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Meet The Staff

Administrative
- Ms. Denise Gonzalez, Principal
  Ms. Gonzalez was born in Portland, Oregon, and earned degrees in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Nova University, Miami, Florida, where she taught for six years. She earned a Master of Education Degree with a Reading Endorsement for elementary and middle school from George Fox University. In 2016 she earned an Administration Endorsement from the University of Portland. Ms. Gonzalez taught at St. Ignatius Catholic School for two years and at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School (OLL) for 22 years, including five years as vice principal. Ms. Gonzalez has taught early childhood, first, fourth, sixth, seventh grade, worked in curriculum design, and as a reading specialist. She has served as a member of four OLL re-accrediting committees, co-chaired Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School's accreditation, and chaired St. Francis Catholic School's Self-Study. Additionally, she has been a member on two accrediting teams at other Catholic schools. In 2017, Ms. Gonzalez won the SASEE (Service Above Self: Educational Excellence) award, which is awarded by the Lake Oswego Rotary Club. Ms. Gonzalez loves the outdoors, sports, family time, and encouraging children to become the best that they can be.
- Mrs. Melissa Guillory, Administrative Assistant
  Mrs. Guillory is originally from Walla Walla, WA. She has had many fun and educational experiences since graduating high-school. Those experiences range from touring as the sound and light tech for a one-woman drama on the life of St. Therese of Lisieux to religious education director, flight attendant and Certified Nurses Assistant. Mrs. Guillory’s most recent position was as the Administrative Assistant for Holy Trinity Parish in Beaverton from 2006-2017. Mrs. Guillory and her husband have one daughter, a student at St. Francis and one son, a future St. Francis student. Mrs. Guillory is excited for this next adventure at St. Francis School.
- Mrs. Leslie Finnell, Tuition and FACTS Management
  Mrs. Finnell grew up in Paris, Texas, and then earned her degree from Kansas State University in Secondary Education Mathematics. She has taught various mathematics classes 7-12 and also college level mathematics over the past 26 years. In addition, Mrs. Finnell has experience working in an office setting and as a director of Religious Education at a previous parish. She and her husband recently relocated with their two dogs to the Portland area after becoming empty nesters. Camping and travelling have become two of her favorite past times. Mrs. Finnell is excited to be a part of the St. Francis Community and to get to know all the families!
Primary Teachers (prek-5th Grade)
- Ms. Lora Myers, Pre K
- Ms. Kathy Hilburger, Kindergarten
  Ms. Hilburger was born in Denver, Colorado. Her parents moved to Portland when she was a baby and she has been her since. Ms. Hilburger attended St. Rose Catholic School in Portland for first – eighth grade and graduated from La Salle Catholic High School. She received her degree in accounting from Portland State University and worked in the account field for seven years. Wanting a change, Ms. Hilburger went back to school to acquire her Master’s of Arts in Teaching from the University of Portland. Ms. Hilburger has been with St. Francis Catholic School since 2007. She enjoys her cats, gardening, and watching NFL football – especially the Broncos – Go Broncos!
- Mrs. Sarah Cordell, First Grade
  Mrs. Cordell comes to St. Francis Catholic School with a wealth of experience and expertise. A native Oregonian, she grew up in the Donald/Aurora area and attended La Salle High School. She obtained her Bachelor's degree from Southern Oregon University and her Masters in special education from Portland State University. She taught for seven years in the Gresham-Barlow school district in a K-5 self-contained special education classroom. Mrs. Cordell is a parishioner and parent of three children that attend St. Francis Catholic School.
- Ms. Tessla Andrus, Second Grade
  Ms. Andrus was born in the Portland metropolitan area and have spent most of her life here. Ms. Andrus graduated with a bachelor's degree from Portland State University and received a Masters of Arts in Elementary Education from Concordia University. After graduation she was a substitute teacher for Beaverton School District and most recently a Kindergarten teacher at St Pius X. Ms. Andrus loves the outdoors, cooking and traveling. Ms. Andrus is excited to be teaching Second grade this year and is looking forward to getting to know the St Francis community.
- Mrs. Kristen Huber, Third Grade
  Mrs. Huber was born and grew up in the Portland area. She attended Holy Trinity Catholic School, St Mary of the Valley High School, and Gonzaga University. Mrs. Huber received her degree in Special Education with endorsements in reading, psychology, and early childhood education from Gonzaga. After college, Mrs. Huber taught third grade for six years and first grade for seven years at St. Mary of the Valley Elementary School in Beaverton. Mrs. Huber stayed home to raise her three children for 11 years and returned to the classroom during the fall of 2018 as a substitute teacher. She is very happy to be teaching third grade at St. Francis Catholic School and to a part of a wonderful school and parish community.
- Mrs. Tiffany Carsner, Fourth Grade
  Mrs. Carsner was born in Portland, OR. She graduated from Portland State University with Bachelor Degrees in both Advertising Management and Marketing. After countless hours volunteering in her children’s classrooms, she realized it was where she belonged. She went on to earn her Master’s of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix. She has spent the last five years teaching in both parochial and public schools. When the opportunity arose to return to the private school setting, Mrs. Carsner knew that’s just where God wanted her. Mrs. Carsner has a passion for teaching all learning types and has a high interest in hands on, tech-savvy learning. She strives to make sure all her students know they are capable of all things, as long as they believe in themselves.
