Mr. Layne Scholl is very excited about teaching science and math this Fall at Saint Theresa Catholic School. He grew up in Indiana and completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at Indiana University, where he earned a B.S. in Geology and a M.A. in Geophysics. After graduating, Mr. Scholl worked in the oil industry for Chevron where he lived in Denver, Calgary, New Orleans, and finally ended up in Houston/Katy, where he has lived for the past 32 years. He is married with three children.

Mr. Scholl discovered a love for teaching while tutoring his fellow dormmates in mathematics. His confrères would often ask him, “Why didn’t the professor explain it like this?” Mr. Scholl tries to explain concepts in various ways so students with different learning styles can understand the core principles. His goal is for the students to understand not only the concepts, but why and how we use them in real-world scenarios. He has taught geology and math at the college level by teaching math and geology at the college level for Lone Star, Houston Community College, and Blinn College.

Mr. Scholl was drawn to Saint Theresa’s faith-based, classical program. He feels that Saint Theresa’s provides an outstanding foundation both spiritually and academically for all students. He believes that by combining both intellectual curiosity and faith, students will benefit both now and throughout their lifetime.

I was born and raised in Mexico City. In my youth, I attended the same Catholic, liberal arts school for 12 years.

From the time I was a child, I was fascinated by science. I received a chemistry set one Christmas and immediately set up a laboratory in my house where I would spend hours running experiments; it was then that I knew I had to become a scientist. I continued my science education, and graduated with honors from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) as a Food Chemist and was then granted a scholarship from the University of Guelph in Canada to pursue a Master’s in Food Science. I returned to Mexico and got married following my studies in Canada. After a couple of years working for a major research institute, I returned to UNAM in pursuit of my doctoral degree, researching emulsions with caseinates, a milk protein. My work helped solve a problem that was facing the food industry. Studying from home as a young mother, I completed a certificate in Nutrition and Advanced dietetics through the Universidad Miguel de Cervantes.

I moved to Houston with my family in 2013 and began volunteering at my local parish. It was then that I decided to obtain my Texas teacher certification and I worked for Houston ISD for two years.

I feel blessed to have the opportunity to share my passion for learning and science with the students of Saint Theresa Catholic School.

I earned a master’s degree from the University of the Incarnate Word in Business Administration and Sports Management. Prior to that, I completed my undergraduate studies in Business Administration and Marketing at Texas Lutheran University, where I also played collegiate football. I grew up in Austin, Texas with six brothers and sisters. With both of my parents hailing from Nigeria, my siblings and I were the first generation of my family to be born in the United States.

My wife, Odochi, and I both enjoy working out and spending time with family. In my youth, I not only participated in but excelled at football, basketball, track and field, and powerlifting, and have extensive experience coaching students in football, track and field, volleyball, soccer, kickball, swimming, ultimate Frisbee, and basketball. I entered the field of Education after college, and have worked in different school districts in teaching or tutoring positions. I have a heart for service, and have dedicated many hours to various non-profit organizations such as The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Austin, YMCA, and Extend-a-Care for Kids.

I’m eager to take up my new duties as Athletic Coordinator at STCS, because I’ve always been passionate about combining sports and education to enhance not only the students’ athletic ability and knowledge, but also their academic ability in the classroom.

Born a long time ago in Jackson, Michigan, I grew up merrily in the company of my siblings. The first 16 years of my education were in Catholic schools!

I began my formal education first at my home parish, Saint Mary, Star of the Sea. Later I earned my Bachelor’s of Arts with an Elementary Education minor at Mary Manse College, a liberal arts college with an honored tradition of excellence under the Ursuline nuns.

During my first 11 years in the classroom, I taught seventh and eighth grade students in several parish schools in the Diocese of Toledo, Ohio. I next found myself at Notre Dame Academy, an all-girls college prep; during my decade there, I taught Honors English, Latin I-AP IV, Chorus, and Theology.

Intervening years found me studying Latin (MA from the University of Georgia), Medieval Studies (MA from the University of Toronto) and, most recently, History (PhD from the University of Toledo). I have served as chief administrator of K-8 schools on two occasions but much prefer classroom teaching! I have also taught college courses at several community colleges as well as at the University of Georgia, Hillsdale College and the University of Toledo.

