Faculty Bios

Colleen McManamon - Principal

Little did I know when my parents trundled me off to kindergarten at St. Ignatius of Antioch Catholic School in Cleveland, Ohio, that I would spend most of the rest of my life on one side of the desk or another in Catholic schools. I am fortunate in that I was formed in the rich, symbolic, structured era of our Church, and yet I work in the 21st century in a Catholic school challenged to make the expanded, new story of our faith and the Good News come alive in a completely different era.  After graduating from Mercyhurst College (Erie PA), I went on to teach at my alma mater, St. Joseph Academy. For 13 years I taught English and was the Dean of Students. Not only did I acquire a masters degree in school administration from Baldwin Wallace College but also a masters in counseling from Cleveland State was begun and then finished at Regis University.  Here in Denver, I’ve grown as an administrator at Machebeuf, St. Thomas More,  Assumption and finally here at MPB. What I’ve found at MPB is an exciting community surrounded by a parish committed to social justice, outreach to the poor and inclusion of a very wide number of people listening intently to the Word of God through the noise of our lives.  Working with young people whose parents want many of the same things for them that my parents wanted for me is such a privilege. If there is one message I hope MPB students take from their time at this Catholic school, it would be that they are each cherished and loved beyond their wildest imaginings. Love takes many forms; it can be hidden behind the pages of a Dick and Jane reader or be streamed from an interactive white board. Times change; truths don’t. 

************************************************************************************************************************************

Roxie Mountain-Weed - Assistant Principal

After being in public education for 21 years (8 years in Limon, CO; and 13 years in Adams 14 in Commerce City, CO), I was honored to be the “right fit” to be Most Precious Blood’s Assistant Principal and came in August of 2002. Yes, that makes 30 years worth of experience! What I love most - is that teaching in a Catholic, private school allows me to teach the whole child, mind, body and spirit! Years earlier, my husband and I placed our own three children in the caring hands of Most Precious Blood’s Early Learning Center and School. What we found at MPB was COMMUNITY – the kind of small town community that I grew up being a part of in Burlington,CO, and Rick (who attended Catholic school K-12) found the kind of “close-knit” Catholic school community in which he grew up in Illinois.

When I came to MPB, our kids were in the second, third and fifth grade. With our oldest in fifth grade, I realized even more how important our earlier decision had been to have our kids in a Catholic, K-8 school. As many kids are “dumped” into their neighborhood junior highs, along with two or three other elementary schools, we had provided stability in our children’s lives during crucial years! They had stable friendships. MPB gave them an opportunity for further individual and academic growth as they were not being passed through a multitude of teachers in their junior years, but went through a junior high with teachers who were with them for all three years and really cared and understood them, and they always knew where they were academically. As their hormones were raging and their brains were going through developmental “goofy-brain” (around 7th grade), our kids were stable, thriving and cared-for!

As I would classify myself as a very faithful person, it was equally important that our children and our friends be of faith and have similar values. I am forever grateful to the community and staff at MPB for all they have done to help my three kids accomplish so much! We have all found forever friends in this community!

As an Elementary Education major with an emphasis in Early Childhood (from the University of Northern Colorado), I mainly deal with students and parents in grades K-5. Besides working with a great staff, I also love working with numbers and data, academic testing, working with staff development and working with our incredible parents on different ventures. If you ask the students what I do and love, they will tell you it is being with them! I teach the pro-social skills, friendship skills, and anti-bullying techniques and skills at MPB. I am heavy on teaching the students appropriate SKILLS for dealing with the people they encounter in their daily lives, to be able to stand-up for themselves so as to never be another’s target and how to be “something more!” I see each class weekly in kinder through fifth-grade. I teach a life-lessons class to 6th graders and leadership and buddies/mentoring in eighth grade. We have grown so much together. Today what I get in the office as far as conflicts are due to: 1. - the student ran out of skills; or, 2. - they want my advice as to how to handle a situation appropriately.

Chances are, if you are thinking of enrolling a student(s) at MPB, you will tour with me! Stop by… I’m always good for a smile, a laugh and/or a hug!

