Mrs. Esther Augustine is thrilled to start teaching at St. Theresa’s Catholic School in Sugar Land. She is a native of Southeast Texas and grew up in Huntsville.

Mrs. Augustine completed her undergraduate studies at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, where she earned a B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in Theology. Mrs. Augustine lived in Washington, D.C. for eight years, and while there, completed a master’s degree in Philosophy in 2016 at the Catholic University of America. She is currently working on her doctoral dissertation and teaching introductory philosophy classes to college freshman.

Mrs. Augustine and her husband decided that they would begin married life in the Houston area so as to be close to family. Mrs. Augustine has developed a profound appreciation and great love for grammar and logic, has experience teaching Latin, and has some thoughts about Plotinus’ influence on Saint Augustine of Hippo.

She is impressed with St. Theresa’s commitment to both the integration of faith and reason, and to Classical education. She is looking forward to being a part of an academic team that works to inspire a sense of wonder in students. She is eager for the start of the upcoming school year at St. Theresa’s, and especially helping Grade 7 students grow in faith and wisdom!

 

 

 

 

 

Originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, I moved to Houston nearly eight years ago.  I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Sam Houston State University.  With over fifteen years of musical experience, I love to share this passion with my students.  I have even introduced very young students to the violin.

I previously taught First Grade for one year and Kindergarten for five years at Saint Augustine Catholic School.  While at Saint Augustine, I grew to love working with the students.  I am thrilled about the opportunity to share my joy of learning with the Grade 2 students here at Saint Theresa Catholic School!

I look forward to being a part of the classical learning that characterizes the program here at STCS, and hope to encourage the children to learn all that they can.  Already during my short time at Saint Theresa, I have enjoyed the various methods used to incorporate faith into everyday teaching, and I hope to continue helping our students learn and grow.

Mrs. Elizabeth Nguyen grew up in Wichita, Kansas. She is thankful for the Catholic education she received throughout her life, first at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School and later at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School. Mrs. Nguyen attended college first at the University of Kansas and then later at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, taking her degree as an English major with an emphasis on technical writing.

A veteran educator, Mrs. Nguyen taught all her own children on a classical model, and instructed students in Biblical Greek and religion at Providence Academy, a small, independent, classical institution in Wisconsin. Mrs. Nguyen graduated magna cum laude in 2012 with a master’s degree in Theological Studies from the Institute for Pastoral Theology (IPT) through Ave Maria University. Following her graduate studies, Mrs. Nguyen was a full-time 2nd Grade teacher.

Mrs Nguyen served as the Communication Specialist for the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) as well as the Director of Laity, Family, and Life in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Most recently, she has advanced the work of the St. John Paul II Institute as Program Coordinator and Business Development Support for the Together in Holiness Formation series.

Mrs. Nguyen is thrilled to be teaching 5th Grade at St. Theresa Catholic School and is excited to share her love of learning with her students. She is inspired by Christ the Teacher as the center of history and the source and summit of all knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.

 

I grew up in Karachi, Pakistan, and learned about God and the Christian faith through the fine teaching of the Dominican Sisters at the Monastery of Angels. I have found myself deeply committed to what I learned there and to the teachings of the Church.

Following that, I was blessed to benefit from 10 years of Catholic education at St. Joseph’s Convent High School, followed by four years of College at St. Joseph’s College for Women. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Karachi, Pakistan in 2001.

I married my husband, Cedric, in 2007 at Saint Theresa Catholic Church. In 2013, we were blessed with our daughter, Brianna. Brianna was baptized at Saint Theresa Church, and we are delighted that she will be a part of the Classical education here at STCS.

I am very excited to be on the STCS teaching faculty. My mission here is to follow Jesus as our role model and sharing the message of the gospel in a nurturing, motivating, and challenging Catholic academic environment. One of my favorite scripture passages is Matthew 28:19: “Go and make disciples of all nations.”

I graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a minor in Philosophy. As a part of my studies, I completed the full sequence of courses required for a Mathematics major. While studying at A&M, I spent the majority of my free time involved at the local Catholic parish, St. Mary’s, delving into spirituality and participating in exciting discussions about theology. The dual nature of my studies and my love for Catholic intellectualism led me towards Classical education and the promotion of it.

