Meet our Staff
Administrative
Facilities
Kindergarten to Grade 5
Middle School
Specialists
Extended Day
Administrative
Mrs. Mary Beth Pittman - Pricipal - Religion 8
My husband Bruce and I have been Our Lady of Hope parishioners for almost eight years. We have a wonderful daughter Elizabeth who is in Middle School at OLOH. We also have an adorable West Highland Terrier named Cooper. I received a Master’s in Education with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction from George Mason University. I completed my undergraduate work at Northern Illinois University earning a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. This will be my twenty third year in education and I have taught every grade from PK-6! I also have an endorsement to teach Gifted Education and was a FUTURA teacher for Loudoun County Public Schools for several years. During my tenure in the gifted/talented program; I helped to write the new curriculum program for fourth and fifth grade FUTURA students. I enjoy spending time with my family, going to the beach and reading good literature. I look forward to another terrific year with great parents, students and staff!
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Mrs Tami Koerner - School Secretary
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Mrs. Barbara Prinicpe - 1st Grade Aide AM
I was born and raised in New York and married in 1963. We moved to Virginia in 1974. I have 3 children and 6 grandchildren. I have been a member of Our Lady of Hope since it was founded and served as a Eucharistic Minister. I am a member of the Women’s Group and served as president for 2 years. My favorite hobby is scrapbooking. I also love to travel and have cruised to Alaska and visited Italy with my family. I also went on Father Saunder’s pilgrimage to France in August.
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Mrs. Anne Ezenwa - School Nurse
Welcome to Our Lady of Hope Catholic School. I am originally from the eastern part of Nigeria and moved to the United States in 1991 after marriage. I graduated from York College in Pennsylvania with a B.S. Honors in Nursing, 1998. Since then I have worked in maternal/child health, newborn nursery, medical/surgical and emergency room nursing. This is my fourth year at Our Lady of Hope School. I am an active member of St. Joseph’s Parish in Herndon. My husband and I are blessed with four children, two of them are in high school and the other two attend Our Lady of Hope School. My favorite things to do are traveling, reading, hiking and just relaxing with the family.
I look forward to taking care of all our children and meeting with the wonderful families at Our Lady of Hope Catholic School.
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Mr. Jozef Dobrzanski - School Custodian
I have been blessed to be of service here at Our Lady of Hope where I have the pleasure to work with such amazing adults and children! I am originally from Poland and after marrying my wife, Krystyna, moved to France. In 1979, Krystyna, our three wonderful children and I decided to join my family here in the United States. I've enjoyed many jobs, among them -- commercial roofer, truck mechanic, and now facilities maintenance. On my spare time, I enjoy gardening, working on home projects, and walking my dog. All in all, life is good, especially now that I am of direct service to my Catholic Church.
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Kindergarten to Grade 5
Mrs. Sherrie Fuller - Kindergarten
My family and I have been members of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church since its inception on August 6, 2000. It has been a privilege being the kindergarten teacher at our school since the doors first opened on September 6, 2005. What a wonderful blessing it is to teach in a Catholic school where we practice, learn, and discuss our faith every day.
I received a B.S. from West Virginia University in child development. Since then, I have completed college courses, in services, and workshops all dealing with early childhood education and religion. I have taught preschool, pre-kindergarten, and now kindergarten.
I look forward to meeting you and working with your precious children in a Catholic learning environment.
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Mrs. Lou Ann Gural - Kindergarten Aide
I am married and have four children. I have been a member of Our Lady of Hope Parish since August 2000. I have a B.A. from the University of Maryland in Hearing and Speech. I worked as a teacher’s aide for two years at Creative Kids Preschool and as a cafeteria hostess for four years at Meadowland Elementary School. I have been teaching CCD for six years, including grades one, three, four, and five. This is my third year as the kindergarten aide at Our Lady of Hope School.
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Miss Melissa Marchi - 1st Grade
I attended Catholic school from kindergarten to eighth grade at St. Joseph’s in Herndon, Virginia as well as all four years of high school at Paul VI in Fairfax, Virginia. I graduated college from Radford University in Radford, Virginia. I taught preschool both in college and after graduating. I cannot express how amazing it is to now be teaching here at Our Lady of Hope Catholic School. I feel extremely blessed that God has led me here to teach first grade and to be part of the Our Lady of Hope Catholic School family.
Family and faith are the two most important things in my life. I am adopted and am exceptionally close with my adoptive and biological parents as well as siblings and extended family. We are all one, HUGE family that is incredibly strong in faith and unconditional love.
