Directory

Kathy has almost 40 years of involvement in early childhood education. Prior to starting at Community in 2006, she was the Coordinator of Preschool for the Ladue School District, a position she held for fifteen years. She has worked as a teacher and administrator in various other preschool settings in the St. Louis area and Richmond, Virginia. Kathy received her B.A. degree in Early Childhood Education from Stephens College and has done graduate work at Webster University. She has also studied early childhood education in England and Italy. Kathy has served as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Early Childhood Department at Fontbonne University.

Jonelle graduated from St. Louis University with a B.A. in Communication, and earned an M.S.A. in Marketing from Lindenwood University, as well as a Master's of Teaching in Early Childhood Education from Webster University. Her teaching career began in the St. Louis Public School District where she taught first grade. Outside of school, Jonelle enjoys spending time with family and friends, working out, and volunteering at her church. In addition to teaching junior kindergarten, Jonelle is also Community School's Coordinator for Diversity and Inclusivity.

Joe earned a B.A. in History with minors in Education and Social Science at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO. Joe then was hired as Technology Director and Computer/History teacher at St. Angela Merici in Florissant in January 2008. In 2011, Joe earned an M.S. in Computer Science from Fontbonne University. Joe is a big fan of films, especially foreign and cult cinema and he owns many movies and lots of movie memorabilia. He also enjoys classic rock music and still plays vinyl records! In the summers Joe and his wife travel a lot with antique shopping, hiking, and riding the biggest and fastest roller coasters usually on the agenda. Joe and his wife Chantel reside in South St. Louis.

Tricia received her master of science in nursing from the University of Missouri St. Louis, completing the family nurse practitioner program. She received her bachelor of science in nursing from the Catholic University in Washington, DC. Recemtly, Tricia was a finalist for the Excellence in Nursing Awards sponsored by St. Louis Magazine. Tricia and her husband Dan have three children who attend Community School. In her free time, she enjoys reading, home improvement projects, and spending time with her family.

Patty grew up in St. Louis as part of a large close-knit family. Her eleven years of teaching experience have all been in early childhood, including at Clayton Child Center, Ladue Early Childhood Center and Holy Cross Academy. She and her husband have four children and two dogs. She also loves to read, listen to music, travel, and spend time with family and friends. 

Jonelle graduated from St. Louis University with a B.A. in Communication, and earned an M.S.A. in Marketing from Lindenwood University, as well as a Master's of Teaching in Early Childhood Education from Webster University. Her teaching career began in the St. Louis Public School District where she taught first grade. Outside of school, Jonelle enjoys spending time with family and friends, working out, and volunteering at her church. In addition to teaching junior kindergarten, Jonelle is also Community School's Coordinator for Diversity and Inclusivity.

Kara graduated from Saint Louis University with a bachelor in elementary education and is certified in elementary education and early childhood. She recently earned her master's of education in special education from Webster University. Before joining Community School, Kara taught kindergarten and first grade at Better Learning Communities Academy. Outside of school, Kara enjoys running, reading and playing with her daughter.

Karen is originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, but also lived for ten years in Oregon. She received her BA in education from Pacific University. Karen spent five years teaching kindergarten in Tillamook, as well as teaching a bilingual Spanish program, before coming to Community in 2010. Karen enjoys learning about new languages and cultures, cooking, gardening, hiking, walking her dogs, and spending time with her husband, Steve.
Read more about Karen in her Faculty Friday feature.

Jessica graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a bachelor of science in elementary education. She also completed her masters in elementary education from University of Missouri St. Louis. Jessica began teaching first grade here in 2004. She and her husband, Jason, have one son, a student at Community.

Marty came to Community in 1988. She completed her undergraduate work at Southeast Missouri State University and received a master's degree in education in counseling from Washington University, and her elementary and early childhood certification from the University of Missouri. Marty is a 2004 recipient of the "ISSL Teacher of Distinction" and the "Emerson Excellence in Teaching" awards. In 2005, her book Under Three Flags was published, which is about the early history of St. Louis. Marty’s hobbies include dancing, bicycling, hiking, yoga, traveling, and reading. Read more about Marty in her Faculty Friday feature.

Nikki received a masters degree in educational leadership from Wright State University and a BS in elementary education from Miami University, Ohio. Nikki taught First and Second Grades and coached high school boys/girls tennis and girls basketball in Englewood, Ohio, for five years. Nikki then moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, to help open a new school and become the second grade lead teacher. After marriage, she moved to Augusta, Georgia, where she was a math coordinator for Sylvan Learning Center before relocating to St. Louis. Nikki has been the co-director of Simply Mathematics in Webster Groves, has made presentations for Teach for America's teachers, and substituted for Community School before joining the staff in 2010. She was a Lowenhaupt Award winner in 2016. Nikki enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, being outdoors, playing various sports, and playing the piano.

