Faculty and Staff

Raymond St. Pierre

Head of School/Middle School Teacher

Mr. St. Pierre earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts in 1991 and a Master’s degree in Mathematics Education from the University of Pittsburgh in 1994. Since then he taught mathematics in two public high schools in Maryland and has several years of experience in teaching at the university level while serving in university-level administration as well. The recipient of numerous awards, Mr. St. Pierre was most notably honored to receive the Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics Award in 1997 for “Outstanding High School Mathematics Teacher of the Year” for the entire state of Maryland. As the Head of School, Mr. St. Pierre enjoys working collaboratively with the faculty and staff as we continue implementing our Catholic liberal arts curriculum in the classical tradition. He gets the most joy out of being in the classrooms to see all of the beautiful things that our students and teachers are doing. Mr. St. Pierre and his wife, Ginny, live in Alexandria. Their son, Joseph, who was in Little Messengers at Angelus Academy during the school’s inaugural year in 2000 prior to his being homeschooled for seven years, resides in Worcester, Massachusetts. The St. Pierres are active parishioners at St. Lawrence the Martyr Church in Alexandria where Mr. St. Pierre serves as Organist and Music Director.

Lisa Rickards

Assistant Head of School/Middle School Teacher

Mrs. Rickards serves as our Assistant Head of School, teaches Algebra 1, and supervises the independent-study Geometry students. She received her Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and earned her teaching certification while she and her family lived in California. Mrs. Rickards holds a Virginia Collegiate Professional License for Elementary Education with endorsements for Algebra 1 and for Middle School Mathematics. She, like Galileo, believes mathematics is the language in which God wrote the universe, and she loves watching children discover all its wonders through the beauty of mathematical concepts and through their exploration of solutions to real-life problems. As Assistant Head of School, Mrs. Rickards enjoys working with the faculty and staff to support their success and the spiritual and academic growth of all students. She also finds her efforts in school event planning and outreach to be especially rewarding because they highlight the rich history and Catholic traditions of the school. Mrs. Rickards and her husband have two adult children – an art teacher and a biomedical engineer – and are parishioners at St. Raymond of Peñafort.

BettyJo Lash

Director of Mission

Mrs. Lash, a member of the Women’s Apostolate to Youth (WAY), is a graduate of Swarthmore College (BA in Psychology) and Harvard University, Graduate School of Education (M.Ed. in Counseling). An educator for over 35 years, Mrs. Lash has served Angelus Academy as: Admissions Director, Division Principal, Assistant Principal, teacher of Religion, Computers, Little Messengers, Art and Drama. She is the recipient of the St. John Bosco Award, given to those who have selflessly served the mission of Catholic education and led others in the spirit of St. John Bosco. She has also held positions at Harvard University, Pomona College, Georgetown University and Sleepy Hollow Preschool. She and her husband Jon are blessed with four children, who have all attended Angelus Academy, and two amazing grandchildren. They are new parishioners of St. John’s in Front Royal, VA given a recent move to be closer to mountains. Mrs. Lash enjoys hiking, swimming, and discovering the treasures of local wineries.

Marie Gemperline

Director of Learning Resources/Middle School Teacher 

Mrs. Gemperline has been actively involved with Angelus Academy since 2003, when her oldest son was in Kindergarten. All four of her children attended Angelus Academy. The Gemperlines are parishioners of Good Shepherd Catholic Church. Mrs. Gemperline holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Education from the University of Cincinnati with specialties in Elementary and Special Education. Mrs. Gemperline has taught special education in a variety of settings, 5th grade at Frankfurt International School, and homeschooled her 2 oldest children while her family was stationed in Japan. She and her husband, Ed, are grateful for the blessings they have received as members of the Angelus family.

Joseph Ammirati

Director of Facilities/Middle School Teacher

Mr. Ammirati currently serves Angelus Academy as a middle school teacher (logic, civics, and geography) and as Director of Facilities. As Principal for seven years, he was instrumental in leading our school to its current expanded home. As a dedicated servant to the Angelus mission for over 13 years, Joe shared his talents with the community in the early years as an assistant teacher in the preschool and kindergarten programs. He then taught physical education and computer classes and served as Vice Principal for several years. Mr. Ammirati enjoys his role as an adult CYO leader and coaches CYO basketball and youth lacrosse. He and his wife Kathleen are the parents of four children–three of whom are graduates of Angelus Academy–and grandparents of two grandchildren. The Ammirati family are active parishioners at St. Raymond of Penafort in Springfield. He earned his BA degree in Politics from the Catholic University of America.

