Faculty

Mrs. Sheila D. Savoy

Pre-K Teacher

Sheila D. Milam-Savoy is the always excited and proud Pre-K teacher here at St. John’s School! She is even prouder to say that she has been at St. John’s School since the initiation of the Pre-K program.

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 She is a graduate of Bowie State University where she earned a dual degree in Early Childhood/Special Education. She is currently working towards obtaining her Masters of Education in Early Childhood through Trinity University.

She has been married to her high school sweetheart for 19 years (together for 26) and we have 2 very handsome boys. She is a RAY-vens fanatic. She loves Ray Lewis, which has led to her love of the Baltimore Ravens.

In her spare time when she is not doing lesson plans and creating anchor charts, she loves to spend time with her family, get mani’s and pedi’s and eat crabs. Her philosophy in teaching is, “to teach them, you must reach them”.

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Ms. Nettie King

Pre-K Para-Professional

Mrs. King came to Saint Johns in 2018 as the pre k para with Early Childhood being her specialty. She comes from a daycare and daycare management background of over twenty years.

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Mrs. King went to St Mary of the Assumption school in Upper Marlboro where some of her family still attends as students as well as teachers. She is currently working on completing her degree. She has been married for thirteen years and has a twelve year old daughter and 10 year old son. Mrs King loves the beach, camping with her family, gardening, tacos and of course the New York Giants!

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Mrs. Sonja LoVecchio

Kindergarten Teacher

Mrs. LoVecchio has been at St. John’s School since 2018.  She has been teaching Pre-K and Kindergarten for over 10 years.

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She absolutely loves working with Kindergarten students and sharing in their wonder and awe as they learn about God’s creation.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from George Mason University, and a Master’s degree in Montessori Education from Loyola University.  She has also completed her certification for Level I Catechesis of the Good Shepherd instruction.  Mrs. LoVecchio has 6 children.  In her free time she enjoys reading and kayaking.

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Ms. Julia Moul

Kindergarten Para-Professional

Ms. Julia Moul is joining us this year as the Kindergarten Para. She graduated from Salisbury University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology.

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After college she worked in a daycare, then worked in the school system as a substitute teacher. Now, she is excited to work with us here at Saint Johns!

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Mrs. Lauren Vernon

First Grade Teacher

Mrs. Vernon has been a part of the St. Johns family since 2013. She moved here from Connecticut where she taught in Massachusetts for 4 years teaching both Pre-Kindergarten and Third Grade.

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Mrs. Vernon graduated from Westfield State University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and completed her Master’s Degree as a Reading Specialist through Loyola University Maryland. Mrs. Vernon wants all of her students to find the same passion for reading as she has!

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Ms. Amanda Wilson

First Grade Para-Professional 1st & 2nd Grade Religion Teacher

Ms. Amanda is the 1st Grade Para Professional and 1st Grade Religion teacher here at St. John’s. St John’s is a family school for Ms. Amanda, as she’s a graduate of St. John’s, where she attended Kindergarten through Eight Grade.

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Ms. Amanda and her family are also parishioners at St. John’s Church, where she has been involved in the Church and the school all her life.

She is a graduate of Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Maryland. This is her first year teaching, and she has fallen in love with teaching and the children. She is currently attending school working on her Bachelors in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Special Education. After completing her Bachelors, she will begin to work towards her Masters in Special Education.

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Mrs. Deidre’ (Dee) Le Grand

Second Grade Teacher

Mrs. Deidre’ (Dee) Le Grand has taught varied core subjects for over 13 years within the Parochial, private, and public school systems.

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For the past two years, she has enjoyed teaching Music across the content areas, planning Mass services, and holding auditions while planning a memorable Christmas program. As a Psychology major from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, she found enrichment through Musical Theatre, Vocal Training, and Elementary Education. As she pursues her Master’s in Education, she considers it paramount to connect with students in the classroom in order to remain relevant and well-versed about their needs and interests.

Mrs. Le Grand believes every child should be taught as if he/she was your own. She loves to encourage students to become all that their parents have prayed and sacrificed for. She looks forward to assisting children in understanding and enjoying Music from God’s perspective while delving into the richness of Music history and genres.

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Mrs. Katie Whitworth

Third Grade Teacher

After graduating from Mount Saint Mary’s University, Mrs. Whitworth joined the Saint John’s community as the Junior High Math and Science teacher. She then moved to the third grade position and has been the third grade teacher for two years. 

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In her free time, Mrs. Whitworth enjoys spending time outside with her Retriever mix pup that she rescued from a local animal shelter.

