Staff
Our staff members have years of experience in their fields of expertise.
Jess Castillo
5th Grade
Ms. Castillo has Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Education from the University of Notre Dame. She is currently a M.Ed Candidate through the Alliance Catholic Education (ACE) at the University of Notre Dame.
Kha Dihn
4th Grade
Mr. Dihn has a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Psychology from Boston College. He is a current M.Ed Candidate at the University of Notre Dame Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE).
Sarah Doherty
Kindergarten
Ms. Doherty has a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services from Bethel University. She is a graduate student at the College of St. Scholastica for a Master's in Teaching.
Sara Feinberg
Performing Arts Teacher
Ms Feinberg has taught theatre for more than 20 years both in schools, and in local and nationally known theatres, such as The Children's Theatre in Minneapolis. She has written countless plays for hundreds of groups of children and teens over her tenure as a teaching artist, and has designed, produced, and directed productions for students from preschool to adults. Ms. Feinberg graduated from Ithaca College with a major in music (voice), a minor in theatre, and has a Master's in Teaching from Hamline University.
Barb Hall
Title I Reading Specialist
Barb Hall has a Master's Degree from the University of Minneaota in Elementary Ed. She also has a Preschool License from the U of M. Her undergraduate degrees are in Education and Biology from the University of Minnesota. She has had Reading Recovery training. She taught in St. Paul Public Schools as a classroom teacher for 27 years and has taught Title I for 10 years.
Bridget Kirby Younce
1st Grade
Mrs. Kirby Younce went to the University of Minnesota Duluth for Integrated Elementary and Special Education. She has been with Ascension Catholic Academy since 2018 in a few different positions, including teaching 3rd Grade at Ascension Catholic School, Administrative Assistant at Ascension Catholic School and finally teaching 1st Grade at St. John Paul II Catholic School.
Ty Kozic
Reading Partners Coordinator
Jennifer Lentz
5th Grade
Ms. Lentz began teaching at JPII in 2020. Her previous experience includes teaching in Mexico, Taiwan and Ireland. She has a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) and a Master's degree from the University of Limerick, Ireland.
Jenny Mejia
Preschool Assistant
Maddie Meza
Title 1 Reading
Ms. Meza has a Bachelor's of Arts in Elementary Education/Early Childhood Education from the University of North Dakota. She previously taught at a Jewish Day School for the past four years as a 1st grade teacher and an interventionist. She enjoys working one-on-one with students and helping them reach their full potential in literacy.
Jamie Michel
Kindergarten
Mrs. Michel went to Abilene Christian University for her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education. She also has a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of St. Thomas. This is her second year teaching at St. John Paul II, but she has been with Ascension Catholic Academy since it began. She taught for 10 years at Ascension prior to coming to JPII.
Judi Mikolai
LDA Title 1 teacher
Ms. Mikolai received her B.A. in Biology and German from the University of Minnesota Morris. She completed her Master's degree in Secondary Education at the University of St. Thomas. She is a licensed Reading Teacher with a graduate certificate from Hamline University. She began teaching at JPII 2018. She originally taught reading, then Newcomer English and expanded to teaching math, too.
Christine Moore
3rd Grade
Ms. Moore has worked in both Catholic and public institutions for 36 years in positions of ministry and education. She holds a BA from the College of St. Benedict and earned a MAED from the University of St. Catherine. She has taught grades 3-12 and also is a licensed Reading Teacher with a graduate certificate from Hamline University.
Olivia Rettig
2nd Grade
Originally from Kansas, Ms. Rettig attained a Bachelor's degree at Azusa Pacific University in K-8 Education with a concentration in Spanish. During her undergrad, she also completed the Teaching English as a Foreign Language certification. After graduation, she spent four years teaching in an international school in Quito, Ecuador. She is passionate about teaching students about the love of Christ through daily activities and interactions in her classroom.
Thomas Richter
MS ELA and Religion
Mr. Richter recieved his B.A. in Theology and Philosophy from Benedictine College in May 2024. He began teaching at JPII in 2024. He looks forward to teaching 6th and 7th grade ELA and 6th-8th religion.
Maggie Schmidt
Administrative Assistant/Teaching Fellow
Ms. Schmidt received her Associates in Communications from Inver Hills Community College in 2022. After spending the 2023-24 school year at St. John Paul II, Ms. Schmidt discovered her desire to become an educator. She is currently pursuing her Bachelors in Elementary Education at Minnesota State University Mankato as a part of their online teaching cohort. She is also becoming certified in Theology through The Catechetical Institute (The St. Paul Seminary).
Patricia Schneider
Art Teacher
Mrs. S. came to JPII in January of 2024 and hit the ground running to keep the new Visual Arts program thriving. After graduating from St. Kate's, she pursued a successful career in marketing, advertising and sales. Teaching art is a lifelong dream come true.
Christine Sullivan
Middle School (Grades 6-8), 7th Grade Homeroom
Ms. Sullivan has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary/Middle School Education and Spanish Education from Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is currently working on my Master's of Science in Curriculum from Western Governor's University.
Jessi Weakley
Middle School (Grades 6-8), 8th Grade Homeroom
Mrs. Weakley has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Minor in Theology from College of St. Catherine. She is currently completing a Master's Degree in Educational Studies with a concentration in Special Education from the University of St. Thomas. Her two children are JPII graduates, and she is proud to have been teaching middle school here for over a decade.