Primary Grades

I am blessed to be joining the Saint Ambrose School community this year. I am a native of Northern Virginia, and attended Catholic schools during my elementary and high school years. I graduated from the University of Mississippi (Hotty Toddy!) with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, with a concentration on Social Studies, English Language Arts, and Health and Wellness. I am passionate about teaching through music, movement, and hands-on activities.

I enjoy exercising, playing guitar and piano, sharing the best eye-rolling puns, and spending time with the people I love. I plan to foster a positive learning environment and encourage creative, critical thinkers. I look forward to growing with my students spiritually and academically, as well as being their personal cheerleader throughout this journey.

My name is Melinda Gomes. I completed my Special Ed Cohort Program with Marymount University and am continuing my M. ED in Curriculum and Instruction. I have a degree in Business Management and Marketing from University of Maryland. I also have my Catechist Certification and VCEA (Virginia Catholic Education Association) from the Diocese of Arlington. This is fourth-year teaching at Saint Ambrose. Prior to teaching at Saint Ambrose, I taught at Saint Phillips Preschool for 6 years.

I am an active member at St. Ambrose Catholic Church. My husband James is a member of the St. Ambrose Knights of Columbus. Both my daughters Michelle and Jillian are alumni of St. Ambrose Catholic School.

I feel blessed to be here at Saint Ambrose, where the students are inspiring, and families offer their help and support!  My favorite thing about teaching is helping the students I teach to grow and succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. Each student comes to first grade with so much potential to learn and grow. I feel privileged to help make that learning come alive, as well as to get to know the students along their path of growth in first grade. Besides teaching I enjoy Bollywood dancing and traveling to many places around the world.

I am excited and grateful to return to St. Ambrose School for my second year. Originally from northeast Ohio, I moved to Virginia in 2004. Prior to teaching, my professional career had been in healthcare—working in journalism, office administration and most recently staff training. Prior to working at St. Ambrose, I had volunteered for seven years as a catechist at my home parish, St. John Neumann Catholic Community, teaching both second and fifth grades.

I was blessed to be able to receive a Catholic education from kindergarten all the way through college. In 2004, I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communication from Walsh University with minors in both English Literature and English Composition.

My pastimes are varied: from hiking with my husband and dog, to home crafts; but perhaps my favorite is reading. I also love traveling back to Ohio to visit with my family as much as possible.

I graduated from George Mason University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Integrative Studies, with a concentration in Elementary Education. I am currently pursuing my Masters in Elementary Education at Marymount University.

From a young age, I always wanted to teach.  I was blessed to be around many individuals involved in education both in my family and at the schools I attended, and their examples and encouragement led me to work to achieve my goal of becoming a teacher.

I have lived in the Northern Virginia area my entire life, and attended Arlington Diocese schools for my elementary and high school years. I have been a part of the St. Ambrose community since 2014. I have worked in extended day, first and second grade as an instructional assistant, taught 2nd grade for two years, was the school resource teacher and now have the opportunity to teach 3rd grade.

I am passionate about working in a Catholic school where I can work to foster a faith filled environment for our school’s wonderful students.  I am looking forward to bringing my ideas, innovations and enthusiasm into the classroom.  

I’m so excited to be a part of the St. Ambrose family. Its supportive community is unique and so special.

I was born and raised in Northern Virginia, attending St. James School in Falls Church, and  Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington.  I earned my Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in International Studies from Radford University in 2013, and earned my Master of Education from Marymount University in 2015.

I’m looking forward to sharing my knowledge with your children and helping them grow academically, socially, and spiritually!

I am very happy to be teaching 5th grade at St. Ambrose School!   The faculty and families here form a supportive community that I am blessed to be a part of. My family and I are parishioners of the church as well. 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 United States Marine and we have moved back and forth across the country multiple times. We even lived overseas in Bogotá, Colombia for two years. We have 3 awesome children, Elizabeth 23, Megan 21, and William 17. In my “spare” time I love to watch my son play football and lacrosse, read, coach sports, walk my dog, and watch movies. I look forward to working with your children and helping them grow emotionally, academically, and in their faith!

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.