Karen Beebe
kbeebe@gregorythegreatacademy.org
Karen Beebe grew up in Cooperstown, New York where she worked as a housewife and home-schooling mother until she moved to Pennsylvania in 2000 to work for St. Gregory’s Academy. She holds a BA in English from the University of Illinois at Springfield. Mrs. Beebe serves as the Registrar and Admissions Director.
John Burger
jburger@gregorythegreatacademy.com
John Burger graduated from St. Gregory’s Academy in 2002. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Christendom College and an M.A. in English from the University of Dallas. John teaches Latin, Rhetoric II, Agriculture Science, and serves as the Academy’s Farm Foreman.
Luke Culley
lculley@gregorythegreatacademy.org
Luke Culley received his Bachelor’s Degree from Thomas Aquinas College and Master’s Degree in Literature from the University of Dallas. He serves as Headmaster, teacher of Humanities II, Church History, Rhetoric I, and is the director of the Saint Julian’s Juggling Troupe and the Senior Pilgrimage.
Paul Cummings
Paul Cummings grew up in Powell, Wyoming, just outside Yellowstone National park. After graduating from the Academy in 2017, Paul spent a year at an orphanage in Colon, Mexico. Afterwards, he spent a year doing an apprenticeship with a guitar builder located in Denver, Colorado. He also has experience in sales and construction. Paul enjoys playing music, cribbage, and making latte art, among other things. He serves as a folk music teacher and dormfather.
Peter Fay
Peter Fay is from Birmingham, Alabama, and is a graduate of Wyoming Catholic College, where he earned a degree in Liberal Arts. He also studied in Ireland at Christendom College’s Columcille Program. Mr. Fay has worked with the Forest Service as a fire fighter, wilderness ranger, and ATV ranger in Utah and Wyoming. He enjoys hiking and playing guitar, and serves as a dormfather and teaches Latin I.
Sean Fitzpatrick
sfitzpatrick@gregorythegreatacademy.org
Sean Fitzpatrick is a graduate of St. Gregory’s Academy and Thomas Aquinas College. He serves as the Assistant Headmaster and teaches Literature I and II, Humanities I, and drama. He lives in Scranton with his wife, Sophie, and their seven children.
Eileen Hanisch
A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Eileen moved to Pennsylvania in 1993 with her husband James, who joined the teaching faculty of St. Gregory’s Academy in the first year of the Academy’s opening. Being a musician by training with a Masters in Music Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Eileen has also served as the Director of Music For St. Michael’s parish in Scranton. She serves as Head Cook and Kitchen Manager for the Academy.
Nathan Lefler
A long-time friend of the Academy, Nathan Lefler is Associate Professor of Theology in the department of Theology/Religious Studies at the University of Scranton, where he teaches courses on Grace, Friendship, Hagiography, and Worship. He has published articles on the Psalms, St. Augustine, St. Benedict, St. Thomas Aquinas, Balthasar, Shakespeare, J. R. R. Tolkien, Flannery O’Connor and Catholic liturgy. He is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Academy seniors’ Theology seminar. He lives in Scranton with his wife and three children.
Michael Manssur
Michael Manssur is from Cranberry, Pennsylvania, and is a graduate of the University of Dallas where he earned his degree in English Literature. Mr. Manssur is planning his entry into either the Navy or the Marine Corps. He enjoys sailing, winter sports, and woodworking. Mr. Manssur serves as a dormfather and coach.
Rev. Christopher Manuele
Fr. Christopher is a Melkite Greek Catholic priest of the Eparchy of Newton and pastor of St. Joseph Church in the West Side of Scranton. He is a graduate of Thomas Aquinas College and Holy Cross School of Theology, Boston, MA. Father teaches Scripture I, Latin, and provides the Divine services at the Academy.
Michael Miller
Michael Miller graduated from St. Gregory’s Academy in 1998. After twenty years pursuing his love of carpentry and woodworking and becoming a general contractor, Michael is returning to the school to serve as Director of Operations. He is thrilled at the opportunity to beautify and care for the building and property that he knows and loves so well. Michael is teaching Euclidean Geometry as well as pioneering a woodworking guild for the boys. He and his wife, Kaylie, live in Elmhurst, PA with their seven children.
