Pope Francis tells us “Today’s world demands that we be a protagonist of history because life is always beautiful when we choose to live it fully, when we choose to leave a mark."
I, for one, am a better person because of the indelible mark Catholic schooling made on my life, and I am simply thrilled to have the same potential impact on young people as a Catholic school educator and administrator now. — BEN WALKER `89, ST. MARY PRINCIPAL
There are more than 50 Gonzaga Prep alumni currently serving in our Spokane-area Catholic grade schools. Learn why they felt called to Catholic education, how they approach the job of forming young minds, and what some of their favorite memories were from their time at Gonzaga Prep. If you know one of these awesome alumni teachers, thank them for their positive impact on our community.
A: My mission as a teacher is to empower my students to believe in themselves. I want to help them develop this belief through a love of learning, spiritual growth, and self-awareness. By working together- student, parent, teacher- we should be successful. — Sara (Schmidlkofer) Raske `91, Cataldo Technology & Curriculum Director, 7/8 Advanced Math
A: My mission reflects the Catholic education's mission to engage students in high quality learning through rigorous, yet purposeful academic lessons with a central focus on productive leadership and encouraging selflessness through action by volunteerism and compassion. — Janelle Sims `09, Cataldo, 7/8th Grade
A: Everyone is capable of greatness and it is my duty to help my students to achieve that greatness through instruction, discussion, and encouragement. — Amanda (Hesseltine) Tayne `07, Assumption, 8th Grade
A: Catholic education allows students to explore and strengthen their faith, and develop themselves spiritually. Individuals are able to learn and build strong character through the positive morals and values taught through our faith. Attending Catholic schools also provides opportunities to demonstrate faith through acts of service for others. —Janelle (Hood) Turcotte `01, St. John Vianney, 8th Grade
A: I have so many wonderful memories of Gonzaga Prep from cheering at football games, to labs in science class, to dances, to food drive. My fondest memory, though, is Search. Search was a life-changing experience that I will never forget. It’s been amazing having had my oldest son go through Search and watching the secrets unfold for him. — Keri (Leyda) Manfred `93, St. Aloysius, 3rd grade
A: While delivering for the Thanksgiving food drive to a woman in the neighborhood, we brought in about 15 bags of groceries, and thinking we were done, she thanked us. I told her, "This is our first trip. There is a lot more." She was surprised and as she watched loads of groceries come into her house, she couldn't stop crying in gratefulness. She hugged us so hard that I realized how spoiled I was to not need such help in my life. She actually taught me, in that interaction, how much more I needed to give to be a Christian. — Rajiv Hatcher `01, All Saints K-4 Music Education
A: Because of Mr. John Walk I was inspired to teach music. Choir was the most special part of my high school experience because of how much I learned and the relationships I developed, and for that I am eternally grateful to Mr. Walk. — Kristen Nauditt `03, St. Mary, Music, Drama, Library
A: I enjoyed art classes at Prep. Mrs. White pushed, encouraged, and helped me to become the art-loving person I am today. — Kristina (Candice) Branson `06, St. Charles, Art Teacher
A: My own Catholic education (K-12) had a lasting impression on me, forming me to who I am today. I wanted the opportunity to embed my faith into the instruction of my students. — Maureen (Kerley) Durheim `83, St. Thomas More Assistant Principal, 4th Grade
ALUMNI SPOKANE CATHOLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS
Kristine (McKenna) Allbery `93 St. Thomas More, 5th & 6th Grade & Athletic Director • Years in Catholic ed: 18
Kathleen Arnold `82 Assumption, Teacher/Vice Principal • Years in Catholic ed: 20
Michael Barfield, `09 St. Aloysius, Drama, Middle School • Years in Catholic ed: 6
Lisa (Hordeman) Bennett `88 Cataldo, 6th Grade • Years in Catholic ed: 18
