Instructors
Mrs. Angela Belanger
Five in a Row (5/6)
Angela Belanger has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Maryland. She has homeschooled her two elementary aged children for the past five years. Their homeschool journey has been especially nature inspired with lots of outdoor time. In a former life, Angela served for six years as a member of the Maryland Air National Guard and supported the Air Force as a defense contractor where she met her husband, Vince. In her free time, she enjoys cooking Korean food and taking road trips with her children. She is excited for her first year of teaching at CHRSM.
Mrs. Maureen Benes
English/Writing
Maureen Benes is a writer and teacher who loves demystifying the writing process while maintaining high standards for her students.
She has a BA in English from the University of Dallas, an MA in Literature from the College of Charleston, and has completed all but her dissertation for the PhD program in English at Boston College.
Mrs. Benes has taught elementary, middle, high school, and university level poetry, writing, and literature. She has a special love for teaching poetry and helping reluctant writers of all ages.
Mrs. Benes can identify and assist with learning differences including dysgraphia, dyslexia, executive function challenges, and attention deficits. She challenges all students to improve their writing over time while providing them the tools to do so.
Mrs. Benes and her husband are parishioners at St John’s and live in Leesburg with their five children. Her oldest is a CHRSM student, the middle three attend Catoctin Elementary, and her youngest is a preschooler.
Mr. Nick Benes
Upper Elementary Math in Action
Nick Benes is a mathematician, web developer, and Officer in the Navy Reserve. He grew up Lincoln, NE, and met his wife, Maureen, on the first day of college. He has an BS from the University of Dallas, a PhD from Boston University, and has taught in many different settings.
Mr. Benes believes that most students who “hate” math have never had it presented in a way that makes sense to them. He approaches teaching as a collaborative project between student and teacher, emphasizing number sense and concept mastery over memorization. He has found that this approach works well for remedial and advanced students.
Mrs. Lina Cahan
High School Math Classes
Lina Cahan received her BS in Mathematics with a minor in secondary education from James Madison University. She taught in Fairfax County Public Schools before beginning her family. She and her husband David were blessed with 5 children and have been members of St Francis de Sales since 1988. Shortly after her last child was born, about 17 years ago, she resumed her teaching career with private tutoring, homeschool classes and SAT Prep. She loves the dynamics of teaching a class of math students, mixing humor and personal anecdotes with what can be difficult material for some students, and is energized by these young people.
She enjoys time with her 5 grandchildren, baking, taking walks and local hikes, exploring Scriptures, and getting together with her 7 siblings who all live nearby.
Mr. Mattias Caro
High School History Classes
Mr. Mattias A. Caro, Esq. is a parishioner of Saint Francis de Sales Parish, together with his wife Katheryn and their four children. Mr. Caro graduated with an undergraduate degree in History from the College of William and Mary and obtained his master’s degree in Moral Theology from Christendom College and his Juris Doctorate from George Mason University.
Mr. Caro began his teaching career over 20 years ago at the American School in Switzerland (TASIS). His educational experience includes working as the Director of Admissions for the Educational Initiative for Central and Eastern Europe (based out of Vienna, Austria), as Director of Religious Education at his childhood parish of Saint Catherine of Siena (in Great Falls, Virginia) and together with his wife, as part of the founding leadership team of Good Shepherd School (in Purcellville, VA), where he designed the school’s curriculum and operations during its founding.
He has taught for the past ten years at the Well-Trained Mind Academy, where he serves as the chair of the History and Electives Department. In addition to teaching, Mr. Caro maintains a small legal practice focusing primarily on Estate Planning and supporting local Catholic non-profit educational and charitable organizations.
Mrs. Callie Chaplow
Classically Catholic Memory, Etiquette & Protocol, Language Arts, & IEW
Ms. Callie Chaplow is an 12-year homeschool veteran and St. Francis de Sales parishioner, who lives in Lovettsville with four sons.