Julie Maimone

Director of Admissions/Middle School Teacher

Mrs. Maimone has been teaching at Angelus Academy since 2002. Her primary responsibilities are teaching advanced Latin and religion/faith formation to 8th graders, but over the years she has also taught Latin and religion to all middle school classes; music, cursive handwriting, and Greek/Latin roots to the lower grades; and she has been the teaching assistant for kindergarten and preschool. She has her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Composition from George Mason University. She has also completed certificate programs in Scripture, History, Catechetics, the Catechism, and Philosophy through the Institute of Catholic Culture. Mrs. Maimone is a founding member and current Director of the Women’s Apostolate to Youth (WAY). All four of her (now adult) children attended Angelus. Her favorite thing about teaching at Angelus Academy is the way in which all disciplines—not just religion classes—point the children toward God. She is a parishioner at Saint Leo the Great in Fairfax.

Tracy Frelk

Office Administrator

Mrs. Frelk first became involved with Angelus Academy when she and her family moved to Virginia in 2003, and she enrolled her children here. Since then, she has volunteered in many capacities, including working at the front desk and teaching Spanish to kindergarten, first grade and second grade. She also taught math to the middle school for five years. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, Mrs. Frelk received a B.A. in political science and worked on Capitol Hill and in law firms in Washington, DC. All seven of her children have graduated from Angelus Academy. She and her husband, Jim, are very happy to be part of the Angelus family.

Karen Popp

Business Manager / Director of Development

Mrs. Popp is a graduate of Spring Hill College, with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. She is a mother to four and a military wife. In 2020, Mrs. Popp joined the staff as a substitute teacher, an aide for Little Messengers, and worked at the front desk. In her current position, she leads the major fundraising efforts, helps prepare the annual budget and works with the Board of Trustees to monitor expenditures. Mrs. Popp is also the Associate Managing Editor for TheCatholicThing.org. In her free time, she loves to travel and garden. The Popps are parishioners at St. Raymond of Penafort.

Colleen Randall

Little Messengers Teacher

Teresa Hruby

Little Messengers Aide/Middle School Teacher

Mrs. Hruby serves Angelus Academy as a Little Messengers Aide and a Middle School teacher. She comes to us as a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Lisa McCrumb

Kindergarten Teacher 

Mrs. McCrumb has been involved with Angelus Academy as a teacher, trustee, and parent. She began teaching at Angelus Academy in 2005 and served as the first grade teacher for many years. Mrs. McCrumb is currently teaching kindergarten. She joined the Board of Trustees in 2009 as the Faculty Representative. Mrs. McCrumb and her husband, Bryan, have three children. Their youngest daughter, Allison, is a 2012 graduate of Angelus Academy. She received her BS in Interdisciplinary Studies along with her PreK–6th grade teaching certification from Regent University. Mrs. McCrumb and her family are active members of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Alexandria.

Agnieszka Dmitrukowski

Kindergarten Aide

Mrs. Dmitrukowski serves as Kindergarten aide in the 2023-2024 school year. She earned a Master’s degree in Management and Marketing from Warsaw University of Life Sciences. As a military spouse she has lived in different states as well as overseas. Before enrolling her children to Angelus Academy, she has homeschooled them for a year.

Terri Hood

First Grade Teacher

Mrs. Hood has a Bachelor of Arts in English from The College of William and Mary and a Masters of Education from George Mason University. She has worked in education for over twenty years as an elementary school teacher, preschool teacher, and high school English teacher. She is a certified instructor for the Institute of Excellence in Writing and a teaching fellow for the Northern Virginia Writing Project. She enjoys teaching first grade at Angelus. She and her husband, Patrick, have six children and are members of Good Shepherd parish.

Steven Fisher

Second Grade Teacher

Dr. Fisher joined the faculty of Angelus Academy in August 2022 after retiring from a 40-year career in dentistry and a career in the U.S. Navy. A North Carolina native, he graduated in 1975 from the University of North Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in Zoology and in 1982 with a Doctorate in Dental Science. Dr. Fisher has also received Master of Science degrees in Entomology from North Carolina State University and in Health Sciences from George Washington University. During his naval career, Dr. Fisher obtained a specialty Certificate in Periodontology from the Naval Postgraduate Dental School at Bethesda, Maryland.

Dr. Fisher’s wife, Margaret, is a civilian dentist with the U.S. Army at Ft. Belvoir, and currently, five of their seven children attend Angelus Academy. The family are active parishioners at Nativity Church in Burke, Virginia.