Elizabeth Blaine `08 Cataldo, Preschool Aide • Years in Catholic ed: 4
Andrea Blatner `12 Assumption, 5th Grade Teacher • Years in Catholic ed: 2
Katie Bohr (Merritt) `02 All Saints, Development Director • Years in Catholic ed: 5
Kristina (Candice) Branson `06 St. Charles, Art • Years in Catholic ed: 1
Jordan Byrd-Hirst `12 St. Aloysius, 4th Grade • Years in Catholic ed: 2
Jessica (Mark) Criswell `00 All Saints, Kindergarten • Years in Catholic ed: 6
Zack Cunningham `03 Cataldo, Principal • Years in Catholic ed: 11
Paul Dodroe `80 Cataldo, 8th Grade • Years in Catholic ed: 10
Jenny (Valley) Dufresne `85 All Saints, Kindergarten • Years in Catholic ed: 20
Maureen (Kerley) Durheim `83 St. Thomas More, Assistant Principal & 4th Grade • Years in Catholic ed: 29
Annie (White) Erret `87 St. Aloysius, Preschool Teacher
Monica (Steilen) Eugenio `85 All Saints, Instructional Coach • Years in Catholic ed: 11
Michele (Cortner) Flynn `87 St. Charles, Middle School, Science • Years in Catholic ed: 5
Theresa (Kerley) Groshoff `86 St. Thomas More, 3rd Grade • Years in Catholic ed: 14
Rajiv Hatcher `01 All Saints, K-4 Music Education • Years in Catholic ed: 9
Lori (Dumais) Hattamer `77 St. Mary, 2nd Grade • Years in Catholic ed: 32
Mary (Schmid) Heavey `80 St. Thomas More, Admin. Assistant • Years in Catholic ed: 21
Amanda (Ruen) Holland `06 St. Aloysius, Middle School Lead • Years in Catholic ed: 9
Brian Hull `02 St. Mary, Middle School Science, Technology Director • Years in Catholic ed: 7
Michael Jolicoeur `09 St. Aloysius, ELC Support Teacher
Stacie (Kuttner) Ketchum `86 St. Aloysius, Kitchen and Reception Desk
Kerynica Keyes `18 St. Aloysius, Before/After Care Teaching Assistant
Alexandra Xanthe Giulia Kraft `12 All Saints, Middle School Music Teacher & Liturgical Director • Years in Catholic ed: 0.5
Elizabeth Lancaster `01 Cataldo, Art Teacher • Years in Catholic ed: 7
Jen (Austin) Lewis `96 All Saints, Vice Principal • Years in Catholic ed: 15
Keri (Leyda) Manfred `93 St. Aloysius, 3rd grade • Years in Catholic ed: 22
Janet (Bayley) Maucione `86 Cataldo, 4th grade • Years in Catholic ed: 25
Sarah Mills `17, St. Aloysius, Before/After Care Teaching Assistant
Tisha Millersmith `99 St. Thomas More, 2nd Grade • Years in Catholic ed: 4
Melissa Muzatko `85 Cataldo, Kindergaten • Years in Catholic ed: 30
Kristen Nauditt `03 St. Mary, Music, Drama, Library Specialist • Years in Catholic ed: 5
Colleen (Kunz) Niedermeyer `88 All Saints, Preschool • Years in Catholic ed: 10
Katie (Kimmel) Nuss `96 St. Aloysius, 5th Grade • Years in Catholic ed: 16
Kathleen (Mee) Olney `74 [Marycliff] All Saints, Preschool Director • Years in Catholic ed: 17
Shannon (Murphy) Pearson `07 St. Mary, 4th grade • Years in Catholic ed: 6
Mackenzie (MacLean) Pettyjohn `05 Cataldo, Preschool • Years in Catholic ed: 4
Trisha Provinsal `01 Cataldo, 7th Grade • Years in Catholic ed: 15
Katie Girardot-Putnam `06 St. Aloysius, 6th Grade, Middle School • Years in Catholic ed: 7
Sara (Schmidlkofer) Raske `91 Cataldo, Technology & Curriculum Director, 7/8 Advanced Math • Years in Catholic ed: 22
Elizabeth Schultheis `85 All Saints, 5th Grade • Years in Catholic ed: 19
Emmett Simmons `18 St. Aloysius, Before/After Care Teaching Assistant
Janelle Sims `09 Cataldo, 7/8th Grade Teacher • Years in Catholic ed: 1
Ryan Sims `05 Trinity, 3rd Grade • Years in Catholic ed: 2
Jonathan (Luke) Staben `17 St. Aloysius, Before/After Care Teaching Assistant
Leanne Stockton `82 St. Aloysius, ELC Support Teacher
Kayleen (Severino) Stragier `03 St. Charles, 2/3 Grade Combo • Years in Catholic ed: 5
Amanda (Hesseltine) Tayne `07 Assumption, 8th Grade • Years in Catholic ed: 5
Janelle (Hood) Turcotte `01 St. John Vianney, 8th Grade • Years in Catholic ed: 12
Lou Turner `89 Trinity, Principal • Years in Catholic ed: 25
Ben Walker `89 St. Mary, Principal • Years in Catholic ed: 25
Sheila (Akers) Warne `80 St. Charles, Office Manager • Years in Catholic ed: 15
Aleisha (McKenzie) Webb `01 St. Aloysius, Volunteer Coordinator • Years in Catholic ed: 5
Lindsey (Holbert) Yochum `85 Cataldo, 1st grade • Years in Catholic ed: 18
Brynn (Bacon) Zener `00 St. Thomas More, Kindergarten • Years in Catholic ed: 13