Callie’s favorite aspect of homeschooling is enabling children to discover the world around them and how God is woven into every aspect of it, offering His fingerprint in His order through math, music, language, nature, and humanity. Ms. Chaplow has been teaching at homeschool groups and coops (cooperatives and communities) for ten years across subject matters such as history, science, English grammar, Latin declensions and conjugations, math memory work, geography, and world timeline.
Prior to her homeschooling mission, Ms. Chaplow served as the Senior Legislative Aide for a prominent Virginia Delegate and Senator and Chief of Staff for a Loudoun Supervisor reviewing and authoring various pieces of legislation, drafting constituent correspondence, writing press releases, composing studies, interacting with citizens, doing paralegal work, and more. She has also worked as a paralegal and is a campaign finance disclosure and compliance specialist and consultant.
At CHRSM (Catholic Homeschool Resource Support Ministry), Ms. Chaplow will be introducing IEW’s (Institute for Excellence in Writing) TWSS (Teaching Writing Structure and Style), which she has used for nine years and taught in coops for seven years. It offers children a formulaic approach to writing making it accessible to everyone. Ms. Chaplow has a love for English grammar and the importance of clear communication. She will be weaving that into her class.
After all, Jesus Christ’s great charter to us, HIS disciples was, “ . . . Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you . . .” We’re best prepared to do this with a firm grasp on properly structured communication.
Ms. Chaplow will be including fun and interactive elements into class to introduce English grammar memory, common Greek and Latin roots, word usage, vocabulary, punctuation, and more, while always illustrating these concepts with interesting and relevant historic events and stories.
Mrs. Elise Daniel
Writing & Publishing
Elise Daniel is a published author, entrepreneur, and homeschooling mother of three.
Elise earned her BBA in Economics from James Madison University. She got her start as a writer by writing articles about the intersection of theology and economics for the Action Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She went on to work as a senior writer for The Institute for Faith, Work & Economics in McLean, Virginia and serve as a Press Secretary on Capitol Hill for the House Committee on Natural Resources.
In 2017, Elise co-founded Bellwether Communications where she ghostwrites everything from op-eds to books and helps thought leaders get published. She was the collaborative writer for Dr. Bruchalski's memoir, Two Patients: My Conversion from Abortion to Life-Affirming Medicine (Ignatius Press, 2022). In 2024, she self-published her first children's book, The Richest Leprechaun in Ireland. She also helps her husband with their family electrical business, Daniel Electric.
Elise lives with her husband and children in Purcellville, Virginia.
Mr. Kris Daniel
Intro to Electrical Work
Kris is a master electrician, licensed contractor, and an entrepreneur. He grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and received a bachelor's degree in political science from California State University, Chico. He began his career in fundraising at an energy policy non-profit in Washington D.C., followed by recruiting for government contractors in Northern Virginia.
In the summer of 2020, Kris decided to take the leap of a midlife career change. He left his desk job to train to become an electrician. Kris worked as an apprentice at MC Dean and later as a journeyman electrician for Reddick & Sons. Kris launched his company, Daniel Electric, in July 2023 after receiving his master electrician's license. He serves Northern Virginia area residents with white collar professionalism and is passionate about passing down his knowledge of the electrical trade to the next generation. He lives in Purcellville with his wife and office manager, Elise, and their three children.
Mrs. Carol Didinger
Art
As a lifelong art enthusiast, I have spent years honing my craft and continuing my education in various art mediums. For more than 25 years, I’ve enjoyed working with young people, teaching them how to paint, draw, sculpt, and approach various forms of art in camps, classroom settings, and in private
lessons.
In my retirement, I enjoy working at my church and spending time with my family including 15 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, and working with young people and adults to further a love of art in all its forms.
Mr. Bret Ewin
Computer Science & Programming
Bret Ewin has a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, and over the past twenty five years has gained an extensive amount of experience in a variety of software systems, in both the public and private sectors.
Bret has a passion for “STEM” and feels called to serve and prepare Christians—both students and parents—to be technically relevant in the professional world. Our country has a heritage of Christian innovators, and he hopes to encourage and equip our homeschoolers to follow in those footsteps.