Anthony Mioni
Anthony Mioni III graduated from Gregory the Great Academy in 2016. He received a Degree from Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in 2020, and now serves as a dormfather, assistant coach, and chess instructor.
Paul Prezzia
Paul Prezzia graduated from St. Gregory’s Academy in 2002. He holds a BA in History from the University of Pittsburgh, and an MA in History from the University of Notre Dame. He joined the development team of Gregory the Great Academy in 2012 and serves as school Business Manager. He teaches Latin.
Brian Redmond
Brian Redmond graduated from St. Gregory’s in 2008 and, after taking a year off, he attended Missouri State University, graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering in 2014. Later that year, Mr. Redmond was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant intelligence officer in the United States Marine Corps. After over four years of active service, he was honorably discharged in December 2019. Mr. Redmond serves the Academy as the head dormfather, Algebra II teacher, college counselor, and rugby coach.
Daniel Schiller
dschiller@gregorythegreatacademy.org
Daniel Schiller is a native of New Baltimore, NY. He graduated from St. Gregory’s Academy in 2007 and Ave Maria University in 2011 with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. He is the Special Event Coordinator and American History teacher for Gregory the Great Academy and lives in Waymart, PA with his wife, Clare, and three children.
Joseph Sladky
A graduate of Thomas Aquinas College, Dr. Sladky studied biology, chemistry, and physics in a pre-med program before deciding to change course and pursue graduate studies in history. He earned his Ph.D. in Modern European Church history at the Catholic University of America. His professional experience includes several years teaching middle school math and science at Northridge Preparatory School as well as working with inner-city youth in Chicago. He teaches Ancient History, Modern History, Physics, Latin I, and Scripture II.
Andrew Wilson Smith
Andrew Wilson Smith is a graduate of St. Gregory’s Academy, class of 2003. After graduating from St. Gregory’s, Mr. Smith pursued artistic training at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and the Florence Academy of Art. Balancing his career between teaching and sculpting, Mr. Smith has completed a number of artistic commissions around the United States and abroad. His work, including a group of carvings executed for Clear Creek Abbey in Oklahoma, may be viewed at www.Andrewwilsonsmith.com. Mr. Smith will be teaching Fine Arts and Algebra I at the Academy this year.
Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith serves as the Director of Development. Christopher graduated from St. Gregory’s Academy in 2003. He received his B.A. in Philosophy from Christendom College in 2007, and an M.A. in National Security Affairs from The Institute of World Politics in Washington DC in 2011. He currently lives just outside of Front Royal, VA with his wife, Kathleen, and their two children.
Thomas Urgo
Thomas Urgo graduated from Gregory the Great Academy in 2017. Afterwards, he spent several months traveling Europe as a street performer and is pursuing a degree with Wyoming Catholic College. He has worked as a commercial fisherman in Alaska for two years and is eager to continue fishing. Mr. Urgo loves juggling and playing guitar. He teaches folk music and leads the leather-working guild while serving as a dormfather.
Garret van Beek
gvanbeek@gregorythegreatacademy.org
A graduate of St. Gregory’s Academy, Garret van Beek received his degree in Sociology from the University of Ottawa and has been with the faculty of the Academy since 2005. Garret is the Athletic Director, and the Head Coach of the soccer and rugby programs. He teaches Natural History I and II, and lives in Dunmore, PA with his wife Claire and seven energetic children.
Matthew Williams
mwilliams@gregorythegreatacademy.org
Music Director Matthew Williams is a veteran of the St. Gregory’s community. He holds a degree in music from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where his primary instrument was the piano. Having been involved in church music from an early age, Matt has participated in and conducted choirs both young and old. He has served as organist for several parishes and teaches private piano and voice lessons. In addition to teaching Schola and Sacred Music, Matthew serves as Residential Dean at Gregory the Great Academy.