Kelly Alfieri
Assistant Athletic Director | Kelly has served as the assistant athletic director since 2011 and the CYO athletic director since 2008. She earned an athletic scholarship to Oregon State University where she competed in track for four years. Kelly earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology and worked in the Human Performance Laboratory for OHSU before becoming a full-time mother. She was an active volunteer parent in the Valley Catholic grade school before becoming involved in the athletic department. All six of her children have attended Valley Catholic.
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Kathleen Beemer
Science | Kathleen “Kelly” Beemer has a B.S in biology from the University of San Francisco, and a M.S. in Tumor Biology from Georgetown University. She spent many years working in vaccine development and cancer research, even publishing papers, presenting at international conferences, and being named on a biotech patent. She was a stay at home mom for many years, and managed to tutor students in biology and AP biology in the evenings. She began teaching at VCMS in 2018 before making her way across the parking lot to the high school in 2019 for a long-term sub position and again in 2020 to join the science department. She will be teaching Health I, Anatomy and Physiology, and freshmen Biology. In her free time Kelly enjoys spending time with her family (and cats!), baking goodies in the kitchen, and traveling.
...Ian Berge
History and Boys Cross Country Head Coach | Ian Berge teaches freshman Global Studies and an American West History elective for juniors and seniors. He has been teaching social studies at Valley Catholic since 2012. He received a B.A. in History and Political Science from Gonzaga University. After his undergraduate studies, Ian earned an M.A. in History from Portland State University. He has also been the head boys cross country coach at Valley Catholic since 2017, after serving as an assistant coach since 2011. During his time on the coaching staff, the Valiants have won 4 state championships in boys cross country.
...Joe Bernard
College Counselor | Joe Bernard, Valley Catholic’s college counselor since 2000, earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree in student counseling from the University of Portland. With 30 years of college counseling experience, Joe is Oregon’s first school-based Certified Educational Planner, the highest credential possible for college counselors. He chairs the Portland National College Fair, served as President of the Higher Education Consultant Association (HECA), and volunteers on Marquette University’s Admissions advisory board. He served six years on the executive boards of the American Institute of Certified Educational Planners,(AICEP), currently serves the board of the Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling (PNACAC), and he is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, (NACAC). Joe holds a charter membership in the Higher Educational Consultants Association, for which he served as vice president for six years. Joe was an admissions officer at the University of Portland for seven years and taught a graduate level college-counseling course for Lewis and Clark College. He enjoys his family, and spending time outdoors, camping, biking, water skiing, scuba diving, gardening and marveling at creation.
...Chris Bernards
Math and Religion | Chris Bernards teaches Advanced Theology and Ethics, A.P. Statistics, and Economics while also coaching the boys JV basketball. He came to Valley Catholic in 2014 from Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma where he worked for 8 years in the math department and as the department chair. Before teaching, Chris spent one year in the Jesuit Volunteer Corp and worked for 3 years in the business world for Pacific Star Communications. Chris earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of San Diego, master’s degree in teaching at Pacific University, and graduated from Jesuit High School in Portland. Chris’s wife, Malia, an alumna of Valley Catholic, now teaches at Jesuit, while Chris, an alumnus of Jesuit, teaches at Valley Catholic. They have two children, Tristan and Teddy, who attend Valley Catholic Elementary School.
...Ed Braun
Religion and Boys Golf Head Coach | Ed Braun has taught at Valley Catholic since 1992 and is chairman of the religion department. Ed earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s in theology and ethics from the University of Iowa. Before coming to Valley Catholic he taught for three years at Bishop Garcia Diego High School in Santa Barbara while studying non-Western religious traditions at the University of California Santa Barbara. At Valley Catholic Ed teaches upper-division Relationships and Theology. Ed’s both a Valley Catholic teacher and parent: his daughter is a senior and his son a sophomore. Ed started Valley Catholic’s golf teams and is an avid golfer himself…and still the class of the campus’s linksmen.
