St. Joseph Catholic School
Our Mission
Our mission is to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, which will prepare us for outstanding achievements in all aspects of life. Our education will enable us to realize spiritual, intellectual, moral, and social growth in a safe, disciplined, family-oriented environment.
Virtue Academic Excellence Discipleship
Our Purpose
- To assist parent(s)/guardian(s) in fulfilling their role as primary educators of their children;
- To nurture sound relationships between home and school;
- To recognize and respect the dignity of each individual;
- To provide academic programs that will promote continuous student growth in building competence in critical analysis, inquiry, problem solving, and creative thinking that will prepare them for the future;
- To teach moral and spiritual values in order to instill a spirit of service to Christ and His Church at school, in the parish, and in the community;
- To provide experiences which develop leadership, initiative, dependability, and self-discipline;
- To develop technological proficiency and awareness of global and environmental concerns;
- To introduce students to the Fine Arts and to provide opportunities for creative activities that will inspire an appreciation for the good, the true, and the beautiful in God’s world;
- To create a nurturing school community that fosters the development of a positive self-image and independent learners with appropriate social interactions.
Our Accreditations
Fully accredited by the NCA Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, the Northwest Accreditation Commission, and the SACS Commission on Accreditation and School Development (Cognia)
Fully accredited with the Diocese of Charleston
A current member in good standing of the NCEA – National Catholic Educational Association
Recipient of the Outstanding Board Award from the Department of Boards and Councils of Catholic Education of the National Catholic Educational Association – 2015
Our Faculty & Staff 2023-2024
Haymée Giuliani
Position: Principal
Education: MA Principal in Catholic Education; Teaching Certification in Spanish; CPA; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2004, 2017 – Principal
Favorite Quote: “Holiness consist simply in doing God’s will and being just what God wants us to be.” – St. Thèrése of Lisieux
Diana Cantú
Position: Accounting
Education: BS Law; MS Corporate Law; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2020
Favorite Quote: “The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness, sends to us day after day.” – St. Gianna Molla
Holiness consists simply in doing God’s will, and being just what God wants us to be. – St. Thèrése de Lisieux
Email: diana.cantu@sjccs.net
Kathy Massey
Position: Marketing/Administration
Education: BS Fashion Merchandising and Apparel Design; MBA; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2021
Favorite Quote: “The time is always right to do the right thing.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Email: kathy.massey@sjccs.net
Elizabeth Hogg
Position: 4K Lead Teacher
Education: BA in French; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2019
Favorite Quote: “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” – Maya Angelou
Email: elizabeth.hogg@sjccs.net
Melanie McAbee
Position: 4K Instructional Assistant
Education: Pursuing Elementary Education; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2023
Favorite Quote: “The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace.” – St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Email: melanie.mcabee@sjccs.net
Dawn Owens
Position: 4K Lead Teacher
Education: BS Sociology; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2020
Favorite Quote: “A person’s a person no matter how small.” – Dr. Seuss
Email: dawn.owens@sjccs.net
Brenda Gutierrez
Position: 4K Instructional Assistant
Education: Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2023
Favorite Quote: “True happiness is achieved by resting upon the Lord.” – Fritz Chery
Email: brenda.gutierrez@sjccs.net
Elisabeth Googins
Position: Kindergarten
Education: BA Elementary Education; Certified in Early Childhood Education; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2022
Favorite Quote: “Love the child first, then teach them.” – St. Mother Theodore Guerin
Email: elisabeth.googins@sjccs.net
Haley Vatakis
Position: 1st Grade
Education: BA Early Childhood Education; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2020
Favorite Quote: Don’t lose heart. I will never forsake you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to Heaven. – Our Lady of Fatima to Sister Lucia
Email: haley.vatakis@sjccs.net
Abby Smith
Position: 2nd Grade
Education: BA Physical Education K-12; MA Early Childhood Education; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2017
Favorite Quote: “I will be accountable to God for this: What did I do with all of those kids he gave me? How did I build his kingdom?” – Dabo Swinney
Email: abby.smith@sjccs.net
Kelsey Mitchell
Position: 3rd Grade
Education: BA Elementary Education; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2021
Favorite Quote: “There is no Saint without a past, no sinner without a future.” – St. Augustine
Email: kelsey.mitchell@sjccs.net
Kristin Pulido
Position: 4th & 5th Grade
Education: BA Elementary Education; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2023
Favorite Quote: “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” – Albert Einstein
Email: kristin.pulido@sjccs.net
Savanna Keefe
Position: 6th & 7th Grade
Education: BA Individualized Studies in History and Geography, Minor in Educational Studies; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2022
Favorite Quote: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” – Padre Pio
Email: savanna.keefe@sjccs.net
Liz Martin
Position: Art
Education: BS Education; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2020
Favorite Quote: “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” – Saint Teresa of Calcutta
Email: liz.martin@sjccs.net
Jerrad Fenske
Position: Children’s Choir
Education: BA in Church Music, MM in Music, MA in Liturgical Music and Doctoral work in Vocal Performance; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2020
Favorite Quote: “You have been assigned this mountain to show others it can be moved.” – Anonymous
Email: jerrad.fenske@sjccs.net
Anna Boyd
Position: Music & PE
Education: BA Music Performance; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2023
Favorite Quote: “He who signs prays twice.” – St. Augustine
Email: anna.boyd@sjccs.net
Maria Finet
Position: K4 – 3rd Grade Spanish
Education: BS Hospitality Management; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2023
Favorite Quote: “The time is always right to do the right thing.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Email: maria.finet@sjccs.net
Luz Fernandez
Position: Interventionist; Spanish 4th – 7th Grade; Hispanic Family Connections
Education: BS Industrial Engineering; MBA; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2022
Favorite Quote: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11
Email: lucy.fernandez@sjccs.net
Timberlie Madden
Position: STREAM; Teacher Aide; Extended Care
Education: BS Elementary Education; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2020
Favorite Quote: Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. – Colossians 3:2
Email: timberlie.madden@sjccs.net
Samantha Schmidt
Position: Speech Therapist
Education: BS Middle Level Education; MS Speech-Language Pathology; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2022
Favorite Quote: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight you paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
Email: samantha.schmidt@sjccs.net
Maria Cartee
Position: Behavioral Interventionist
Education: BS Psychology and Religion; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2023
Favorite Quote: “Love like there’s no tomorrow, and if tomorrow comes, love again.” – Max Lucado
Email: maria.cartee@sjccs.net
Heather Thompson
Position: Intervention
Education: BS Psychology; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2023
Favorite Quote: “In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.” – Phil Collins
Email: heather.thompson@sjccs.net
Twila Madden
Position: Extended Care
Education: Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2020
Favorite Quote: “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” – Genesis 50:20
Kerin Buckner
Position: Extended Care & Office
Education: BA History; Certified in CPR
Began at St. Joseph: 2023
Favorite Quote: “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – Christopher Robin
Email: kerin.buckner@sjccs.net