Faculty & Staff

Aquinas Academy seeks out and hires faithful Catholics who are outstanding teachers, viewing their work of teaching as a vocation entrusted to them.  In public and private life they serve as role models of faith and virtue for our students. 

SECONDARY EDUCATORS

The Catholic understanding is that teachers are secondary educators whose role is to support parents in their role as primary educators. Whereas a parent's authority comes from Almighty God through nature, a teacher's authority comes in part from the parents, in part from nature, and in part from the Church. In order to coordinate their efforts effectively, parents and teachers need to share a Catholic understanding of human nature and the purpose of education. In doing so, parents and teachers can work together helping children center their lives on Christ and seek to do His will in all things.

OATH OF FIDELITY

At the beginning of each year, our faculty and staff take an Oath of Fidelity to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church in the presence of the entire school community. This sets the example of respect for authority and reminds the Aquinas community that our first responsibility is to be obedient to the Church and the Catholic faith.

QUALITY EDUCATORS

Aquinas seeks to hire practicing and faithful Catholics who are outstanding teachers.  Besides holding the relevant qualifications, all members of the teaching faculty, staff, and administration complete the Virtus program of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and pass a criminal background check.

 

MRS. KATHERINE POMROY - PRINCIPAL

• 6th year at Aquinas Academy 
• 4th year as Principal
• BS Degree in Early Childhood Education,  University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• MS Degree in Education, Reading Specialist Focus, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
• 317 Reading Specialist Administrative License
• 30+ years in education
• Master of Education in Catholic Education Leadership at Ave Maria University, in progress

 

MR. ANDREW DENTEN - DEAN OF ACADEMICS, MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH 

• 11th year at Aquinas Academy - 20+ years experience in education
• MA Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration - Cardinal Stritch University
• MA Degree in Education - Loyola University of Chicago
• BA Degree in History - Marquette University

 

 

MR. JAMES BERRY -  DEAN OF STUDENTS AND FORMATION, 8TH GRADE HOMEROOM, MIDDLE SCHOOL CATECHISM

• 15th year at Aquinas Academy
• Licentiate Communications - Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome
• BA Degree in Political Science and Economics - Christendom College, Front Royal, Virginia
• 3 years as translator for the Vatican Press Office
• 4 years under Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke as Executive Director for the cause of beatification and canonization of Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.
• Specialty Areas: Journalism, Writing, Italian, Spanish

 

MR. MATTHEW VENTURA - 7th GRADE HOMEROOM, MIDDLE SCHOOL LITERATURE, HEAD FORENSICS COACH

• 4th year at Aquinas Academy
• Former Drama, Speech, and Rhetoric teacher at Chesterton Academy Milwaukee
• BA and MA Program instructor at Peck School of the Arts, UW-Milwaukee
• BA Degree in Liberal Arts - New York University
• MFA Acting - University of Tennessee Knoxville
• Aquinas Academy parent

 

MISS ABIGAIL SCHREIBER - 6TH GRADE HOMEROOM, MIDDLE SCHOOL HISTORY

• 9th year at Aquinas Academy
• BA Degree in History and English Literature – University of Dallas
• MA Degree in Humanities with Classical Education Concentration - University of Dallas
• 9 years of experience in middle school history
• 8 years experience teaching 5th -6th grade math

 

MRS. WENDY PROTZ - 5th GRADE 

• 4th year at Aquinas Academy
• BA Degree in Music Education - West Virginia University
• 15 years teaching experience
• Aquinas Academy parent

 

MRS. ROSIE CORTEZ - 4TH GRADE

• 1st year at Aquinas Academy
• BA Degree in Urban Learning, Elementary Education - California State University
• MA Degree in Educational Administration - California State University
• 10 years teaching experience

 

MRS. KATHY GASPER - 3RD GRADE

• 10th year at Aquinas Academy
• Early Childhood Degree Certification - Marian University
• BS Degree in Education - UW-Whitewater
• Special Education Teaching Certification, Emotional Disturbance K-9
• Parent of Aquinas Academy graduates

 

MRS. JESSICA VENTURA - 2ND GRADE

• 5th year at Aquinas Academy
• BA Degree in English/Literature - Hunter College New York, NY 
• MFA - Theatre Performance - University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
• 16 years' experience teaching including- undergraduate, elementary, homeschool
• Aquinas Academy parent

 

MRS. KATIE BRITZ - 1ST GRADE

• 5th year at Aquinas Academy
• BA Degree in English and Writing from Cardinal Stritch University 
• MA Degree in Elementary Education - Cardinal Stritch University

 

MRS. KAREN O'LEARY - 5 YEAR OLD KINDERGARTEN

• 7th Year at Aquinas Academy
• BA Degree in Music - UW Whitewater
• Cooperating Teacher - UW Milwaukee
• 11 years teaching in Milwaukee Public Schools
• 25 years teaching experience at K5 level

 