- Mr. Bill Pinkstaff, Fifth Grade
  Mr. Pinkstaff grew up in Eugene, Oregon. He graduated from South Eugene High School and attended Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics-Accounting. Later, he earned his teaching degree in Elementary Education from the University of Oregon. Mr. Pinkstaff taught for over 20 years in the Bethel School District in Eugene and taught for five years in the Estacada School District in Oregon. Mr. Pinkstaff retired from teaching, later to find himself as a long-term substitute at St. Mary’s Cathedral School and at Sacajawea Elementary School in Vancouver, Washington. Mr. Pinkstaff has four children: three daughters and one son. Mr. Pinkstaff’s hobbies include reading, nearly all sports, and spending time with family and friends.
Middle School Teachers
- Ms. Joelle Gelao, Sixth Grade Homeroom - Middle School Social Studies and Religion
  Ms. Gelao was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. She attended Catholic schools, K-12, before earning a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology at Minnesota State University. She attributes her Catholic identity and love for learning to her Catholic education. “My teachers instilled in me the unswerving belief in God’s love for us, and I hope to impart that same certainty to the children I serve her at St Francis Catholic School,” she asserts. Ms. Gelao’s goal for students is to facilitate their academic, social, emotional, and spiritual development, and to help each child reach their highest potential. Previous to teaching, Ms. Gelao worked as a psychiatric social worker for several years in both inpatient and outpatient settings. After moving to Portland, she earned a Masters of Arts degree in teaching, from Concordia University. She has taught in the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, for 16 years. Ms. Gelao has one son, who is in his third year at Gonzaga University. She enjoys reading, traveling, white water rafting, and crafting
- Mrs. Vicky Smith, Seventh Grade Homeroom, Fifth - Eighth Grade Mathematics
  Mrs. Smith grew up in a variety of places including Europe, California, and North Dakota. After high school she earned degrees in Biology, Psychology, and Education from both the University of North Dakota in conjunction with Oregon State University. She taught at St. Anthony Catholic School in Tigard for 23 years and has been teaching at St. Francis Catholic School since its inception. Additionally, Mrs. Smith has been involved with the Archdiocesan of Portland, Oregon, mathematics and science curriculum throughout her career. Mrs. Smith enjoys camping, gardening, and nature photography along with her wonderful family.
- Ms. Kolyne De Jesus, Eighth Grade Homeroom, Fifth - Eighth Grade Science
  Ms. De Jesus was born in the Philippines and raised throughout the Bay Area in California. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Biology with minors in Chemistry and American Sign Language at California State University, East Bay. After a few years of volunteering at a Deaf school and teaching English to Japanese students during a college study abroad program, she decided to pursue a Master of Arts degree in teaching. Ms. De Jesus did the Pacific Alliance for Catholic Education (PACE) program at the University of Portland and student-taught in Honolulu, Hawai'i for two years. She also student-taught for Mrs. Smith and substituted in the Diocese of Portland, which led to her decision to stay in the Pacific Northwest. Ms. De Jesus loves to cook at home and travel when given the opportunity.
Specialists
- Ms. Sally Green, Art
  Mrs. Green has been teaching Art at St. Francis Catholic School since 2005, and Physical Education since 2014. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Montana State University with teaching certifications in Art and Physical Education. She is a native of Ohio, however, has lived in Oregon most of her life.
- Mrs. Lucy Neary, Music
  Mrs. Neary was born and raised in Portland, Oregon where she attended St. Ignatius and St. Mary's
  Academy. She graduated from Gonzaga University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal
  and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education, as well as a certification in Elementary Education and a
  minor in Conducting.
  Mrs. Neary received a Masters in Choral Conducting from Portland State University in 2014 and since
  then, has conducted elementary, middle school, high school, collegiate, and adult choirs. She has been
  teaching Music in the Archdiocese of Portland for eleven years.
  Mrs. Neary lives in Tualatin with her husband and four kids.
  
  In Music class, Mrs. Neary loves to teach students in all grade levels how to read music, understand
  music history and use their knowledge of Music Theory and History to ecplore all kinds of new music
  and performance opportunities. Mrs. Neary is excited to be making music withteh students of St. Francis!
- Mr. Jonathan Johannesen, PE
  Mr. Johannesen was born and raised in Tualatin, Oregon. He received his bachelor's degree in Business from the University of Oregon and worked for the Portland Winterhawks and Trailblazers in-game operations for two seasons. Through high school and college, he also worked as a youth basketball, baseball and softball coach as well as a summer camp counselor for the city of Tualatin. This led him to get a master’s degree in elementary education which he recently received from Pacific University. Fun Fact: as a child, he received first communion and was confirmed at St Francis. Mr. J enjoys playing and watching most sports but his favorites are basketball, baseball and football. He also loves The Oregon Ducks.