Angela has been a volunteer and contracted staff member for the Music and Worship Ministry for 17 years. Currently, she serves as our Coordinator of the Sunday Sound Children's Music Program. Angela is the Music Specialist at Hidden Forest Elementary School in NEISD. She has taught music for 24 years in NEISD and Concordia Lutheran School. Angela holds a Bachelor's and two Master's degrees from The University of Texas at San Antonio and is currently working on her Doctorate at Boston University. She is a certified K-12 Music Teacher, Orff-Schulwerk teacher trainer, and was named Hidden Forest Teacher of the Year in 2018. She loves sharing musical experiences with children and, when not making music, enjoys quilting, reading, and traveling with her husband, Don! 

Vanessa Woodworth calls Washington State home but has lived in San Antonio since 2017. A former stay-at-home parent, she is taking on the Music and Worship Projects Coordinator role, helping the music department explore ways to involve the children and youth in the local community through music and the arts. Prior to this position, she regularly volunteered around AHUMC, worked as an administrative assistant for the Children’s Ministry, and could be seen singing in the choir. Vanessa studied theatre arts and creative writing at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, WA. Her love of music and the arts started with childhood piano lessons and family karaoke nights, followed by singing in church and the high school choir. In college, Vanessa sang with groups like the Seattle Women’s Chorus and Olympia Choral Society, and she used her piano skills as the accompanist for local churches. She also has fun memories of writing her own songs and putting on concerts. While those days are long gone, she is so grateful that AHUMC gives her a place to continue pursuing her love of music. She and her husband Craig joined the Sanctuary Choir on their first military tour in San Antonio (2012-2015). Finding a loving community convinced them this was the place to settle and raise their kids after leaving the military. They have two kids named Annie and James, along with a pet dog and pet toad. Vanessa enjoys reading, gardening, traveling, playing board games, and long walks with the dog in her free time.

Sarah Jernigan is the Director of AHUMC Weekday School. Sarah has been teaching young children since she was 16 years old and started teaching Sunday School at her church. Sarah has been in early childhood education for over 20 years after graduating from Texas A&M University with a BS in Education. Sarah is a member of AHUMC and volunteers with Children's Ministry, Student Ministry, New Zion Choir, Children's Choir, and Vacation Bible School. Sarah and her husband Michael have four children Makayla, Allison, Gavin, and Harper. Sarah enjoys baking, reading books, scuba diving, and camping with her family. 

Shawn joined the AHUMC staff after relocating to the San Antonio area from middle Tennessee.  With bachelor's and master's degrees in education from the University of Tennessee, she has spent over fifteen years as a public school educator teaching grades K-3 as well as serving as a middle school instructional coach.   Her favorite memories of fellowship and worship in the UMC were always as her kids gre - from leading children's choirs to Vacation Bible School to the mission trips with youth choir.  She is excited about the opportunity to share God's love with the AHUMC Kids!  She and her husband, Craig, have four children ranging from middle school through college.  Shawn loves bargain hunting, the beach, and ALL things Disney!

Jill S. Martinez is the Assistant Director of AHUMC Weekday School. Jill had been assisting in the Pre-K class at the Weekday School and before that, she was the Director of Children’s Ministries at her church, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, here in San Antonio. 

Jill moved around as a child, but spent most of her years in Brandon, MS. After college, she started working in the banking industry, which moved her to Memphis, TN. While living in Memphis she met her husband, Michael.  In 1998, they moved to San Antonio, which is Michael’s hometown.  Together they have a blended family of three.  Michael’s son, also named Michael, and their two daughters, Haley & Abi.  

After having her daughters, Jill took the time to be a stay-at-home mom.  She was very involved at her kids' schools and their church, having served on all PTOs at Alamo Heights schools, and her church vestry. She is currently finishing up her 6 years on the Alamo Heights School Foundation Board. 

Jill loves working out at Orangetheory, listening to live music, and watching documentaries.

Clara was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas with her mom, dad, an older brother named Andrew, and a dog named Harry. She attended and graduated from Concordia University in Austin, Texas with a bachelor’s degree in Religious Education and a specialization in Children’s Ministry. Her passions in ministry include working with kids, youth, and families. In her spare time, she enjoys reading books, spending time with friends and family, and trying new coffee shops.

Laura Peel is a former middle school teacher who has worked in the Student Ministry Dept as an Admin Assistant since 2005.  A lifelong Texan and Methodist, she joined AHUMC in 2002 with her husband Brad and their children Katherine and Andrew. Laura is a proud University of Texas at Austin graduate who enjoys volunteering with various organizations, traveling, reading, movies, and spending time with family and friends.

In December 2020, Gabriel Muñoz graduated with his bachelor's in fine arts from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He has extensive experience working within the church. One example is Project Transformation, where Gabriel first saw parts of AHUMC's Youth Ministry. He's now glad to be an active part of the ministry so that he can work to inspire growth within the youth at AHUMC.