Faculty and Administration

As the Admissions Associate at The Clariden School, Sarika is committed to ensuring a seamless experience for prospective students and their families, offering assistance and support throughout the admissions process. With an MBA in Marketing Management from the University of Dallas, Sarika brings strategic thinking and relationship building to her role. As a proud parent of two Clariden Cougars, Sarika's dedication to the institution extends beyond her professional duties. Her passion for education and commitment to the school's values drives her to connect with each family, helping them envision their future within the dynamic community. Outside of her professional life, Sarika enjoys traveling to explore new destinations and cultures, as well as spending quality time with family and friends to create lasting memories. 

Julie received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from The University of Texas at Arlington. She taught AP courses for 29 years at Grapevine High School in GCISD.  When she retired from public education, she knew she wanted to continue to work in the field of education and found her new home here at The Clariden School.  During her first two years at Clariden, she worked at the front desk and taught 8th grade ELA. She is currently the Front Office Manager and Admissions Coordinator. She has been married to her husband Patrick for 31 years.  They have two children and two wonderful grandchildren.   

Our SRO recently joined the Southlake Police Department after a 20-year career with the Los Angeles Police Department. During their first 15 years with the LAPD, they diversified their experience with assignments in patrol, the gang unit, narcotics, VICE, and surveillance. The last five years were spent as a Detective and a Detective Supervisor where they worked Robbery, Burglary, Domestic Violence, and Sexual Assault Crimes. Their passion is the safety of children, and they're honored to be in this role of School Resource Officer tasked with protecting the precious children of the Clariden School.

Kate Lindsey graduated from Tarleton State University with a degree in Human Sciences and a minor in business, and she holds a certificate in leadership. She has been teaching for the past ten years in lower elementary grades and holds certifications in ESL, Art, and Elementary Generalist. Kate is excited to begin her third year as a Clariden Cougar!

Mrs. Cecilia Chilcoat is the dedicated and caring leader of our Extended Day program. She has been a positive impact on the lives of our Clariden students for seven years in both the extended day and as a substitute in many of the classrooms across our campus. Cecilia and her husband are 14-year residents of our surrounding community and the proud parents of two professional young women leaders.
 

Brittany Barnes is proud to be a Clariden Cougar since 2023! She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Texas Woman’s University. This will be her eighth year as an educator, and she will continue to serve in Clariden’s middle school program. She and her husband have two beautiful children of their own who are 9 months old and 2 years old. In her free time, she enjoys accompanying her children to activities, such as swimming and gymnastics and being outdoors. 

Rissa Westerfield has been a Clariden educator for eight years. She brings a love of science to students, especially dinosaurs and crocodiles! She received her Master of Science degree from Texas Tech University and is also a member of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology.  Rissa's educational background and experience have given her the opportunity to partner with Crocodile Encounter to bring either a crocodile or alligator into the classroom each year.  In addition to being an educator, Rissa has contributed to research in paleontology in museums such as the Perot Museum (formerly the Dallas Museum of Natural History), Dallas Historical Society, Shuler Museum of Paleontology (SMU), and the Smithsonian Institute. In her free time she loves spending time with her family, playing games, sewing, and traveling.  

Kirsten holds an MFA in Musical Theater from the Boston Conservatory and a BA in Music Performance from Whitworth University. She has been the performing arts teacher at Clariden since 2018, teaching music, theater, and dance to students in Cougar Prep through Upper School. Mrs. Simmons is the director of Drama Club and has put on several musical theater productions, including The Lion King Jr. and Finding Nemo Jr. She is also the Cheer coach. Kirsten is thankful to teach at Clariden with her husband, Marcus.   

Christi is a seasoned educator with over 13 years of experience in the field of education. Passionate about nurturing young minds and fostering innovation, Christi serves as the Elementary School STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) teacher, guiding students to explore the realms of creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. In addition to STEAM education, Christi has also contributed to curricula in Computer Science and Business Information Management.

Christi holds a master's degree in early childhood education and has extensive expertise in child development and effective teaching strategies tailored to young learners. As a National Certified STEM Educator, Christi is committed to excellence in STEM education. 

Brittany Chavez is passionate about fostering a love for fitness, health, and lifelong wellness.  Brittany has more than twelve years of experience in the coaching and teaching field and has dedicated her career to inspiring students to lead an active lifestyle and have fun doing it!  Brittany is committed to empowering the next generation by instilling a love for activity while promoting the values of sportsmanship and teamwork.  

Brittany holds a BS Degree in Kinesiology/Sports Medicine from California Baptist University and is certified in CPR and First Aid.  

From her earliest days as a child athlete to her role as a dedicated Physical Education teacher, Brittany's journey has been fueled by a deep-seated love for sports and fitness.   Through her high school years, she proudly represented her school on the Varsity soccer team all four years, along with Volleyball and Track and Field.  Brittany then went on and got a college scholarship to pursue her dreams of playing soccer at the collegiate level.  She also joined the college golf team.  As an adult, Brittany plays indoor soccer, trains Jiu Jitsu, and works out in her spare time.  

Brittany is married with two boys, ages 14 and 11.  Her favorite thing to do is be with her family and watch her boys play the sports they love!