************************************************************************************************************************************

Theresa Burke - Learning Services

My name is Theresa Burke, and I am the Learning Services Coordinator for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. I have been at Most Precious Blood Catholic School for twelve years. Prior to coming to MPB, I taught third grade at Holy Family Grade School in north Denver. While at Holy Family I also had the opportunity to serve as the assistant principal.  As the Learning Services Coordinator, I partner with parents and teachers to enhance the experience of each individual learner. I wholeheartedly believe that each of us possess special talents and gifts which can be shared with the MPB community and beyond. It is my hope that through partnering with teachers and parents, we can deliver a program that meets the needs of the children with whom we are entrusted. It is a privilege to be part of such a wonderful community.

************************************************************************************************************************************

Jeremy Cassidy-Cernanec - Technology /Learning Services

I was born in the Meshomasic Valley in the early morning rain, with the wild geese over the water, flying north heading home again. I spent little time growing up in Connecticut before my family moved on to Kentucky. I remember my formative years fondly, but my school experience not as much. When the horse winnings ran dry, my family packed up once again landing in Littleton. I finished my grade education attending St. Mary’s of Littleton. I spent four long and wonderful years learning at J.K. Mullen High School. I traveled north on Lowell Blvd spending four years earning a BS in Computer Science and Mathematics at Regis University. While attending a retreat, I developed an acquaintance into a friendship, and then into a courtship. Six years later I married my true companion. Our son attends kindergarten here at MPB and our daughter watches the house while we both teach. After school, I spent a lovely year as a Youth Minister followed by a very eye-opening year as a Math Teacher. I love the excitement and authenticity of spending the day with kids. Luckily in 2006 the seas parted, the clouds spread and I found myself here at MPB under the fantastic direction of Ms. McManamon and Fr. Pat. I have found MPB to be an amazing community and feel blessed to be a part of it. In my freetime I love long bike rides, late night runs and quality family time.

************************************************************************************************************************************

Barbara Garrett - Music, Spanish

I teach Music and Spanish here at MPB. I grew up in Laramie, Wyoming and then attended the University of Wyoming. While getting my Music Education degree I participated in Choir, Opera Theater, Madrigal Group, Early Music Ensemble and Band. After graduation I started teaching in a small rural community in Kaycee, Wyoming. I taught K-12, Band and Choir. My husband and I moved to the Denver area in 1995. I started teaching at Assumption part-time. I added St. Catherine's school for the next 4 years so I would be full time. I taught at Holy Trinity for 2 years with Assumption to continue my full-time status. After the 6 years of being at 2 schools I moved to Assumption full-time as a part-time Music and Spanish teacher. During this time I went back to school during the summers and got my Master of Arts in Music. I moved to MPB in my current position just before my daughter, Natasha was born. I have been teaching at MPB since 2005. My daughter attended the ELC and is now in Kindergarten at MPB. I am very proud to be apart of this wonderful community, the school and parish. ************************************************************************************************************************************

Donna Simington - Physical Education

I am a Colorado native and attended Notre Dame Catholic grade school and graduated from John F. Kennedy High School. I have a BS in Business Administration and a minor in Business Management from the University of Northern Colorado. Currently, I am working on my Masters in Education at Regis University. I obtained my Alternative Teaching License thru the Archdiocese of Denver.

I have taught at MPB for 7 years and was a substitute for 2 years prior. I coached volleyball at Mullen High School and then 7 years at Denver East High School. I received Coach of the Year award from DPS 4 of the 7 years at East HS. I have been involved with the Catholic Schools Athletic League for 20 years as a coach, official assignor, and athletic director.

I love sports and am blessed to have a job where I can share that passion.

************************************************************************************************************************************

Cathy Collins - Kindergarten

I am a Colorado native, who grew up 40 miles north of Denver, in what used to be a small town, Frederick. I went to the University of Colorado in Boulder and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and with my elementary teaching certificate. I began my career in Longmont teaching 5th grade in the St. Vrain school district. After teaching 3 years, I took a break and began a sales career for 5 years before returning to teaching. I have taught at MPB for the last 12 years, both Pre-K at the ELC and Kindergarten in the school. I love this age group because they never fail to amaze me with their abilities and always keep me laughing.