Bret is a father to six and lives in rural Loudoun with his awesome wife, Karen, their three youngest kids, and an ever-changing host of animals. In his free time, you can find him working on some project or another, mostly having to do with electronics and fabrication, which, as it turns out, both overlap with software in many unexpected ways.
Mr. Michael Galdo
Music Theory
Michael Galdo has been teaching music for over twenty years. His experience includes private piano and organ instruction and elementary, middle, and high school music classes, as well as choir leadership in church and school settings. Michael has degrees from the University of Virginia and Catholic University.
Mrs. Karen Gaylord
Sewing
Karen Gaylord has a BS in Biology from St. Lawrence University and a MS Ed from Syracuse University. She has been a parishioner at St. Francis de Sales since 1999 and has 4 daughters and 2 granddaughters. She homeschooled for 20 years, was a 4H poultry club leader for 12 years and has taught various homeschool sewing classes over the years. Prior to homeschooling she had a business sewing vestments. Karen has remained active in the creative arts of sewing, quilting, knitting and crocheting and looks forward to passing on sewing skills to the younger generation. Teaching these skills helps others to experience this wonderful creative outlet, gives balance to their lives and can save them money in hems, repairs, curtains, and so on.
Mrs. Nan Gingras
7th Grade Confirmation 2022-23, 8th Grade Confirmation 2023-24
My name is Nan Gingras. I am a graduate from Towson State University with a degree in early childhood education. After graduation, I worked for 2 years in a day care for the 3 and 4 year old classroom. I did not get into the school system since my husband was in the Air Force and we moved quite a bit . So my husband and I started our family and I became a stay at home mom and have home schooled our 9 children to or through high school.
My three youngest children attend CHRSM. I have 7 grandchildren, 3 who will be attending CHRSM next year.
Mrs. Elisabeth Grys
Kingdom Kids
Elisabeth Grys attended University of Buffalo and attained dual diplomas in Government and History. After college, she taught four years of preschool at the Jewish Community Center. This taught her many of the customs which Jesus grew up practicing, which helped her dive deeper into the Catholic Faith. When Elizabeth moved to Virgina, she continued teaching preschool for another 3 years.
Elizabeth is a parishioner of St. Francis de Sales and has three children who attend CHRSM. She has been homeschooling for 3 years and is excited to be teaching Kingdom Kids!
Mrs. Tonianne Hall
Elementary & Middle School Social Studies Classes
Tonianne Hall is an early childhood educator and homeschooling mom who loves teaching through meaningful learning experiences. She received her Bachelor's degree in early childhood education with a minor in history from Stonehill College. Tonianne taught in Fairfax County Public Schools for six years prior to staying home to raise her two children. She has a passion for history, traveling, and spending time with her family.
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
- Benjamin Franklin
Mrs. Jaclyn Jenkins
Homesteading
Jaclyn Jenkins is a native to Western Loudoun, married her high school sweetheart from Loudoun Valley, and now raises her 4 children on One Day Farm in Hamilton. She earned two bachelor degrees from College of Charleston, SC, Business Management & Hospitality Management. After working for Great Country Farms for a few years, she developed a passion for farming and opened a nature preschool program at her home called Farm School. After 5 years of teaching preschoolers about farm animals, growing fruits and vegetables, and getting them ready for kindergarten, she has expanded that program to amazing homesteading classes for her older children. She wanted them to know where their food comes from and now grinds her own flour to make breads and pastas, uses raw milk to make yogurt, cheese, and ice cream, and even teaches them how to process meat. She is excited to share her knowledge with others so that they can learn to respect and eat healthy foods and hopes they will One Day have their own farm.
