Building Faith, Shaping Minds

Holy Rosary Catholic School 
1408 James St Rosenberg, TX 77471   Phone:281 342-5813
Faculty & Staff Bios
 
Faculty & Staff Bios
Holy Rosary Catholic School Faculty and Staff 

Father Bill Bartniski is the pastor of Holy Rosary. The school is one of over 60 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston. Under the administration of Father Bartniski, the school has grown both in spirituality and size. The principal, Nancy Moore, is a strong advocate for the success of all students.


The Faculty and Staff at Holy Rosary come from varied backgrounds.  All of the teachers are degreed teachers from accredited universities.  Most of our teachers are state certified, and many hold specialized certificates.   All of them are here because they love to teach and love to share their faith as a benchmark for who they are. 

The following is a listing of the faculty and staff, along with a short bio they have written about themselves: 

Nancy Moore – Principal
I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts from University of St. Thomas and then continued my studies at UST and earned my Masters in Educational Administration. I also have by Cathecesis Certification. My teaching experience is primarily with Junior High Social Studies.  I am a strong believer in Catholic education as the best opportunity for our future.  I want all of the students at Holy Rosary to know how important they are as individuals as they learn to work with mutual respect and in cooperation with all.  My greatest hope is our students will work to be the best they can be maximizing the gifts God has given them and know we are here to help.

Cheryl Wehring - Administrative Assistant

I am a Rosenberg native and life long member of Holy Rosary Parish.  I graduated from Lamar Consolidated High School and received my Bachelors of Business Administration Degree from Sam Houston State University.  I have two sons and both attended HRCS.  During that time I was involved as PTC chairperson for the gift wrap fundraiser, member of the Walk-a-Thon Committee and room parent.   I have been involved with HRCS for fifteen years including eleven years as Administrative Assistant.  I love my work and feel blessed to be part of a Catholic community with a great team of dedicated faculty/staff, students and families.


Cathy Samohyl - Front Office
I have worked at Holy Rosary for fifteen years -- two in Pre-K, one in Kindergarten and twelve in the front office.  I have had two daughters go through Holy Rosary.  It was a gift to my children, and I hope, in some small way, by working at Holy Rosary I can help pass this gift on to many other children.

Dorothy Lolley - Clinic

Tonya Guidroz– Aide
I graduated from Tylertown High School.  My career experience includes thirteen years with the Fort Bend County Libraries and worked with Mother's Day Out for ten years.  I have been with Holy Rosary for five years as a Teacher's Aide.  Other capacities include teaching CCE and Vacation Bible School.  I believe that children flourish in an environment that caters to each child’s Individuality, provides positive reinforcement and includes a faith based approach to learning.

Monica Rodriguez - Aide

Karen Lassiter-Fuller - Aide

This is my third year in the Holy Rosary Family.  My daughter went through Pre-K, Kindergarten, and is now in 1st grade here at Holy Rosary.  This is my second year to work at Holy Rosary as a Teacher Aide and Substitute Teacher.  I have worked at other schools in early childhood and preschool programs as well as substitute teaching for LCISD.  I believe each child is embraced in a nurturing and loving way here at HRCS.  I am so very thankful to have the peace of mind that my daughter is getting a great education, a consistency and continuation of her home life, as well as having the influence and presence of God while attending school.  We are  truly blessed and thankful to be part of such a great school, and I am grateful to be part of such a wonderful staff.


Donna Clark – Before and After School Care (BASC)
I attended Holy Rosary School as a student for three years, and also had my three children graduate from here.  I have been on staff for seventeen years, five as Before and After School Care Coordinator and twelve as a Teacher Aide.  My roots are in this Catholic Community and I enjoy working with all of the faculty, staff and students.  I try to instill by word and action that we are a family and Jesus is in each of us, and we should treat each other as Jesus would.

Michele Foster – Pre-K
I graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1991 with a BBA and Secondary Education Certification.  In 1999, I received my Early Childhood Endorsement while teaching Pre-K at Garden Oaks Baptist School.  This is my 10th year to teach at Holy Rosary.  My son went to school here from Kindergarten through 8th grade.  I enjoy working in a Catholic environment and with the friendly faculty and staff that we have.


