Department Chair
Jose Michi

Originally from Matamoros, Mexico, Jose Michi lived in Mexico until he was six years old. At that time his family moved to Brownsville, TX. It was in Brownsville where Mr. Michi spent his Kindergarten, Elementary, and High school years. He attended and graduated from the University of Texas at Brownsville with a B.S. degree in Mathematics with a minor in History. He taught for one year in the public school system before coming to MMA to teach.

Gary Howard

Gary Howard entered the teaching profession in 1964 after graduation from Ouachita University (BA/Mathematics 1964). He taught for three years and completed his Masters at Henderson State University in 1966. Upon completion of that degree he entered the United States Air Force and was commissioned in 1967. He spent 20 years working as a photo intelligence officer and as a military comptroller supervising various operations in accounting, finance, budget and cost & management analysis. During his military career, he did additional graduate work at various schools including the University of Missouri, University of Arizona, Florida Atlantic University, and the University of Miami. He also attained professional status as a certified cost analyst. He retired from the USAF in 1986. Mr. Howard has been active in numerous professional organizations including the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the National Education Association, the American Society of Military Comptrollers, the Cost Analysis Institute, and the Professional Photographers of America Upon retirement from the USAF, he spent three years as a stockbroker with Dean Witter and found that he missed teaching. He returned to the profession for which he had trained in 1989 and joined the faculty at MMA in 1990. Gary Howard is an award winning photographer and throughout his marriage he has helped his wife with her professional photographic work. He has two daughters (one a CPA, the other a School Librarian) and one grandson who is the delight of his life.

Charles Laycock

Charles Laycock graduated from Texas A&I University at Kingsville in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in Education with majors in math and geography and a certificate to teach at the secondary level. He began his 36-year teaching career in the fall of 1968 at Harlingen High School and retired from Harlingen in May 2004. Over those 36 years, he taught Fundamentals of Math, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Probability & Statistics, Advanced Mathematics Topics and Pre-calculus. For the last ten years, he has been teaching mostly Pre-calculus.

He has been married for 35 years and has two married daughters who each have a little girl. His favorite time is spent being a grandfather.

John Blackwell

John Blackwell has lived in the Rio Grande Valley his entire life. He entered the U.S. Air Force directly after graduation from high school in 1966 and served for four years. He then attended Pan American University and graduated with a B.S. in Math with a minor in Physics. Mr. Blackwell taught Math and Physics in the public school system for 29 years. At MMA John teaches Algebra I, Algebra II and Physics.

Cristina Donovan

Mrs. Donovan graduated from the University of Texas at Brownsville in 1996. She earned a Bachelor’s degree of Science with a major in Mathematics and a minor in Spanish. She brings nine years of teaching experience to the Academy, with experience both in private and public education. She has taught Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, and Spanish - and is professionally credentialed in Mathematics and Spanish. Her husband’s involvement with the Navy has taken her family to different parts of the Unites States. They have two daughter’s and several pets.

Brett Esparza

Brett Esparza has been a member of the Athletic Staff since the spring of 2007.  He was employed as a part-time coach for the Leatherneck Baseball Team and Football Team as he finished his degree at the University of Texas at Brownsville.  He graduated August 2008 with a Bachelor of Science and minor in Mathematics.  While working with the cadets of MMA he maintained a cumulative 3.5 and was a regular on the Dean’s List.  He comes highly recommended by the head of his discipline Dr. Zelma Mata and was nominated for the Magna Cum Laude Honor Society in college.  Brett graduated from Harlingen South High School in 2001 in the top ten percent of his class.  He was a Texas Scholar and heavily involved in National Honor Society.  Not to mention, his leadership role in athletics.  He participated in football, track and baseball.   As a player and professionally, he has associated himself with some of the great coaches and programs of the area and the state. 

Coach and Athletic Director Kathleen Brasfield (Angelo State University), Alex Leal Athletic Director Raymondville High School, Chico Jimenez Edinburg Economides, Nupe Flores Water Valley High School, Tony Mandujano Athletic Director Water Valley High School, Dawn Engleman Harlingen South High School, Don Derryberry Donna High School, Carlos Uribe Mercedes High School, Tony Niemeier Harlingen South High School, Josh Graham (formerly University of Texas Permian Basin), Patty Larson Vernon Middle School, Santos and Mary- Lou Lujan Kermit ISD, Kevin Brooks Angelo State University,  Parents Albert and Debbie Esparza  MMA and Harlingen South (respectively) and each veteran coach of the Marine Military Coaching Staff Tom Morton, Erasmo “Mo” Molina, Scott Swinnea, Tito Aguirre, and Mike Morton.  I admire all educators who still have the passion to generate learning experiences. 

“I am an educator PERIOD.  MY field is my classroom and my classroom is my field.  Learning does not need walls and desks to take place.  Life’s experiences can be found regardless of the learning environment. All the folks I mentioned and those I failed to mention that have impacted my life have similar traits.  They are enthusiastic, motivating, encouraging and have a genuine love for the all the kids they educate and the profession they have chosen.  I strive each day to continually attempt to display these traits I find that make wonderful educators.”