Mrs. Nancy Juday
Latin & Civics
Nancy Juday, mother of five, has been homeschooling for 20 years. She spent 11 years working on Capitol Hill as a legislative advisor to various members of Congress prior to raising her family. Nancy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and a Master of Science degree in Taxation. This will be her third year teaching Latin at CHRSM. Nancy has taught Latin for five years and has spent many years tutoring additional students as well. Additionally, she taught the Founding Fathers class in the Grammar School at CCS for several years and taught this course to two classes at CHRSM in 2020/2021. This year she will teach a high school Civics course at CHRSM using a Hillsdale curriculum, one she has taught for the last two years.
Mrs. Kathleen King
U.S. History & Literature
Mrs. Kathleen King is a Saint Francis de Sales parishioner. She holds a degree in Elementary Education K- 8 and taught 4 th grade before having children of her own. She has enjoyed teaching for a long time, especially homeschooling her own children for the past eleven years. During this time she was also blessed with teaching history, writing, and religion to middle and high school Catholic homeschooling students all around the country and supporting their families in these subjects from her home. She is thrilled to bring her knowledge and love of US History and writing to an in person class setting at Saint Francis de Sales.
Mrs. Patsy Long
Elementary PE
Patsy Long is a mother of 7 and has been part of the homeschool community for 25 years. She graduated cum laude from Mt. St. Mary's University where she received a BS in Biology. She was an avid cross country and track & field athlete in high school & college, and continued running post collegiately, ranking in the top 10 in the Washington Metro area for a number of years. These experiences with physical fitness allowed her to engage in a self-study of sorts, investigating various workout/nutrition plans that were optimal for success. In 2003, Patsy and her husband founded St. Sebastian Striders a coop/track program for grades K-8. Patsy found she loved working with youth and seeing the character formation that developed through their hard work and dedication on the track, as well as, their excitement as they discovered their unique God-given abilities. She has been coaching for 20 years first with St. Sebastian Striders, then NOVA Athletic Club, Leesburg Christian School, and currently the wonderful people at St. Sebastian Academy. Patsy has been blessed to coach hard working athletes to the state, regional, and national levels. She has received certifications both as an NSPA physical fitness instructor and a USATF Level 1 Coach. Patsy is a parishioner at Our Lady of Hope and lives in Sterling, VA with her beloved children and husband of 33 years. Patsy loves the teaching aspect of coaching and is excited to share her knowledge of physical fitness with the terrific students at CHRSM. She is thrilled to be part of the amazing CHRSM team.
Mrs. Marcia Malloy
Upper Elementary Art, Art 1, Art 2
Marcia Malloy is an art educator with 28 years teaching experience. Her degree is a BA of Architecture from Va Tech. After a few years pursuing that field, she discovered the joy of teaching students to draw and seeing them grow in their artistic pursuits. Classes at Rhode Island School of Design, Nova, and the Torpedo Factory gave her the skills she needed to accomplish those goals.
Since 1988, she has taught art to elementary and middle school students at Christian Assembly Academy, Dominion Christian School, and for 17 years at Trinity Christian School in Fairfax. During that time she also taught homeschool and private classes as well. Moving to Leesburg in 2007, she taught summer camps at Art Square. Retiring from Trinity in 2014, she has taught at Right At Home and has opened a studio in her home in Leesburg, as well as teaching at Assisi Bridge Coop for 4 years.
Mrs. Malloy lives in Leesburg with her daughter, son in law and three grandsons and attends Free Life Church. She has 5 daughters, 4 sons in law, 15 grandchildren, 3 chickens, and a dog.
Mrs. Annie Menuey
Early Elementary Music
A St. Francis parishioner, Mrs. Menuey is thankful to share the gift of music with children! She taught general music in Fairfax County after graduating from JMU in 2001 until having her first child in 2007. Her undergraduate degree in music education was followed by certification courses in the Orff and Kodaly approaches to music learning. She hopes to help children experience and enjoy beautiful music and see how they, by God's goodness, are music-makers.
