OUR DEDICATED TEAM
The entire faculty at Saint Patrick School is certified to teach in the Commonwealth of Virginia and/or certified by the Virginia Catholic Education Association (VCEA). Our leadership and faculty are dedicated to continually advancing their education with advanced degrees and other workshops or collegiate coursework. Following are their bios along with their direct contact information.
FACULTY AND STAFF
PRINCIPAL
Brian Dunleavy
This is Mr. Dunleavy's 17th year in education. He was a teacher for 9 years and has been an administrator for the past 7 years. He has worked both in public and Catholic schools, most recently coming from Spotsylvania County Schools as an Assistant Principal. Mr. Dunleavy holds a BA in History, a MEd. in Curriculum and Instruction and a MEd. in Instructional Leadership, all from George Mason University. His hobbies include playing with his 3 children, cooking, and a being a big time sports fan, go Astros!
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Anne Dihlmann
This is Mrs. Dihlmann's sixth year as Administrative Assistant. She previously worked as the preschool aid for 9 years. She spent many years volunteering at St. Patrick School when her children were students. In her free time she enjoys reading, crafting, and spending time with her family.
540-786-2277 ext 101
adihlmann@saintpatrickschoolva.org
ADMISSIONS AND MARKETING COORDINATOR
Monique Donlon
This is Mrs. Donlon’s sixth year as Admissions and Marketing Coordinator. Previously, she was a substitute teacher. She holds a B.A. in English and French from Hood College. Mrs. Donlon and her husband have four children (three of whom currently attend Saint Patrick Catholic School and one is a proud graduate). Mrs. Donlon loves spending time with her family and crafting.
RESOURCE TEACHER & ASST PRINCIPAL
Heather Wertz
Mrs. Wertz is entering her 11th year at Saint Patrick Catholic School, where she serves as the Special Education Coordinator, Resource Teacher, and Assistant Principal. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Special Education and will complete her master’s degree in Educational Administration from Liberty University during this school year. Heather and her husband have been married for 28 years and are the proud parents of four children, all of whom attended Saint Patrick Catholic School. Outside of school, she enjoys cheering on her youngest son at soccer games and watching Washington Capitals hockey with her family.
KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
Kristina Prebilic
Miss Prebilic begins her 2nd year with the St. Patrick’s school community as the Kindergarten Teacher! She has taught for over 4 years. Previously, Miss Prebilic taught Latin and assisted as a Second Grade Aide at St. William of York Catholic School. She also taught 1st Grade at Holy Family Academy. She graduated in 2019 from Christendom College with a B.A. in Philosophy. Miss Prebilic loves music, nature and good food. In her free time, she likes to listen to music, hike, bake bread, and play ultimate frisbee with her friends. Miss Prebilic is looking forward to all the adventures Kindergarten will bring!
KINDERGARTEN AIDE
Melissa Rauschelbach
Mrs. Rauschelbach is delighted to return to St. Patrick School as the Kindergarten aide. She has been married for 20 years with four children. Mrs Rauschelbach is one class away from obtaining her teaching certificate with aspirations of beginning a Master's program in the Spring of 2026. She has previous experience as a long-term substitute in the DOD school system. She also spent many years as a religious educator for grades k-2 at various churches. Mrs. Rauschelbach holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Biology from Stephen F. Austin State. Mrs. Rauschelbach enjoys reading, family time, farm life on Feral Farm, learning new things, and helping others.
1ST GRADE TEACHER
Lara Abbott
Mrs. Abbott carries a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, an ardent love for reading old books, and inspiring this same love for reading in children. While pursuing her Master’s in Theology at Christendom College, she is also a mother to three successful daughters, a military spouse of twenty-five years, and a native of Alabama. Her life’s motto is perseverance through grace, and it continues to be the ground from which she thrives. Her passion for creativity and growing in truth, knowledge, and the love of the Lord have been the impetus of a well-examined life.
1ST GRADE AIDE
Anne Wujick
Mrs. Wujick is excited to begin her third year as the aide in first grade, after previously working as an aide in St. Patrick’s pre-school program for two years. She has also substituted here in various grades for the last two years. She has three children, all of whom attended St. Patrick’s from pre-school through eighth grade. She has been a volunteer here in many capacities, including room mom, hot lunch committee and helping with the annual auction. Mrs. Wujick graduated from William and Mary and has a Masters of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, taking walks and spending time with her now college-aged children whenever they return home for a visit. Mrs. Wujick is really happy to be returning to St. Patrick School and working with our wonderful first graders!
