The St. Stephen’s community is grateful to this dedicated group of Spartans who have helped the school carry out its mission.

As the 2024-25 academic year draws to a close, we honor award-winning faculty and recognize retiring staff members, celebrating major milestones through their years of service.

Service Recognitions

In January 2025, St. Stephen’s associate director of the International Program and Chair of Chinese studies Hai Zheng Olefsky was honored during a special Chapel service for dedicating 25 years of service to St. Stephen’s. She is passionate about teaching Spartans Chinese language and culture.

One month later, she received the prestigious 2024-25 Heartland Chinese Teacher Award (HTCA) from the United States Heartland China Association (USHCA). Olefsky was one of five finalists across 21 states in the U.S. Heartland region. In the fall of 2025, Olefsky was elected as the 2nd Vice President of the Chinese Language Association for Secondary Schools at the ACTFL-CLASS conference and board meeting in Philadelphia. The role involves significant volunteer hours and contributions that benefit St. Stephen's, the Chinese program and students. According to the association’s bylaws, the 2nd Vice President will progress to 1st Vice President and ultimately become President — a role she is expected to fully transition to by 2027. Olefsky has served on the CLASS board since 2023.

Olefsky is also an Assistant Professor of Music at Southwestern University where she teaches cello and bass, and shares her gifts with the St. Stephen’s community during special chapel performances.

Lead Groundskeeper Rafael Segura-Mendez was recognized in September 2024 for 20 years of service to the St. Stephen’s Community. During a chapel service, Director of Outdoor Education Charlton Perry told Upper School shared with Upper School students that loves introducing them to the people who labor intensively every day to make the school a great place.

“No one works harder than Rafael” said Perry.

Mendez has embraced his position on The Hill, and the school’s mission. He goes above and beyond each and every day enhancing the beauty of the campus through his dedicated work ethic, positive attitude and landscaping expertise, which includes keeping the campus live oak trees healthy and keeping the canopies nicely trimmed and shaped.

“Next time you’re under a tree, I would like you to think about and appreciate how beautiful this campus is — and think of Rafael,” said Perry. “And if you see Rafael on campus, you can tell him, ‘hello.’ He's out there all the time.”

Honoring Our Spartan Retirees

The St. Stephen’s community bids farewell to three talented and devoted retiring faculty and staff members who have served the campus for a collective 83 years. Although their presence on campus will be missed, their inspiring legacy is long-lasting. The St. Stephen’s community celebrated each retiree during a special chapel service, and wished each of these Spartans good health and great happiness as they embark on their next chapter.

Jim Woodruff began his three-decade tenure at St. Stephen’s on August 1, 1990 and has worn many hats along his impactful journey. From 1990 to 1995 he served as the director of development and later transitioned into academics as assistant and head of Upper School. Most noteworthy has been Woodruff’s 31-plus years in the classroom. He began teaching theology in 1991 and has served as the Theology Department chair since 1992. He has inspired hundreds and hundreds of intrepid theologians, as he calls them, leading them through the spiritual autobiography process and sharing the compelling stories of so many colleagues. The Class of 2025 selected Woodruff as this year’s faculty Graduation speaker. 

Through the years, students have enjoyed and appreciated Woodruff’s approach to theology, some commenting in their written evaluations that “he encourages seniors to think critically, reflect on their own lives, be interested in the lives of other people, and get to know all their classmates.”

Woodruff is probably most known on campus for taking his class on walks and having class near the Brewster Memorial — he jokingly urges them to “walk like theologians” with their hands behind their backs while deep in thought, and uses the school's beautiful campus as his classroom.

Senior Associate Director of Admission Martha Black is retiring after 30 years of supporting prospective students and parents. During a chapel service in May, Lawrence Sampleton, the associate head of school for enrollment management and financial aid spoke about Black’s three decades of service on The Hill. Black was first hired as an office assistant, and later advanced to assistant director, associate director and then senior director. She has traveled thousands of miles across the United States to recruit talented students, led new student orientation and planned numerous admission events. Black has also been instrumental in introducing more technology to streamline and improve office efficiency — moving from the “old school” snail mail way of sending Admission contracts to prospective families to sending contracts digitally, speeding up response time.

“The reason I'm using that as an example is because Martha was there with us every step of the way,” said Sampleton.

At the end of her special retirement chapel recognition, Texas Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio P ‘29, ‘27, stepped up to make a surprise announcement that one day prior, (May 15, 2025), he passed House Resolution 1113. The special Resolution “honors Black’s retirement as the senior associate director of admission for boarding recruitment of St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Austin in 2025, drawing a close to an exemplary tenure with the school that has spanned three decades.” 

Fischer’s two daughters will attend St. Stephen’s in the fall, and he said he was moved to pass the resolution. 

“We always tell [our daughters] about gratitude and kindness. And that is how we felt from the very first time we spoke to [Martha] about considering this school and going through the application process,” said Fischer. “And we recall very vividly that you Zoomed with us on a snow day from your house to talk to us about looming deadlines and things that had to occur with all due speed.”

Black has also been a huge advocate of Key Society, a group of Spartans who help introduce the campus to prospective students and families. Most of all, she will be remembered for being nice to everyone, every day.

Missie Thorpe retired in September 2024 as St. Stephen’s Bookstore Manager and Purchasing Director. During her 18-year tenure, the store she was in charge of moved locations several times, while Thorpe’s genuine care and dedication to the faculty, staff and students on The Hill never wavered.

During a special Chapel service honoring her retirement, Upper School English instructor Dr. Colleen Hynes described the countless ways Thorpe played a critical role on campus. From supporting and equipping faculty and staff with what they needed on a daily basis — to stocking classroom and office supplies, to making sure copiers were functioning. Thorpe anticipated the needs of the residential community, ordering odds and ends to tie folks over until that next Target run, keeping greeting cards on the rack and making sure there was plenty of Spartan spirit merchandise on the shelves. Hynes said some of the most important moments in the bookstore weren’t about paper clips or pens or bottles of Gold Leaf Tea. 

“It's the moments that Miss Thorpe is connecting with all of us who come and go as part of our day. She has a smile and upbeat attitude even when the line is out the door on those sweltering, hottest August days when everyone gears up for a new year. And more than once since I've been writing or conferencing in [my office], I've heard her on the other side of the wall offering moral support and a listening ear to students who stopped by for Post it notes, but really needed a little TLC.”

Leaving The Hill

The following faculty and staff members are wrapping up their time on The Hill. We thank these Spartans for their service and wish them well.

Alex Taylor, Director of College Counseling

Since April 2023, Alex Taylor has been a part of the College Counseling team, supporting and advising students and families on how to successfully navigate the college planning process. Alex served as an Upper School advisor and sponsored the Jewish Culture Club.

Britt Thorp, Ceramics Instructor

After four years on The Hill, Britt Thorp and his wife are moving to Ohio to be closer to family and to open their own pottery studio. Thorp was responsible for managing the procurement and installation of the school's new pottery kiln.

Gretchen Young, Upper School History Instructor

Since August 2023, Gretchen has taught 9th grade History, a Historical True Crime seminar, served as a Breakthrough sponsor and co-sponsored Student Government. She has been an invaluable member of the history department and a trusted colleague.

Shelby Devitt, Librarian

Shelby Devitt will conclude her service at St. Stephen's at the end of this academic year. During Devitt's two years on The Hill, she was promoted from library assistant to librarian. We would like to thank Shelby for her contributions to Becker Library and the entire school community over the past two years.