Mrs. Rebecca Redman
Upper Elementary General Science, Middle School Life Science, Middle School Geography, High School Physics
Becky received a B.S. in Political Science from West Virginia University before moving to the Washington, D.C. area and becoming gainfully employed by a well-known political analyst. Her first “gig” lasted a few short years before her true love of science won out and she returned to the University of Maryland, obtaining a Doctorate of Pharmacy. She enjoyed a variety of experiences in the field of pharmacy, including teaching at schools of pharmacy and working at the Food and Drug Administration, before her “retirement” in 2010 to homeschool her growing family. She has taught a wide variety of homeschool classes, focusing primarily on science but also on history and geography.
Becky and her husband, Red, are long-time members of Purcellville Baptist Church and active in ministry. Their favorite pastime is time with their four kids as well as with extended family and friends.
Mrs. Lemar Rolon
High School Spanish I & II
Lemar Rolon has a B.A. degree in Business Administration. She worked in a non-profit organization for a few years, but in 2008 her husband and she began a school at their church in Puerto Rico, where she worked as a teacher and school director. During these years she taught almost all subjects from Kindergarten through 9th grade. After ten years of service, her family moved to Virginia in June of 2018 because her husband Alexis, who has been a pastor for almost 20 years, was asked to come and serve in a Hispanic church with three sites: Manassas, Arlington, and Franconia. Along with this big change, Lemar and her husband also decided to homeschool their 2 kids. For the past two years she's also been teaching Spanish 1 and 2 in other co-ops. Lemar loves cooking, baking, and spending time with her family. She works with the women’s and worship ministries at her church and also runs her own business with Rodan and Fields, a prestigious skin-care company.
Mrs. Theresa Schlenz
Human Development, Theology of the Body I
Theresa Schlenz received her BA in Mental Health & Human Services and English Literature from Franciscan University of Steubenville. She was blessed to grow up as part of Steubenville’s vibrant Catholic community, and has a great passion to share the priceless gift of our Faith with young people. Theresa and her husband Joe have six children, and have been parishioners at St. John’s in Leesburg for 14 years. Amidst the busyness of family life, she spends most of her free moments either reading or curating her vast and ever-growing book collection. CHRSM has been a great blessing to her family, and she is excited to have the privilege of teaching this year.
Mr. Michael Shields
Biology
Michael Shields received his Masters of Statistics from NC State University and BS in Physics from The Catholic University of America. He has worked in the intelligence community for over ten years and is co-founder of a predictive analytics startup. A homesteader in Lovettsville and father to four home schooled children with a fifth on the way, Michael is a St. Francis de Sales parishioner and cradle Catholic.
Michael values exploration of the natural world and the sciences through the lens of Catholic moral teaching and natural law. He brings the perspective of a Catholic career scientist to teaching high school science classes.
Mrs. Megan Silvestri
Five in a Row Language Arts, 7th Grade Confirmation
Megan Silvestri graduated from Miami University of Ohio with her Bachelor’s degree in nursing, and was commissioned as a nurse corps officer in the U.S. Navy. Her teaching began during her military service, where she taught prenatal classes for new parents and labor and delivery classes for junior nurses. Megan served at hospitals in California, Naples, Italy, and Virginia, where she met her active duty navy husband. When their first child was born in Okinawa, Japan, Megan became a stay at home mom. Their family eventually settled in Waterford in 2016 after deciding they were ready to put down some roots. Megan began homeschooling seven years ago when her oldest started kindergarten. She is a Level 1 Catechist for the Joyful Child Atrium in Purcellville, taught previously at CHRSM, and is excited to be back in the classroom this year. Megan and her husband, Jason, have 5 children and are parishioners at St. Francis de Sales.
Ms. Christina Skaggs
Five in a Row Science, Writing Classes
Christina is a homeschooling mother of two. She began homeschooling 3 years ago and considers it to be one of the best decisions ever made. In college she majored in early childhood education, though she ultimately built a career in healthcare business management where she got to utilize her talent for stylistic and technical writing. When she isn’t homeschooling, she moonlights as a freelance journalist and budding homesteading enthusiast.
