OUR STAFF
Head Coach Kelvin Childress
Kelvin Childress is a former United States Marine and seasoned educational leader who now serves as the Head Coach at Texas Sports Academy. A multi-sport collegiate recruit, Kelvin chose a path of service by joining the Marine Corps, where he led combat-ready teams across multiple continents and trained allied military units around the world. His leadership earned him recognition from commanders and global partners alike.
Coach Ella Alexander
Ella Alexander is a former Division I Beach Volleyball player who competed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She went on to earn her master’s degree at King’s College London.
As a Coach at Texas Sports Academy, Ella draws on her experience coaching youth volleyball and supporting children’s growth and development.
Coach Cait Rhodes - Reading Specialist
Cait Rhodes is a former competitive cheerleader turned dedicated educator and coach, bringing a unique blend of athletic discipline and academic expertise to Texas Sports Academy. After retiring from a 15-year career in competitive cheerleading, she spent the next decade serving in public education and the non-profit sector as a literacy-focused educator, English Language specialist, and coach for both academic and athletic teams.
Coach Amir Lewis
Amir Lewis is a former Division I football player and Strength and Conditioning Coach, who now serves as a Coach at Texas Sports Academy. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he played multiple sports which included football, basketball, baseball, track and field, and swimming. After receiving an academic scholarship to Howard University, he then walked-on to the football team and earned an athletic scholarship after just one year. Once graduating with his bachelor’s in exercise science, he attended graduate school at The University at Buffalo to receive his master’s in exercise science.
Coach Graham Spraker
Represented Great Britain in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, becoming the only pitcher to record a win, and earned Howard Webster Awards (2017, 2021) and Arizona Fall League Reliever of the Year (2021) for his exceptional performance and leadership in professional baseball.
Coach DJ Tripoli
DJ Tripoli is a former collegiate athlete with over a decade of experience in high-performance coaching, education, and leadership, and now serves as a Guide at Texas Sports Academy.
DJ is dedicated to having students feel and be seen, while holding them to incredible standards in all aspects of life on campus.
Coach Greg Annan
Gregory Annan is a former NCAA Division I Soccer Captain and seasoned youth development leader who now serves as a Guide at Texas Sports Academy. A multi-sport athlete who became a Division I prospect by his freshman year of high school, Greg went on to captain Duquesne University's Men’s soccer team and play as a Professional Development player for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Additionally, he led his Men’s Club to consecutive qualifications of the Lamont Hunt U.S. Open Cup. He grew up believing that excellence isn't optional, it's a daily choice.
Coach Hardu Virks-Lee
Coach Hardu Virks-Lee is an educator, mentor, and strength and conditioning coach focused on developing confident, capable, self-directed student-athletes. He spent 10 years as a collegiate strength and conditioning coach at Villanova, UMass Amherst, CU Boulder, and Monmouth, and has supported members of the U.S. Army Special Forces 1st Group. His work emphasizes discipline, resilience, accountability, and student ownership.
Coach Alex Cruz
Four years of Division I softball at Texas State. Four years of a 4.0. All-America Scholar-Athlete. Coach Alex has never treated "student" and "athlete" as a tradeoff. She's in her third year with Alpha and was one of the founding Guides at Texas Sports Academy, then spent last year helping build programs across other campuses. What she wants for students is what the game gave her: the confidence that comes from earning something, and enough resilience to keep showing up when it's hard.
Amelia Dansby - Director of Admissions
After earning her bachelor's degree from Baylor University, Amelia worked with middle school science students and teachers in Title I schools. Following a break from the field of education, she returned as the Director of Admissions at Texas Sports Academy. She is passionate about helping families find the perfect school for their students and enjoys introducing families to the Texas Sports Academy's innovative learning model.
Cyndie Jensen - Campus Coordinator
As Campus Coordinator at Texas Sports Academy, Cyndie Jensen is passionate about creating a welcoming environment where students and families feel at home. As the mom of two Thunder athletes, she knows firsthand what makes the TSA community so special.
Before joining TSA, Cyndie spent 15 years as a hairstylist before becoming a stay-at-home mom, where she loved serving as a class parent and team manager for her boys' sports teams. During their time at Alpha, she served on the Parent Council, where she fell in love with the school's mission and knew she wanted to be part of it. When Texas Sports Academy was announced, her family was among the very first to enroll.
Today, Cyndie enjoys building relationships with families and helping create a school where student-athletes can excel in the classroom, grow in their sport, and feel supported every step of the way.
Kim Rodriguez - Dean of Parents
With over two decades in educational research and evaluation at UT Austin's Meadows Center, Kim has trained educators nationwide, championed struggling learners, and driven federally-funded initiatives to improve outcomes for students with disabilities. That deep research background convinced her that education needed a bolder model, which is exactly what drew her to Alpha's personalized, measurable approach to learning. Now she's channeling that expertise into building meaningful relationships with Alpha families, helping students thrive in a system built to unlock their full potential.