Rosanne Hlavinka – Pre-K

I graduated from the University of Houston and have a degree in Early Childhood.  This is my 14th year to be teaching at Holy Rosary Catholic School.  My three children graduated from Holy Rosary.  I truly believe in the importance of Catholic Schools.


Kristi Carter – Kindergarten (A) 
I graduated from Sam Houston State University with a BAT in Special Education and with a reading minor. I have been at Holy Rosary for seventeen years.   I served as president of the Galveston Houston Early Childhood Association for four years and was Secretary for eight years.  I am now currently the Vice President of Early Childhood Association for the Dioceses of Galveston Houston.  I believe in developing, enhancing and enriching the readiness skills that will be the foundation for each child's educational success. I feel very blessed to be able to be here at Holy Rosary where we teach the whole child; mind, body and soul.

Pam Labay – Kindergarten (B) 
I graduated from Sam Houston State University with a degree in Elementary Education.  I am Elementary and Early Childhood certified.  I have been teaching for fifteen years; all at Holy Rosary.  I taught PreK for three years and am currently teaching Kindergarten.  I enjoy being able to share my faith with the students.  I encourage my students to say "I'll try" and not  "I can't."

Frances Christopoulos – 1st Grade
I attended Lamar schools and graduated from Lamar High School.  I have a BS in Education from the University of Houston and an MS in Bilingual/Bicultural Education  from A&M Kingsville.  I have taught in both public and Catholic school. I have three grown boys and a grandbaby.

Amy Sundberg – 2nd Grade

I attended Holy Cross Catholic School in Bay City, Texas where I grew up. I graduated from Texas A&M University with a BA in Speech Communication and a double minor in Psychology and Journalism. For ten years I enjoyed a career in the recruiting industry, but I always wanted to teach. In 2004, I began obtaining my teaching certification through the University of St. Thomas along with Alief ISD’s alternative certification program. This will be my fifth year to teach second grade and I am so excited to be at Holy Rosary. I am married and have two sons, one of which is in Mrs. Pratt’s second grade class. I truly believe in differentiating education for the child based on readiness, learning style and interest. I feel blessed to be here!


Ann Pratt - 2nd Grade

I attended St. Michael’s Catholic school in Cuero as a child.  I am a graduate of Cuero High School and North Texas State University in Denton.  I have a degree in Early Childhood Education and am certified by the state of Texas to teach Pre-k through third grade and English as a Second Language.  I am currently working on my certification as a Dyslexia specialist.  I have been teaching for 21 years. Sixteen of those were in public school. I have taught Kinder, first, second, third, mixed aged first and second, and mixed age Kinder and first, and I have been an ESL specialist.  I believe a hands-on, multi-sensory approach to learning is the best way to reach all learners.  I am so happy to be back at Holy Rosary after a year off of teaching. I am married and have a son who is in eighth grade here at HRCS.


Rebecca Tullar –  3rd Grade

Ninfa Bradbury – 4th Grade

Leigh Sherman – 5th Grade

I am a Houston native. I spent K-8th at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School. I then continued on and graduated from Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart. I received my undergraduate degree from the University of St. Thomas, a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. I am currently a member of the GRACE program at the University of St. Thomas. Through this program I will obtain my Masters of Education in May 2010. I am elated God has brought me to be a part of the Holy Rosary community and I look forward to working with the talented staff, faculty and all the loving families.


Barbie Respondek - 6,7,8 Math
After attending Saint Gertrude’s Catholic School in Kingsville, Texas, through 8th grade and graduating from King High School, I graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education and a Specialization in English from Texas A & I University.  I have a number of post-graduate hours in counseling, and took six hours of Math from Wharton County Junior College and also did the Rice University Math Project.  Through the archdiocese I am certified as a catechist and received certifications in Catechetical Leadership, Youth Ministry, Life, Justice and Peace, Liturgy and Liturgical Music. I taught three years in public school before stopping to raise my five children, all of whom graduated from Holy Rosary School.  After my youngest son, Jacob started to first grade, I came back to teach 4th grade for six years, and junior high math for six years, before taking a job with the parish as Director of Religious Education.  Returning to the classroom after six years with the parish, makes my 20th year working for Holy Rosary School or Parish.  I truly believe in Catholic Education and believe that every child has goodness and potential.  And I’m very excited about teaching with several former students!


