA Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE), guiding over 200 award-winning student exhibitors to recognition. She is also an esteemed professional artist in her own right, owning and operating her own photography business Casa de Camera here in Houston. Mrs. Sonnier brings a wealth of gifts that she is excited to share with the DBA community. She is teaching the Photojournalism course, instructing students on the basics of photography as they collaborate on the creation of the school’s yearbook. She is also a lead afternoon teacher, serving as Advisor to our 6th grade team and guiding students through a variety of academic skills work. Moreover, she is excited to play a key role in developing STEAM and art components for the interdisciplinary projects and activities of our Learning Lab period. Finally, her marketing and communications capabilities will be a huge asset as she advances our outreach efforts online and in the community. Mrs. Sonnier is inspired by DBA’s mission to build an engaging and collaborative learning environment that supports the unique needs of each individual student.
Kathi Lerch – Math
Mrs. Kathi Lerch is in her second year at DBA serving as Math Teacher. Mrs. Lerch brings a passion and enthusiasm to the classroom that has shone throughout her educational career spanning three decades. She began teaching middle school in 1990 in Southern California, working in small classes similar to DBA and instructing students in many subjects ranging from Math to English to History. She spent the bulk of her years at Holy Cross Lutheran School in Cypress, CA, where she was instrumental in developing innovative new curriculum programs and raising rigor in math instruction. Her career took an exciting twist when in 2011 she became a Cast Member at Disneyland, where she continued to teach as a lead trainer for new hires. After relocating to Houston several years ago, Mrs. Lerch came out of retirement in 2023 to teach math classes at DBA. She is currently serving as Curriculum Coordinator in math, leading our transition to the Saxon Math program. She is also teaching the Modern World History course this year. Inspired by her faith, Mrs. Lerch is a fervent advocate for DBA’s mission to meet the unique needs of middle school students and provide them with energetic instruction in the classroom.
Michael Wertz – Science
Mr. Michael Wertz joins DBA this year as Science Teacher and STEM Coordinator. Mr. Wertz brings to DBA decades of experience in exceptional science instruction and the development outstanding curriculum programs. From 1993-2014, he taught advanced science courses at the South Texas High School for Health Professions in Mercedes, Texas, where he collaborated in curriculum building around problem-based and case study learning initiatives. In 2014, Mr. Wertz moved to the Baylor College of Medicine Academy here in Houston, applying his expertise to help launch the health sciences department and enhance the middle school curriculum. In addition to his excellence in the classroom, he has coached numerous student competitors to success at the Science and Engineering Fair of Houston and Texas State Science Fair. Mr. Wertz has been a leader in advancing science education at the national level, serving as a presenter at the National Science Teachers Association Conference and a mentor teacher for the National Math and Science Initiative. With a passion for middle school and expertise in project-based learning, we are thrilled that he is bringing his immense knowledge to help build an innovative and engaging middle school science and STEM program in the classroom and beyond. Mr. Wertz names Dietrich Bonhoeffer as one of his personal heroes, and he is excited to be a part of our school dedicated to promoting the life and legacy of Pastor Bonhoeffer.
Eric Lerch – Humanities
Mr. Eric Lerch is continuing in the classroom as Humanities Teacher in addition to his role as Head of School. Coach Lerch has taught history for over 20 years, developing outstanding curricula programs in World Cultures, Modern World History, and United States History. With an educational background in both history and literature, he has been recognized by his students for fostering strong growth in reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. A lifelong student of religion and theology, he also teaches courses in Old and New Testament as well as pioneering a new middle school class on the Western Intellectual Tradition. Coach Lerch maintains a strong commitment to school administrators staying in the classroom to remain close to the action with students, and he describes his teaching periods as the best part of his day.
