Tutors
Mr. Dennis Ogden, High School History & Literature, Logic Faith
Dennis is a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He attended and graduated from Cedar Rapids Washington (high school), Iowa State University (college) and the University of Iowa (law school). After law school, he practiced law in Des Moines and West Des Moines for 41 years retiring in December 2023. While in law school, he met and married his wife, Wendy, and together they raised four children. He is a parishioner of St. Augustin Catholic Church in Des Moines and is in his third year serving as a tutor at St. Thomas with classes in Logic and HS History and Literature.
Mrs. Lindsay Maher, High School Biology
Lindsay, her husband John, and their four children live in Pleasant Hill. They are parishioners at the Basilica of St. John and are involved in teaching baptism preparation class, Troops of St. George, and Lindsay cantors. Lindsay runs her own personal financial education and advising business and volunteers with a couple different organizations educating and advocating for the preservation of God given natural rights and liberty. Lindsay holds a Bachelor of Science in biology, minor in chemistry, from the University of Northern Iowa and a Master of Science in microbiology (emphasis in virology) from the University of Iowa.
Mr. Bo Bonner, High School Philosophy
Bo Bonner is the Senior Advisor for Mission Initiatives and Spiritual Health, and Director of the Center for Human Flourishing at Mercy College in Des Moines, IA. He is also the Gerber Visiting Fellow of Catholic Studies at Newman University. He has taught for Humanities departments at multiple universities, has published articles for Church Life Journal and The Catholic Herald, and is the co-host of the UnCommon Good on Iowa Catholic Radio. He converted to Catholicism in the midst of Protestant seminary and is now a Benedictine oblate. He and his wife Robyn have been married for 18 years, and they have five children. Bo was born on the feast of St. Blaise, the patron of throats, and he has not stopped talking ever since.
Mr. David Currie, High School Theology
David studied philosophy at Trinity College and then attended Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in the MDiv program while still a fundamentalist protestant. He entered full-time protestant ministry. However, after a years-long search for the answers to thorny theological questions, David and his family entered the Catholic Church. He then studied theology at Holy Apostles Seminary. David has written four books: Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic, Rapture, the End-Times Error, What Jesus Really Said about the End of the World, Loving Baby Louie. He and his wife recently retired and moved to Iowa to be close to four of their eight children. They are expecting their 24th grandchild next year.
Mrs. Brandi Downey, High School Physics
Brandi graduated from Iowa State University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. She worked in an ethanol plant for three years before her first son was born and she traded engineering for full-time motherhood. She has served as a catechist in Toddler and Level I Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atria, and is trained as a Creighton Model FertilityCare Practitioner. She and her husband, Philip, have been married for nine years and have five children. She enjoys running and reading when she has the opportunity.
Mr. Bryan Gonzalez, Latin
Bryan, his wife, 9 children, 45 chickens, 1 lactating cow, 1 livestock guardian dog, and too many mice-chasing cats live on an acreage outside of Winterset, where he enjoys speaking Italian, wearing bib overalls, splitting wood, homeschooling his kids, and studying Latin. During the day, he enjoys Galvanizing and Enabling benefactors to support the life-affirming work of InnerVisions HealthCare. His favorite passage in Scripture is the 9th Beatitude: “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape”, which is an important fundraising principle for event planning.
Mrs. Marguerite O’Meara, 8th Grade Science, Math
Marguerite O'Meara, a Minnesota native, graduated from Creighton University with a degree in education and has received a masters in theology from the University of Dallas. She taught middle school for twenty years before marrying her husband Mike and moving to Iowa. She and Mike have three children and live in Indianola, where they attend St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Marguerite has taught religious education, assisted in Level I and II Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atria, and taught RCIA at her parish. In her spare time she enjoys reading, knitting, and gardening.