MISS AMELIA EBENT - 4 YEAR OLD KINDERGARTEN

• 2nd year at Aquinas Academy
• Graduate of Aquinas Academy (2018) and Chesterton Academy (2021), Menomonee Falls
• BA Degree in English with a concentration in Art History - University of Dallas

  

MRS. PAULA GOTTHARDT - 4th - 8TH GRADE LATIN

• 25th year at Aquinas Academy - 30+ years of teaching experience
• BA Degree in Liberal Arts - Thomas Aquinas College, CA
• Graduate studies in education at Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee
• Specialty areas: Elementary Education, Latin, English, Religion, History, Catechism
• Teacher certification course for 1st- 8^th grades at Cardinal Stritch University
• Volunteered as a counselor at a pregnancy help center for over a decade
• Aquinas Academy parent

 

MRS. CATHY PADGETT - MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE

• 12th year at Aquinas Academy
• B.S. Degree in Microbiology - Colorado State University
• MA Degree in Education - Instructional Design Specializing in Adult Education -  Alverno College
• MA Degree in Education - Science Education - Alverno College
• Skilled professional with 12 years experience with student-centered teaching
• Taught biology for 13 years
• Evaluated student performances at Alverno College

  

MRS. MARTHA EBENT - MUSIC 

• 20th year at Aquinas Academy - 26 years teaching experience
• BS Degree in Vocal Performance - Millikin University
• MS Degree in Music Education - University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign
• Certification in Kindermusik International
• Music Teaching Certification
• Specialty areas: Choral singing, vocal training, theater
• Parent of Aquinas Academy graduates

 

MRS. JESSICA KURTH - PHYSICAL EDUCATION

• 21st year at Aquinas Academy 
• BS Degree in Physical Education - University of Wisconsin, La Crosse
• Certification in Exercise and Sports Science-Teaching in the State of Wisconsin
• Specialty Areas: Tennis, Softball, Basketball, Certified Fitness Specialist

 

MRS. LAINE SOPER - ART 

• 9th Year at Aquinas Academy
• BS Degree in Early Childhood Development and Elementary Education emphasis in Art - Louisiana Tech-University.
• 15+ Years teaching Art K5 – 9th grades; public, private and international schools 
• Trained and taught Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level I and II
• Parent of Aquinas Academy graduates

 

  

MRS. KRISSY ANDRASTEK - PRIMARY LATIN / FORENSICS ASSISTANT COACH

• 3rd year at Aquinas Academy
• BA Degree in Spanish Education - UW Oshkosh
• Aquinas Academy parent

 

 

MRS. TERRI SEITZ - LIBRARY AND LEARNING SUPPORT

• 8th year at Aquinas Academy
• BA Degree in Early Childhood Education - UW Milwaukee
• Advanced Religious Certification from Archdiocese of Milwaukee
• Trained in The Wilson Reading System (WRS), an intensive, evidence-based Tier 3 Structured Literacy Program
• 24 years teaching experience

 

 

MRS. HOLLY PLAHUTA - LEARNING SUPPORT AIDE

• 4th year at Aquinas Academy
• BA Degree ini Journalism and Mass Communication - Drake University
• 20 years of experience as a parish catechist
• Aquinas Academy parent

 

MRS. MARGARET FREEMAN - LEARNING SUPPORT AIDE

• 8th year at Aquinas Academy
• 11th year as a teacher's aide

 

MRS KRISTIE WEINER - K5 AIDE

• 8th year at Aquinas Academy
• 9th year as a classroom aide

 

 

MRS. BEATRICE EBENT - 4K AIDE

• 1st year at Aquinas Academy
• BA Degree in Environmental Science - Ave Maria University
• CGS Level 1 Catechist

 

 

MRS. BETH FRAIN - OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

• 7th year as office administrator
• BA Degree in History from Ave Maria University
• Part of the Aquinas Academy community for 10 years
• Past experience as an aide and teacher
• Aquinas Academy parent

 

 

MRS. MICHELLE PUFFER - ATTENDANCE SECRETARY, SCHOOL NURSE

• 7th year as office administrator
• BS Degree in Nursing - Concordia University
• Part of the Aquinas Community for 13 years
• Parent of Aquinas Academy graduates

 

 

MRS. MARY ANN BERRY - SUPPORT STAFF

• 9th year at Aquinas Academy
• MA Degree in English & Creative Writing - Mount Mary University

 

MRS. JENNY FORMOLO - SUPPORT STAFF

• 3rd year at Aquinas Academy
• Aquinas Academy Parent

 

MRS. BRENDA MEGANCK - DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

• 1st year at Aquinas Academy
• Parent of  Aquinas Academy graduates

 

MRS. VALERIE HAGEN - SCHOOL COUNSELOR

• 1st year at Aquinas Academy
• MS Degree in Education - Professional Counseling; University of Wisconsin Oshkosh 
• Dedicated school counselor with 8+ years of leadership in academic, social-emotional, and behavioral development.
• Committed to fostering the development of the whole child through a relationship-centered approach 
  grounded in Catholic values.