Principal: Dr. Julie Vogel
Welcome Back (and welcome to our new families!) to another year at St. John the Baptist Catholic School! I am so excited to be here and am looking forward to all the triumphs and challenges every school year offers. My education career spans the last twenty years beginning with my Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Iowa State University. For eleven years I taught third through sixth grade in Arizona. During that time, I also received my Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Arizona State University. After I left the classroom, I worked as a faculty member for ASU in their teacher preparation programs. I designed and directed two innovative teacher preparation programs for post-baccalaureate students. That was an amazing opportunity and time of learning for me, leading me down the path to doctoral work. So, while working at ASU, I began working on my doctorate of Philosophy Degree (Ph.D.) in Applied Cognitive Psychology- Learning, from the Educational Psychology Department campus. Upon completing my work at ASU, I was hired by Grand Canyon University as a professor and Director of Graduate Studies for the College of Education. Once again, more administrative opportunities surfaced, and I moved into the position of Associate Dean of the College of Education. For various family reasons we determined that a move to the Northwest would be best. For the past two years I have been a professor at University of Portland. While it is a worthwhile and noble occupation, I missed administration and wanted to immerse myself in schools, to get a firsthand look at how Learning Research is applied in the classroom. So here I am at St. John the Baptist looking forward to all the excitement it brings.

Administrative Assistant: Dana Day
Hi and welcome back to what promises to be a great year. I am beginning my 12th school year here at St. John the Baptist. My family has been members of St. John’s Parish since 1929. My mother graduated from SJB; I am an alumna of SJB, and both my children attended SJB from kindergarten through eighth grade. I have ten years experience in the field of Early Childhood Education, seven of which was as the Educational Assistant in our Kindergarten/1st grade. I then moved into my present position.

Kindergarten Teacher: Angela Gomez
Angela Gomez is originally from Kansas City, KS.  She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and a minor in music from St. Mary College in Leavenworth, KS. After graduation, she moved to Portland to attend the University of Portland’s Pacific Alliance for Catholic Education (PACE) program where she lived in community, taught third grade at Our Lady of Sorrows School in South East Portland, and took classes to receive her Master of Education Degree with a Special Education Endorsement. She taught a combination of first through third grades and K-4 music at Our Lady of Sorrows over the past five years. She will be taking classes at the University of Portland for post graduate work in administration and she will be teaching the Kindergarten class at St. John the Baptist School for the 2007-2008 school year.  

1st Grade: Alina Best

2nd Grade: Mary Hoag
I am Mary Hoag, the second grade teacher at St. John the Baptist School. I am a graduate of Oregon State University with a B.S. in Elementary Education. I’m so excited to have my own class this year and to be working with second graders. I am a product of Catholic education graduating from All Saints School and St. Mary of the Valley High School (Valley Catholic). I taught second and third grades at All Saints before starting my family. I am married and have two teenage daughters- one attending Oregon State University and the other attending Central Catholic. We are members of St. Charles Parish. I look forward to getting to know the St. John’s community better.

3rd Grade: Jennifer Smith

4th Grade: Jeanne Chambers
Hi! I’m Jeanne Chambers fourth grade teacher here at St. John the Baptist School. It is my privilege to be working at such an outstanding school that emphasizes academic excellence and a profound love of God in all aspects of learning. 
Teaching has always been my love and passion. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science/Elementary Education with graduate studies. My experience spans both public and parochial schools over twenty-five years. I’ve taught grades 2 through 5, and I dearly love those nine and ten year olds who bring a sense of curiosity and imagination to learning. My husband and family have always enjoyed traveling and living in all parts of the US as well as abroad. I love the northwest and enjoy cross-country skiing, gardening and playing the piano for relaxation. I am a nationally certified fitness educator in several areas of health and fitness. I value my students as thinkers and honor their abilities, their imagination and desire to learn. It is one of the greatest joys to nurture a child’s potential toward realizing their dreams.

5th Grade: Ashley Moschetti
Hello! My name is Ashley Moschetti and I would like to take a moment to introduce myself. After graduating from St. Mary’s Academy I decided to make the move to San Francisco, California to attain my undergraduate degree at St. Mary’s College of California. I entered with the intention of majoring in international business, but left with the passion and drive to teach. San Francisco was a place that gave me the opportunity to develop my knowledge of different cultures, customs, and beliefs, in turn, expanding my concept of diversity. I moved back to Portland after graduating from St. Mary’s College in May of 2006 to attend the University of Portland as a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Teaching program. Graduate school was excellent preparation in becoming an elementary teacher and after student teaching fifth grade this past year, I left the University of Portland feeling confident, prepared and determined. This is my first year at St. John the Baptist and I am confident that this year will be an enjoyable, successful year where I hope to encourage a love of learning among all of my students.

