Faculty & Staff
Director
Damian Patton spent 16 years in Texas public schools, serving as a kindergarten and fourth grade teacher, an assistant principal, elementary school principal and central office administrator. He served in the U.S. Army and worked in the private sector before pursuing his education career. In 2022 Dr. Patton received his Ed.D. from Texas Christian University.
Assistant Director
817-257-7141
k.payne@tcu.edu
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Kimberly Payne serves as the Assistant Director of Starpoint and as the co-instructor for the third level classroom in the Primary School. She joined the Starpoint faculty in 1996. She earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education from TCU in 1979 and 1981. Kim was the Starpoint Associate from 1979-1981. Her areas of emphasis are special education, kindergarten, diagnostics, supervision and elementary art. Before returning to Starpoint to teach First Level, her experience included teaching in the Fort Worth ISD, Fort Worth Country Day School, Hill School, as well as serving as an individual tutor. She lives in Fort Worth with her husband, Dustin.
Administration
817-257-7141
l.sturman@tcu.edu
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LaJean Sturman has been the administrative assistant and admissions coordinator since 1997. Her background is in early childhood, holding an Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education. She and her husband Daniel have one son, Brent, who attended Starpoint in his youth and graduated from TCU in 2009.
Instructors
After serving as the Starpoint Associate and receiving her Masters of Education from Texas Christian University, Caroline taught third grade at West Elementary in White Settlement ISD for the past three years. She received her Bachelor of Art in English from the University of Texas, Austin. Caroline has an extensive background in language arts instruction with a strong emphasis on writing. We are delighted to have her back to teach our Intermediate level students.
Neely Douglas teaches Science and Social Studies for the Intermediate School. She first started working for Starpoint in 2005 as a teaching assistant. In 2009, Neely became the graduate associate where she co-taught the third level while getting her Masters of Education in Special Education from TCU. Upon completion of her degree, Neely accepted the job as the Science and Social Studies teacher in 2011. She and husband, Colin, married in February 2013.
Robin Neely Davis teaches Mathematics for the Intermediate School. She received her training in special education at Starpoint School and graduated from TCU in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education. She received her Master of Education in Generic Special Education from the University of North Texas in 1979 and her Educational Diagnostician certification in 1980 from UNT as well. Robin taught in the Dallas ISD from 1976 to 1984 until returning “home” to Starpoint in 1984. Robin and her husband Mark have one daughter who is also on the faculty at Starpoint School. All three are graduates of TCU and are avid Horned Frogs.
Julie Hulce has been teaching all levels of art at Starpoint since 2007. Julie earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art and an All Level Education Certification in 1991 from TCU and most recently earned a Master of Science in Learning Technologies from the University of North Texas. Her daughter, Nina, is a 2008 graduate of Starpoint School. Her husband of 22 years, Chris, is also a proud TCU alumnus and works in education. Chris and Julie have three daughters – Nina, Emma, and Sophie.
Margarett Muncy teaches the first level in the Primary School. While earning her Masters of Education degree from TCU, Margarett worked as the Starpoint Associate and co-taught the third level during the 2011-2012 school year. Margarett worked in special education in the public schools for three years before deciding to pursue a Masters of Science degree in communication disorders from the University of Texas at Dallas. Margarett worked as a speech-language pathologist in the home health and school settings from 2017-2020. Margarett is delighted and honored to be back home at Starpoint and TCU.
Madge Thomas teaches the second level Primary School children. Madge graduated from TCU with a Bachelor of Education in Special Education in 1976. She earned her Master of Education in Special Education from Texas Woman’s University in 1979. From 1976 to 1985, Madge taught Special Education for the Fort Worth Independent School District. Her career at Starpoint began in the fall of 1985.
Lab School Adapted Physical Education
Rachael Kauffman is the Lab School Counselor for both Starpoint School and KinderFrogs. She began work at the Lab Schools during the 2018-2019 academic year. Rachael graduated with her Bachelor of Science Elementary Education from Oklahoma State University in 2001. She earned her Master of Science School Counseling from Texas Wesleyan in 2011. Rachael has taught Kindergarten in Aledo ISD, served as the K-6 Learning Specialist at Southwest Christian School, and taught 3rd grade in Burleson ISD. She and her husband Todd have a daughter Piper who attends Starpoint School.