Southwest Houston has been my for the past 13 years. I graduated just down the road from Holy Rosary Catholic School in Rosenberg. I am also a graduate of Strake Jesuit here in Houston. Although the terrain may be similar, I am excited to discover the unique culture of Saint Theresa Catholic School. I have thus far only had incredible experiences here and I’m hoping to be an integral part of the wonderful academic family that is STCS.

I, along with my twelve brothers and sisters, were reared on an idyllic farm in Ontario where we were taught self-discipline and the art of caring for others.  My post-secondary studies were likewise conducted in Canada, culminating with my doctoral research into medieval Latin and and Church history.  During summer breaks, I enjoyed working with people with special needs and planting trees in the forests of Northern Canada.  I also served as a Latin instructor at St. Philip’s Seminary in Toronto where I taught many future priests.

I was awarded a Ph.D. by the University of Toronto in 2018, after which I joined the faculty at Saint Theresa Catholic School.  I am much impressed by the curriculum this school offers and know from personal experience the value of a classical education.

 

Marisa Giandinoto graduated from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology. During her undergraduate studies, she created and led a faith-based household on campus, taught Latin to elementary-level students, and volunteered as a team leader for the High School Faith Formation Program at St. Theresa Catholic Church. She graduated summa cum laude and was recognized as the Outstanding Theology Student for her year.

Prior to her undergraduate studies in Houston, Ms. Giandinoto lived in several different states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Missouri. She was raised in the Catholic faith and was homeschooled along with her three younger brothers. After graduating from the University of St. Thomas, she spent one year serving in the Pacific Alliance for Catholic Education Program (PACE). During this time, she took graduate-level courses in Education and taught Fourth Grade at St. Patrick Catholic School in Washington state.

In the classroom, Ms. Giandinoto aims to build a strong, Christ-centered community and she hopes to generate a deep sense of wonder within her students. As a Catholic educator, she feels that it is her duty and vocation to form young students into great leaders and saints who radiate Christ’s courage and truth, and who exemplify the Blessed Mother’s compassion and generosity. She is looking forward to teaching at Saint Theresa Catholic School and is grateful for the opportunity to provide students with an education that helps them to understand the meaning of man’s journey on this earth and that prepares them to become the best versions of themselves.

 

I grew up in Huntington Beach, California, and I have been connected to Catholic education all of my life. To begin with, I attended Saint Bonaventure School as a child, and then I returned there to teach second grade for 22 years. I also attended Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California where I was actively involved in choir and campus ministry. After that, I attended the University of San Francisco where I received a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. While I was there, I also completed a Catholic liberal arts program at the Saint Ignatius Institute. In 2010, I became adventurous and moved to Sugar Land where I have continued to teach Catholic education at Saint Theresa Catholic School.

I completed a multiple subjects credential at California State University, Long Beach. A few years later, I also earned a master’s degree in reading education and obtained a reading specialist credential from California State University, Fullerton. In California, I used my training as a reading specialist to teach an after-school reading club for many years. At Saint Theresa’s, I continue to work after school supporting children in their learning.

I have always been active in the Church at the parish level. In the past, I played guitar in my church choir, and I was active in youth and young adult ministries. I have participated in years of bible studies at Saint Vincent de Paul in California, and I earned my masters certification at the Orange Catechetical Institute in the Diocese of Orange. At Saint Peter Chanel in Hawaiian Gardens, California, I participated in the spiritual exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and took many spirituality classes to increase my prayer life.  Currently, I am a catechist at Saint Theresa’s for the children’s RCIA in both the Inquiry (Pre-catechumenate) and the Catechumenate. In addition, I am a catechist for sacrament sunday preparing children for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.

My favorite thing about being involved in my parish is helping bring the sacraments to the children with whom I work. I am moved and encouraged to see that our classical education, both through its modeling and its religious curriculum, is producing students who deeply love Jesus both in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I am very blessed to be a faculty member and teach second grade at Saint Theresa’s.