Primary Grades

I have been in the early elementary classroom since 2005.  I switched careers (from PR non-profit world) after staying home for ten years raising my three daughters. They are now twenty one, eighteen, and sixteen. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a MA in Public Communication.

After volunteering at my daughters’ preschool I found that I thrived in the classroom.  I worked for three years at a public elementary school followed by six years at St. Charles School in Arlington.  This is my third year at St. Ambrose.

I obtained my VCEA and Cathechist certification. I love teaching in Catholic schools because I can teach, train, and prepare the whole child to excel academically while instilling a solid spiritual and moral compass in the light of Jesus Christ.

My name is Priscilla Hogan, and I have been at St. Ambrose Catholic School since 2002. I have been an aide in fourth grade, first grade, and have been in charge of the lunchroom and hot lunch program.

The past seven years I have been the Kindergarten Aide and have enjoyed it immensely. I think St. Ambrose is a wonderful place to work and learn. I feel very lucky to be here.

I graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a concentration in Developmental Psychology, and a minor in Mild Disabilities.  I am looking forward to completing my Master’s degree in Special Education this fall.  From a young age, I have always enjoyed working with children and have had a passion for learning.  I realized I wanted to pursue a career in teaching after volunteer trips to Haiti and Kenya in which I worked with elementary aged children.

I enjoy baking, hiking, and running, and my favorite place to be is the beach!  I also love animals, and have a Mastiff/Lab puppy named Mocha at home, who my students will be hearing a lot about this year 🙂

I have been a substitute teacher in the Arlington Diocese for four years, and  I have also taught third, fourth, fifth and sixth grade CCD for many years in Alexandria.  I love teaching children about our Catholic faith and watching them grow in their faith.

I live in Alexandria, VA with my husband and two dogs.  We have three children and three grandchildren.

I truly enjoy teaching second grade at St. Ambrose School. From the moment I entered the front doors, I felt that St. Ambrose was warm and nurturing, as well as spiritual and academic. Called by the Holy Spirit, it has been the right place for me!

I discovered my passion for teaching during graduate school and thus, I have been an educator for over twenty-five years.  I graduated from the University of Texas and then went on to receive my Master’s degree from Purdue University. I spent ten wonderful years teaching college in Texas. Upon moving to Virginia twenty years ago, I changed my career to preschool and elementary level education.

My husband and I have four children, three sons and a daughter.

I bring to the St. Ambrose community a love of children, a love of teaching, and a love of God and our Catholic faith.

Mrs. Cathy Park has been a member of the St. Ambrose School faculty for the past 9 years, and she is looking forward to another great year in 4th grade. Growing up as an “Army Brat”, Mrs. Park was provided the opportunity to live in many different places as well as visit places that may not have been possible otherwise. She attended 9 different schools from K-12. She continued moving around when she married her husband, Rick, who was an officer in the United States Marine Corps. Burke has been home for the past 20 years, which is the longest that she has ever lived anywhere!

Mrs. Park is the mother of 3 sons: one who is married and living in Portland, Oregon, one who is married living and working in Los Altos, CA and the youngest one who is married (just this past summer),  living and working in NYC, and is owned by a cat. She has been to her share of soccer games, ice hockey games, and wrestling matches. When she has time to herself, she enjoys reading, cooking and baking, walking, going to the movies, bike riding with her husband, attending CAPS games with Ms. B., and traveling to see her family.

Mrs. Park received her Master’s in Education from Marymount University. She also has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree as well as an Associate Degree in Veterinary Technology. Both of those degrees were obtained from Morehead State University in Kentucky.

Her goal in teaching is to reach all her students and to provide them the tools and skills to achieve their best.

This will be my ninth year as a Teacher’s Aide at St. Ambrose School.  St. Ambrose feels like home to me – my husband, Mike, and I have been parishioners since 1992.  All five of our children graduated from St. Ambrose School – we  were St. Ambrose parents from 1995 until 2013!

After undergraduate studies at Bryn Mawr College, I attended Case Western Reserve Medical School.  Upon completion of a 3 year residency in Pediatrics at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, I served 4 years in the US Army, assigned to  the Pediatric Clinic at Fort Belvoir, VA.

I practiced Pediatrics part time for another 13 years before “retiring”.  In 2007 I began a small business, selling crocheted items at local holiday fairs.  I share my love of crochet with the students in the school’s Crochet USA club.  In my free time I enjoy reading,  walking, and cooking.

I am honored to be a part of the wonderful and caring staff at St. Ambrose School.

I am very excited to be teaching 5th grade again at St. Ambrose this year! My family and I are parishioners of the church as well. The faculty and families here form a supportive community that I am blessed to be a part of.
I received my Elementary Education degree from Mac Murray College in Jacksonville, IL and I taught at my childhood grade school, St. Patrick’s, before getting married and having kids. My husband is a Marine and we have moved back and forth across the country multiple times and have lived overseas in Bogotá, Colombia. We have 3 awesome children, Elizabeth 18, Megan 17, and William 13. While they were growing up I was a soccer/softball/volleyball coach, Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout leader, classroom volunteer, CCD teacher and substitute teacher. Now I am back in the classroom full time. In my “spare” time I love to watch my kids participate in their various activities, read, coach sports, practice my Spanish, and watch movies. I am really looking forward to working with your children and helping them grow socially, academically and in their faith!