Dr. Fisher feels blessed to be a part of Angelus Academy where faith, virtue and each academic discipline are taught as a cohesive and integrated curriculum, and he is humbled by the opportunity to guide God’s little ones in their first communion year.

Kimberly Kidd

Third Grade Teacher

Mrs. Kidd is a mother of four wonderful children and a wife of 22 years. She calls Northwestern Pennsylvania home; however as a military spouse she and her family have lived in 10 homes over the past 22 years, including five different states and three overseas assignments. She has been active in her parishes as a lector, catechist, eucharistic minister, and various other ministries. Currently she and her family are active members of Nativity Catholic Church in Burke, VA.

Mrs. Kidd has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She has earned Professional Certificates in the Education of Persons with Disabilities, K-12.

Mrs. Kidd has previously taught in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and California. She has also used a classical curriculum approach in the homeschooling of her own children. This is her third year as an Angelus Academy parent.

Mary Runyan

Fourth Grade Teacher

Mrs. Runyan joins our faculty from Lecompte, LA. She holds a teaching certificate from the American Montessori Society and a Bachelor of Arts in Mild Moderate Special Education from Louisiana Tech University. In addition to working in a Montessori school, she has taught Classical Conversations as a homeschooling parent.

Allison Lalli

Fifth Grade Teacher

Mrs. Lalli earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Elon University and a Master’s degree in Reading Education from the University of Virginia. Licensed not only to teach K-6 and high school English, but also as a reading specialist, she has taught in elementary, middle, and high school and homeschooled her own children for three years. Mrs. Lalli has spent the bulk of her career as a reading specialist and most recently as an instructional coach and curriculum coordinator. It was during her time homeschooling that she discovered and fell in love with classical education. This love led her and her husband to enroll their children at Angelus Academy when she returned to work. Mrs. Lalli and her husband have four children, all of whom currently attend Angelus Academy.

Matthew Coleman

Middle School Teacher/Technology Coordinator/Primary Grades Instructional Assistant 

Mr. Coleman holds a B.S. in Physics from The College of William and Mary. Additionally, he spent time discerning a vocation to the priesthood with the Diocese of Richmond while studying Philosophy and Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, MD. In 2016, he came to the school and served as a substitute teacher, Little Messengers aide, and after-school program leader. In 2017, he accepted a position teaching second grade. After three years teaching second grade, Mr. Coleman moved to teach fifth grade. This year, he has moved again and will be teaching various Middle School classes and helping out with the Primary Grades.

Susan Hunt

Middle School Teacher

Mrs. Hunt has been part of the middle school teaching team at Angelus Academy since 2003. She has her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and her Masters degree in Biotechnology. She enjoys interacting with the middle school students and seeing them grow in love for God and learning. She especially enjoys hands-on lab activities and word problems.

Maeve Randall

Middle School Teacher

Miss Randall is a passionate Catholic who continually seeks the integration of Catholicism with education. Since she was in middle school, she has aspired to be an English teacher. She enjoys spreading her love of reading, writing, and crafting with those around her, as well as her love for the faith and for education. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from George Mason University and is the 7th and 8th grade Humanities teacher at Angelus Academy.

Erin Jensen

Middle School Teacher

Mrs. Jensen has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Mary Washington College and has a Virginia Collegiate Professional License for Secondary Mathematics Education grades 6 through 12. Earlier in her career, she taught for Fairfax County Public Schools as a middle school math teacher. She also enjoys tutoring students from grades five through Algebra II and Geometry. Now she is delighted to be back in the classroom where she loves teaching math and making it enjoyable to learn. She found Angelus Academy when her oldest was a Little Messenger, and now all three of her children attend Angelus Academy. She and her family are parishioners of St. Raymond of Peñafort Catholic Church.

Christy Karako

Librarian/Middle School Teacher/Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Mrs. Karako holds a BA in history from the University of Dallas and a Master’s of Library and Information Science from the Catholic University of America. While living in California, she taught third grade, fourth grade, and middle school. Since joining the Angelus Academy faculty, she now teaches K-8 library classes and seventh grade humanities. Mrs. Karako and her husband, Tom, have one child attending Angelus Academy and two recent graduates who now attend St. John Paul the Great High School. They are parishioners at Queen of Apostles in Alexandria.