Mrs. Kara Storey, 7th Grade Composition, High School Writing Tutor
A native of Minnesota, Kara Storey graduated from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she majored in journalism and Catholic studies and minored in philosophy. Prior to becoming a stay-at-home mama, Kara worked as a newspaper reporter for the Diocese of Sioux City and eventually as the program coordinator for Catholic Rural Life. Currently she crams freelance writing into her spare time, with her work being featured in publications such as Catholic Rural Life magazine, Embodied, Verily, Family Foundations, and The Catholic Mirror. Kara has been married to Adam for 11 years and has four children.
Mrs. Janis Falk, Logic History & Literature, CGS Catechist
Janis grew up in Jonesville, NY and has a B.A. in English and Writing from The College of St. Rose, Albany. As a young woman she had many work experiences: shoe salesman, barista, theater stage manager, zoo guide, police/fire dispatcher, historic window restoration shop manager, and free-lance journalist. She moved to Des Moines in 1996 and was a historical interpreter at Living History Farms for 10 years before becoming a museum administrator for The Wallace Centers of Iowa. In 2004, Janis discovered the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and felt called to follow a new path as an educator. She pursued a M.A.PS at Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, and is now the Director of Religious Education at St. Augustin Catholic Church, Des Moines. She and her husband, Tim, are performing musicians, and have six children and five grandchildren.
Mrs. Teresa Gregory, 6th Grade
Teresa earned her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from Wyoming Catholic College. She taught for two years at a Classical Catholic school near her home in Colorado before she and her husband, Luke, were married and moved to Iowa in 2015. They live in Newton with their two boys, John Paul and Joseph. This is her fourth year at St. Thomas, where she teaches Grammar 2 art and history and 6th Grade Skill work.
Mrs. Elizabeth Heath, 3rd Grade
Elizabeth Heath teaches third grade as well as grammar one art and assists with grammar one history. She is starting her fourth year at STCA . Her oldest daughter Sienna will be a sophomore there as well. Her younger daughters, Gabriella and Mary Kate will be in eighth grade and fourth grade at SPX school. Elizabeth graduated from Purdue University with a marketing degree. Prior to having a family, she was the Director of Marketing at Wesley Acres retirement community. Elizabeth and her three girls attend the Latin mass at Saint Augustin. She loves the children at STCA and is looking forward to another great year!
Mrs. Tami Lingor, CGS Catechist
Tami received her Bachelor of Arts from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, then her Master's in Social Work from OLLU in San Antonio, TX. She traded in her LICSW for mom and Air Force wife duties. With 20 years of homeschooling experience, the first half with military moves, Tami has been involved in co-ops and other various homeschool and religious education programs over the years. Her family settled in Norwalk, Iowa, after her husband retired from a 26 year Air Force career. Since arriving in Iowa, she has added Catechesis of the Good Shepherd to her experience. She is trained in Levels I, II & III and has served as a catechist in the atrium for seven years. Tami currently serves as our faith coordinator.
Mrs. Callie Wadle, 8th Grade Composition
Callie Wadle grew up in southern Minnesota and received a Bachelor of Arts In English from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has always loved to read and discuss great works of literature. This will be her sixth year teaching at St. Thomas Classical Academy. She and her husband Jonathan have five children and are members of the Basilica of St. John.
Dr. Mark Purtle, Math
Dr. Purtle grew up in western Iowa, graduating from Creighton University in 1977 with a BS Chemistry degree. He subsequently went to University of Iowa College of Medicine graduating in 1981 and then completed residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Rochester, Strong Memorial Hospital. After residency from 1984 to 1986 he practiced in the Public Health Service at Syracuse Community Health Center. He returned to Iowa to join his father-in-law’s Internal Medicine practice and subsequently was a founding member of what is now UnityPoint Clinic and UnityPoint Health. In November 2001 he was selected to be Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of UnityPoint Des Moines. In 2021 he retired from that position though continues part-time practicing and teaching residents of UnityPoint Health in Internal Medicine at Broadlawns Medical Center. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine.
