Faculty & Staff
Every successful individual knows that his or her achievement depends on a community of persons working together.
Faculty & Staff
Meet Our Outstanding Faculty & Staff
St. John the Baptist Catholic’s outstanding educators, administrators and support staff are dedicated to bringing our mission to life every day. These professionals work together to ensure that SJB is a challenging, yet rewarding, environment for our students.
Teachers participate in ongoing faith formation and receive Catechist Certification through the Archdiocese of Portland. This includes a fall retreat, in-service days with other Catholic School teachers, monthly meetings focused on faith formation, and individual and group study on the teachings of the Catholic Church. The faculty and staff pray together daily before school begins and they carry over this practice to their classrooms.
Principal, Angie Gomez
Dr. Angela Gomez earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, KS, a Master of Education degree and Initial Administrative License from the University of Portland, and a Doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of Oregon. She taught grades K-3 for 14 years in the Archdiocese of Portland. Seven of those years she taught kindergarten at St. John the Baptist. Angie became the principal at St. John the Baptist in 2016.
Vice Principal, 8th Grade Homeroom and Middle School Math, Amber Ploussard
Amber Ploussard is in her 11th year at SJB. Her three children attend St. John’s and have had a wonderful experience so far! Mrs. Ploussard serves as the vice principal as well as middle school mathematics teacher. Mrs. Ploussard has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in business from the University of Oregon, and a Masters degree in education from Concordia University.
Administrative Assistant, Lucero Silva
This is Lucero’s second year working at SJB. She has had previous experience working in office administration and enjoys working with families and children. She was raised in Hood River, but born in Mexico and has lived in Milwaukie for 9 years. Lucero has three boys, two of whom attend SJB. She and her family love to explore the outdoors.
Preschool Director and Teacher (Oak Room), Julie Paugh- Beardall
Miss Julie is the director of the preschool program and head teacher of the 4 year old classroom, the Oak Room. She has been at SJB since 2015. Miss Julie is a Portland native growing up in SE Portland near Mt. Tabor. She is a Central Catholic H.S. alum. She received her undergraduate degrees from Portland State University in Psychology and History and her Master’s of Arts in Teaching (ECE/Elementary) from University of Portland. She has worked many years in early childhood including several years as a teaching assistant at the Helen Gordon Child Development Center at PSU, thirteen years in kindergarten, and most recently three years at Chemeketa Community College in their lab school mentoring adult ECE students. During the summers she works at Fruit and Flower Child Development Center in NW Portland. She has two grown daughters, Amanda and Caitlin, who are both recent college graduates. Miss Julie currently lives in Beaverton with her family.
Preschool Teacher (Acorn Room), Rachel Keeney
Miss Rachel is the lead teacher in the three-year-old classroom, the Acorn Room. She began teaching at SJB in the fall of 2017 after spending a year as the Mini-Preschool teacher at Academy 4 Kids. She has been in the Milwaukie area her entire life, attending SJB as a child, as well as Holy Family and then La Salle. Miss Rachel went on to complete her Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education through Clackamas Community College, and is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Development through Southern Oregon University.
Preschool Assistant (Acorn Room), Melissa McGowan
Miss Melissa is a new addition to the Preschool Acorn Room as of September 2017 and works directly with Miss Rachel on day-to-day activities and transitions. Miss Melissa was born in Salem, Oregon and moved up to Portland in 2011 to go to Portland State University, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s in Psychology in 2015. She currently lives in Milwaukie with her family.
Preschool Assistant (Oak Room), Jean Wease
This is Ms Wease’s third year at SJB working mornings as an aide. Her experience with Catholic schools began in 2007 when she substituted for a week at SJA in Oregon City, in a grandson’s second grade classroom, and later became their librarian. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in two years, thanks to the opportunity of earning credit for writing intensive prior learning experience papers, 29 years after graduating from high school in Kissimmee, FL. Previous occupations have included continuing education coordinator at PCC, business owner, and office manager.
Kindergarten, David Quinn
Dave is in his third year at SJB teaching Kindergarten. He previously taught for two years at a small catholic school in Melbourne, Australia which is very similar to SJB. Dave has been living in Portland for three and a half years and he plays football for the Portland Steelheads Australian Football Team.
First Grade, Tenley Roosevelt
This will be Tenley Roosevelt’s 4th year at SJB. She has worked in schools in Portland, Gresham, West Linn and Eugene. Tenley graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.A. in Educational Foundations and minors in both Special Education and Business Administration. After that, she earned her Masters in teaching from Lewis and Clark.
Second Grade, Bethany Chipps
This is Mrs. Chipps’ eighth year of teaching at St. John the Baptist. This is her second year teaching second grade. She graduated from Concordia University in 2009 with a Master’s in Art in Teaching. Prior to teaching Mrs. Chipps was a case manger for families in the Portland area on the Section 8 program.