Carole Brumme – 6,7,8 Science
I graduated from State University of New York at Stony Brook with a BA in Elementary Education and a Masters in Liberal Studies.  I have twenty-three years experience at the Middle School level teaching Science.  I find the world of science to be dynamic in an ever changing world around us.

Lana Willis - 6,7,8 Language/Lit.
I was born in Russia where I received two degrees (one in Music, another in Languages and Education ).  After a 4-year program in Musical College, I immediately entered the Foreign Languages and Education program of the Pedagogical University in Mari El, Russia, in 1989. While studying at the University, I continued teaching music and English in the Kindergarten/Elementary school.    After completing a BA in Education and Languages in 1994, I had an opportunity to practice my teaching and interpreting skills for two years in the Radio-Mechanical Technical School where I taught English and German as second languages.  I moved to the United States in 1995. Teaching always appealed to me since my grandparents and my mother worked in the educational fields all their lives. I like working with children as, I think, we can learn so much patience, understanding and caring from them, as well as enrich their knowledge, share our skills and broaden their horizons with our experience at the same time.  Working at Holy Rosary School is a blessing to me – I enjoy its professional atmosphere and wonderful talented students. My goal is to pass all my knowledge, experience and skills to my students here, as well as to show them my “vision of the world” from the point of view of a foreigner with a diverse cultural and traditional background.  

Ona Thacker – 6,7,8, Social Studies/Religion
I attended Catholic Schools in Texas and Louisiana through high school and continued my education at LSU-Shreveport and Northwestern State University in Natchitoches earning a BA in English with minors in French and History.  I returned to college after graduating earning additional hours in history, computer, and geography.  Through the Diocese of Galveston-Houston I earned my Catechist Certification.  My teaching experience includes four years at Shreveport and Bossier City, Louisiana beginning in 1986.  I joined the faculty at Holy Rosary in 1990.  I feel very blessed to teach in a school where everyone is so dedicated to meeting the needs of its students.

Amy Sopchak – Library 
I received a Bachelors of Science degree in Health and Physical Education from Texas A&M University in 1980.  I have one daughter who attended Kindergarten through eighth grade at Holy Rosary Catholic School.  My husband also is a graduate of Holy Rosary.  Holy Rosary School instilled in my daughter the Catholic faith and values needed to become a caring, active, and successful adult.  I have been with Holy Rosary for fourteen years.  I love the friendly and caring atmosphere of the staff, students, and parents.

Charles Johnson – P.E./Athletic Director/Coach

Edilia Mota– Spanish/Yearbook

Andrea Salerno - Computers/Technology Admin.
I attended Catholic schools from elementary through high school.  I graduated from Hagerstown Business College in Maryland with an Associates Degree in business.  I am certified as a network administrator and as an Intel Innovation in Education Master Teacher. I have been with Holy Rosary for sixteen years and have two children who graduated from Holy Rosary.   I enjoy bringing technology into the classroom and seeing the excitement on the children's faces.  I also feel blessed to be teaching and working in a Catholic School.

Wendy Reue-Collins - Art

Jane Turner - Music

Benita Gill - Counselor/Theatre Arts

I grew up in Holy Rosary parish and was fortunate to have attended Holy Rosary Catholic School when I was a child. I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Drama Education from The University of Texas in Austin and then went on to earn a Masters degree in Business Administration from LaTourneau University and a Masters in Education in Counseling from the University of Houston.  I taught Theatre Arts in the Dallas area for several years on the senior high school level.  I left teaching to work in the non-profit arts industry in Houston.  After earning my certification as a school counselor, I came to work here at Holy Rosary on a part-time basis for two years serving as the Elementary Counselor and the Theatre Arts teacher.  I am happy to be here full-time this year and look forward to all that we can accomplish.   I am married and have two children who both attend Holy Rosary – Hannah is in 4th grade and Joshua in 2nd.  I believe that a Catholic education is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children!


Debbie Langdon - Development

Hope Montgomery - Development
 
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