Mrs. Anu Galloway, Math
Anu Galloway came to Des Moines from Calcutta, India to study at Drake University, where she earned her B.A. in Actuarial Science and Finance. After working in her field for several years, she now stays home with her five children. She and her husband Ryan are parishioners at the Basilica of St. John.
Miss Maria Haas, 5th Grade
Maria grew up in Muscatine, Iowa and earned her Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology and Health and Chinese Studies from Iowa State University. Maria served as a FOCUS missionary prior to moving to Des Moines. For the last few years she served as the youth minister at Saints John and Paul Catholic Church. In her free time, she enjoys praying and being outdoors with her friends and family. This will be her first year teaching at Saint Thomas Classical Academy. Maria is excited for this new year to be surrounded by children who love Jesus!
Mrs. Kindra Barten, 2nd Grade
Kindra grew up in dusty west Texas. She graduated from Texas Tech University with a BS in Elementary Education. She taught 4 th grade in Lubbock, Texas before marrying a military pilot and moving around the world. She homeschooled her four children. Somewhere along the way, she fulfilled a monumental goal and graduated from Court Reporting School. Her love for the Catholic faith, curious children, and classical education brought her to St. Thomas Classical Academy. In her free time she can be found painting, reading, or laughing with her family.
Miss Mary Beth South, 1st Grade
Mary Elizabeth was born and raised on the Southside of Des Moines, Iowa just blocks from St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Her family has attended St. Anthony's for 3 generations. When not at STCA, she is an in-home special needs daycare provider for her 13 year old cousin Emme. She is trained in CGS level 1 and 2. She was the CGS catechist at Christ The King from 2010 till 2020. This is her 4th year with STCA.
Mr. James Johnson, Logic Geography
James Johnson serves as the president of a Christian charity that has conducted humanitarian relief work in 80 nations around the world. He holds a B.A. in theology, an M.A. in public policy, and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in public policy at Liberty University. An eight-time recipient of the “Best Speaker” Award from Toastmasters International groups, he has taught nine subjects at two of Iowa’s leading community colleges, including economics, government, western civilization, ethics, and logic. Mr. Johnson and his wife Janis have been married for nearly 40 years; they have six children and 17 grandchildren, and four of their children are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. His hobbies include golf, shooting, fishing, and travel, and he is a member of the Basilica of Saint John in Des Moines.
Mrs. Brenda Dougan, CGS assistant
Brenda first learned of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd while living in Kansas. It was at the Christ Our Life Conference in 2014 that she discovered CGS in Des Moines and was elated to sign up her son Garron who was three at the time. His joy and love for the Good Shepherd inspired her to go through Level I training in 2016. Since then she has completed Infant-Toddler and Part 1 of Level II CGS training. She has served in the atria since 2017 and this is her fifth year serving as a catechist at St Thomas Classical Academy. Brenda lives in Ankeny with her husband Matt and son Garron (12), who is now an ex-bambini of the atrium and a Logic student at STCA. They are parishioners at the Basilica of St John. Matt and Brenda also have four adult children, three of whom are married, and two granddaughters, all in the metro. Brenda graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Journalism, Advertising. Her former work experience was in advertising account management and early childhood as an associate.
Mrs. Kirsten Downey, 4th Grade, 7th Grade Science
A transplant from the Pacific Northwest, Kirsten’s education at Benedictine College brought her to Kansas where she earned a Bachelor of Music Education. She worked as a music teacher in Nebraska for six years before she married her husband, Tom - also a music teacher. After four more years teaching music, they moved to Iowa to be closer to family. Kirsten currently tutors at STCA, has a private piano studio, works with the Catholic Youth Choir, and enjoys spending time with her husband (and any family who happen to be around). With over seven Godchildren and more than 20 nieces and nephews, she is happily showering love on all the people God has brought into her life. Kirsten thoroughly enjoys teaching - and learning - and is delighted to be working with the students at St. Thomas.
Mr. Michael McAlister, High School Logic, Latin