Third Grade, Sr. Juana Gutierrez
Sister Juana Gutierrez Mares joined the teaching staff at St. John the Baptist Catholic School in 2017 to teach third grade. She graduated from George Fox University where she earned her teaching certificate with endorsements in elementary education and Spanish. Sister Juana is happy to share her journey in life, especially toward joining a religious order and becoming a teacher.
She was born in Ocotlán Jalisco, Mexico as the 4th of ten children, 3 boys and 7 girls. When she was 4 years old, her father immigrated to the USA and started working in the fields here in Oregon. He continues to work there. Over time, her mom and most of the children immigrated to the USA, too. She was baptized Catholic and made her 1st Holy Communion when she was 10 years old.
She migrated to the USA in 1992 to join her family so they could reach their dream together of having a better life. While working at Migrant Head Start as an Instructional Assistant and going to church, she made lots of friends. One of those friends was Dominga Gonzalez, now a Carmelite Nun, who connected her with the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon. Four years later, in 1997, she joined the community and became Sr. Juana Gutierrez Mares. In 2001, she started working at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Forest Grove as a parish minister. She worked there until 2009. While working there, she studied thelology at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkley, CA. In 2010, she started working at Valley Catholic Early Learning School teaching Spanish. It was then, when she fell in love with the little ones, as she had done when she worked at the Migrant Head Start, that she decided to go back to college to become a teacher and to eventually find her way to St. John the Baptist.
Fourth Grade, Jamie Schweigert
Jamie Schweigert is teaching 4th grade this year. In addition to teaching 4th grade, Jamie is also teaching 5th grade math and a knitting elective for Middle School. It is her third year at SJB, but she has been teaching for 18 years. During those 18 years, Jamie has taught a variety of grade levels in the elementary school setting. Jamie received her Masters in Education from Lesley University in 2003.
Fifth Grade, Carre Heineck
Carre Heineck enters her fourth year of teaching at St. John the Baptist Catholic School and her thirteenth year in Catholic education. Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, she moved to Oregon to be part of a Catholic service teaching program. She received her BA in English from Villanova University in Pennsylvania and her MA in Education from the University of Portland. Carre enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and running.
6th Grade Homeroom and Middle School S.S. and L.A., Cheryl Biehl
Mrs. Biehl comes to St. John’s with over 30 years of teaching experience. She has been a library specialist for many years, as well as taught in the classroom with grades ranging from 1st to 5th. She has also been a school principal, music teacher, and a religious education coordinator and confirmation teacher. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Eastern Washington University, a Master’s degree in music and in educational leadership from Portland State as well holding an administrative license in Washington state.
7th Grade Homeroom and 4-8 Science, Christopher DeLutz
Christopher DeLutz is the science teacher for grades 4-8 and also teaches the LEGO robotics elective offered to middle school. This will be his fourth year at St. John the Baptist Catholic School. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University and his Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Marylhurst University. He is honored to be a part of the St. John the Baptist Catholic School community and have the opportunity share the wonders of science with the students of SJB. Outside of the classroom, Mr. DeLutz enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, and two dogs. He enjoys all things outdoors: camping, backpacking, whitewater rafting, and stand up paddle boarding are a few of his favorite outdoor activities.
P.E. and Health, Sara Miller
Sara Miller is the physical education and health teacher at St. John the Baptist and she is in her 10th year teaching (3rd year at SJB). She would like her students to incorporate the outlook of “Healthy body, Healthy mind” into their daily lives. The purpose of physical education is to teach the whole student while incorporating fitness, muscular strengthening and improve locomotor development. Physical education provides the opportunity to teach students about movement, strategies, teamwork, problem solving and health related fitness. Students will set and achieve personal goals that are attainable.
Sara was born and raised in Oregon and graduation from Gresham High School. She attended Colorado State University Pueblo on a soccer scholarship and graduated in 2008 with a B.S. in Exercise Science. After graduation she moved to Louisiana where she taught for 7 years and LOVES LSU tiger football. GEAUX TIGERS!!!
Spanish, Art, and Learning Support, Alina Best
Alina Best began her teaching career here at SJB in 2008. She taught 1st grade here until 2014, before to moving another school for 3 years where she taught 1st and 4th grades. She rejoined the team in 2017 in a new role as K-8 instructor in both Spanish and Art, drawing on her lifelong passion and study of both.
Third of five children in a Cuban-American family, Alina was raised to love and value faith, language, music, and the richness found in diversity. She grew up in Northwest Montana, and returns often to visit her siblings, niece and nephews. She went to a small, liberal arts school in Northeast Tennessee, where she sought a BA in Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish. She received her MSEd in Elementary Reading and Math in 2013, and continues to pursue opportunities to learn and practice various forms of art, including oil painting, lettering, drawing and sculpture. Among other things, Alina loves singing, animals, sign language, and storytelling.