6th Grade: Sister Marirose Rudek, R.S.M.
I am the middle school Language Arts and Religion teacher and the sixth grade homeroom teacher. This is my third year teaching at Saint John the Baptist. I entered the Religious Sisters of Mercy in 1996 and made my Perpetual Profession in 2004. I earned my BA in English Literature at the University of Denver. I also earned my MA in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Denver. I have my Professional Teaching License from Colorado and an Oregon Teaching License as well. I am currently working towards a Master’s degree in Theology from Saint Charles Seminary in Philadelphia. 

7th Grade: Paula Miller
Paula Miller is St. John’s middle school history and literature teacher. She is a native Oregonian who was born and raised in Portland where she attended St. Cecilia’s grade school and Jesuit High School. After high school, she attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington where she received a degree in history and sociology and attained her teaching certification for secondary social studies. Before teaching at St. John the Baptist Paula taught middle school students for three years at Sacred Heart School in Gervais, Oregon. Paula enjoys running, camping, gardening, and watching college basketball. She lives in southwest Portland with her husband John.

8th Grade Homeroom/Middle School Science: Thomas Meyer

8th Grade Homeroom/Middle School Math: Kasey Hughes
Kasey Hughes grew up in Eastern Oregon, and relocated to this area after high school where she attended University of Portland. At UP Ms. Hughes earned her BA in Elementary and Middle School Education with a Mathematics certificate.  Since leaving UP Ms. Hughes has gained a wide variety of experience. For two years she worked in a rural community outside of Tucson, AZ where she spent some time working with English Language Learners and then taught 4th grade for one year. She then moved out east for a year where she worked at an environmental K-8 charter school in Philadelphia, PA. Considering her teaching license is from OR Ms. Hughes worked as a teacher's assistant in a dynamic 1st grade classroom, as well as teaching the K-1 After School Program. Ms. Hughes is excited to be back in the northwest working in the St. John the Baptist community and is looking forward to a fantastic school year. "It is always exciting teaching math!  I work really hard to keep my students involved in how math applies to the world outside of the classroom. I have always felt that if you're going to truly understand what you are learning, you have to experience it first-hand."

Technology: Delphine Busch
I received my BA in Education and Social Studies from Northeastern University in Chicago, IL and began my teaching career at St. John the Evangelist Catholic School in Streamwood, IL. I completed my Master of Arts in Curriculum from National Teacher’s College. I moved to the Portland area in 1988 and worked for many years as the Title One co-coordinator for the ten Catholic Schools with Title One programs through Jostens Learning. I received my Reading Endorsement during that time. I have taught many teacher classes on the use of computers in the classroom through Portland State University and adult classes as well as teaching Technology at the elementary level. I live with my husband, Merrill and my parents Walter and Doris LeCouteur have an apartment on the lower level of our home. I am an avid reader and I love gardening.

PE./Health Teacher: Amber Ploussard
I am very excited to be the new P.E. and Health teacher this year at St. John the Baptist School. My educational background includes a BS from the University of Oregon. While at Oregon I was a member of the Softball team- ranked 11th in the nation during my four years! I was also selected to the PAC-10 All Academic team every year as well as receiving a Dean’s scholarship for academic achievement. I love to watch sports; especially the Ducks…GO, DUCKS! I recently received my MAT from Concordia University and I am endorsed to teach Physical Education, Health and Mathematics. I have been married to my wonderful husband Francois for 2 and half years and we recently welcomed a new addition to our family–our 4 month old daughter, Sophie! I grew up in the Portland area after moving from B.C., Canada when I was in middle school. I am excited to be a part of this great community and can’t wait for the school year to start!

Librarian/Resource: Sister Mary Danielle Johnson, R.S.M.
Sister Mary Danielle Johnson, RSM is a member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan. This will be her first year at Saint John the Baptist School as a Resource Teacher and Librarian. Sister has a Masters degree in Reading Education (K-12), (M.Ed.) from the University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H., and a Masters degree in Library and Information Science (M.L.S.) from The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

Music: Sue Johnson
I'm thrilled to be the newest staff member at St. John the Baptist! I joined this wonderful community at the end of September and have truly enjoyed working with all the children and the talented staff. Originally from Minnesota, I earned my BS degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls. I have taught a number of grades ranging from preschool to middle school in Minnesota, Iowa, Washington and Oregon. Although I've always incorporated music in my classroom, this is my first position teaching music all day and I love it! I studied piano and music theory for 13 years, I've taught piano lessons for over 20 years and I've taken part in a number of piano competitions over the years. I also played trombone for 9 years and have been a member of my church's bell choir for the past 6 years. Music is definitely an important part of my life! But most important to me is my family - my husband, Kirk, my two grown daughters, and my new son-in-law.