Mr. Thomas Thoits was raised in northern California, attending a classical, Catholic high school in Napa. He studied English literature at the University of Dallas, where he met his future wife, a history major and native of Louisiana. He went on to earn his MA in English literature at Louisiana State University. In 2005, Mr. Thoits joined Veritas Prep, the founding academy in the Great Hearts network of classical schools based in Arizona. Over the years, Mr. Thoits has taught high school Humane Letters seminars, reading, discussing, and writing about classic works of literature and philosophy. He has developed curriculum, led network-wide faculty seminars, mentored and coached teachers in classical practices and pedagogy, serving as assistant headmaster at Veritas. Mr. Thoits believes that the fulfillment of a classical education is a personal encounter with Truth, Goodness, and Beauty, and that this encounter needs to be sacramental as well as intellectual. He is passionate about the Catholic Church’s historical role in shaping classical, liberal education and excited to support the mission of Chesterton Academy as headmaster.
thomas.thoits@chestertonacademyofannapolis.org
Mr. Breidigam graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies. Among his extracurricular activities, he marched in the Towson University Marching Band, where he would later instruct. During the summers of 2009 and 2010, he marched in the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps from Dubuque, IA, as a part of the Drum Corps International Summer Tour. Touring the country, he developed a sense of discipline and attention to detail. He taught at various levels of marching ensembles and percussion ensembles from 2007-2020, which developed his educational pedagogy. Mr. Breidigam then received his M.A. in Theology from the first Catholic Seminary in the United States, St. Mary's Seminary and University under the Ecumenical Institute of Theology, in Baltimore, MD. There he focused on Liturgical and Sacramental Theology among other areas of Theology and Discernment. He is an active member of the Knights of Columbus Council #4011 as an officer known as the Worthy Deputy Grand Knight. He enjoys combining theology with all areas of his life. His extracurricular activities are going on local pilgrimages, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. Mr. Breidigam is looking forward to continuing his development as a teacher at Chesterton Academy.
Mrs. Bulera, teacher and environmentalist, has experience teaching students in grades 6-12 during her time in the classroom. She has taught in New York State as well Pennsylvania. Mrs. Bulera attended Canisius College in Buffalo, NY for her Masters of Science Degree, Secondary Science Education. She earned two Undergraduate Bachelor of Science degrees, Geology and Earth Science/Environmental Science. Mrs. Bulera was born and raised in Erie, PA and has lived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Buffalo, NY, and Pittsburgh, PA prior to settling in Annapolis, MD many years ago. In addition to her teaching career, she served as the Recycling Coordinator for Erie County in Pennsylvania, hosting her own weekly radio program and television programs to promote environmental awareness. She also worked in the field as a registered environmental scientist. She served as the Executive Director for the Center for Great Lakes Environmental Education before settling into her beloved teaching role. Mrs. Bulera serves on many volunteer boards in the Annapolis area and is an active member of her Catholic community and parish. She is married to Scott Bulera, General Manager and Vice President of Turner Construction Company, and together they have two grown children.
Mr. Ehemann was born and raised in Lancaster, Pa, a son of two school teachers. Upon graduation from high school, David attended college for a year, after which he enlisted in the United States Navy. During boot camp, he was nominated to compete for an appointment to the Naval Academy. Mr. Ehemann earned an appointment and graduated in 1969, after which he served on destroyers and frigates as a surface warfare officer. Mr. Ehemann attended Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Ca and graduated with an MS degree in Operations Research in 1974. His last tour of duty in the navy was as the Associate Chairman of Mathematics at the Naval Academy. After retiring from the Navy, David served 10 years in Executive Management for the Federal government, retiring with 14 years service. He then taught mathematics in the public school system to advanced students until his retirement in 2012. Mr. Ehemann is married to Carole Kessler Ehemann of Lancaster, Pa. They have two adult sons, William and Paul.
Mr. Feeney earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Towson State University in 1991 and then received a Master of Divinity degree with an emphasis in biblical exegesis from Biblical Theological Seminary in 1996. He taught History, Literature, Latin, and Theology at Redeemer Classical Christian School from 1998-2001 before taking a position at Rockbridge Academy, a classical Christian school in Millersville, MD. At Rockbridge Tim taught Theology and History from 2001-2015. During his time there he wrote the curriculum for courses in Historical Theology, Old Testament, New Testament, Apologetics, Church History, and U.S. History. In the summer of 2009 he completed a summer seminar at St. John’s College in Annapolis on Democracy in America by Alexis De Tocqueville. He prefers to teach using the Socratic method because it trains students to think logically and systematically work toward conclusions that are rationally defensible.
Mrs. Hartman (nee Gallagher) graduated from The Catholic University of America with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Minor in Theology and Religious Studies. She comes from a Roman Catholic family of ten (children) in Oregon. She was homeschooled up through high school using Kolbe Academy, and during that time she cultivated a love for Latin, music, theology, and the classics, which she continued to pursue during her college career. She especially loves playing the harp and the piano and reading Shakespeare and Flannery O'Connor. She learned about Chesterton Academy through two of her younger sisters who attend Chesterton back home in Oregon, and is excited to share her love of classical learning with the students here in Annapolis.
Mr. Napoli was raised in Greenwich, CT and comes from a family of Catholic educators. He received a classical education at The King’s College in NYC, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. Prior to the pandemic, Mr. Napoli studied Classics at Columbia University. Since then, he has completed his MA in Political Theory at The Catholic University of America. Mr. Napoli has a deep appreciation for classical history and philosophy and is eager to share his love of learning with his students. In his free time, Mr. Napoli enjoys snowboarding and kayaking, as well as studying foreign languages. In addition to English and Latin, he has studied Attic Greek, French, German, and Mandarin Chinese.
