mpore@stmschool.org

Mrs. Pore is the new computer teacher for PreK to 8th grade. She is thrilled to be on such an exciting campus and can’t wait to assist students and faculty with their technology needs and dreams! Her specialization includes curriculum integration and design and software training. She is a former computer science teacher and network administrator, as well as a math teacher and coach. She has been an educator for over 10 years in both public and private schools and has recently moved from Texas. Melissa is also a proud mother of two, Courtney and Travis. Her son will be in the pre-kindergarten this year at STM. Her family also includes her husband, David, and two adorable miniature dachshunds. She looks forward to working with Mrs. O’Rourke on the new media center in the library.

Click here for technology resources.

morourke@stmschool.org

Mrs. O’Rourke is a graduate of Trinity College in Washington, DC.  She has been a member of the St. Thomas More Parish for over 25 years and has taught computer class at STM for 10 years. She is the proud mother of 4 STM graduates.

jturner@stmschool.org

Jeanne Turner has been teaching art at STM for 6 years. In her previous life she worked in Graphic Design and Advertising, ran her own Illustration Studio and taught in the Illustration Department of The Maryland Institute, College of Art for 18 years. She graduated with a BFA in Commercial Art and Design from VCU in 1970.

Teaching all grades from P-K to 8th is exciting and stressful at the same time. Color, line, shape... no matter the medium, it all comes down to that.  Every year becomes more complex, trying to connect with their class curriculum whenever possible and helping students express how they see and feel through their art.

bbauer@stmschool.org

School Notes

Brenda Bauer is an outdoor enthusiast.  On weekends she can be found kayaking, biking, or hiking somewhere in Virginia with her family.  The Bauer family enjoys outdoor excursions to the National Parks, which Brenda believes to be true national treasures. Professionally, Mrs. Bauer's main objective is to help all the students achieve a level of skill that will allow them to enjoy and succeed at any activity they engage in.  For the middle school students she adds lifetime sports to help them remain active for the rest of their lives.  Mrs. Bauer enthusiastically looks forward to the day she meets up with a STM Alumnus on a National Park trail.

cbonilla@stmschool.org

School Notes

Sra. Bonilla was born in Nicaragua then finished her high school in Guatemala.  She got a business degree from Texas A&M.  She worked for Colgate-Palmolive for several years and switched her career to teaching when she moved back to the USA.

She has been teaching Spanish at STM for 5 years.  She teaches from K-8th grade.  Sra. Bonilla has been using digital technology since she started teaching.  As she believes that students learn a second language better when they see the word, repeat the word and write the word involving all the possible senses in the learning process.

She works with several teachers in cross curricular activities. As an example, with   7th grade she works with Mrs. Turner and Mrs. O’Rourke in the creation of a Menu in Spanish using computer and art design…and this year with Mrs. Meehan in math to convert dollars to pesos, then at the end of the year when the menu was finished and the vocabulary learned, the students had the opportunity to order food and practice their Spanish at a Mexican restaurant.