************************************************************************************************************************************

Brenda Herbrand - Kindergarten

Hi! My name is Brenda Herbrand (but everyone calls me Ms. H.) and I have been teaching kindergarten at MPB since 2000. Before coming to MPB, I taught pre-k in Parker for 5 years. There is a huge difference between teaching 4 year olds and teaching 5 year olds! I truly love this age group and can't imagine anywhere else I'd rather be. Once a week or so, you can also find me supervising Homework Room. It's a great chance to stay connected with my kids who have gone and grown up. I graduated with a BA (Social Science with an emphasis in Elementary Ed) from UNC in Greeley and did my student teaching in a kindergarten in Aurora. I spent time as a sub, an interim class teacher, a waitress and a receptionist. Oddly, all helped prepare me for teaching! I currently live in Aurora with my mini zoo. I have 2 dogs, a cat, a bunny and of course, Louie the turtle and Fluffy the bearded dragon. Louie and Fluffy spend most of their time at school but occassionally visit the crew at home. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, reading and sleeping. I do not enjoy doing laundry or dusting. While I am not a morning person (despite my mother's best efforts when I was tiny), I love being at school and hangin' with my kinders. MPB has always felt like home and I look forward to spending many more years as part of the family.

************************************************************************************************************************************

Cathy Schilling - 1st Grade

This is my twelfth year teaching at MPB. I started as a fourth grade teacher when my youngest daughter, Elizabeth, entered first grade here at MPB. I have enjoyed teaching fourth grade for eight years here and am in my fourth year teaching first graders. It has been quite a contrast comparatively with each grade, both different and unique, but challenging and rewarding at the same time. I have had the privilege of teaching many wonderful individuals that are growing in many ways right before my very eyes.

I graduated with a degree in both Special and Elementary Education from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. My teaching career began in the small town of Saguache, CO which is in the San Luis Valley as a Resource Room Teacher (grades K-12). Two years of small town life was plenty for me as I was given many additional jobs other than teaching. Some of these included a head varsity girls’ volleyball coach, cheerleading sponsor, town aerobics instructor, town ski coordinator, and other interesting assignments. It was time to move back to the “Big” city.

In addition, I taught sixth and fourth graders at Our Lady of Fatima in Lakewood for four years until my husband, Ted and I had our first baby. My new job was being a full- time Mom with my two daughters, Analisa and Elizabeth. Ted and I will be celebrating twenty four years of wedded bliss this spring! He has worked as a General Agent for American Income Life Insurance Company for the past twenty five years.

Both girls enjoyed attending M.P.B. for grades K-8. Analisa will be graduating this spring from Colorado State University with a degree in Biomedical Sciences. She is waiting to hear if she has been accepted into Veterinary Medical School at C.S.U. Elizabeth will also graduate this spring from Regis Jesuit High School and will attend U.N.C. this fall. She is interested in becoming an elementary school teacher!

My family has many happy memories here at M.P.B since we have spent many hours at school, sporting events, Mass, parish functions, and other activities. The community that I am privileged to be a part of is full of exceptional, caring people. I feel truly blessed to be given the opportunity to work and share with such loving families. The children are extraordinary, teaching me what joy is and more about God’s love each day!

************************************************************************************************************************************

Serena White- 1st Grade

Serena graduated from Loyola College (now Loyola University) in Baltimore, MD with a degree in Elementary Education. She then taught for two years in Baltimore City Public Schools before moving to Denver in 1994. She taught second grade at Most Precious Blood from 1994 until 1998 when she had a brief career detour and was the Alumnae Relations and Special Events Coordinator at St. Mary’s Academy for four years. She returned to MPB in 2004 and has taught first grade ever since. Serena and her family have been MPB parishioners since their arrival in Denver and her two children, Charlie and Ainsley are students at the school. They all consider it a privilege to be part of such a special community.