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Rose-Marie Parker

Fourth Grade Teacher

Rose-Marie is the current 4th-grade teacher and Special Education Coordinator at Saint John’s. She is a native of Long Island, New York which she attended Catholic School from K-12 grade.

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She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Relations and Childhood/Special Education. She worked in a private special education school in Alexandria for the last 8 years. During that time, Rose-Marie completed her Master’s Degree from George Mason University in Educational Leadership. She is currently a doctoral student at Capella University with a specialization in Special Education Leadership. She is certified in Early Childhood and Childhood Education, as well as, Special Education Birth-21 and Wilson Reading Level 1 Certification.

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Mrs. Marissa Butler

Fifth Grade Teacher

A graduate of Long Island University, Mrs. Butler started her teaching career 16 years ago on the Pacific island of Saipan. She then spent several years at St. Bernard’s School in Riverdale.

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After the closing of St. Bernard’s, Mrs. Butler found a new home at St. John’s, where she has spent the last 9 years as the 5th grade teacher. She has been the recipient of both the St. John’s Teacher of the Year award and the Archdiocesan Golden Apple Award. In her free time, Mrs. Butler enjoys spending time with her family and spends every summer desperately trying to improve her gardening skills. She has her advanced SCUBA certification and loves to travel as long as the destination is warm and sunny!

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Mr. David Brozena

6th Grade & Social Studies Teacher

Mr. Brozena graduated from Penn State University with a degree in History, he then attended King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA, where he received his teaching certification.

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Over the past 5 years he has been in the classroom and on the baseball and softball field where he coached both sports. When he isn’t in school he enjoys taking his dog Molly for walks and spending time with his wife.

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Mr. William Wright

Middle School Language Arts Teacher

Mr. Wright is a graduate of Dematha Catholic High School–Class of 2011–and a graduate of Morehouse College–Class of 2015–with a Bachelors in English.

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He has spent time tutoring young minds in Georgia, D.C, and Maryland with ages ranging from four to sixteen. He enjoys reading in his free time and watching superhero & science fiction movies. This is his third year of teaching and second year with the St. John’s community. 

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Mrs. Katie Keller

Middle School Science Teacher

Mrs. Keller graduated from the University of Maryland (go Terps) with an education degree in 2002. She received her graduate certificate in Professional Teaching Standards from George Washington University a few years later.

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She has been in the classroom for 14 years and especially loves teaching math and science. Mrs. Keller likes entertaining family and friends at her house while enjoying good food and Redskins games! She also spends her free time organic herb and vegetable gardening.

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Ms. Simone Hughes

Middle School Math Teacher

Ms. Hughes is the current middle school math teacher. She graduated from the University of Maryland College Park, with a B.S in Middle School mathematics and science.

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Through her time working with local public schools, teaching and tutoring, she found her fit with middle school students. She plans on continuing her education by pursuing a masters degree in Counseling. Ms. Hughes holds St. Johns, very near and dear to her heart because both her and her sister attended from K-8th grade, and would both later on continue to learn in faith at Bishop McNamara High School. Ms. Hughes is so excited to be back in the classroom where her love of mathematics started.

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Mrs. Andrea Kadajski

Office Administrator

Mrs. Kadajski has been a member of the St. John’s community for many years. She is the proud mother of three boys, who have all graduated from St. Johns School.

Ms. Cecilia Bactad

Para Professional Grades 1-5

Zenzi Miller

Music Teacher

Mrs. Sharon Wilson

Art Teacher

Mrs. Wilson is a St. John’s alumni and a graduate of La Reine High School. She attended Pennsylvania State University where she received her Bachelors Degree.

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She was an assistant teacher for PreK, 3, and 4 for two years and has been at St. Johns for ten years. She is an active member of St. John’s Parish and both of her daughters graduated from St. Johns. Mrs. Wilson loves art history and tries to share that love with her students whenever possible.

Mrs. Wilson is also the coordinator for our Community Service Club for our Middle School students. This group coordinates the Community Outreach activities for our school and has collected and sent items to various organizations around the world. This after school activity is a wonderful opportunity for our students to reach out and make a difference in the lives of people in our community, both locally and globally.

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Mr. Quick

Physical Education Teacher

Ms. Emily Wilson

PE/Health Teacher

Ms. Emily Wilson is an alumni of St. John’s School. She graduated from Bishop McNamara High School in 2016. She is currently working on her degree at the University of Maryland.

Mrs. Maresa Ciaravella

School Counselor

Mrs. Ciaravella previously taught Pre-K for two years in DC and then went back to school and earned her Master’s in Education and Human Development at The George Washington University.