The classroom is the place to be! Each year, I declare “This is the best year yet!” Perhaps I say that only because each current year is immediate, but I dare to think that the years of experience I bring to my teaching have seasoned me. In any case, I am proudest not of what I teach or where I teach. Rather, I derive vicarious pleasure from learning of the successes of my former students; among them I can now count a priest, a number of teachers (including Deanna, who teaches Latin at a Jesuit high school!), two medical doctors, several military veterans, and scores of genuinely good Catholic moms and dads. Of them I claim Saint Paul’s quotation, “You are my letter of recommendation.”

I make my home on The Hill, that storied initial Imperial Sugar community right here in the neighborhood of our school. I serve as volunteer docent for the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation and, in that capacity, sometimes guide tour groups through the neighborhood, pointing out architectural features while regaling my group with anecdotes from yesteryear. Since I live within walking distance of Constellation Field, I enjoy watching the Sugar Land Skeeters play home games. A couple of years ago I gave up my car and instead have procured a quite snazzy yellow bike. I’ve outfitted it with panniers, perfect receptacles for my Farmers’ Market purchases. I also try to coax my home garden into producing vegetables and flowers, the former to enrich my plate, the latter to grace my table. I share my tiny house (a 350-square-foot garage loft) with my boon companion, a charming rescue kitty who answers to the name “Pippa Anne” (and to the sound of food being poured into her bowl!). Life is indeed sweet in Sugar Land.

The current school year holds lots of promise: eager students, dedicated colleagues, supportive parents. How blessed am I to be here at Saint Theresa Catholic School!

I am delighted to begin my second year at Saint Theresa Catholic School. My name is Mrs. Sosa, but everyone calls me Señora Sosa. I was born in the north of Mexico to a large family of ten. From a very early age, I wanted to become a teacher due to the fact that my family had a great love for education. Therefore, at the young age of 20, I graduated as an elementary teacher. From then on, I mostly worked with first through fifth graders until I married and decided to be a stay at home mom to my six children whom all studied at Saint Augustine Catholic School.

During this ten-year hiatus, I used my skills as a teacher to serve at my parish Saint Francis Cabrini in Houston as a volunteer catechist for grades kindergarten through fourth grade. It was at Saint Augustine, however, where I returned to full time education in spending a year as a teacher aid to Pre-K3 and then as a Spanish teacher to Pre-K through eighth grade for nine years. Throughout these years, my three daughters all attended and graduated from Incarnate Word Academy in Downtown Houston. Simultaneously, my three boys have all attended Saint Thomas High School. My husband and I truly believe that Catholic education and its foundation led to my children to pursue high dreams and attend colleges such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Georgetown University, Columbia University, University of Texas at Austin, Baylor University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

As for me, I am pursuing my second degree in the Bachelor’s of Science with an emphasis in Education from Grand Canyon University. In actuality, I can say it’s a great honor for me to bring my experience into the classroom, teaching Spanish at Saint Theresa’s to our middle school students. It is my purpose that my students feel comfortable learning Spanish in a positive environment that Saint Theresa Catholic School offers. Students will practice actively in activities that will encourage collaboration and improve language retention. These activities include games, songs, oral presentations and online homework. This year, I plan to incorporate the Catholic faith in my lesson plans with the learning of our prayers and the life of saints in Spanish.

I believe my academic and athletic education, together with a solid Catholic upbringing, has helped me develop a stronger connection to God. My background in athletics started out at Lansing Catholic Central in Michigan where I varsity lettered in baseball and football. At Saint Mary’s College Orchard Lake, I had the opportunity to play college baseball. When Saint Mary’s consolidated with Ave Maria University in Florida, I transferred to Olivet College to finish out my college baseball career and complete my Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education, Health and Sports Recreation with a minor in Speech Education.I started working with the YMCA youth programs. For three years, I coached baseball, basketball and soccer. I was also a pitching coach at the Lansing Hitting Club, a private baseball academy.

I believe that academics should always be the top priority in a child’s education, but I also believe that without athletics students cannot be truly well-rounded. As an educator, my goal has been to encourage athletic activity–whether it be baseball, basketball, soccer, football or tennis. I am eager to begin to develop Saint Theresa’s sports and physical education program because, through physical education, I hope to instill habits of athletic activity and fitness in your sons and daughters. I wish to help Saint Theresa’s students grow into well-rounded individuals—healthy in mind, body and spirit.