I am very passionate about teaching and working with children. I am excited to use my energy, enthusiasm and love of God and the Catholic faith to educate your children. I am looking forward to a wonderful year in first grade, having fun, learning, teaching and getting to know your families! God bless.
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Mrs. Pamela Skojec - 2nd Grade Aide PM
My name is Pamela Skojec and I am the First Grade Aide, the Lunch Room Assistant, and the Assistant Manager of the Extended Day Program.
I'm from Binghamton, NY, have been married to my husband Lou for 31 years and we have six children, ranging from thirty to nine years old. I homeschooled our kids for several years and this year we are thrilled to have our youngest son, Louie, go to Our Lady of Hope School instead of public school. We are looking forward to talking freely about our Holy Catholic Faith in school along with celebrating all the Holydays and devotions with which we are so blessed. Talking and learning about God in school is a good thing!
Talking about God on Wednesday nights in our wonderful Religious Education program is another good thing I get to do. Since we joined this parish two years ago, you may have seen me teaching one of the First Communion classes or retreats. Teaching religion has been a love of mine for almost twenty years in three different states. I have also enjoyed teaching the Vacation Bible School for the past two summers. That was a lot of fun with stories, prayers, singing, dancing, and crafts!
This school year will be an exciting time for me as I will be working with many kids I know and many I don't...yet! It will be a great experience! Stop by and say hello!
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Mrs. Joan Bystrowski - 2nd Grade
I am very happy to be teaching Second Grade at Our Lady of Hope School. I hold a Master’s Degree in Education and bring many years of experience to my work here. Second Grade is very special to me as my very first teaching job was as a Second Grade teacher in a public school. But at Our Lady of Hope School, I am able to share my Catholic faith and love for the Holy Eucharist with the children.
My husband and I have lived in Herndon since 1988. We are members of St. Joseph Church where I am a cantor and member of the church choir. My three children are now grown and on their own. My oldest son and daughter-in-law are members of Our Lady of Hope Parish. My personal pastimes involve music, reading, fitness, and family activities.
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Mrs. Roseann Meier - 3rd Grade
I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Castleton State College in Vermont. I hold a current license to teach in the Commonwealth of Virginia in grades PK-6. My previous teaching experience includes preschool, Kindergarten and Grade 4. I was a founding teacher at Annunciation Academy in Kindergarten.
I feel so blessed to be teaching at Our Lady of Hope Catholic School. It has been a dream of mine ever since I heard that we would build a school as well as a church. My family is one of the original families here at Our Lady of Hope. We have lived in Sugarland Run since 1985. I have three wonderful children; Karl who is married, John who is now a freshman at Virginia Tech and Kathleen who is in 5th grade at Our Lady of Hope School and loves it here! I have a wonderful and loving husband who coaches basketball for the CYO.
I enjoy theater and all kinds of music. I especially enjoy community theater and school productions. All of my children have been active in area shows over the years. I also love Irish Step Dancing which my daughter now does for me as my step dancing are over!
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Mrs. Anne Pede - 4th Grade
My name is Anne Pede and I am excited to be the Fourth Grade teacher for Our Lady of Hope. I have been teaching elementary grades for 16 years. I received my Bachelors of Arts in Education and Education Management from Sweet Briar College in Virginia. I also received my Masters Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Virginia. I have taught Kindergarten, First grade, Second grade, Third grade and Fourth. I have taught in Virginia, New York and in Department of Defense Schools in Germany.
I have a wonderful son who will be in the 8th grade at Our Lady of Hope and we are both excited about the start of a new year.
My favorite things to do are skiing, reading, and spending time with my family.
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Mrs. BethAnn Adam - 5th Grade
My name is BethAnn Adam and I am very excited to be teaching 5th grade this year at Our Lady of Hope. I grew up in Michigan, with my large Catholic family, near Grand Rapids. After graduating from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in History, I moved to Falls Church, Virginia; where I taught 4th grade at St. Ann School in Arlington. In June 2008 my husband and I were married and we moved here, to Potomac Falls. I feel so blessed to be teaching for Our Lady of Hope and look forward to the year ahead!
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Middle School
Mr. Bradley Cypher - 6th Grade Homeroom - History/ Primary Latin Grades 1-3 - Honors Math 5 & Math 6
It is my great privilege to be at Our Lady of Hope teaching History grades 6-8 as well as primary Latin grades 1-3. I am a recent graduate of University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va where I majored in History, lead a men’s bible study with the Catholic Campus Ministry, and participated on school’s rowing team. Although this is my first year teaching, I have been a substitute teacher with the Loudoun County School system for the past several years in addition to being a camp counselor with the YMCA. I am very much looking forward to this school year, meeting all of you, and doing my very best to inspire a love for learning and fidelity to God.
