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Dr. Alexander Schimpf

Founding Headmaster

A native of Waterloo, IL, Alexander Schimpf received his B.A. in Religious Studies from Indiana University in 2001. After spending several years in formation with the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius in Chicago, he undertook graduate studies at The Catholic University of America, where he eventually received his Ph.D. in Philosophy in 2015. 

He taught at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX, and St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee, OK. After the latter’s closure in 2017, he accepted a position as the Director of Marriage and Family Life Ministry for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, where he also served as a faculty member of the Blessed Stanley Rother Institute. 

A prolific speaker and writer, his work has appeared in publications such as the National Catholic Register, Crisis, Aleteia, the Imaginative Conservative, and Latin Mass Magazine. He recently moved to St. Louis with his wife, Sarah, and five children.

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Mark Baker

MATH/SCIENCE

Mark Baker graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.A. in mathematics and economics. After several years working in finance, he transitioned to education, earning a distinguished score on the high school math certification exam. He has taught math, science, and religion in Catholic schools for seven years. 

Mark and his wife have been married since 2019 and have been blessed with two boys. They are parishioners at St. Cecilia where he is involved as an altar server, catechist, and Fish Fry volunteer.

 

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Jack Ryan

HUMANITIES

Jack Ryan will bring his love for Latin and history to the students at Chesterton Academy of St. Louis. Jack graduated from Saint Louis University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Catholic Studies, Classical Humanities, and Greek & Latin Language and Literature. He has a strong work ethic and a zeal for excellence in his work, which he gained, in part, from his years in the Boy Scouts.

Jack's love for Catholic intellectual traditions led him to study under the Dominicans at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome. There, he studied moral and Trinitarian theology, philosophy, and medieval and Renaissance Italian history. Additionally, Jack has taught catechesis to eighth-grade confirmandi at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic School and served as a teacher's assistant, tutor, and substitute teacher for introductory Latin at Saint Louis University.

One of Jack's unique skills is his fluency in both classical and ecclesiastical Latin. He is also proficient in reading Ancient Greek. As a parishioner at the Oratory of Ss. Gregory and Augustine, he serves the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, further enhancing his knowledge of Latin and Catholic traditions. With his broad scope of knowledge and passion for teaching, Jack is committed to passing on the treasures he has learned to his students at Chesterton Academy.

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Dr. Joshua Taccolini

HUMANITIES

Joshua Taccolini holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Saint Louis University. Prior to studying in Saint Louis, he completed a master's degree at Franciscan University of Steubenville after having studied piano performance as an undergraduate at Hillsdale College.

His research focus is currently on the spirituality of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and the contemporary French phenomenology tradition. He lives in Saint Louis with his beautiful wife, Carla, and their four blessings — Thérèse, Thomas, Bernadette, and Avila.

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Bernadette Lamb

FINE ARTS, HUMANITIES

Bernadette Lamb hails from the desert of Tucson, AZ, where she received her B.F.A. in Illustration & Design from the University of Arizona in 2020. A writer, illustrator, and graphic designer, she makes work for Catholic clients such as Parish Content and ProjectYM. In academia, she has tutored undergraduate writing and facilitated studio art classes, guiding students to communicate clearly with their audiences. She compled her M.F.A. in Illustration & Visual Culture at Washington University in St. Louis in 2023.

The heart of her practice is writing and illustrating fiction for young people that shines a light on relational healing. She has written short stories for anthologies with Twenty Hills Publishing and posts faith reflections and creative work online. As a CASTL faculty member, she is delighted to share with her students how the Lord reveals His goodness through the truth and beauty of art, literature, and theology.

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Maria Romine

FINE ARTS

Maria is a convert to Catholicism, current President of the Mary, Mother of God Curia for the Legion of Mary, founding member of the Francis Chesterton Rosary League in St. Louis, and member of the St. Louis Chesterton Society.

Professionally, Maria is an actress, public speaker, singer, English Country dance instructor, fight choreographer and entrepreneur. She is the Owner/Artistic Director of Swords and Roses® an all female stage combat troupe that performs at faires, festivals, conventions and parties. Maria has been professionally choreographing fights for 23 years and teaches classes in stage combat around the St. Louis area. When she is not choreographing for Passion plays or Shakespeare festivals, Maria can be found battling in family-friendly improv at ComedySportz St. Louis, playing with fire and dry ice at Mad Science events, speaking about Chesterton and Our Lady, or starring in her own one-woman Mary Magdalene show.

Maria has appeared in a music video, a Stephen Ministries film series, and three EWTN television series: The Theater of the Word, Inc., The Quest for Shakespeare and The Journey Home.  She is currently producing a podcast series for the Legion of Mary entitled At Your Service, Mary.