...Sara Bruins
Brenna Brown
Dean of Academics and English Department Chair | Brenna Brown is the Valley Catholic High School Dean of Academics and chair of the English department. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English, as well as her licensure and certification in secondary education, at the University of Iowa and went on to earn a master’s of science in curriculum and instruction at Portland State University. Brenna joined Valley Catholic’s faculty in 1999 as an English teacher and continues to teach AP English Literature and Composition to seniors. When she isn’t grading student essays, Brenna may be found reading, cooking, camping, or walking her poorly behaved dog with her well-behaved husband.
...John Brunecz
Math | John Brunecz came to Valley Catholic in 2006 after 38 years of high school math teaching, 18 in Pennsylvania and 20 in the Portland Public School District (where he was awarded in 2001 the Portland Schools Foundation’s Excellence in Education Teacher of the Year Award). At Valley Catholic John teaches Pre-Calculus, Algebra II, Advanced Algebra II, and Math 8. John also has 20 years of experience as a high school head coach of basketball, track, and soccer, earning four coach-of-the-year honors. John has a bachelor’s degree in math education and a master’s in education in math, both at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. John and his wife Wanda have a large family, whose most recent additions are three great-grandchildren.
...Patrick Chapman
Athletic Director | Patrick Chapman joined Valley Catholic’s faculty in the fall of 2016. He taught History until 2022 when he became the school's Athletic Director. Before joining the Valiants, Mr. Chapman taught P.E. and History at Monroe Catholic Jr./Sr. High School in Fairbanks, Alaska. He also served as the Assistant Athletic Director for Monroe Catholic. Chapman is a proud graduate of the University of Portland where he received a B.S. in Secondary Education and History, and has since gone back to get a Masters in Education (M.Ed) and an Administrative Credential.
...Matt Coussens
PE and Health Teacher | Mr. Coussens teaches U.S. History and AP Government and Politics at Valley Catholic High School. He is also the head softball coach and assistant boys basketball coach. Matt earned his bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga University in 2007, where he majored in history and political science. He also earned his master’s degree in teaching from Concordia University in 2017. Outside of school, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife and family, reading, and playing sports.
...Vanessa Davis
Science Department Chair | Vanessa Davis earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and physical science from San Francisco State and a secondary education teaching practicum from Portland State. Vanessa began her career at Mercy College Preparatory in San Francisco, teaching chemistry and physical science and serving as assistant in the admissions department. After her family moved to Portland she worked for five years in research with Boise Cascade before returning to teaching at St. Mary’s Academy as a chemistry teacher. After then staying home with young children for a few years, Vanessa came to Valley Catholic in 2012 as fifth and sixth grade science specialist before moving to the high school in 2014, where she now teaches chemistry and physics. Vanessa enjoys reading and gardening and, when they’re not all skiing, she and her husband enjoy watching their two sons playing baseball and basketball.
...Jenn Deal
Fine Arts Teacher and Cross Country and Track Coach | Jenn Deal graduated from Appalachian State University with a BFA in Graphic Design and earned a Masters of Art in teaching from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She teaches Art and Advanced Art courses. Outside of teaching, Jenn enjoys running, hiking, and spending time with her husband, two little boys, and their lab named Lily.
...Kalani Efstathiou
Director of Admissions | Kalani Efstathiou ’06 returned to campus in 2015 to teach at VCMS and serve as Math Department Head. Kalani graduated from VCHS in 2006 and continued his studies at Sacred Heart University where he graduated with a degree in Mathematics and received the Outstanding Achievement Award for his research in mathematical proofs. Kalani returned to Sacred Heart as the Head Men’s Volleyball Coach before moving back to Oregon to raise his family. He is married to VCHS graduate Katherine Efstathiou (Bamford) ‘06 and is the father of Lucien and Logan, who attend Valley Catholic School as well.
