CORE Pack Staff

CORE Pack Director:

Carla Barwick – Prior to coming to Saint Paul’s, Carla Barwick taught at Mount de Sales in Macon, Georgia. For thirteen years while at Mount de Sales, she taught religion in both the 6th and 8th grade, served as middle school campus minister, assistant director to the high school theater department, and as a middle school resource teacher. In 2014, Carla received her Masters in Special Education from Georgia College and State University. It was then she began her journey to find a Catholic school that shared her vision of  inclusion.

In 2018 after her brother Luke Barwick informed her of an opening in the newly established CORE Pack program, Carla applied. When she stepped on the campus for her interview during Holy Week, she knew was in a special place. Upon the urging of her two children, Hannah and Michael, Carla accepted the teaching position, and moved from Georgia to Covington, and  has never looked back. 

CORE Staff:

Lauren Gee – Lauren Oggs Gee is honored to be a part of bringing such an important program to our Lasallian community. Our Lasallian Five Core Principles call us to be an inclusive community which respects all people. The CORE Pack Program offers just that for students with developmental disabilities, as well as their families.

Lauren is a 1992 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in Journalism/Public Relations and a minor in Speech Communications. After 10 years in the corporate world of sales and training, Lauren fell in love with special education and received her post-baccalaureate teaching certification. Prior to coming to Saint Paul’s, she taught in the public schools of Georgia and Louisiana for the past 20 years. A native of Mandeville, Lauren lives in Covington with her husband, Eric, two dogs, Woody and Poppy, and a cat named Pearl.

Rick Zimmer has been a Special Education teacher for thirty years.  Both his Bachelor of Arts Degree and Masters Degree are from the University of New Orleans.  He holds a Masters in Education – Special Education.  He has experience teaching Students with Severe and Profound Disabilites, Students with Moderate Intellectual Disabilities, Students with Learning Disabilities and Students with Emotional Disabilities.  He has taught at N.P. Trist, Andrew Jackson High School, Chalmette High School and Fontainebleau High School.  He also served as the Vocational Instructor and Transition Specialist in St. Bernard Parish.  

Rick is in his twenty-sixth year coaching  as an Assistant Coach, Head Coach or Athletic Director.  He is also the Head Rugby Coach here at Saint Paul’s. Rick has been married to Amy Mathews for 34 years.