Meet Our Staff:
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Teaching at Our Lady Star of the Sea since 2020.
About Ms. Bennett: Ms. Bennett was raised and graduated from high school in Anchorage, Alaska. She came to Washington and received her degree from Seattle University in 1985. In 1988, she received her Early Childhood Certificate. Ms. Bennett has worked with children and families since 1987. Most recently, she was employed by Kitsap Community Resources as a Head Start Lead Teacher for the past 6 years. Ms. Bennett and her husband, Neal McCluskey, have two grown children, and reside in Poulsbo. |
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Teaching at Our Lady Star of the Sea since 2017.
About Sister Mariana: Originally from Syracuse, NY, Sr. Mariana joined the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia (Nashville, TN) in 2005. Prior to entering the convent, she received a B.S. in education from SUNY Geneseo and a M.A. in education from Franciscan University of Steubenville. She has taught at schools in Nashville and St. Louis, and is very excited that the Lord has brought her to the Pacific Northwest to serve at Our Lady Star of the Sea. Our Lady and St. Dominic, pray for us! |
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Teaching at Our Lady Star of the Sea since 2020.
About Mrs. Shetler: Mrs. Shetler and her husband, Michael, have been members of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish since 2011. Their daughter, Madeline, is a graduate of Our Lady Star of the Sea School. Mrs. Shetler graduated from Central Washington University in 1995 with a degree in Food Science and Nutrition then worked in the healthcare field as a Registered Dietitian until Madeline was born. Once Madeline started Kindergarten in 2007, Mrs. Shetler started worked as a substitute teacher from 2008 - 2019. Mrs. Shetler worked as a substitute teacher/school secretary at OLSOS between 2012 - 2019. In 2020, Mrs. Shetler served as the co-teacher in the 4th grade. She taught math, science, reading, and social studies. Mrs. Shetler is a proud military spouse, she loves the color purple, and has a dog named Jusco. |
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Teaching at Our Lady Star of the Sea since 2017.
About Sister Daniela: Originally from Sugar Land, TX, Sister Daniela joined the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia (Nashville, TN) in 2012. Prior to entering the convent, she received a B.A. in secondary education and Theology from Benedictine College. After entering her community, she received her Master of Arts in Teaching K-5 from Aquinas College. She taught 5th grade in Murfreesboro, TN prior to beginning her mission at Star of the Sea in 2017. She taught 5th grade during her first four years at Star of the Sea. In 2021, she began teaching 2nd grade and is thrilled to prepare the students for the Sacraments and to begin teaching with a Catholic Liberal Arts curriculum. Outside of school, Sister enjoys hiking and being outdoors. Our Lady Star of the Sea, pray for us! |
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Teaching at Our Lady Star of the Sea since 2004.
About Mrs. LaFrance: Mrs. LaFrance has been part of our Star of the Sea team since 2003. She began as office manager and soon showed her gift of multi-tasking and making all who entered the school feel welcomed. In 2004, she was asked to fill in for a music teacher who transferred early with her family to a new duty station and in 2006 became the music specialist for K-8, including choir, recorders, and band. Fulfilling her dream to return to college, she began full-time night classes, graduated with a B.A. in Education with a Special Education major, and was hired as our second grade teacher. Mrs. LaFrance has two little grandsons and enjoys spending time with family, quilting with gal pals, and music in all its forms! |
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Teaching at Our Lady Star of the Sea since 2021.
About Mrs. Kilmer: Mrs. Kilmer was raised in University Place, WA where she attended St. Charles Borromeo from kindergarten through eighth grade. She has felt strongly called to be a teacher since childhood. After graduating from Curtis High School, she attended Central Washington University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in elementary education and endorsement in reading instruction. Upon graduating, Mrs. Kilmer taught first grade at Visitation Catholic School for six years before meeting her husband and welcoming her first child. In 2011, Mrs. Kilmer moved to Gig Harbor where she taught first grade at St. Nicholas School for two years before her family expanded again and welcomed twins. After two years of caring for her children at home, she went back to teaching as the music instructor for her children at St. Nicholas and eventually transitioned back into the classroom, teaching third grade for four years. Mrs. Kilmer enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, cheering her children on in sports and being at the beach. She is thrilled that the Lord has called her, as well as her family to be a part of the community of Our Lady Star of the Sea. |
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Teaching at Our Lady Star of the Sea since 2019.
About Sister Amata Christi: Peace of Christ! My name is Sr. Amata Christi and I am thrilled to be teaching 5th grade religion and English, as well as 6th grade English this year. I have a great love for the Classical, great books tradition of the Catholic faith and love to use the method in my teaching. I grew up on a farm in southern Minnesota, in a big (wild) homeschooling family of ten kids. In 2006 I entered our Dominican convent, and for the past 11 years I have been teaching 1st-5th grades in Virginia, Minnesota, and Tennessee. Teaching and sharing the faith with children and their families is my passion! My name is Latin and means, "Beloved of Christ", which is in honor of the Eucharist and the Feast of Corpus Christi. I am soon to finish a Masters in Scripture at Providence College, and so have a special love for the Word of God, as well as a particular devotion to the Holy Spirit. It is a privilege to work at such a grace-filled school and parish, and I thank the Lord for the opportunity!Teaching at Our Lady Star of the Sea since 2019. |
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Teaching at Our Lady Star of the Sea Since 2015.