Her family recently moved to the area and are parishioners at SFDS. Her family loves CHRSM and is excitedly looking forward to their 3rd year in classes and her first year teaching.
Mrs. Angela Stock
Middle School Spanish I & II
Angela Stock graduated from Florida International University in Miami, FL with a B.S. in Occupational Therapy. She enjoyed working in Florida and California before graduating to her esteemed role as wife of John Stock, and homeschooling mom to 2 wonderful kids since 2013. She studied multiple years of Spanish in high school and college, but didn't fall in love with the language until she was able to use it with the many Spanish-speaking patients and staff and saw how fascinating it was to open doors of communication!
Mrs. Stock and family are long time members of Leesburg Community Church, and are thrilled to be part of God's family with you! She enjoys spending time with family and animals, and this will be her 5th year teaching Middle School Spanish classes.
Mrs. Katie Swerda
SAT Prep
Katie Swerda received B.A.'s in History and Art History with minors in Chemistry and German from the University of Maryland and an M.S. in Art Conservation Science from the University of Delaware. She conserved paintings in Washington, D.C.; Baltimore, Maryland; Parentignat, France; and Vienna, Austria before marrying her first love. (Frank and Katie met at the age of six.) They live in Jefferson County, WV, where they attend Saint James Catholic Church and the Priory of the Annunciation with their six children. Katie is a member of the Third Order at the Priory and takes classes in pottery, taekwondo, and Latin. She has been homeschooling since their oldest child was in kindergarten in 2007.
Katie started offering SAT-prep to help her own children receive large scholarships for college. She soon became excited to see that the SAT is a game that we can train to win. She enjoys seeing her students significantly improve their scores while having fun learning to master it.
Mrs. Diane Taylor
Middle School Math Skills, Pre-Algebra, Algebra
Diane Taylor comes to us after years of teaching grades 3-8 in the public schools. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in early and middle childhood education from Radford University, a Masters degree in curriculum and development from George Mason University, and a mathematics specialist endorsement from University of Virginia. She has a love for teaching mathematics!
She became a St Francis de Sales parishioner in 1974 when her parents moved the family to Lincoln from Washington state. She remembers having religious education classes at the Loudoun Valley Community Center and her 1st Communion reception at the Purcellville Library (a short walk from the church on Main Street).
Diane and her husband Ray live on the mountain in Bluemont and have 3 children and 2 grandchildren. She enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her family.
Ms. Sydney Vaughn
Music Explorers
Ms. Sydney Vaughn is a classically trained Violinist and a Fiddler with over ten years of playing and performing experience and three years of teaching experience. She loves to worship The Lord through music and has always had a passion for music education. Some of her credits include: Suzuki Teacher Certification (Greater Washington Suzuki Institute), Paul Roland String Technique Endorsement (University of Illinois), Director of the Maranatha Children's Music Academy Beginner Strings, Maranatha Youth Music Academy Alumnus (Concertmaster).
Sydney's goal through teaching is to share the joy and beauty of music with others, to inspire and assist each child in reaching their goals, to encourage Christlike character and discipline, and to support each child as they learn to express their own unique creativity through music!
Outside of her music studio, Sydney calls dances for Rapid Felicities and teaches Youth Acting with Jupiter Theater Company.
Mrs. Wendy Webb
Middle School English, High School Literature
Wendy Webb graduated Magna Cum Laude from BIOLA with a B.S. in Christian Education, a minor in Bible, and a specialty in Curriculum Writing. She has successfully launched her three children into adulthood after homeschooling for 17 years. Wendy has put her degree to good use writing curriculum and teaching the elementary aged worship hour at her church for 18 years. While homeschooling, she organized and taught Lively Literature, a precursor to her work with RAH teaching Literature to middle and high school homeschooling students. After 18 years with RAH, she is looking forward to joining the CHRSM family. In secular circles, Wendy has tutored students for the writing portion of the SAT. She is currently in her 19th year as a substitute teacher for LCPS, teaching all subjects at the middle and high school levels.