Fr. Peter Nguyen, IVE, a religious priest of the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word, was born and raised in Sunnyvale, California with his younger brother, Vincent. He grew up going to the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace where Our Religious Family has administered since 2002, where he was an altar server for many years. In 2008, Fr. Peter joined the opening class of the High School Minor Seminary in Mankato, Minnesota where he attended for 5 years before entering the novitiate in Maryland in 2013. By God’s grace, he was ordained to the priesthood in 2021 and since then has been working as a formator at the Ven. Fulton Seminary in Chillum, Maryland and is the pastor of St. John Baptist de la Salle Parish, Hyattsville. God-willing, in September 2024, his younger brother Vincent will be ordained a priest for the Religious Family as well! He is big into music, coffee, sports, and (last but certainly not least!) celebrating the sacraments!
Ms. Nina studied English in a Great Books program at the University of Notre Dame. During her time there, she worked at the Snite Museum of Art and enjoyed applying the seminar techniques from her classes to discussing great works of art. She believes that Beauty demands an unselfish attention from those who study it and that if we are patient and careful students, the beauty and majesty of the Creator can be revealed. Ms. Nina grew up in Miami and spent her high school years in her native country, Brazil. She speaks Portuguese, Spanish, and French and enjoys reading poems by St. John of the Cross and Luís de Camões. She loves storytelling and reading aloud, and her love of Literature quickly taught her a love of pursuing Truth. For the last three years, she has taught Literature, History, Art History, and Drama at a classical school in Miami. She will be starting a Masters program in Liberal Arts at St. John’s College this fall. She believes that we are called to love God above all else in our hearts, and she is thrilled to be able to share her faith in a Catholic community. She enjoys going on long walks in nature, reciting poetry—especially Shakespeare—and learning new things. Ms. Nina is excited to ponder big questions and contemplate great truths with her students.
Mr. Samuel Rowe is the Director of Music at the Basilica of the Assumption in Baltimore. At the Basilica, he directs the Basilica Schola Cantorum (an octet of professional singers) in more than 70 liturgies and performances annually and plays on the Basilica’s historic Roosevelt organ. He has also served as an Assisting Organist at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Before relocating to Baltimore, Mr. Rowe was an active freelance keyboardist and conductor in the New York City/Northern New Jersey area, where he accompanied and directed several choirs throughout the region, and, as a ballet pianist, served for three years as a staff accompanist for the Cecchetti International Summer School in Holland, MI. He was the pianist for the Newark Boys Chorus in Newark, NJ, from 2017 to 2019, a group with whom he performed across the country and internationally on a concert tour of Argentina and Chile in the Spring of 2019. Mr. Rowe was recently one of eight composition fellows selected for the Catholic Sacred Music Project's inaugural Composition Institute, led by Sir James MacMillan in Alexandria, VA, in May of 2023. Mr. Rowe received his Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance from Rutgers University in New Jersey (where he studied with Renée Anne Louprette) in 2016 and his Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., (where he studied with Timothy McDonnell) in 2021. He lives in Baltimore with his wife and four children.
Greg Yatarola is a native of upstate New York, where he grew up riding bicycles and working on farms and playing sports. After high school, he spent two years at a service academy, and then transferred to a Catholic school in the Midwest. After spending some time teaching and then in the white-collar world, he came to Maryland to get a master's degree in liberal arts from St. John's College, and has remained in Maryland ever since.
Greg's undergraduate degree was in mathematics, but he has strong interests across the curriculum. He is in one sense a cradle Catholic, and yet in a more meaningful sense describes himself as far more of a convert. When not at work teaching or tutoring, Greg has his own business in tree work and firewood. He also delights in his motorcycle.
Jeanette Middleton Sudano is a faith-filled mother of three children living in Severna Park. She has spent most of her life as a non-profit servant leader advocating and serving the less fortunate, specifically those experiencing homelessness and refugees. She is an active member of St. John the Evangelist, where she has served in many capacities including Chair of Pastoral Council, Interim Religious Education Director, Confirmation and Catechist for over twenty years with a focus on serving youth. Her education and prior corporate experience were in the financial market as a licensed Director of Client Services for a major brokerage firm. After many years, she returns to the workforce to support the school and parents.
Mrs. Hutchinson is retired Associate Professor of Wellness from the Community College of Baltimore County. She taught Health and Physical Education course, advised Physical Education majors and coached the volleyball and lacrosse teams with a high degree of success. Mrs. Hutchinson finished her career as the Department Chair of Wellness for CCBC. She retired from coaching at the college and coached her children’s teams through youth (soccer, basketball, lacrosse) and high school (volleyball, basketball, lacrosse). She looks forward to continuing coaching with her grandchildren and at Chesterton Academy of Annapolis.
Kelly graduated from Immaculate Heart Academy for High School and Gettysburg College with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Psychology. She earned a Master's of Arts degree in Counseling & Guidance and completed doctoral coursework in Educational Administration. Kelly brings to Chesterton her previous school experiences in Admissions/Marketing, Student Services, and Career Counseling.
Mrs. Daily graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and the University of Phoenix with a Masters of Business Administration. She comes to the Chesterton Academy of Annapolis after a 35-year career in Information Technology, Quality/Process Improvement and Program management followed by an unsuccessful attempt at early retirement. She is an active member of her Catholic faith community, teaching 1st grade religious education for over a decade and is the administrator for her parish's perpetual adoration oratory. She and her husband, Tom, have two young adult sons.