About Mrs. Cecelia O'Connor: Mrs. O'Connor has been a member of the Star parish community for 20 years and a staff member at our school for over 10 years. Both of her children are graduates of Our Lady Star of the Sea School. This year she begins her sixth year as the homeroom teacher for sixth grade and as a middle school teacher. Mrs. O'Connor has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington and a Master's in Teaching from City University. Outside of school, Mrs. O'Connor enjoys walking her two dogs: Wellington (a corgi) and Helo (a Chesapeake Bay retriever) and spending time with her family. |
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Teaching at Our Lady Star of the Sea since 2022.
About Mr. Gill: |
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Teaching at Our Lady Star of the Sea since 2017.
About Sister Maria Caeli: My family and I grew up in central Wisconsin. I attended Catholic schools in my hometown, including Assumption High School. As a sister, I earned my education degree from Aquinas College and Belmont University in Nashville. During the summers, I am working on my Masters in Theology from Providence College in Providence, RI. My hard-working dad, Jay Parmeter, operates the family business of designing and selling log homes. (Golden Eagle Log and Timber Homes) My amazing mom, Rose Dorcey, has her hand in all sorts of things including cupcake decorating, gardening, painting, and babysitting the grandkids, my nephew Logan (6), and niece Claire Caeli (3). My brother Luke and his wife Caitlin live in Wisconsin where we grew up. Luke is a phenomenal TV/Video producer specializing in motorcycle Supercross. I have a wonderful stepmom, Sarah, who has three boys, Elliot, Lukas, and Andy. She keeps very busy babysitting and has her own business of interior design, mostly during the Christmas season. My talented stepdad, John, is a pilot instructor and has two sons, Justin and John. I have taught middle school for the last 12 years, in St. Louis, Denver, and Atlanta, GA. I love teaching Religion to middle school because it is such a pivotal time in a young person’s life. I first ‘met’ Jesus, as a real Person who loved me and died for me, when I was a teen. The greatest joy is helping a young person come to know and love Jesus. My favorite hobbies include basketball, volleyball, tennis, watching the Green Bay Packers, playing guitar, reading, drinking coffee, and I LOVE hiking. Growing up I raced snowmobiles, dirt bikes, and BMX bikes. |
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Teaching at Our Lady Star of the Sea since 2022.
About Mrs. Clemen: Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Dr. Lucy Clemen went to school on the East Coast, and in Pittsburgh met her husband Mark. A parishioner since 2000, she greatly enjoys gardening and hiking in the Pacific Northwest. All of their children attended Our Lady Star of the Sea school. She and Mark feel truly blessed that their oldest daughter was called to religious life and is Sister Elizabeth Mary the Mother of God, O.C.D., a fully cloistered Carmelite nun. Lucy received both her BS and MS in Physics Education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and her PhD in Experimental Physics at University of Pittsburgh. Her great love of teaching has led her to teach music, Introductory Physics at Olympic College, and both Teen Confirmation and RCIA.. We welcome her as our science teacher for grades 6-8 and Latin teacher for 2-4. St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us! |
Mr. Nick Ogilvie Art Grades 5-8 |
Teaching at Our Lady Star of the Sea since 2021.
About Mr. Ogilvie: Hello Star families! My name is Nick Ogilvie and I am excited to be the new art teacher. Art has been an important part of my life and career. I have a Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree and have been an adjunct professor for the Northwest College of Art and Design for almost 5 years. I look forward to combining my art instruction experience with our Catholic faith to create a class that will inspire creativity and our connection to God through visual expression. We will be focusing on traditional art instruction and the study of sacred art. Our Catholic faith has been deeply enriched with statues, paintings, and architecture to inspire our souls with awe and wonder. Like the divinely inspired artists who made these art pieces, I pray that we are inspired through the Holy Spirit and deepen our relationship with our Lord who is the great artist. |
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Teaching at Our Lady Star of the Sea since 2021.
About Ms. Ryalls: Shae Ryalls joins Star of the Sea School as the middle school Latin teacher. She was homeschooled in Gig Harbor, and Latin was always part of the curriculum. In 2018 she graduated from the University of Mary with majors and minors of History, Catholic Studies, Classical Studies, and Biology. In 2020, she completed a master’s degree in Maritime Civilizations. Shae is delighted to have the opportunity of sharing Latin with the students at Star of the Sea School. Outside of school hours, Shae enjoys writing, coffeeshops, and martial arts. |
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Teaching PE at Our Lady Star of the Sea since 2018.
About Mrs. Kilgallen: Mrs. Kilgallen grew up in upstate New York and studied at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University where she earned a Masters degree. She moved to Star of the Sea from Italy. Her youngest, Quinn, was baptized at the Vatican! Her family of five enjoy the great outdoors; paddle boarding and other water sports are family favorites. The children are involved in kids Crossfit, jiujitsu and gymnastics. Previously, Mrs. Kilgallen worked in the airline industry in revenue management, charter marketing and aviation safety departments. Lately you may have seen her coaching gymnastics birthday parties! She says she decided to become a teacher because she wanted the “opportunity to inspire and motivate children through physical fitness while always instilling a love for God and the Catholic faith.” “My best memories from elementary school were the annual field days! Being involved with an entire day of gym class was fun and brought the entire school together through hard work and determination.” She believes that being physically active is essential for a healthy and successful life. She’s excited to teach in a Catholic school. “Our faith keeps my family grounded. Teaching at Star encourages me to be a better Christian and role model to my children and students.” |
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