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Annie Farr
Gabriel Franco
Kayla Gaspardis
P.E. Department Chair | Kayla Gaspardis came to Valley Catholic as a Health and P.E. teacher and head girls soccer coach in the fall of 2011. She played high school soccer at Jesuit for four years – leading the Crusaders to two State Titles and a second place. She then played four years at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, an NAIA powerhouse, where she was team captain. She led Westmont to the Final Four once and Elite Eight twice and was named Westmont’s Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete Award for excellence in academics, character, and play. Kayla also coached five summers at the University of Portland summer camps and after college graduation became an assistant for the Pilot women. Kayla has a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Westmont College and a master’s in teaching from the University of Portland. She is also certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Kayla’s Valiant girls soccer team was state runner-up in 2012 and state champion in 2013, when she was named State Coach of the Year.
...Allison Gates
Director of Student Activities and Girls Basketball Coach | Allison Waibel Gates '05, a long and cat-quick #1 on the Valiants press, earned three varsity letters in basketball at Valley and another three in soccer. She was a defensive whiz on Valley Catholic's 2004 state tournament team and in 2005 was team captain. Allison attended Oregon State University, graduating in 2010. In 2009, Allison was named co-director of the CYO basketball camp held annually at Valley Catholic. Allison currently works for the Sports Medicine Institute of Oregon in Beaverton. After serving as alumni relations manager for the SSMO Foundation, Allison was named director of student activities in 2017.
...Krista Gram
Dean of Students | Krista Gram serves VCHS as the Dean of Students. Krista grew up in the Beaverton area, attending St. Cecilia Elementary School before attending Valley Catholic High School. A member of the Valley Catholic Class of 1995, Krista has a notable educational background and experience in education, spanning from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Krista spent her early years teaching and coaching at Blanchet Catholic School in Salem, Oregon. She earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Western Oregon University and holds an Administrative License from the University of Oregon. Krista spends her free time reading, enjoying the outdoors and spending time with family.
...Jeremy Grondin
Math Teacher and Cross Country and Track Coach | Jeremy Grondin earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Miami University, Ohio, and master’s in education, specializing in mathematics, from Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) program. At Miami he also tutored in pre-calculus and calculus and worked as a supplemental instructor in the math department. Jeremy taught four years (2010-2014) at Mount St. Mary Catholic High School in Oklahoma City, where he was assigned for two years as part of his ACE responsibility and then remained. At Mount St. Mary’s Jeremy taught Algebra I, II, and III, Geometry, and Pre-calculus, served as an assistant track coach and assistant and then head cross country coach. In the fall of 2012 his girls cross country team won the state championship, his boys were second, and he was named State Coach of the Year. As an undergraduate, Jeremy was a member of Miami University’s Mock Trial team that placed in the Top 10 at the National Championship Tournament three years straight.
...Dan Hannon
Religion | Dan Hannon, who came to Valley Catholic in the fall of 2013, teaches all sophomore religion classes. Dan graduated from the University of Portland with a bachelor’s degree in history and earned a master’s in education, also from UP. After receiving his master’s degree Dan joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JCV), for whom he taught in Newark, New Jersey before joining JVC’s national staff in Baltimore. Dan worked for four years at UP’s Office of Residential Life and Moreau Center for Service and Leadership, advising service and justice coordinators in residence halls and students considering post-graduate service.
...Andy Haugen
Librarian and History Teacher | Andy Haugen joined Valley Catholic's faculty in the fall of 2015. He is the Middle School and High School librarian, in addition to teaching ninth grade global studies and being the head JV2 blue boys basketball coach. He has a B.A. in History (2011) and a M.A.T (2013) from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, and received his M.A in History from Arizona State University. A 2007 graduate of Valley Catholic High School, he helped the Valiants boys basketball team win their first-ever OSAA state championship. He then went on to play basketball for four years at Pacific University. Outside of academics, Andy enjoys being outdoors, spending time with friends and family, and going to the beach. He is chairman of Citizens Participation Organization 10.