2ND GRADE TEACHER
Anna Fickes
Miss Fickes is excited to be joining St. Patrick as the 2nd grade teacher. She recently graduated from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor's degree in Information Systems & Technology. Over the past several years, she has had the opportunity to work with children through Catholic religious education and childcare. She looks forward to supporting the childrens' academic, spiritual, and personal growth throughout the year.
afickes@saintpatrickschoolva.org
3RD GRADE TEACHER
Katie Goriup
This is Mrs. Goriup's sixth year teaching third grade at Saint Patrick Catholic School. She also taught elementary Spanish for one year and worked as an aide in the preschool program for two years. She previously taught third grade and fifth grade for 16 years in Fairfax County Public Schools. Mrs. Goriup graduated with a Bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia and a Master's degree from George Mason University. She has been a parishioner at St. Patrick Church for 13 years, and her son is in seventh grade at St. Patrick School. She enjoys reading, gardening, and taking long walks with her dog. Mrs. Goriup is looking forward to meeting her new third-grade students!
4TH GRADE TEACHER
Nilo Burke
Returning for her 2nd year at St. Patrick, Mrs. Burke brings over 16 years of teaching experience across college, high school, and middle school classrooms. She is excited to be the Saint Patrick School 4th-grade teacher and looks forward to helping her students grow both academically and personally in a nurturing, faith-filled environment. Outside the classroom, Mrs. Burke is a photographer and certified life coach. Her Catholic faith is an important part of her life and shapes how she approaches teaching, parenting, and serving others. She and her family are grateful to be part of the Saint Patrick School community, and she’s especially thankful that her own children will be learning and growing here as well. The Burke family is excited to be part of a school that values faith, love, trust, and strong academics. Mrs. Burke looks forward to helping her students grow in both knowledge and character while contributing to a supportive and faith-filled environment.
nburke@saintpatrickschoolva.org
5TH GRADE TEACHER
Michael Parker
Welcome! Mr. Parker is excited to be back for his eighth year teaching 5th Grade at Saint Patrick Catholic School, and is looking forward to working with his new students and their families. Majoring in Animal Science with a Minor in Biology, Mr. Parker holds a Bachelor's Degree from Virginia Tech. He has an Applied Science Degree in Medical Technology from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, and earned his teaching certification through Germanna Community College. Mr. Parker's twin sons attended Saint Patrick for nine years, graduated from Saint John Paul the Great High School, and are currently third-year students at Virginia Tech. Mr. Parker happily tries to stay engaged with students of all ages at Saint Patrick, being faculty co-sponsor for the National Junior Honor Society, coordinator of the schoolwide Spelling Bees, and a member of our afternoon Carpool Crew. At home he and his wife enjoy cooking, quiet time, and playing with their dog Hopper.
mrmichaelparker.weebly.
mparker@saintpatrickschoolva.
6TH GRADE HOMEROOM
Kurt Eck
Mr. Eck is beginning his first year as 6th grade homeroom teacher. Mr. Eck’s science career began in the U.S. Navy as a Nuclear Reactor Operator aboard the USS Truxtun, where he applied real-world calculus and physics to manage nuclear fuel. Following his service, he earned a degree in Psychology from Bloomsburg University. This background led to seventeen years of teaching math and science in alternative education and a decade spent as a foster parent. In 2022, He transitioned to St. Joseph School as a science teacher. While there, he entered the RCIA program and was confirmed into the Catholic Church. Trusting in God’s providence, he remained in Pennsylvania for an additional year to fulfill his vocation at St. Joseph’s while his wife moved to Virginia to be closer to their family.
7TH GRADE HOMEROOM
Jeanne Corvetti
Mrs. Corvetti is the 7th grade homeroom teacher and truly enjoys teaching middle school students. This is her tenth year at St. Patrick School. Mrs. Corvetti teaches religion, English, and math to 7th graders, math, religion, and English to 8th graders, and religion to 6th graders. She also serves as the co-advisor for the National Junior Honor Society and the coordinator for the school's Altar Servers. Mrs. Corvetti has been a parishioner at Saint Patrick's for 22 years. She has been married for 41 years and has six sons. She holds a B.A. in Sociology and Elementary Education from Nazareth College of Rochester, NY, and an M.S. in Reading Education from Adelphi University, NY.
