Curé of Ars School Newsletter

June 20, 2024

News from your Head of School

Dear Families,

We are honored and excited to introduce our new staff for the 2024-2025 School Year!

Hello, I am Claire Mitchell, and I will teach preschool four this fall! A bit about myself: I graduated from Wichita State University with my education degree in 2022 and have five years of education experience at the Britain Development Center. As a Curé of Ars alumna, I feel deeply connected to the community and have a passion for teaching. I am excited to grow with you and your families in a faith based community!

My name is Christi Gottschalk, and this will be my 31st year in education. I have taught Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th grades. I was also principal for 12 years. I really love the students and the curriculum at all grade levels, but my heart belongs with the primary grades. My husband Joe and I have been married for 30 years and we have 3 children. Our oldest, Colby, is 28 and teaches 4th grade in Phoenix, Arizona. Our middle son, Cannon, is 24 and teaches 7th grade Social Studies in Olathe. Claire is our youngest at 19 and will be a sophomore at Kansas State majoring in Family and Consumer Sciences to be a middle school or high school teacher. As a family, we love to attend Kansas State football games and travel. Our last family trip was to New York City this summer. We love our family pets, too! Our two cats are named Pop-Tart and Pancake, and our dog is named Cali. I also have a grand dog named Wally. I am very excited to join the kindergarten team at Curé of Ars!

Hi! My name is Mrs. Nicole Trear. My husband and I are new to the Kansas City area and moved from Southwest Kansas. We live with our three dogs and love spending time with our families. I enjoy traveling around the world and meeting new people. I am looking forward to being a part of the Curé of Ars family as well as your students’ spiritual and academic journey! I grew up in Wichita, Kansas, where I attended Catholic Schools from Kindergarten through Eighth grade. I attended high school in Andover, where I graduated in 2009. In May 2015, I graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and Human Services. Then, in May 2017, I graduated again with my Masters of Art in Teaching. This will be my seventh year teaching and fourth year teaching kindergarten. Every year, I love it more!

Hey, my name is Abby Phillips! I am so excited to be working at Curé of Ars as a first-grade teacher! I am from Kingwood, Texas in the Houston area and graduated from Texas Tech University(Wreck Em’)! I am moving to Kansas City to be closer to my older sister and am so excited for this new chapter and continuing my journey as a first-grade teacher. I grew up attending a catholic elementary and middle school in my local community, which I ended up having the honor to teach first grade for the year of 23-24. I understand the importance and impact it has had on my faith, and I am excited to have and share that impact on my students in their journeys becoming closer to God. Outside of working I am strong in my catholic faith and enjoy outdoors, fitness and singing!

My name is Caroline Ehlert. I am from Saint Joseph, Missouri, where I attended Catholic schools K-12. I pursued my Elementary Education degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and completed my first year as a Fourth-Grade teacher in Lincoln this May. I look forward to teaching in a Catholic environment as a Second-Grade Teacher and joining the Curé Parish.

I am excited to join the Curé community. I have taught for over ten years, most recently as a third-grade teacher in Northern California. Although I come to Curé from out of state, I was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Furthermore, I used to be a parishioner of St. Thomas More. I received my Bachelor’s degree from California State University, Northridge, and a Master’s from Antioch University Los Angeles. I have been married to my amazing wife, Jennifer, for twenty-two years. We have two wonderful children, Jocelyn (20) and Justin (18). In my spare time, I love to read, watch classic films, and spend time with family and friends.

I am a graduate of the Curé of Ars class of 2016. I was on the cross country and track team at Curé. I love serving in a Catholic School environment, working with students and teachers with all subjects and needs, fostering my faith through my work, and building relationships within the school community of students and teachers. I will be working as a resource aide this coming school year and look forward to assisting students and teachers with whatever they need to develop their strengths and help them feel more confident in the classroom while helping build relationships. My goal is to make learning enjoyable, joyful, and rewarding for students through my support for their specific needs and providing a comfortable, relaxing, and supportive environment for all students to express their talents in a way that builds their confidence and understanding while providing any supports that teachers need to help themselves teach to the best of their ability and help their students develop their skills and succeed. I am thrilled to be a part of the Curé resource team and come back to my Alma matter as a staff member!

I am Susan Grams and very excited to move to Kansas City with my family this July! I just finished teaching first grade for 10 years, but I kept up with teaching music during this time to many different ages. I majored in Music and Elementary Education and have a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. I’m passionate about teaching music, producing quality sound, and sharing Jesus’ love through music everyday with students! I grew up in Michigan, but have lived in Indiana, California, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and now Kansas!

I studied elementary education at Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana, and have taught kindergarten and 4-year-old preschool. I have been home with my four kids for several years, and they will all be at Cure next year! They will be in 7th, 4th, 1st, and 3PS. I am thrilled to join the Cure community in this new role and look forward to a great year!

Returning Staff

Michaela Bradshaw-PT Resource

Erin Bradley-PT Resource

Hilary Cindrich-Prek4 Aide

Stacy Lefebvre will continue this year in Grade 4

Peace,

Natalie McDonough