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She absolutely loved teaching 2nd grade and finding new ways to make learning fun for all of her students. She is originally from Florida and moved to DC four years ago. She now lives in Virginia with her husband and their dog, Tito.

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Mr. Loy Espinosa

Director of IT

Mr. Espinosa graduated from a Jesuit university in the Philippines with a degree in Computer Science.  Since then, he has worked both in the educational sector as a technology teacher and network administrator and in the corporate world as a software developer and technology manager for nearly 20 years.

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His enthusiasm for computing and technology started when he made his first computer program at the age of 10, and it has not waned since then.   He hopes to encourage his students to actively use technology as a tool to make life better and more enriching.

When not immersed in all things technology, Mr. Espinosa spends most of his time with his wife and two beautiful children.

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Mrs. Ady Hoffens

Before & Aftercare Director Spanish PreK-8

Mrs. Hoffens was born in Guatemala and moved to the United States in 1992. She attended Willian Cullem Bryant High School where she graduated with honors. She then moved back to Guatemala to attend college.

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She attended the Universidad Rafael Landivar, Quetzaltenango.  After graduating she taught English PK-12th at the IEA School.  Teaching is her passion.

In 2013 she moved with her family to Maryland.  Her oldest daughter is a graduate from Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School. She also has 2 boys that currently attend St. John’s.  The Catholic faith is very important in her family.
Mrs. Hoffens is the Spanish teacher and Before and After Care Director.  She enjoys teaching children and watch their knowledge grow. It makes her very proud to share her Spanish heritage with our students and our Spanish community.

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Ms. Kate Suuberg

Band Teacher

Ms. Karen Panciera

Resource Coordinator

Mrs. Panciera has been a part of the St. John’s family for fourteen years. She assists in the classrooms as the para-professional for second through fifth grades.

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As the Resource Coordinator for the Student Support Team, she believes it is her privilege and responsibility to treat every student as is they were her own children. “To her that means expecting excellence and having standards of behavior that do not change based on a child’s abilities, disabilities, or circumstances.”

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Mrs. Rosalyn Yalung

R.N.

Mrs. Rosalyn Yalung enthusiastically joins the St. John’s Faculty assuming the role as the School Nurse.

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With 8 years of experience as a staff RN in a Level 3B Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, she looks forward to getting to know the wonderful and talented young people of St. John the Evangelist School.

“Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription.” — Val Saintsbury

Education:

Chamberlain College of Nursing, BSN

College of Southern Maryland, ADN

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Mr. Tom Brett

Director of STEM

Mr. Brett has taught STEM Robotics since 2008 using the Lego, VEX and VEX IQ platform. He served 34 years as an Accountant, Computer Programmer, Computer Systems Analyst, Software Engineer and Accessibility Engineer in the Federal Government.

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He earned his degree in Commercial Science with an emphasis in accounting in 1974. He immediately went to work for the Federal Government. He served as an Operating Accountant and then Systems Accountant for 6 years. Mr. Brett became a Computer Programmer in the early 1980’s for 8 years and a Systems Analyst and Software Engineer for 14 years. In the late 1990’s Mr. Brett became a Accessibility Engineer responsible for insure that the software and electronic documents produced by the agency were usable by people with disabilities.

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Mrs. MaryJane Fratantuono-Harris

Development Director/State Grants

MaryJane Fratantuono-Harris has been Development Director at St. John’s since 1997. Development comprises of budget, accounts payable, collections, admissions and special events. 

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Before joining the St. Johns family Mrs. Harris was the lead Budget Analyst for Prince George’s County Child Support for 21 years. A graduate of LaReine High School Mrs. Harris has lived in Clinton since 1973. Mrs. Harris is married with two children whom are both alumni of St. John’s. Mrs. Harris is also a proud grandparent to her two wonderful granddaughters. An awesome dog Maxwell also is a part of her household. It is a pleasure working at St. John’s School, it is a warm, inviting school with excellent academics.

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Ms. Ann Gillespie

Principal

Ms. Gillespie has been in Catholic Education for 20 years. She first began her teaching career teaching 1st grade. She then came to St. Johns School in 2000 to teach 3rd grade. She served as the Assistant Principal and the Middle School Administer up until the past year. She is very excited in her new role and has implemented many new initiatives in accordance with the school’s mission of Academic Excellence, Social Development and Religion Formation to bring St. Johns School to a new competitive level. Ms. Gillespie has a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction. Her entire career has been with the Archdiocese of Washington and is truly committed to Catholic Education.