Breny Mantooth

Spanish LM-4

Mrs. Mantooth is a native Spanish speaker from Bolivia.  She came to the United States of America soon after graduating from high school.  Her goal was to learn English to become a tour guide in Bolivia.  However, God had other plans for Mrs. Mantooth.  Once in the United States, she enrolled at Lado International Institute and other local schools to learn English as a Second Language.  After receiving her permanent residence, Mrs. Mantooth earned an Associate Degree in 2003 from Northern Virginia Community College in Legal Assisting, currently known as Paralegal Studies.  She worked as a Legal Assistant in Intellectual Property law firms from 2003 until the birth of her daughter, Frances, in 2016.  Mrs. Mantooth and her family are active members of St. Raymond of Peñafort in Springfield.

Sheila Bruen

Physical Education Teacher/Receptionist

Mrs. Bruen first joined Angelus Academy in 2005, when her son entered kindergarten. From 2007 to 2009, she served as a volunteer aide and the 3rd grade teacher. In the fall of 2008, she became our physical education teacher, serving in that role until her son graduated from Angelus Academy in 2014. She left for two years and then returned in 2016 to teach P.E. and to manage our front desk. Mrs. Bruen was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Troy University in Alabama. Her hobbies include reading, cooking, bowling, and encouraging Angelus Academy students. She loves to motivate students to do their best, especially when confronted with new challenges.

Marilyn Krause

Catechist, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Mrs. Krause has been involved in Religious Education in one form or another for more than 40 years. She came to Catechesis of the Good Shepherd as a mother of young children (never intending to work with children beside her own) and found children who were totally engaged in an environment that fostered a love and reverence for the Mass (Liturgy) and Holy Scripture. She has trained for work with children aged three to twelve (Levels I-III). The last 34 years she has been a catechist and formation leader with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and has led and assisted in local, regional and national courses. She also served as Director of Religious Education in several parishes and missions. She is supported by her husband Mark, four adult children, and four grandchildren.

Dr. Joy Marean Hickey

Development Associate/Instructional Assistant

Dr. Hickey is a graduate of Colby College (B.A. in French), Lesley University (M.Ed. in Elementary Education), and Columbia University (M.A. in International Educational Development; Ed.D. in Education Leadership). As a young adult, she served as a student-leader in Catholic campus ministry and was an active participant in music ministry (flute). Dr. Hickey has worked in independent schools in Massachusetts, California, New York State, Washington (D.C.), France, and Russia as both a teacher and an administrator. She has also served as a teaching assistant and a graduate assistant for the Master’s programs in Private School Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Hickey is thankful to draw upon these experiences in her roles at Angelus Academy and feels blessed to be part of such a special school community where one can grow in knowledge and virtue. They are parishioners at Queen of Apostles Catholic Church in Alexandria.

Madeline Runyan

Catechist/Resource Support/Receptionist

Ms. Runyan currently lives with her family in Dumfries, Virginia. She graduated from Louisiana State University at Alexandria with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and as the oldest of four, is experienced in caring for children of various ages. Ms. Runyan looks forward to working with the Angelus Academy family as someone to fill in at the front desk, assist teachers, and serve in any other way she is needed during this year of changes.

Heather Ruffner

Development Associate/School Assistant

Mrs. Ruffner is a Fairfax County native, and graduated from George Mason University with a degree in Marketing. As the parent of an Angelus Academy middle school student, her first role was that of room parent and Gala Committee volunteer, but was called to do more for the school. She now serves as the Business Development Associate, working to successfully plan school events and fundraise.  In her free time, she enjoys everything crafty and loves to read.  She also spends time as an advocate for her daughter, who has Down syndrome. Mrs. Ruffner and her family are longtime parishioners at St. Raymond of Penafort.

Tryce Maffei

Music/Chorus Teacher

Mrs. Maffei has experience participating in various musical and choral ensembles. She is a trained violinist as well as a skilled vocalist and guitarist. She served as a Catholic liturgical music leader for the Catholic community at RAF Alconbury in Huntington, England from 2016-2018. Mrs. Maffei was also a cast member for the 2002 U.S. Army Solder Show, a variety show that toured U.S. military installations in the United States, Germany, and Italy. She has a Bachelor of Applied Sciences and Technology degree from Thomas Edison State University and is a veteran of the U.S. Army. In her free time, she enjoys bicycling and creating music with fellow musicians.

Joanne Gemperline

Art/Music/PE Teacher

Ms. Gemperline graduated from Angelus Academy in 2014, attended St. John Paul the Great High school, and went on to receive a Bachelors of Science in Sport and Exercise Physiology from DeSales University. Throughout the years, she has been an active volunteer in campus ministry and at her parish, Good Shepherd. She is looking forward to her second year of teaching specials at Angelus Academy as she finishes her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy. Her favorite part of teaching at Angelus (other than coming back to her grade school!) is watching the students grow in their faith and skills.