...Jawana Homer
Doug Ierardi
Religion and Sociology Teacher | Doug Ierardi came to Valley Catholic in the fall of 2010. He served as the Dean of Academics, religion and social studies teacher, head football coach, assistant track coach and assistant softball coach before becoming the principal in 2016. After six years as principal, Doug had the opportunity to return to the classroom full-time in the fall of 2022 as a religion and sociology teacher. He also became an assistant boys’ cross-country coach. Before coming to Valley Catholic, Doug was principal for four years at Regis High School in Stayton, Oregon, where he had also served as Dean of Students, religion teacher, head football and track coach. Doug, a native New Englander, has also taught religion and history and coached football, track, cross country, and soccer at high schools in New Hampshire. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from St. Anselm College in New Hampshire and his master’s degree in education (Catholic School Leadership) from Marymount University in Virginia. Doug’s wife, Monique, is an instructional assistant at Valley Catholic Elementary School. All three of their children are graduates of Valley Catholic High School; Allison (2016), Matthew (2018), and Joseph (2021).
...John Innes
English | John Innes, who joined Valley Catholic in 2003, teaches sophomore English and senior Creative Writing. John graduated from St. George’s School in Spokane, where he played soccer, basketball, and baseball. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College in New York, where he played golf and was voice of the men’s and women’s basketball teams. Before joining Valley Catholic, John was a professional fly fisherman in Sun Valley, Idaho, and released a DVD called “A Season on Silver Creek and the Big Wood River.” John served four years as boys’ JV basketball coach at St. George’s High School. He was Valley Catholic’s head girls’ basketball coach between 2004-2018 and accumulated a record of 305-89. He was named the West Valley League’s Coach of the Year in the ’06-’07, ’07-’08, and ’08-’09 seasons, leading his teams to back-to-back-to-back WVL league and district titles. John led the Valiants to OSAA state tournament second places in 2007, 2012, and 2014; a third in 2008; fourth in 2009 and 2018; and a fifth in 2015. After four Final Four appearances in six years, the Valiants won the state championship in 2013 and John was named Oregon State 3A Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year. He continues to assist the girls’ basketball program alongside Coach Pat Thomas.
...Kipp Johnson
Math | Kipp Johnson has taught mathematics at Valley Catholic since 1986, and is the chairman of the math department. His current assignments are AP Calculus I, AP Calculus II, Accelerated PreCalculus, and Honors 7th Grade math. Kipp earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Princeton, a master’s in mathematics from Portland State, and a master’s in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. His hobbies are doing the New York Times crossword puzzle (best Saturday time: 15 minutes) and playing the piano (and still, after 60 years, working on Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in E flat minor).
Email: [email protected]
...Becky Kemper
Math | Becky Kemper joined Valley Catholic’s faculty in 1994. She has taught advanced seventh-grade math through advanced algebra II but primarily teaches geometry and advanced geometry. Becky graduated magna cum laude from Western Oregon University in 1990, where she was a member of the Wolves volleyball team from 1988 to 1990. During her years at WOU her team finished second in the nation, and she was named an NAIA All-American and NAIA Scholar-Athlete. Becky is head coach of Valley Catholic’s perennially successful volleyball team. The Valiants were back to back State Champions (2018 and 2019). She has been named the OSAA 4A Coach of the Year and also the NFHS Section 8 Coach of the Year. Becky and her husband Warren have three children: Clay, Sam and Tori all graduated from Valley Catholic, where they were star athletes.
...Sarah Kermoyan
Spanish | Sarah Kermoyan’s passion for language began during her time studying at Oregon State University. While pursuing her B.A. in Spanish at OSU, she spent a summer in Guatemala teaching English and in her spare time playing with the local women’s soccer team. Then, after working as an educational assistant at a dual-immersion elementary school, Sarah went on to earn her M.A. in Spanish at Portland State University while also teaching undergraduate courses.
...Linda Lawyer
Fine Art and Technology | Linda Lawyer has taught graphic design in the high school and art in the middle school at Valley Catholic since 2009. From 1998 to 2009, Linda was an art literacy coordinator and instructor in local schools. She graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and after graduation worked 10 years as an art director at a Portland advertising agency. For the past 15 years, she has also had her own business as a freelance graphic designer, working with local businesses creating logos, brochures, and advertisements. Linda enjoys spending time with family and friends, gardening, and playing golf. Linda’s son, Matt, is a 2013 alumnus of Valley Catholic.