************************************************************************************************************************************

Roma Haling - 2nd Grade

My name is Roma Haling and I am in my 14th year of teaching – my 11th at MPB. I grew up in Iowa and received my BA in Elementary Education from Mount Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota. I taught 5-8th grades in Iowa and SD and was a restaurant manager for a few years before I moved to Colorado in 2000. As a product of Catholic education from kindergarten through college, I feel at home in the Catholic schools and particularly here at MPB. My husband and I have one son who is the light of our lives. In my free time I love spending time with my husband and son and am an avid knitter and reader.

************************************************************************************************************************************

Diane Mathahs - 2nd Grade

My name is Diane Mathahs and I was born and raised in Northern Iowa (Go Hawkeyes!) I moved to Denver in 1970 and my first career was in business where I was an Office Manager. This definitely came in handy when I started managing a classroom. When I became a mother, I was still finishing up my degree. My daughter was in the M.P.B. E.L.C. and since she was an only child I spent a lot of time there letting her play with other kids. I eventually started working for the E.L.C. in 1999 for their S.A.P. Program. I also substituted and worked as a Teacher’s Aide at MPB School. When I graduated from Metropolitan State College in 2000 there was an opening for a First Grade Teacher. I applied and was hired. I am now teaching Second Grade and love it. I teach Science to both the Second Grade classes, so I get to know all the Second Graders. I am a single mother with a daughter who is a senior in high school. We have a cat named Tommy who rules our house. I have been a member of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish since 1980, however, since St. E’s. only has one Mass a weekend, you will sometimes see me at MPB. I enjoy reading and belong to a book club. You may also see me at Garage/Estate Sales on the weekends.

************************************************************************************************************************************

Mary Ellen Bley - 3rd Grade

Hello, my name is Mary Ellen Bley and my journey in elementary education has been diverse over my years of experience. My public school experience was short lived in comparison to my years in Catholic education. I taught Kindergarten in Nebraska, and Fourth grade on the Indian Reservation in Batesland, South Dakota. I experienced two years in Spalding, Nebraska at Spalding Academy, a Catholic school serving K to 12.

Since leaving Nebraska numerous years ago, I have been in the Archdiocese of Denver Schools serving as First Grade teacher, Assistant Principal, Pre-school teacher and Director, and Interim Principal at St. John the Baptist School in Longmont for 18 years. Next I served as Principal, seventh grade math teacher, and for a short time Spanish teacher at St. Louis School in Louisville for 12 years. I left administration then and became a third grade teacher at Assumption Catholic for one year. Currently I'm in my seventh year here at Most Precious Blood Catholic School as a third grade teacher as well.

The one constant in every school was the professional staff that I was able to learn from and grow as an educator. Currently, my experience here at Most Precious Blood has been the most valuable, because I am able to team teach. This is the only school that has provided that experience to me as a teacher. Over the years I have learned that in order to be a part of the educational profession one must continue to learn new ways to share information with ones students. I started out when the only tool available to the teacher was a chalk board and now we have Smart Boards and computers in the classroom to enhance the educational experience.

I am still happy that long ago I heard the call and answered to become a teacher. The call was to serve as part of the ministry of “Church” and it is a gift I am happy to share each and every day. Thanks to Catholic education I have an extended family that supports me in this journey.

************************************************************************************************************************************

Meg Brake - 3rd Grade

I was born here in Denver, Colorado and have grown to love Denver as my home. Most Precious Blood is very dear to my heart. Not only am I a 3rd grade teacher here, but it is also my alma mater. I was a student here at MPB and graduated in 2000. I have personal experience with the community that is created here at MPB. I still keep in touch with many of my MPB friends. After high school I attended Colorado State University and graduated in 2008 with a degree in early childhood education. This is my 3rd year at Most Precious Blood. I have had the privilege of teaching with a wonderful staff including my partner teacher who has been teaching for 38 years! I was recently married in October of 2010. My husband is my high school sweetheart. We just adopted a wonderful puppy named Ruger. When I am not busy teaching or playing with Ruger, I enjoy reading, yoga, and baking.

