Tag: staff

Meet our New Faculty & Staff

Our new Vice Principal, Kris Anderson, is joining us from St. Monica Catholic High School where he spent four years as Dean of Students and Social Studies Department Chair. While at St. Monica, Kris served on the Administrative Council working closely with other curricular and co-curricular directors to shape the vision of the school. Prior to this, Kris worked at three different Catholic high schools as a Social Studies teacher, student moderator, and coach. Kris received his master’s degree from Loyola Marymount University in Catholic School Administration and is currently working on completing a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership for Social Justice from LMU. Kris’s favorite pastime is exploring new neighborhoods and restaurants in the Los Angeles area.

Jeanette Bray begins her first year at SMA as Academic Counselor. Jeanette graduated with her AA in Liberal Arts from Mount Saint Mary’s University-Los Angeles, B.S in Human Services, and graduated with her Master of Science degree in Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy from University of Phoenix and is currently working on obtaining a PPS credential from Alliant International University. Prior, to coming to SMA Ms. Bray worked as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist providing individual and group therapy to adolescents and elementary school aged children. Jeanette’s favorite pastimes include going to Disneyland, cooking, and spending time with family.

Chris Buckley begins his first year at SMA teaching Chemistry and Physics. He will also be working with freshmen students in their Math support block. Chris comes to St. Mary’s from Rolling Hills Prep and Renaissance School. Chris graduated from the University of Miami in Florida and is excited to get to work with his new colleagues.

 

Stephanie Gordon is our new Director of the Health a Careers Path Program. She is joining SMA from Junipero Serra High School in Gardena where she spent the last five years as a PLTW biomedical science teacher, Science Department chairperson, and STEM Coordinator. Prior to her time at Serra, Stephanie was a science teacher at St. Lucy’s Priory High School in Glendora for four years. Stephanie received her master’s degree from Loyola Marymount University in Secondary Education. With a research background in neuroscience and at the USDA, she is looking forward to bringing rigorous and engaging biomedical science curriculum to SMA. Stephanie loves traveling abroad, visiting national parks, gardening, cooking, watching Kings hockey, and hanging out with other people’s dogs.

 

Catherine Knight joins us as a Develpment Associate. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Mount Saint Mary’s University. She has nearly a decade of experience working in the nonprofit sector. Catherine’s development career began at the Los Angeles Metropolitan YMCA where she served various roles at both the Westside and Ketchum-Downtown branches. Her experience at the YMCA included annual support campaign leadership, capital campaign assistance, as well as program leadership and development. In addition, Catherine acted as a staff lead during annual fundraising events, and brand manager for the Ketchum- Downtown branch as well as overseeing communications and social media. She is an alumna of Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles and grew up participating in Irish Step Dancing and danced competitively at local, regional, national and world levels. Catherine enjoys reading, karaoke, and running, and occasionally still dances.

 

Yolanda Davila will be joining SMA as a Religion and Spanish teacher. She has worked as a Case Manager for Community Build Inc., an LA city-based program for gang prevention and youth development. She has also worked as a high school instructor at Notre Dame Academy and is excited to get back to what she loves: teaching. When at home she enjoys spending time with her German Shepherd, Nikkita, who waits so patiently for her.

Cuong Pham is a new Math teacher at St. Mary’s Academy. Prior to this position he taught middle school math for six years at a charter school. Cuong graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a degree in Liberal Studies. When he isn’t working Cuong likes to golf or play any kind of sports. He was born in Vietnam and is the oldest of four siblings.

A Faculty/Staff Reflection: How has Catholic Education at SMA changed my life?

In preparation for #CatholicSchoolsWeek, the SMA faculty and staff were asked this question, “How has Catholic Education at SMA changed your life?”

This week, we began each morning with a daily prayer and shared faculty and staff responses with our students to show how the SMA community and Catholic Education has positively impacted our faculty and staff.  We show our #CatholicSchoolPride by thanking the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet for establishing St. Mary’s Academy in 1889 and continuing to guide our faculty and staff to live and teach the CSJ mission by serving the dear neighbor and educating women to become leaders in their communities. 

Faculty and Staff Responses

“My Catholic education has led me to try my best to be a follower of Jesus. This means that I do my best to see God in everyone, including myself. It means that I am as kind to everyone as I can be. Finally, it means I always try to do the right thing.”

Your daily life is your temple and your religion. Whenever you enter into it, take with you your all. -Kahlil Gibran.  Being a Catholic Teacher allows me to take my faith with me everyday and I am able to see my faith in my actions with students.”

The mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet compels the faculty and staff to empower young women to find their paths in life. During their four years at SMA, our Belles are nurtured to become leaders and serve the “dear neighbor” in our communities. I was fortunate that I attended St. Jerome, a CSJ middle school, where the importance of developing character, leadership and service influenced me to pursue my professional calling to serve students and a community in a Catholic school setting.”

It’s been really great to work at a school where the students seem to care so much about each other and their community.”

Working at SMA has allowed me to integrate my Christian faith more into my daily life. I love that we can pray together and encourage one another, inspiring each other to love God and others more deeply.”

Catholic Education at SMA has changed my life because it allows me to share the love of the Lord with my students. When we are stressed before a big test, we can pray. When we are faced with the harsh realities of the world, we can pray. When we have successes at school, we can say prayers of thankfulness. When my students are facing challenges, I can tell them, “I’ll pray for you.”

I am old enough to remember when prayer was okay in Public Schools. I remember my principal praying on the loud speaker when someone was sick, the Shuttle exploded and prayers before we took state exams. Then in the late 80’s that all stopped. Fast forward to when I began working in public schools, I handled discipline and students in crisis. It was clear to me that issues could be resolved and hope instilled if we were allowed to pray. Today at SMA, when I deal with mild discipline and students in crisis we pray. Prayer makes the difference!”

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