Faculty and Staff Directory

Truth is compelling. I'm privileged to aid students seek and find that truth in Jesus Christ.

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” In education, there is not a more fitting statement.

My students constantly amaze me by how hard they work and the amount of time they put in to complete an assignment.

In a society that is polarized and divided, it is wonderful to witness our students engaging each other with respect and understanding. 

What works for one student will not always work for another, so I introduce my students to several study strategies and help them pick which works best for their individual needs.

A successful Spanish student is one who knows not just colors, objects, and people but also how to pray, sing songs, and speak basic sentences in Spanish.

I aim to make sure students not only know facts and events but also the motivations and reasons that compel historical narratives.

Truth is convincing, goodness is eloquent, and beauty is compelling; I have the joy of presenting them as we find them in Jesus Christ and handed on by the Catholic Church.
 

The process of art is so important to how children learn to express themselves—it helps them cope with their emotions and establish themselves as individuals.

Being a mother and a nurse go hand-in-hand.  I love providing a clinic where children can receive a little TLC!

The intrinsic drive to learn for its utility for problem solving and decision making are critical markers for student understanding and mastery.

The beautiful thing about studying great literature is that you will encounter many complex and intricate characters. It is in them that you will also meet yourself--your strengths and your weaknesses, your joys and your sorrows.

In reading stories, we realize that we also are a part of a profound story and are necessary characters in it.

My favorite part of teaching is seeing students grow in their skills and confidence. 

Dr. DiVietri is the executive director of the Family Life Institute, has been an adjunct professor at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary, Emmitsburg, MD., the North American Pontifical College, Rome, Italy, and Notre Dame Graduate Institute, Alexandria, VA, and presently at Christendom College, Front Royal, VA.  He was recognized by the Pontifical Council for the Family. Dr. DiVietri is an author, and cofounder of the Institute for Thomistic Psychology.  

I love when students who have been struggling with a concept are able to understand it, and I love being able to celebrate those moments with them.

The best part about being a teacher at HSP is instilling the knowledge and values that I gained from being a Catholic school alumna, into my students. I am inspired as a middle school resource teacher because I know I can support these students and encourage them to be confident and successful. When students leave my classroom, I want them to feel prepared, empowered and ready to overcome any challenge they may face.

I love having the opportunity to teach my students about God's Creation and how it relates to science in our world.

I teach Latin because I find great peace and beauty in structures, systems, and patterns.

Intellectual growth happens best when students are allowed to explore God's world through the lenses of the liberal arts, sciences, and Catholic teaching.

I’ve always loved helping others discover new ideas and truths through education. What I love most about the sciences is their ability to help us discover truths about the universe that God created.  

I make sure that students get the recognition they deserve for their accomplishments, big and small.

The most important part of teaching is making sure my kids know they’re loved and have my support, even if they make a mistake.

I want my investment in student's lives and their academic success to be blatantly obvious. Of all the responsibilities I take on as a teacher, the most important is making those in my classroom feel like others care about them and what they bring to this world.

“One thing I ask of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life” Ps 27:4

Teaching Spanish allows me to open a door to a new way of seeing the world with my students.  Making cultural connections, especially ones that tie into our faith and show how the Church is truly Universal, makes teaching Spanish so enjoyable.

By introducing students to a small sample of multiple disciplines in science, I hope that they will develop a scientific mind with good lab techniques and leave my class with a spark of interest in one of those disciplines.

“For the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been confounded; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; … Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God helps me.” (Isaiah 50:7-9).

In daily presenting the Jesus Christ to our students, I hope they discover and choose to follow the author of all goodness and the source of the peace they long for in the midst of the trials of this world as they await their entrance into the heavenly banquet.

When a student is uncertain about life, school, or their future, I always tell them that God has a plan and it is in His time.  

"Art is a place for children to learn to trust their ideas, themselves, and to explore what is possible." - Maryann F. Kohl

I rejoice whenever I see my students achieve the concrete results of diligence and hard work.

Anyone can learn math. Intelligence, skills, and ability are not fixed. I want students to know that they will face challenges, but overcoming those challenges will make learning more meaningful.

The happiest part of being a teacher is knowing that, in some small way, I have inspired another person to be a better reader, mathematician, writer, and friend.

In Seton Center, students learn to be better readers, debaters, thinkers, and philosophers.

Once my students leave my class, I hope they have a greater appreciation for the performing arts, and they will continue to play well in to their adult lives. 

It makes me happy when a student suddenly or gradually finds the deeper meanings of the great mysteries of our faith. 

The more you read, the better your writing will be. But writing starts with reading. Reading is transformative. Reading can save your life. Read, read, read!

