Without God There is Nothing
Saint PhilomenaCatholic High School Tutorial
Faculty Bios
Reverend Matthew T. Buening – Pastor; St. Paul’s Church – Ellicott City, Md.
Religious Education and Theatre
Fr. Matt and his parishioners at St. Paul’s Church have been welcoming hosts for the St. Philomena Catholic Cooperative, pre-k through middle school program, for the past year. As the idea of expanding our program to include a high school tutorial took root, Fr. Matt, once again, proved himself to be a dedicated supporter of home schooling efforts and the formation we seek for our children. He has agreed to oversee and teach, assisted by Meghan Hackett, any and all Apologetics, Church History, and other high school religion programs, Having been “bit” by the theatre bug while in Seminary, Fr. Matt also wishes to participate in an after school theatre program. St. Philomena Catholic High School Tutorial is thrilled to have his support, expertise and direction.
Meghan Hackett - Founder, Administrator, Religious Education Assistant and Theatre
Meghan’s background, B.C. (before children), includes 12 years of critical care nursing experience, and 5 years experience as a medico-legal consultant specializing in Risk and Claims Management and Malpractice Litigation Administration. She is a published author in her specialty, served as president of her professional organization, on hospital bioethics committees and also guest lectured at the Catholic University of America on Legal Aspects of Healthcare. In addition to her degree in Nursing, Meghan received a B.S. majoring in Hospital Administration form St. John’s University, N.Y. After children, Meghan’s focus completely shifted and her endeavors centered on her children’s formation. Meghan obtained certification as a Music Together Teacher and in The Montessori Method 3-6 Atrium. When her eldest entered school, Meghan’s attraction to teaching intensified. She taught the primary grades as well as the 4th and 6th grade classes at her daughter’s school and became an Archdiocesan Certified Catechist of Religious Education. Since following an internal call, 6 years ago, to home school her children, Meghan’s credits include, being a Musical Director for HST (Home School Talent) Cultural Arts theatre school. She also teaches Montessori Atrium - Catechesis of The Good Shepherd Programs and founded the St. Philomena Catholic Cooperative, now in its 4th year. Meghan is happy to see the development of the St. Philomena Catholic High School Tutorial. She looks forward to establishing it’s smooth running and assisting Fr. Matt in Religious Education.
Charlotte Skogsholm - Math and Science
Charlotte is a Catholic home schooler of 14 years. She holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois and has worked on embedded control systems for aerospace, light rail and locomotives. After following her call to home school her 4 children, Mrs. Skogsholm worked teaching Math at St. Peter The Rock High School Tutorial. She loves to help students reach their potential in all levels of Math and Science, particularly Chemistry and Physics. Her hobbies include Norwegian cooking and she has enjoyed teaching high school cooking classes as well.
Michelle Healy - Foreign Language
A Catholic home schooling mother of 3, Michelle holds a B.A. majoring in Russian Language and Culture, including 3 months studying abroad in Russia. She minored in Spanish and holds an M.A. in Education. Mrs. Healy’s teaching experience includes middle school – teaching special needs students. She has also taught high school Spanish I, II and III. as well as Russian and has some experience teaching Latin. She enjoys history and classical literature. Michelle is confident teaching any foreign language and looks forward to teaching at the high school level once again.
Cornelia Hart - English Literature, Composition, History
Cornelia has been teaching in the homeschooling community for over fifteen years. Mrs. Hart educated her own four children through high school, while teaching Shakespearian Literature, British Literature, Writing and History for the interdenominational Cedar Brook Academy as well as several TORCH-related groups. In 2007, she founded her own tutoring academy, also under the patronage of St. Philomena. Cornelia is an honors graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London where she was awarded the coveted Forbes-Robertson Prize for her work in Shakespeare and the Hardwick Award for her work in the dramatic literature of George Bernard Shaw. Currently, Mrs. Hart is Artistic Co-Director of HST Cultural Arts in Rockville, Maryland and Director of that organization’s Shakespeare Performing Arts Troupe. Mrs. Hart looks forward to bringing her love of history, literature, writing and the Catholic faith to St. Philomena Tutorial’s high school students
Alan Hart - Music, Chorus, Instruments
Alan Hart holds a B.A. (cum laude) from Tufts University and a M.A. in Music Education from The Boston Conservatory of Music with juries in piano and tuba. Mr. Hart is an accomplished musician, composer and music director, who has educated children and young people in music for over thirty years. Mr. Hart has taught secondary and elementary chorus, general music, low brass and band in the public school systems of Boston, Norwood and Gloucester, Massachusetts and Montgomery County Maryland. In addition to performing for several well-known groups in the Washington, DC area, he has served as an instructor and Music Director for Round House Theatre’s Teen Institute, Rockville Jewish Community Center’s musical theatre program, the Academy of the Holy Cross, and Cedar Brook Academy. Mr. Hart is currently teaching musicale theatre at Bethesda’s Imagination Stage, and is the Music Director and musical theatre instructor for Black Rock Center for the arts in Germantown, Maryland. He is the Composer-in-Residence for St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church in Silver Spring.
Jennifer Schuberth - Math, English Grammar
Mrs. Schuberth is a graduate of Illinois State University and is a certified elementary school teacher with experience teaching 2nd, 3rd and 5th grades. After starting her family of six children, Mrs. Schuberth followed the call to home school and has done so for the past 15 years. During that time, Jennifer has enjoyed tutoring students in mathematics, reading, english, and preparing them for the HSPT (High School Placement Test). Mrs. Schuberth also offered a Language Arts Club at her home for many years. She is extremely active in her parish, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, in Ellicott City where she has taught Confirmation classes for 17 years. She is also very involved in their youth ministry programs and activities including youth conferences and retreats. Jennifer loves teaching and loves children. She looks forward to sharing her experience teaching teens at St. Philomena Catholic High School Tutorial.
Debra Paper - Art
Debra Paper holds a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Maryland, where she was placed in charge of all of the Art Department’s juried shows. Her experience teaching art includes tenures at Churchill High School and Farquhar Middle School, both in Montgomery County. For the past 10 years, Mrs. Paper has enjoyed home schooling her 3 children. She loves Impressionism, painting and mixed media. Currently, Mrs. Paper enjoys running Sycamore Creek Art Studio, in her home, and looks forward to the opportunity of developing an art program at Saint Philomena Catholic High School Tutorial.
Mia Coyne – Gregorian Chant
Mia Coyne holds an MA in Music from The Catholic University of America in DC, where she studied with Dr. Marier, the legendary Master of Gregorian chant. Her musical credits include 10 years serving as the organist at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Ellicott City, where she was also involved in the music ministry in various ways. She has taught music for over 20 years – specializing in teaching and leading Gregorian Chant Scholas for both parish and home schooling groups. Mrs. Coyne looks forward to bringing the beauty of Gregorian Chant to St. Philomena High School Tutorial.
Yvette Ridenour – Creative Writing
Mrs. Ridenour attended the University of Maryland, where she majored in English. She went on to receive her Master’s degree in Writing from Johns Hopkins University. She worked as a scriptwriter for CBS Radio, as writer/editor of news publications and has been a full-time freelance writer since 1992. Mrs. Ridenour has also taught writing classes at Howard Community College, the Florence Bain Center, and at various writing workshops. She happily uses her vocation in writing to help others explore their spirituality, leading classes and retreats on writing and journaling to inspire participants to identify their own spiritual gifts. She is the mother of three who has enjoyed homeschooling for the past seven years