Kindergarten: Miss Anna Pinto

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Miss Pinto brings a wealth of experience to our school.  She has been educating children and shaping young lives since 1975.  Miss Pinto received her BA in Elementary education from Emmanuel College and her MA in Education from Central Connecticut State University. She is a member of the NCEA. In her spare time, Miss Pinto volunteers as a Eucharistic Minister at Assumption Parish in Manchester.   

Grade One: Mrs. Elizabeth Lugo

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Ms. Lugo has been in the Catholic School setting for 13 years. She began her teaching career at St. Gabriel School in Windsor CT where she was the Fourth Grade Teacher for 6 yars, and a Paraprofessional for 2 years before joining the faculty at Pope John Paul II School. At PJPII, she has served as the Kindergarten/First Grade Aide since 2007. She earned her BS and MS from Western New England College in Springfield, MA. She is currently pursuing an additional Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Western New England University. In 2005/2006, Ms. Lugo became an honored member of "Who's Who Among American Teachers" and in 2001 was nominated for Disney's Teacher of the Year.

Grade Two: Mrs. Deborah Dombroski

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Mrs. Dombroski has taught second grade at Pope John Paul II since 1998. She is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University, receiving her BS in elementary education as well as her MS in education.  She has taught in Plainville as well as the City of Bristol.  Mrs. Dombroski is a member of the NCEA and has served on the accreditation committee at Pope John Paul II.  She has also served as a co-advisor to the Student Council and as a Math coordinator at the primary level. Mrs. Dombroski prepares the second grade students to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion each May.

Grade Three: Miss April Stich

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Miss Stich has been on the faculty for over 18 years.  She has served as coordinator of the Science program for the primary as well as the middle school classes, and frequently volunteers her time after school. Miss  Stich runs the Science Club and holds a weekly knitting club as well.  She has also been instrumental in designing and sharing information with other educators. She has led professional in-service sessions and served on the Archdiocesan Science Curriculum committee. Miss Stich graduated with a BS in Elementary education from the University of Connecticut and earned her MS in Elementary education from Central Connecticut State. She has previously taught grades 4 through 8, as well as 5th Grade Science and 8th Grade Algebra.

Grade Four: Mrs. Eileen Ericson

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Mrs. Ericson comes to Pope John Paul II with her BA degree in English from Mercy College and her MA degree in Education as a Reading Specialist from Manhattan College in New York.  A native New Yorker, Mrs. Ericson brings a great deal of talent and experience to the school. She has taught here for 13 years, and has a total of 26 years experience as a Catholic School educator. She holds permanent teaching certification in the States of CT (N - 8) and NY (N - 6), and is a member of the NCEA. Currently, she is the coordinator of our Six Flags Reading Program, and the co-chairperson of the Campbell's Labels for Education program. 

Grade Five: Mrs. Janet Cunningham

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Mrs. Cunningham has almost 29 years of teaching experience, including 2 years in Biddeford, ME Public Schools, 1 year in the New Britain Public Schools and 22 years at St. Joseph School in New Britain. This year marks her 26th year as a teacher for the Archdiocese of Hartford. She received her BS in Elementary Education, her BS in Early Childhood Education and her MS in Special Education from Central Connecticut State University. She holds a Connecticut Professional Teaching Certificate, and is also Certified in Maine. In 2005/2006, Mrs. Cunningham became an honored member of "Who's Who Among American Teachers". She currently runs a Math tutorial program, and is Co-chairperson of the Campbell's Labels for Education program.

Grade 6: Mr Jacob Probst

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Mr. Probst comes to Pope John Paul II after previously working at an insurance company in Hartford for the past four years. Prior to that he taught for two years in Missouri. He earned his B.A. from Graceland University and has since taken courses at Central Connecticut State University and Manchester Community College. After moving to Connecticut he got married and currently lives with his wife Kara in Ellington. Mr. Probst feels truly blessed to be a teacher at our school.