Teaching preschool is a blessing. I love integrating play into learning and tapping into their natural curiosity when teaching new concepts.

I love being able to work in a community where we are free to share, grow, and support each other in our faith.

I love working with middle school students because every day is different and exciting. You never know what is going to happen next!

I’m from Virginia Beach, so my classroom has a beach theme! I have had many students bring me shells to add to the room, and it makes me smile to know that my students think about me and our classroom while on vacation!

We are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God's message, we should do it according to the faith that we have; if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach; if it is to encourage others, we should do so.  Romans 12: 6-8

Facilitating deeper understandings and thought-provoking conversations while exploring novels, poetry, and short stories creates an active and engaging classroom.

The moments when students click “submit” or receive their first acceptances are really special, and it’s an honor to get to be a part of them.

I love this school because I can practice, teach and nurture my faith and am surrounded by a community of colleagues, friends, and families who do the same.

  Father Pacwa, Senior Fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, is President and Founder of Ignatius Productions, a world renowned lecturer, spiritual director for over fifty Holy Land pilgrimages, and EWTN host of television and radio shows. An accomplished biblical scholar and apologist, Father Pacwa, S.J. earned his Ph.D. in the Old Testament from Vanderbilt University.  He holds a Master of Divinity and S.T.B. from Loyola University.  He speaks 12 languages, including Arabic, Aramaic, Hebrew, and Koine Greek.  Father Pacwa is author of Catholics and the New Age: How Good People Are Being Drawn into Jungian Psychology, the Enneagram and the Age of Aquarius (1992), Forgive Me Father, for I Am Frustrated: Growing in Your Faith Even When It Isn’t Easy Being Catholic (1997),  published by Servant Books. Holy Land Prayer Book (2004) published by Ignatius Productions and co-authored with Sean Brown, Go In Peace: Your Guide to the Purpose and Power of Confession (2007) published by Ascension Press, and Saint Paul:  A Study Guide for Catholics (2008) published by Our Sunday Visitor, St. Paul on the Power of the Cross (2008).  Father Pacwa established Ignatius Productions, a Catholic media production apostolate, in the year 2000, whose mission is to teach people the Scriptures, educate Catholics about their Faith, and promote unity and understanding within the Mystical Body of Christ.

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” – Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird

Learning is a two-way street, occupied by both students and teachers. As a teacher, I try to consider where the kids are coming from and what they’re bringing to the class, and in doing so, I try to meet them in the middle. I try to engage them on their level, encouraging them to explore and empowering them to take risks. When this happens, there is a sense of wonder and appreciation that is visible on a student’s face. And that’s what teaching and learning are all about: Meeting in the middle so everyone benefits.

Learning how to ask good questions, analyze information, solve problems, and think critically is far more important than learning the chemistry itself.

Working with three-year-olds allows me the opportunity to notice the little gifts God has given to all of us. Whether it is a bug or a hug, we take the time together as a class to enjoy it all!

I consider the year a success if my students leave my classroom with a passion for learning and helping others. The kindness, love, and faith I see in each student will always amaze me.

I had many inspirational teachers in my schooling, but my grandfather’s stories of being a spy in World War II and leading our Civilian Air Force Intelligence at the Pentagon definitely led me down the path to become a history teacher.

Our focus is on not only the academic learning but also the spiritual growth of each student. We provide an environment where each child can blossom at his or her own level.

We tend to paint the past with generalizations, portraying its players as either good or evil, when in reality, history is much more nuanced because people are full of inconsistencies and contradictions.

"Not all of us can do great things.  But we can do small things with great love."  Saint Teresa

I love being Catholic because I love the truth, and I want to share it with everyone.

I am always amazed at the hidden talents of our students—artists, performers, and so much more.

When students begin to depend on my help less and less, the more confident I am in their ability to deal with problems and issues in their own life.

The best part of counseling is being able to help students recognize their own potential and empowering them with their strengths.

My belief in God and the hope of heaven inspire me to teach both religion – the study of our faith – and Latin, the universal language of the Church.  

Sport and competition can bring the best and the worst out of people. Understanding how to respect and treat each other in a competitive environment is a wonderful thing to achieve. 

Aristotle is known to have said: "Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” The opportunity to be of service to the many families at Holy Spirit Prep and to participate in forming both the mind and heart is a blessing that brings joy and fulfillment. My hope is that the students will come to love learning and will begin to discover the unrepeatable gift that lies within themselves, a gift which will in time be given to the world in so many unique ways.

It’s wonderful to see a child I helped learn how to read in Kindergarten reach their full potential and read the Epistle at an all-school or Lower School Mass.