Nicole graduated from Webster University with a bachelor's in environmental and special education, as well as a master's in teaching. She maintains dual certification in special and elementary education. Her teaching career began with Americorps and she has since worked in public, charter, and private schools across St. Louis from kindergarten through sixth grade. In 2011, Nicole was chosen for the Master Teacher Fellowship at the St. Louis Art Museum. She loves gardening, cooking, hiking, biking, poetry, art, music and reading. She and her husband have four children.

Darci graduated with a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Saint Louis University and a master's degree in reading instruction from Southeastern University. She has been teaching for fourteen years, working with the Ladue School District. Darci grew up in Texas until high school, when her family relocated to St. Louis. In her spare time, Darci enjoys reading, writing, exercising, and spending time with family and friends.

Christine came to Community in 1989 as a physical education teacher for grades 1 through 6 after working for the Girls' Club of St. Louis as Sports and Activities Program Director. She received a bachelor of science in health education from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and a masters of arts in teaching in physical education from Southeast Missouri State University. Chris is a certified Alpine Tower Leader. She is the Head Coach of the John Burroughs boys' and girls' cross-country team and assistant boys' and girls' track coach at John Burroughs. In 2009, Chris was the recipient of the ISSL Teacher of Distinction and Emerson Excellence in Teaching awards. She loves taiko drumming, writing poetry, the outdoors, running, biking and working out. She and her husband, Paul, travel the country and love taking care of their chihuahua Rosalita. Read more about Chris in her Faculty Friday feature.

Meriam received her bachelor's degree in vocal music from Missouri State University, and a master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Missouri St. Louis. She studied middle-eastern music in Cairo, Egypt, for a year, and has taught over twelve years at Premier Charter School. She was born and raised in St. Louis to immigrant parents from Egypt. In her spare time, Meriam enjoys traveling, scrapbooking, crafting, and playing with her cats.

Rob has taught at Community since 1997. He has a bachelor of science in social work and child development and a master's degree in social work from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Before coming to Community, Rob was a clinical social worker at Child Center of Our Lady. Woodworking has been a hobby of Rob's for many years. In his free time, he enjoys camping, hiking, gardening, and cooking. Rob and his wife, Julie, have three children. Read more about Rob in his Faculty Friday feature.

Dave has been Community's art teacher since 2005. He received a bachelor of arts from Providence College in drawing, a bachelor of fine arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in video art, and his master's in teaching at the University of Maine. Prior to returning home to St. Louis, David and his wife, Maureen, also spent two years as US Peace Corps volunteers in the Philippines where they worked with teachers at all levels to improve critical thinking and assessment and evaluation skills. David enjoys the outdoors and traveling with his wife and two sons. He pursues his video installation artwork and has exhibited it in conjunction with the Pulitzer Foundation and The Luminary Center. He has also won several awards for his short film work. In 2010, David was the recipient of the ISSL Teacher of Distinction and Emerson Excellence in Teaching awards.

Tracy received her B.S. and M.A. in education from the University of Missouri - Columbia. She began her career as a speech pathologist for the Special School District, and then taught second grade for twenty years in the Lindbergh School District, specializing in science. She joined the Community faculty in 2012.

Joe Mohr is a certified elementary classroom teacher who double majored in Elementary Education and Special Education from Winona State University in Minnesota, Joe has taught in Chicago, Portugal and St. Louis. He even started a woodshop program for children with autism while teaching in Chicago. Joe is also a freelance writer, illustrator (Robot+Bike=Kitten) and cartoonist (Broster, etc.). He, his wife, and his three children enjoy traveling, camping, biking, playing sports, going on nature hikes, and just generally being together.

Alissa received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Directing from Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota and is certified in Elementary Education as well as middle and high school English. Alissa was a founding member of Bedlam Theatre in Minneapolis and has worked in educational outreach, marketing, and development at Center Stage in Baltimore, and at Steppenwolf Theatre and Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago. For the last fifteen years, Alissa has been adapting books and tales for performance and directing shows in schools. As a Teaching Artist with Springboard, she taught literacy and character education through the production of original plays and taught playwriting to fifth graders as part of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis WiseWrite program. In her free time, Alissa enjoys writing plays, reading and spending time with her husband and three children. She is on the Board of the Kirkwood HighSchool Players.

Rita received a B.S. in elementary education as well as an M.A. in special education from the University of Missouri- St. Louis. She has more than twenty years of teaching experience working with grades four through eight. Prior to coming to Community School in 2012, she taught at Clayton Academy. Rita enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, as well as cooking, gardening, music and vacationing at the beach.

Jennifer received a bachelor's in voice from The Juilliard School and an advanced certificate in music education from the City University of New York at Brooklyn College. She taught in guest residencies at Juilliard and in New York schools, led master classes for young people around the country, and maintained a private voice studio. During her time in New York, Jennifer sang at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Cafe Carlyle, Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, and more. For several years, she performed in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. During her free time, Jennifer enjoys dance, yoga, good books and podcasts! She likes to hike, bike, and travel.