More about our Administrators

Alison Moffatt (Head of School): As one of the founders of Live Oak, Mrs. Moffatt became the Head of School in 2004. She has also served as an ex officio member of the Board. Through her years at Live Oak, she has served on the Advisory Board for the Center for Christian Education at Baylor University, the Society for Classical Learning board, and the Texas Christian Athletic League board. She graduated summa cum laude from Baylor University with a B.A. in English and from Texas A&M with an M.Ed. in education administration. Mrs. Moffatt previously worked as the Assistant Director of Admissions at Rice University and taught leadership and student development classes at Dallas Baptist University and the University of Dallas. She is married to Dr. Todd Moffatt. Two of their sons and their daughter are graduates of Live Oak Classical School.

Email: amoffatt@liveoakclassical.com

Allison Buras (Dean of Grammar School): Founding Live Oak in 2004 alongside Alison Moffatt and Carolyn Still marked the fulfillment of a dream that began in 1995 around a Dallas dinner table. Mrs. Buras attended Baylor University for her undergraduate degree in English with a minor in history. After college, she earned a lifetime teaching certificate for grades Pre-K through 8. Mrs. Buras has worked in education for over 25 years teaching Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades, and high school English as well as serving in various administrative positions. She has served as the Dean of the Grammar School since 2011. She completed a Master of Theological Studies degree at Truett Seminary, where she was also able to study Christian Education at Baylor’s School of Education and at Regent College. She is married to Todd Buras, who is Chair of the Philosophy Department at Baylor, and together they have three sons, including two Live Oak graduates and one in the Rhetoric School at Live Oak.

Email: aburas@liveoakclassical.com

Jennifer Bankhead (Dean of Logic & Rhetoric Schools): Mrs. Bankhead began teaching at Live Oak in 2019 and currently serves as Dean of the Logic & Rhetoric Schools. She earned a B.A. in Literature from Baylor University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from West Texas A&M University. She holds a Texas secondary certification in English and educational administration. Before serving at Live Oak, she spent eleven years in public education. She and her husband Michael have three children who are all Live Oak students.

Email: jbankhead@liveoakclassical.com

Briana “Breez” Marker, Ph.D (Chief of Staff): Dr. Marker began working at Live Oak in 2022 and has served in education since 2008. She has worked as an English teacher, writing specialist, and department chair in secondary education. Dr. Marker completed her Ph.D. in education at Regent University. Her dissertation, “Factors to Prepare Christians for Service in Public Education,” has served as a guide for Christian universities and a reference for Christian Educators Association International, as these organizations seek to equip Christian educators for service in education. More recently, Dr. Marker worked as an assistant instructor in Regent University’s School of Education, where she taught the capstone course for graduate students and designed two Christian education graduate programs for teachers and administrators. She is married and has two children attending Live Oak. Her family enjoys adventures in nature, playing sports, and worshipping together at a local church.

Email: bmarker@liveoakclassical.com

Brice Helton (Athletic Director and Facilities Director): Mr. Helton has been working at Live Oak since 2016 and serves as our Athletic Director, head football coach, and head track coach. He is originally from El Paso, and continues his tour across Texas after stops in Lubbock and Dallas. He previously served at The Covenant School of Dallas for eleven years as the Athletic Director, Facilities Director, head football coach, and head track coach. He received his undergraduate degree in clinical laboratory science from Texas Tech Health Sciences Center and his master’s degree in Biblical studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. Brice has been working in athletics since 2002, including jobs with Texas Tech University and Kanakuk Kamps. He is married to Lauren and they have four beautiful daughters.

Email: bhelton@liveoakclassical.com

Alisha Barker (Assistant Dean of Grammar School): Since coming to Live Oak in 2009, Mrs. Barker has taught Grammar 1, Grammar 4 and Grammar 5. She now serves as Assistant Dean of the Grammar School. Prior to moving to Waco, she and her husband taught English in Taiwan for three years. She loves reading, writing, hiking, being outdoors, and a good cup of tea. Mrs. Barker earned a B.A. in English Literature with a minor in Philosophy and Biblical Studies at Dallas Baptist University and earned an M.A. in English at Baylor University. She and her husband Amos, who works in Baylor’s Financial Aid department, have four children.

Email: abarker@liveoakclassical.com

Lacy McNamee Ph.D (Director of Advancement): Dr. McNamee joined the Live Oak staff in 2023 to help guide the admissions/enrollment, marketing and communications, and development efforts of the school. Before coming to Live Oak, she was an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director for the Department of Communication at Baylor University. She holds a Ph.D. in organizational communication from the University of Texas at Austin, but she proudly claims Baylor as her alma mater (B.A. in journalism, M.A. in communication) and Waco as her home for more than 20 years. Lacy and her husband Doug have two daughters in the Grammar School, and they are incredibly thankful for this wonderful school community!

Email: lmcnamee@liveoakclassical.com

Sarah Weatherly (Director of Fine Arts): Mrs. Weatherly joined Live Oak’s administrative team as our new Fine Arts Director in 2023. She has 14 years of experience in fine arts education, specifically visual arts and theatre arts. In recent years she has led a team of art educators, focusing on collaboration, mentorship, and practical professional development; worked with developing award-winning artists of all ages; and co-directed a theatre company. She earned her degree in studio art from Baylor University and holds a certification in visual arts EC-12 education as well as a gifted and talented ed certification. She is an artist who primarily paints in oils and acrylics, with a special interest in portraits and seascapes. Mrs. Weatherly is married to Austin, and they have four children. She believes that every one of us has a God-given ability to create. She strives to build a community of educators and learners who build each other up in their ability to express beauty, highlight the good and call out truth.

Email: sweatherly@liveoakclassical.com