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Mrs. Jane Meyerhofer - 7th Grade Homeroom -Science 6-8
I grew up with a scientist father (in Chevy Chase, Maryland) and always loved listening to him talk about the world. I studied Geology at Rice University (BA 1977) and then at the University of Washington in Seattle (MS 1981). I worked as a junior geologist for a time, then switched to computers, and then got married. I have four children and have lived in Texas, Washington (state), Colorado, and California. I have taught undergraduate students, indexed books, taught in co-ops, homeschooled many of my children for many years, and taught Religious Education. I am truly excited at the prospect of teaching science in the middle school at Our Lady of Hope this year.
Science is the meticulous and systematic observation of the natural world in order to discover facts about it. So says the dictionary. But many brilliant scientists have seen it also as a chance to recognize the glory of creation. These are not incompatible ideas. If God created the world it does Him no service to be sloppy about describing his work.
I hope to incorporate both of these ideas in my teaching of science.
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Mrs. Jeanne DeLisi - 8th Grade Homeroom - Reading/Language Arts
I am grateful to God and Father Saunders for welcoming me back to Our Lady of Hope. I am the English teacher for our middle school, and maintain my Virginia state professional license to teach English at the secondary level (6th-12th grades). I hold a master’s degree in English from Virginia Tech, and have been teaching English in some capacity since the Eighties, including several years at the university level. I also had my own business as a technical writer and computer training consultant and won industry awards for my work. Once I became a mother, I explored the possibilities of teaching younger children, and thus taught sixth grade for many years at a private religious school called the Academy of Christian Education. I am one of the earliest members of Our Lady of Hope, and when I heard that Father Saunders was going to build a school as well as a church, I began praying that I would be offered a position, teaching in my own home parish. I feel very blessed to be here, and I love each and every one of my wonderful students.
I live in Ashburn with my husband Rick and son Chris. I am proud to say that Chris was a member of the first graduating class from OLOH and was very well prepared for his high school experience. You might see the three of us onstage together in a local community theatre production. My undergraduate degree is in music, vocal performance, and you may also see me singing in the choir at the 10:30 mass, helping to lead the children’s choir during our school mass, or cantoring at various masses.
I hope to meet all of you parents. Please know that I am here to support you as primary educators of your children. My mission is twofold: teaching your children to read, think, and write; and nourishing and caring for their souls as they grow in our Catholic faith.
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Mr. Ben Almond - Algebra 1 - Religion 6 & 7
I’m honored to be a member of Our Lady of Hope’s faculty this school term. In Year 2006, I retired from AT&T (BellSouth/Cingular Wireless) with over 34 years in the telecom industry as a lobbyist (Regulatory VP) and former Engineering/Operations Manger. I’m a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Morehouse College in Mathematics and minor in Physics. I received my Executive MBA from Georgia State University and Executive Fellowship Degree from Cornell University. My bride of 27 years is Sandra. We have two sons. My oldest son resides in California with his wife and one-year old son. My youngest son is in college.
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Specialists
Mrs. Darya Villhauer - Art
Chicago is my hometown and I was the third of five children born to my immigrant parents who came to the U.S. after World War II. I was baptized, confirmed and raised in the Ukrainian Byzantine Rite. My parish is Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Silver Spring, MD.
My husband, Gary, and I have three wonderful sons, two lovely daughters-in-law and we are excited to be expectant grandparents for the first time. We home schooled our three sons for ten years, taking the older twins from the sixth grade through the end of high school and our youngest son from the first through 10th grades, after which he attended Seton High School for the last two years. The older two graduated from UVA and work as engineers, and our youngest is a junior at JMU.
I have had the pleasure of teaching children of varied ages and grade levels, in both group and private settings. Most recently, I taught art and grammar at Seton Junior and Senior High School in Manassas for over three years. In addition to teaching at Seton and now, at Our Lady of Hope, I have been teaching, on a part time basis, 5th and 6th grade math and English Enrichment classes at Elite Academy, located in Centerville.
Although my B.A. was in Political Science and my M.A. in Slavic Languages and Literatures, at some point I decided to shift my focus towards developing the artistic gifts that God had blessed me with, and I enrolled at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Since our move to Virginia in 1990, I have taken every opportunity to continue to grow as an artist by taking courses at St. John’s College in Annapolis, at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria and other locations with various artists.
My love of teaching children grew out of my years of home schooling my sons as well as teaching group and individual art classes to home schooled and public school children. I believe that God has blessed me with certain gifts to use not only for my own pleasure but most importantly for His purposes. Teaching art to children gives me the great joy and deep satisfaction of knowing that I am using these gifts as a vehicle to draw children closer to Christ and our Catholic Faith.