************************************************************************************************************************************

Lexy Tokarski - 4th Grade

Welcome to the 4th grade! My name is Lexy Tokarski. I grew up in Aurora, Colorado and attended Metropolitan State College of Denver. I graduated in 2007 with a BA in English with a concentration in Elementary Education. I started teaching at Most Precious Blood in the fall of 2007 and I am privileged to teach and learn from an amazing group of kids every day. I love sharing what I love and I love learning about new things, new people, and new ideas. As a teacher, I am excited by the responsibility of finding creative and effective ways to meet the needs of every student in my class while also challenging them to do their best. I am extremely excited by the opportunity to work with your kids—to share my interest and passion for learning with them, and to see the spark of interest as students explore the world around them and develop their own interests and passions.

************************************************************************************************************************************

Cindy Westergaard - 4th Grade

This is my fourth year of teaching 4th Grade here at Most Precious Blood and my 11th year of teaching. Before teaching 4th grade, I taught kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 3rd grade at Blessed Sacrament School. I have also worked as a Reading Assistant in the Denver Public Schools. Teaching in the Catholic schools has been a wonderful and rewarding experience, and I am grateful to be here at MPB with the terrific staff and supportive parents.

I came into education as a second career, and after a period of being a full time mom at home. I graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in journalism. I worked mostly in radio as a morning news/talk anchor and in television as an assignment editor, reporter, and writer at both Channels 9 and 4.

Like many of the parents here at MPB, I was a busy volunteer mom while my kids were in school, serving as a PTA president twice, room parent, fundraiser, and activity coordinator. My son Ben graduated from CU Boulder and now works as a research assistant at the CU Anschutz Medical Center in Aurora. My daughter Rachel is a senior at UCD majoring in Accounting.

My husband Neil and I have lived in the Central Denver area for 30 years. We both love Colorado’s outdoor opportunities, especially sailing and skiing. Neil is the Editor of the Denver Business Journal, and has been a constant source of support for me during my wonderful teaching career.

************************************************************************************************************************************

Jeff Brown - 5th Grade

First off, I am so excited to be a part of the MPB community. I was born on a sweltering August day in Denver. From my earliest recollections I have always been at home outdoors. Before I could walk, I would ride proudly atop my father’s shoulders through the tall pine forests, near the pristine mountain lakes and atop the treeless peaks. To this day I am an avid rock-climber, kayaker, hiker, biker and mountaineer. It seems that just as I have a natural affinity for the outdoors, I am naturally inclined to teach. I was the first born and my sister, born a year or so later, was born deaf. A lot of my childhood was spent modeling how to speak common words and how to form the mouth to make certain sounds. Not until my junior year at Regis Jesuit High School did these experiences reveal their true meaning to me. I spent several weeks in a second grade classroom for my service project and instantly knew that teaching was my calling. From there I attended Gonzaga University where I majored in English. I played lacrosse for the Zags and contend that I am one of their biggest fans. After graduation, I came back to Denver to get my Master’s in Elementary Education at Regis University. After nearly a decade of Jesuit Catholic School, I not only understand but vehemently advocate for the education of the entire individual. I can only hope I have that much influence on the learners within my classroom.

************************************************************************************************************************************

Mary Jo Costello - 5th Grade

It has been my good fortune to be a teacher at Most Precious Blood since 2005. Working with the teachers, staff, students,  and families of MPB has been a way for me to give back some of what I received as a student in the parochial schools of Denver.

It has always been with a great deal of gratitude, that I have remembered my grade school experiences at St. John’s (Good  Shepherd) and Our Lady of Lourdes where the foundations of learning and living as a faithful Catholic were well established. Upon graduating from St. Francis de Sales High School, I chose to follow my father and several other family members into teaching. I earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Colorado at Denver and from the University of Denver, a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a Cognate in International Relations.

For the next 26 years, I taught fourth, fifth, and sixth grades in Castle Rock and Highlands Ranch. I taught regular education on a traditional and year round calendar. Special education students were routinely mainstreamed in my classroom and I learned or adapted teaching techniques now considered among the best practices in education.