Grade 7: Mrs. Kathleen Welch

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Mrs. Welch attended McGill University in Montreal, Quebec Canada and received her BGS from the University of Connecticut.  She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Religious Studies at Sacred Heart University. She previously taught Fine Arts at Pope John Paul II, and coordinated the library program as well. She also coordinates the Scholastic Book Fairs and the annual KidsArt Fair, and is the faculty advisor for both the Book Club and the Kitchen Club.   We are truly blessed to have Mrs. Welch here at school.

Music Education: Mrs. Lorraine Ringwood

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Mrs. Ringwood has been teaching music for over 30 years.  She received her BS in Music education from Danbury State College.  Mrs. Ringwood conducts the school choir for First Friday Masses, and leads the Pope John Paul II holiday concerts and the Annual Christmas pageant and Spring concert. She and Miss Stich coordinate the annual PJP2 talent show.

Foreign Language: Mr. Efrain Ortiz

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Mr. Ortiz, has taught all levels of Spanish to both native speakers and second language learners both in his native Puerto Rico and in school districts throughout Connecticut, where he moved in 2000. He has served as a Program Supervisor for the City of Hartford, has taught at the Middle and High School levels in East Hartford, New Britain Wethersfield CT and Springfield MA Public Schools, and most recently served as Program Coordinator at the Early Learning Center at CCSU. He earned his BS in Education at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. His hobbies include jogging and basketball, and he enjoys spending time with his son and two daughters. He feels blessed to return as a full time member of the Pope John Paul II faculty!

Art: Mrs. Laura Johnston

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Mrs. Johnston has been an art teacher for 15 years.  She was the elementary art teacher at Black Rock School in Thomaston for most of that time until budget cuts sent her searching for a new adventure.  She attended SCSU in New Haven for her degrees.  She is the mother of two beautiful, talented…almost perfect children.  A girl, Sydney, age 9…and a boy, Grady…age 13.  Syd is a gymnast and an artist.  Grady is a race car driver and a football player.  Mrs. Johnston has done two extended substitute positions in art for middle school and high school.  She thinks the art room is the happiest place in the whole school and knows how lucky she is to teach the MOST AWESOME SUBJECT!  She is looking forward to an exciting, “artful” year at PJPII. 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Kristen Rinas

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Kristen Rinas graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University with a BS degree in Health and Physical Education. She currently teaches PE at St. Matthew Catholic School in Bristol and last year taught at Immanuel Lutheran, also in Bristol. As well as teaching physical education, Kristen also is employed at Healthtrax Fitness and Wellness Center in Bristol in children's programs and fitness. She is currently working towards her Master's in Special Education at Central Connecticut State University.

Pre-K 3

Mrs. Natalie Klimkiewicz

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Mrs. Klimkiewicz has been a preschool teacher for 10 years welcoming our youngest students to our school...the 2 and three year old angels. She also greets our early bird children in the before-school program. A lifelong parishioner of Holy Cross Church, Mrs. Klimkiewicz serves as Eucharistic Minister, Lay Minister for youth, and Religious Education (CCD) teacher for many grades including the Sacraments of First Holy Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation. This fall, she has been accepted to the the Religious studies program at St. Joseph College in West Hartford.

Pre-K 4

Mrs. Robin Skoglund

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Mrs. Skoglund loves to see the smiling faces of young children eager to learn.  She is a devoted teacher who has much experience helping children grow.  She has worked in both Catholic and public schools, teaching grades Pre-K through fifth, mostly in Meriden.  Mrs. Skoglund is a certified teacher, with a Masters degree in elementary education from Southern Connecticut State University.  She previously earned a degree from Colorado State University and worked as a social worker, then opened a day care business when her family started growing.  She lives in Meriden with her husband and four children.  Mrs. Skoglund is very excited to be joining Pope John Paul II.  

Pre-K 4

Mrs. Martina Haynes-Esnard

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Mrs. Esnard is also assigned to the four year old program.  She comes to us with an extensive amount of experience teaching four year olds.  She is a native of St. Lucia in the Caribbean, having received her training at Teacher’s College, and Brooklyn College.  Mrs. Esnard also coordinates the technology program in the primary grades.