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Mrs. Linda Gibbons - Computer
Welcome to an exciting year of computing at Our Lady of Hope School! My name is Mrs. Gibbons and I am the technology teacher. I’m excited about the opportunity to work with your child! My experience includes Technology Education in public and private schools, supervising, managing, instructing and supporting a diverse group of students and staff, as well as curriculum development. Years of teaching experience in a lab setting have reinforced my goal of helping your child to become a successful computer user, ultimately transferring those skills into the classroom and home. As a member of VSTE (The Virginia Society for Technology in Education) I am passionate about technology's role in education. Having earned a BSJ from Ohio University, I attended Graduate School at Southern Illinois University.
Looking forward to a wonderful school year!
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Mrs. Doris Del Cecato - Librarian
I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, where I graduated from St. Joan of Arc Grade School and Southwest High School. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Washington University, graduating with final honors.
I have over 20 years experience serving in Catholic school libraries, both on the primary and secondary levels. With two grandchildren attending Our Lady of Hope, I consider this fourth year as librarian for our school to be the perfect continuation of my life amid the wonderful world of books.
My husband, John, and I are founding members of Our Lady of Hope. We are privileged to serve this joyful, faith-filled community in a variety of ways. I volunteered with the Religious Education program for four years. Over the past three years, what a blessing it has been to see students come into the library who are maturing not only in age, but most importantly, in the knowledge and love of the Catholic faith we share.
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Mrs. Tricia McKenna - Music Grade K-8
As a piano scholarship winner at the University of Kansas, I studied Music Therapy until switching to a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 2005, I graduated with a Master of Theological Studies degree from the Institute for Pastoral Theology. I am a lifelong church musician, playing my first Mass on an old pipe organ at my uncle’s parish in Nebraska before I was a teenager. I was also a featured soloist with the Greater Kansas City Our Lady of Fatima Choir since my high school days. I has always enjoyed working with children and had the opportunity to serve as director of the Children’s Choir at St. John the Baptist Parish in Front Royal from 1998-2000. My husband and I have been blessed with three children. When not otherwise occupied by the call of one duty or another, I can be found practicing the newest instrument in my repertoire, the harp.
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Mr. Ralph Peluso - Physical Education
I am originally from New York City, a 35 year business executive with an MBA in Finance from Bernard Baruch College, of the City University of New York. I have been involved in youth sports and athletic development for over 25 years. I have an advanced coaching license from the National Association of Youth Coaches. I am a member of the board of directors of the Northern Virginia CYO, and serve as a boy’s league commissioner.
I have coached basketball and soccer at Notre Dame Academy and was actively involved in their athletic programs until my children graduated. I have also served on the board of directors of Dulles Little League, and was a founding member and treasurer of LFC (Leesburg Football Club).
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Mrs. Christine Granata - Resource/Curriculum Specialist
I am so excited to begin my third year at Our Lady of Hope Catholic School. My husband John and I, along with our four children, have been members of Our Lady of Hope since its inception. Three of my children attend Our Lady of Hope Catholic School and are in eighth, sixth and third grade. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and a Masters Degree in Education from St. John’s University in New York. I taught third grade and computer science in an all boys school in New York before we moved to Potomac Falls in 1993. I am currently teaching seventh grade mathematics and resource. I look forward to working with all of the children at Our Lady of Hope.
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Mr. Alfonso Pena - Facilities Supervisor
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Extended Day
Mrs. Anna Harmon - Extended Day Director & Lunchroom Manager
I was born and raised in Bratislava, Slovakia. My parents made sure that my brother, sister and I learned and practiced our Catholic faith and values in life through the uneasy times during communism. I graduated from Secondary Electro-engineering School and then I took a job as a laboratory assistant at the Slovak Technical University. Shortly after the fall of communism in 1989, I came to the United States of America to study English at which time I met my late husband.
I have always enjoyed working with children. During summers in Slovakia, I was a counselor at summer camps for seven years. For the past thirteen years, I worked as a day care provider for multiple families. At the same time, I was a volunteer for recess duty, Tuesday folders, the White Elephant Sale, cafeteria duty, and field trips at St. James Catholic School, Falls Church, VA.
I have a wonderful daughter who is now in sixth grade and is attending Our Lady of Hope Catholic School. Last year we moved to Potomac Falls and since then we have been parishioners at Our Lady of Hope.
I feel very blessed and grateful to God, Fr. Saunders, and Mary Beth Pittman for giving me an opportunity to be a part of the Our Lady of Hope family.
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