8TH GRADE HOMEROOM
Kaitlyn Ciskanik
This is Mrs. Ciskanik's third year at Saint Patrick School. She previously taught 7th-grade Civics and Economics at H.H. Poole Middle School in Stafford, VA, and 6th-grade English at Dinwiddie County Middle School. She graduated with honors from Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. There she earned a BS degree in Liberal Students with a concentration in Elementary Education and Middle School Social Sciences and a M.Ed. Degree in Reading Literacy and Learning. Mrs. Ciskanik is a convert to the Catholic faith, and after several years of teaching in the public school system, she is excited to switch to Catholic education! At Saint Patrick Church, she is involved with the young adult group and the Latin Mass Schola Choir. In her free time, Mrs. Ciskanik enjoys crafting, hiking, swing dancing, and spending time with her loved ones. She is very excited to meet all the families and students at Saint Patrick School and to be teaching middle school again!
ALGEBRA & GEOMETRY
Erin Lysher
This will be Mrs. Lysher's third year teaching at St. Patrick. She is very excited to get back into the classroom after almost 10 years being a stay at home mom to her 4 young kids. Mrs. Lysher loves math and loves helping students work through problems and master new concepts. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia. After graduating college, she worked in Project Management in Charlottesville before working toward her teaching certification and teaching Algebra 1 at Spotsylvania High School. Mrs. Lysher has been married for 12 years and 3 of her 4 kids attend Holy Cross Academy (but we won't hold it against her too much). Her family has been parishioners of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception since she and her husband were married there in 2012. In her free time, Mrs. Lysher likes to read, but that is about the only hobby she has time for these days.
TECHNOLOGY TEACHER & FACULTY COACH
Justine Lane
This is Mrs. Lane’s 15th year teaching at St. Patrick School, and she has been a member of the parish and school community since 1999. She is the technology teacher and also serves as technology coach for the faculty. Mrs. Lane is the administrator for PowerSchool, Schoology, and the school's Google for Education account. She manages the website, assists with social media, and is the yearbook editor. She is also the PTO Faculty Representative. In the past, Mrs. Lane taught English and science to both middle school and 4th grade. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from West Virginia University and is currently pursuing a Master's in Educational Leadership from Liberty University. All three of her daughters attended St. Patrick School from Pre-3 through 8th grade. Mrs. Lane enjoys spending time with her husband of 31 years, her girls, and grandchildren.
ART TEACHER & LIBRARIAN
Julie Tran
Ms. Tran is excited to start her third year teaching art at St. Patrick. Ms. Tran has been interested in art since the moment she held a crayon. In addition to art this year, she will also be working in the school library. She graduated from George Mason University with a bachelor's in Graphic Design. Ms. Tran loves animals very much! She has 2 bunnies, named Hade and the other name Luna. Ms. Tran also has a mini golden doodle named Somi. In her free time, she likes to do film and tintype photography, reading, painting, and helping all animals.
SPANISH TEACHER K-8
Renae Bachand
This is Mrs. Bachand’s first year at St. Patrick School and her seventh year teaching Spanish. Before entering the classroom, she was blessed to be a stay-at-home mom to her three children, as well as a preschool teacher and a professional photographer. She enjoys spending time with her husband of 34 years, their children, grandson, and dog. In addition to sharing her love of the Spanish language, she enjoys photography and a variety of crafts.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Christopher Yurasko
cyurasko@saintpatrickschoolva.org
MUSIC TEACHER
EXTENDED DAY DIRECTOR
Caroline Kardaras
Ms. Caroline Kardaras is delighted to serve Saint Patrick school as the Extended Day Program Director. She was a founding staff member of the PreKindergarten program at All Saints Catholic School. There she held the position of Teacher and Director for 16 years. She also held a leadership role within the Diocese of Arlington overseeing and coordinating the Preschool and Extended Day Programs. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as gardening and cheering on her favorite sport teams. Caroline is excited to be a part of Saint Patrick’s School and community.
Contact Extended Day:
540-785-9618
3:30pm – 6:00pm M-F