Teaching at Most Precious Blood has been most rewarding. I am able to be in a school where the children are encouraged to be the best they can be, with teachers who strive to show children how to be successful. It has been my good fortune to return some of the good that has been given to me.

************************************************************************************************************************************

Paulette Evans Deutsch - 7th, 8th Grade English

The path that led me to Most Precious Blood School has been a meandering one. From schools in Alabama, England and Denver--both public and private, my educational experience has been diverse. Choosing to be a teacher was a natural choice. After graduating from Colorado State University, my teaching career began with 7th-9th graders, first at Thomas Jefferson High School and then at Hamilton Junior High (now Hamilton Middle School). Taking a break from education to raise my two daughters, Kate and Elizabeth, was a joy, but I longed to be back in the classroom sharing my love of English and literature. When my daughters entered middle school, I began the search for a school which ended at the door to MPB.

For over 20 years, I have looked upon the MPB community as an extension of my family. The MPB community--colleagues, students, parents, and parish--is an amazing one. It is a community that supports and encourages each person to become the best that they can be. Teaching in such an atmosphere has been both rewarding and invigorating. Being able to share my life and teaching with this community has made this second stage of my career a wonderful, growing and challenging experience. I am fortunate to be a part of this community.

************************************************************************************************************************************

Dr Mary Ellen Hogan - 6th, 7th, 8th Grade Science

My name is Dr Mary Ellen Hogan and I have had the privilege of teaching junior high science at MPB for the last thirteen years. I am also the junior high Mathcounts coach and I sponsor students at the regional and state science fairs. This is a second career for me. I started out as a research scientist and re-trained under the alternative teacher licensing program when my family moved from California (where my husband and I were doing post-doctoral programs) to Denver. When I started at MPB my daughters were in third and seventh grade. Now they are 21 and 24 years old! I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Botany from Connecticut College and a Masters and PhD in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry from Colorado State University. I am originally from Connecticut, so sometimes I miss the beach, but I love Colorado’s mountains as well!

************************************************************************************************************************************ Sue Meissen - 6th, 7th, 8th Grade History

Suzanne (Sue) Meissen, that’s me. I grew up in Illinois and moved to Denver just before my twenty-fifth birthday. I started as a bookkeeper for a large insurance company, and then I worked for Businessmen’s Bookkeeping Service. While I was there, I also attended college full time. I have a BA from Metropolitan State College and teacher’s license. My first year teaching was a long term sub job at Notre Dame Catholic School here in Denver. The next two years were at Annunciation School. For the last 17 years I have been teaching at Most Precious Blood. I have taught Reading, Language Arts, Math and Social Studies all at the middle school level. I really enjoy the feeling of community I get when I am at MPB. It does not matter whether I am at school, church or a social function. One of my colleagues is a former student; I think that shows how close this community is.

************************************************************************************************************************************

Michael Schiano - 6th, 7th, 8th Grade Math

Some of our students call me “The Big Spaccone” (Italian for ‘the boaster’ or ‘big shot’) … which I must confess is self-inflicted from me relaying old stories by my mom. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, I attended Pace University, where I    was a math major and super geek, taking 17 math classes, and graduating first out of over 100 students. The summer    I graduated, Pace hired me part-time to teach statistics. At first, teaching those classes was a bit strange, because many of the students were older than I was! More interested in people problems than numerical problems, I took a small detour and went to Pace Law School, where I was the Managing Editor of the Pace Law Review. (A casenote of mine was published by that law review in 1984 dealing with – dare I say it – The Oakland Raiders!) Practicing law in New York City for 18 years, I had the opportunity to visit Denver a few times on behalf of my car-company client, Mitsubishi, because some unfortunate souls had rolled over their Montero’s in the mountains. (High centers of gravity and speed is a bad combination!) I soon realized that I was somewhat interested in law, because like so many professions, it is like math – problem solving based on applying rules to facts, where people values are involved   instead of numerical values. But because teaching is a lot more rewarding and fun, I continued to teach college-level math part-time. You   see, I always knew that I wanted to be a full-time math teacher when I grew up. In 2002, my sisters and I moved our parents to Florida for the warmer climate. Having decided to retire from law (which my blood pressure greatly appreciated), for the four years we were in Fort Myers, I worked full-time at Edison College, where I taught students entry level college math classes. In 2006, while searching for a proper care situation for our parents, my sisters and I were blessed to find Little Sisters of the Poor (The “Mullen Home”) on the west side of Denver. Luckily, the Archdiocese of Denver was looking for a middle school math teacher, and I am now enjoying my fifth year here at MPB. Teaching all levels of middle-school math, coaching speech, and otherwise helping out in the community, however I can, is more satisfying and interesting, and a lot healthier for me, than practicing law! Here’s hoping to see you soon! Until then, Ciao!