...Adam Lifsics
Science | Adam Lifsics, who teaches biology, AP Biology, and Environmental Science has been at Valley Catholic since the 2018-2019 school year. He was a sustainability teacher one year in the Beaverton School District, and taught for eleven years at Norman High School out of Norman, Oklahoma. In Norman he taught forensics, physical science, physics, biology, and AP environmental science. Adam earned his bachelor degree in science education with a minor in Judaic Studies (2006) at the University of Oklahoma where he also earned his Master of Natural Science degree (2013). He grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and graduated from Union High School. Adam is very passionate about working to improve the environment and loves sharing that knowledge and passion with students.
...Pat Maher
Melissa McMillan
Administrative Assistant to the Principal | Bio coming soon. [email protected]
...Matthew Nelson
Ginnie Paterson
Fine Arts Department Chair and English Teacher | Ginnie Paterson, who came to Valley Catholic in 2004, teaches English, drama, and journalism and serves as director of drama production. Ginnie graduated from Presentation High School in San Jose and then came north to Gonzaga University, where she majored in theatre arts and English, studied abroad in London, was a founding member of the Alpha Psi Omega theatre fraternity, served as a directing member of the Student Theatre Guild, won an Irene Ryan nomination for her role as Olivia in “Twelfth Night,” and graduated magna cum laude. Ginnie then earned from the University of Idaho a master’s degree in performance, with double emphases on directing and voice. In Moscow, Idaho, she was also a company member of Idaho Repertory Theatre and, in Portland, she has been a founding member of the theatre company 2Boards Productions and directed their inaugural show, “Measure for Measure.” She has also performed for Lakewood Theatre Company and Portland Theatre Guild. Ginnie’s interests include cooking, watching NFL football and college basketball, playing tennis and softball, and watching live performance in its many forms.
...Nancy Podgorski
English | Nancy Podgorski teaches English 11 and Advanced Placement Language and Composition. She and her husband and their two dogs moved to Oregon in 2020 after residing briefly in Wyoming. Nancy spent fourteen years in Alaska teaching secondary language arts. She grew up in Ohio, earned a liberal arts degree from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, returned to Ohio to earn her Juris Doctor from The University of Akron School of Law, and decided to pursue a career in education rather than law. She earned a master’s degree in the Cultural Foundations of Education from Kent State University and taught pre-service teachers at several universities in the Midwest. After moving to Alaska, she taught developmental reading and writing classes at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and later obtained her secondary teaching license through the University of Alaska Fairbanks. When she is not reading, she often can be found with her binoculars at one of the many parks or wildlife refuges, enjoying the beautiful Pacific Northwest and trying to add new birds to her life list.
...Gina Portillo
Science | Gina Portillo joined Valley Catholic’s faculty in 2013 and teaches advanced chemistry, AP chemistry, and an awesome AP physics II class, as well as coaches our science bowl team. Gina grew up in Modesto, California and graduated from Beyer High school. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Portland (UP) and a master’s in education, also from UP. Since graduating in 2011, Gina has taught almost all sciences—chemistry, advanced chemistry, general chemistry, physics, biology, advanced biology, and physical science—at five local high schools and tutored college chemistry and organic chemistry. She was awarded the Murdock Partners in Science grant in 2014, 2015 and 2016 to bring industry level research into our classrooms.
...Nermine Ramadan
Megan Schmidt
Pat Thomas
English and History Teacher | After having coached baseball and basketball for the Valiants, Pat Thomas returned to Valley Catholic in 2006 from Archbishop Murphy High School in Everett, Washington, where he had taught English and served as assistant varsity boys’ basketball coach. Pat graduated from St. George’s School in Spokane in 2001, where he was a multi-year All-Conference baseball player and cross country runner and started for the 2001 Dragons basketball team that played for the Washington State Championship. In his senior year he was named co-Athlete of the Year. At Whitman College he was a starting pitcher and two-year baseball captain. In 2018, Pat became the Varsity head basketball coach after assisting Coach Innes for twelve years. Pat also teaches English and History at Valley Catholic.
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