Courtney is a graduate of an independent school, St. Mary's Episcopal School in Memphis, TN, and has spent the past 15 years working for independent schools. She received her BA from Colorado College in 1997, and following a brief stint on Wall Street, she joined the Alumni and Development Office at Collegiate School in Manhattan in 2001. She worked for Collegiate for 10 years serving as the Director of Development before relocating to Houston, TX with her husband and three kids. She joined the St. John's Advancement Office as Director of Alumni and Communications in 2012 and became the Director of Admission in 2014. Courtney serves as an advisor in addition to her responsibilities in the Admission Office. She is also a parent of three very enthusiastic SJS students who look forward to serving on the SJS Tour Guild in a few years. She feels fortunate to be a part of the SJS community and enjoys sharing her love of SJS with prospective families.
Nicole Vlasek
Senior Associate Director of Admission, Middle School Mathematics
Nikki has over 25 years of experience working in education. After earning her B.S. from Texas A&M in 1990, she worked in the public school system for 7 years before making her way to St. John’s in 1997. During her time at St. John’s, her range of experience has included teaching mathematics in the Middle School, sponsoring student clubs, and coaching volleyball in the Upper School. She began working in the Admission Office in 2001, and while she still teaches two classes in the Middle School and is an advisor, she interviews and counsels families through the process, oversees ISEE and OLSAT for applicants grades 5 through 12, and works with families who are applying from out of state or country.
Tahra has spent the past 12 years working with children of all ages. After graduating from the University of Virginia, she moved to Houston and worked as the Associate Director for a nonprofit dedicated to helping children with life threatening illnesses. In 2010, she began working for Houston’s Independent Schools in the capacity of development and eventually moved into admission. In 2014, Tahra joined the Admission Team at St. John’s School. She currently serves as an Upper School advisor. As a mother of two, she understands the importance of finding the right school for each child. Tahra enjoys meeting with prospective students and getting to know their families. She has a passion for helping others and loves telling families why she believes St. John’s is so special.
Sean has spent the last four years working with children of all ages, but primarily with high school students. After growing up in New England private schools, he earned his B.S. in History from Allegheny College in 2012, where he was also a member of the varsity football team. After he graduated, Sean went back home to Massachusetts to work as a teaching, coaching and dorm fellow at The Fessenden School. Following his fellowship, he moved back to western Pennsylvania, where he spent three years working as an admission representative, a teacher, a coach, and a dorm parent at The Kiski School, an all-male boarding high school. At Kiski, Sean spent significant time recruiting young men from around the world but also taught a variety of history courses and coached varsity football and varsity basketball. Sean has a sound understanding of the private school experience and is passionate about informing families of the vast array of benefits private education has to offer.
D’Hania has been associated with St. John’s since her brothers entered in 1995. She joins the Admissions Team after a 23-year career in the United States Army. She brings multifaceted life experiences as a retired Lieutenant Colonel, from oversees deployments to Korea and Iraq to working in the Department of Admissions and Department of Mathematics at the United States Military Academy. D’Hania earned a B.S. in Mathematical Sciences from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and a M.S. in Applied Mathematics from Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. In addition to Admissions, D’Hania is involved with the everyday life at St. John’s working with the 90 students who represent our Tour Guild and is an Upper School advisor. She understands the academic, physical, social, and spiritual rigors necessary for success and believes St. John’s offers an excellent foundation to becoming a well-rounded global citizen.
Jennifer is more than familiar with the traditions and community of St. John’s as her family has a long history of graduates. Jennifer is a U.T. graduate with a degree in finance. Prior to coming on board at SJS, she focused her time not only volunteering as a St. John’s parent but also chairing the River Oaks Garden Club Azalea Trail, Zoo Ball, Theta Charity Antiques Show, serving on the Junior League executive committee, Friends of Fondren board, ROCC Women’s board and St. John’s the Divine associate vestry. Jennifer says the best part of her job is getting to share the positive experience her family had at St. John’s, serving as a resource for students and parents in terms of what to expect, and answering the many questions families have when considering St. John’s.
Lisa joined St. John's in 2015 and served as an administrative assistant for the daily operations of the Middle School division. In the Admission Office and as a bilingual staff member, she provides guidance to families throughout the admissions process, manages the application database, and oversees the Open House events and student visits. In addition, Lisa maintains her connection to the Middle School as an advisor. Her professional background includes working in the human resources department of the Houston Astros Baseball Club and as a legislative liaison for the Texas House of Representatives. After earning a teaching certificate and her B.A. in public relations from the University of Houston, Lisa taught second grade for several years and uses this experience to enhance her engagement and interactions with the SJS community. In addition, she is a parent of a Lower School student and has first-hand experience with all of the exceptional opportunities at St. John’s.
