Fine Arts - Art & Music
Our goal in Fine Arts is to improve and encourage kids' creativity, confidence, and perseverance which is essential to a child's growth. Through Fine Arts we also work to promote self-esteem, motivation, aesthetic awareness, cultural exposure, creativity, improved emotional expression, as well as social harmony and appreciation of diversity. Fine arts also help develop academic skills, motor skills, visual learning, decision-making, focus, collaboration, and accountability.
About each team member:
Linda Chapa. I graduated from St. Edward’s University and have been teaching art in AISD for 22 years. I have been the art teacher here at Houston Elementary since 2019. I love being creative with kids and seeing them develop their artistic talent through a variety of art mediums. I enjoy spending time with my family, my dog Cupcake and friends. I like to travel and experience different cultures. I am originally from South Africa.
Marquise Stampley. I graduated from Prairie View A&M University and this is my first year teaching at Houston Elementary. I have been singing since I was 10 years old. I also played the trumpet for 3 years. I am originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. I had the chance to travel because of music. I have been on a European Tour with my choir. I am so excited to share my love of music with our students.
Physical Education Department
PE Goal: To leave the world a better place than how we found it!
About each team member:
Andy Martinez - Ten years in education, Coach Martinez is happy to be here, he’s joining AISD this year after his move to Austin from his hometown of Laredo. Coach loves to exercise, spend time with his family, and play all sports, especially baseball and Football.
Joshua Zapata - Coach Zapata has spent the last 11 years working in education inside of the Austin city limits, he has previously coached and taught at Eastside Memorial and Travis High schools. This is his second year coaching at the Primary school level. In his free time, Coach Zapata plays soccer on multiple teams, reads, and strives to enjoy the beautiful central Texas weather!
Fine Arts 6th Grade Band & Orchestra
Ryan Dufrene. Ryan has taught band and music at all grade levels (K-12) since 2008. He has been a presenter at both the district and state level on the topic of jazz improvisation. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for both undergraduate and graduate school and has also studied jazz education at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.
Ryan has played the trumpet for nearly 30 years, including associations with various bands in Louisiana, and has performed across the United States, in Europe, and with Grammy-winning artists. He has worked as a pit conductor for a professional musical theater company. He has also served as the service coordinator for a music store and as a port captain and payroll administrator for his father's tug boat company.
Ryan has been married to his wife Katie since 2007. She is a life skills teacher at Patton Elementary. They live in Oak Hill with their Chihuahua mix Louis. They love hiking, kayaking, traveling, and watching hockey, especially the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Timothy Rios. Music has been my ‘Life Force’ from the time I started burning through my mother’s 45 record collection. I have composed, recorded, and performed music professionally for over 35 years. I studied at Berklee College of Music for two years. I returned to Houston and obtained a degree in Biology at The University of Houston. I have worked in the Environmental Sciences field for twenty-two years. This is my first year teaching and my hope is to give back to the community and share my love of music with my students.