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Elena Royal

HUMANITIES

Elena Royal grew up in a small town outside of South Bend, IN. She fell in love with Catholicism in high school, and she therefore recognizes that many begin their faith journey during their teen years. Her desire to deepen her faith led her to study English and Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville. She later went on to complete an MFA in Creative Writing at Pine Manor College and studied graduate-level history at Saint Louis University.

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Rev. Michael Rennier

HUMANITIES

The Rev. Michael Rennier is Vice-Rector of the Oratory of Sts. Gregory and Augustine. He received his Master of Divinity from Yale, served as pastor in the Anglican Church, and subsequently entered the Catholic Church and was ordained through the Pastoral Provision for formerly Anglican clergy that was created by Pope St. John Paul II.

He is the Web Editor for Dappled Things Magazine, a regular contributor at Aleteia and his book The Forgotten Language - How Recovering the Poetics of the Mass Will Change Our Lives, is available from Sophia Institute.

Nothing makes Father Michael more excited than to see the faith come alive through the study of the depth and wonder of the Holy Scriptures, which communicate Christ himself. He's very much enjoying reading the Scriptures with the Chesterton students.

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Jeffrey Wisniewski

FINE ARTS

Mr. Wisniewski earned his Bachelor’s in Music Education with a Choral/Voice emphasis, and also his Master’s of Music Performance in Voice from Bowling Green State University. Mr. Wisniewski has been a music educator for the past 20 years, with the last 10 serving as an Associate Professor of Music and Director of Sacred Music at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. He will continue his position at the seminary as he serves our students. 

Mr. Wisniewski has also served as choir director, cantor & organist for various parishes over the past two decades, led numerous workshops on Sacred Music, and has directed and instructed a local children’s Chant Camp over the past few summers.

He is passionate about teaching authentic music in a Catholic environment, beautiful liturgies, and a healthy singing pedagogy and loves the idea of combining music history and appreciation into the choral rehearsal.

 

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Adam Gordon

MATH/SCIENCE

Growing up in South St. Louis County, Adam Gordon has always been fascinated with understanding how the world around him works. This led him to Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, where he earned a degree in Chemical Engineering. As his time at college went on, he underwent a deepening conversion of mind and heart to the Lord and after graduating, he discerned the priesthood as a seminarian for the Archdiocese.

There, he continued to gape in wonder at the beautiful order of creation and the loving God who created it. Eventually, being called out of the seminary, he had a desire to teach others about this wonderful world. This led him to Kansas City, where he taught science at the Chesterton Academy of St. Philip Neri. He is excited to bring his love for understanding the world back to St. Louis as a teacher at the Chesterton Academy.

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Jamie Eros

FINE ARTS

Jamie Lynn Eros has been an active singer, performer, and teacher for 25 years. She received her Bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Eastern Illinois University and her Master’s from The University of Iowa in Opera Performance.  While planning a career in professional singing, she had her first son and God changed her plans. She moved back to her hometown and opened a private voice and piano studio, discovering her true love of teaching and making music with people of all ages.

After converting to Catholicism, she decided to teach in the Catholic school system in Illinois and Missouri and has for the past 12 years in various capacities. Most recently, she was the general music teacher and campus ministry director at Saint Clare Catholic School in O’Fallon, Illinois. 

Jamie’s love for God led her to her husband Stephen.  They have 4 beautiful children, two dogs and a bearded dragon.  Jamie has a zest for life and a fire for Christ that she shares through music making with all her students!

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Dave Reddy

ATHLETICS

Bio coming soon

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Phil & Michelle Malawey

DANCE INSTRUCTORS

Phillip and Michelle Malawey met in 1998 at a college swing dance and have been partners in dance and in life ever since.  In addition to teaching Beginning Swing, Lindy Hop, and Charleston dance classes at the Chesterton Academy of St. Louis, and Beginning Swing at the St. John Bosco Co-Op, they have taught introductory swing workshops at Saint John Paul II Preparatory School, ARCH Co-Op, and for parent groups at Chesterton and the Saint Austin School.  They are the blessed parents of five children, ages ten through twenty-one.

Phillip earned his Master of Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Illinois after receiving his Bachelors at Kettering University.  He is the Vice President of Engineering and  Operations at USI Technologies in Creve Coeur.

Michelle is a professional violinist and strings teacher.  She has earned Bachelor and Master of Music degrees with emphasis in Violin Performance, and is an active performer in musical theater, symphonic, chamber and liturgical settings throughout the St. Louis area.  She teaches private violin lessons in her home studio and directs Soli Deo Strings, an educational orchestra program for homeschooled and privately-educated students.

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Mary Beth Rolwes

OFFICE COORDINATOR

Mary Beth graduated with a B.A. in English from the University of Dallas. She taught high school theology in the early years after graduation and has a deep appreciation for the liberal arts.

She is married to Greg and they have five children and two grandchildren. 

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