************************************************************************************************************************************

Stephanie Weller - 6th, 7th Grade English

I am Stephanie Weller and I teach English and reading to sixth and seventh graders. A New England native, I attended both Catholic and public schools growing up. I was fortunate to attend Fairfield University in Connecticut. Fairfield sent me out into the larger world with both an excellent education and the Jesuit values of spirituality and social responsibility. After graduating from Fairfield with a minor in Education and a major in English, I wanted to practice the Jesuit values of simplicity and service, so I joined the Red Cloud Volunteers, a volunteer group of teachers who work on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. I signed up for one year of service and headed West. I taught at Red Cloud High School, a Jesuit mission school, for three years. I lived in community with other volunteers. I taught Sophomore English to Lakota (Sioux) students. I drove a school bus. I learned a great deal about the Lakota culture. And I learned how to teach. After my three years at Red Cloud, I moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. I taught sixth grade religion, reading and English at St. Mary's School in downtown Albuquerque. In the spring of my first (and only) year I met my husband in Albuquerque and followed him here to Denver. In Denver, I was lucky to work for a number of years at Assumption Catholic School. Then, I took a few years off to stay at home with my children. Now, my children attend MPB as students and I spend my days here as a teacher. I am so happy to have them here with me sharing in such a warm and vibrant community. I love teaching! I specifically love teaching junior high students who are learning to reason, question and apply their new learning to the larger world around them. I love introducing junior high students to writers such as Charles Dickens, Walt Whitman, Yoko Kawashima Watkins and Amy Tan. I love helping students organize their thoughts into outlines, paragraphs and essays. Most importantly, I love the insights that students share with me and the questions they ask that challenge me ("Mrs. Weller, is God a concrete or abstract noun?"). I never want to stop learning. That is why MPB with its wonderful students and professional staff is the perfect place for me and my children!

************************************************************************************************************************************

Kathryn Zochol - 6th, 7th, 8th Grade Religion

During my 30 plus years of teaching in Catholic Schools, I’ve had the opportunity to teach most of the grades between Kindergarten through seniors in high school, as well as serving as principal. These schools were located in Nebraska, New Mexico, and Colorado. While all of my experiences have been memorable, Most Precious Blood Catholic School has to rank as the best! The students, parents, colleagues, administration, pastor, and parish community makes for a great combination that is life giving for all as we make our faith journey. I teach religion to junior high students, grades 6-7-8. It is a privilege to facilitate their growth in spirituality, which is their relationship with God, and religion, which is their relationship with the church.

I grew up on a farm in western Nebraska, the second of six children in my family. We went to a one room country school. I was the top student in my class all 8 years (The fact that I was the only student in my class is not relevant!). The total school population varied between 8-10, most of whom were my siblings!

I have a B.A. from the University of Regis where I majored in History and education. I have a Masters of Education from the University of Denver with a cognate in Global Education. I also have a Masters in Private School Administration from the University of San Francisco.

With the wonders of modern technology, I enjoy communicating with my family who are spread throughout the United States. I also am kept busy with my two dogs, Hanna and Sammie, and my cat, Diva. And I am an avid Husker fan!!

************************************************************************************************************************************