As our 34 Catholic schools prepare for a new school year, the Archdiocese of Denver Office of Catholic Schools welcomes ten new leaders, although some are familiar faces to our communities.
These school leaders will be a tremendous gift to our Catholic schools, commented Dr. Kemmery Hill, Superintendent of Denver Catholic Schools.
“Our new leaders are animated by the Gospel and want to help their students see all of human existence in the light of the Christian faith,” she said. “I'm so excited to see the amazing work they will do in their school communities!”
Please help us joyfully welcome these wonderful new leaders to our schools. We look forward to a fabulous school year at all our schools and pray that these new leaders have a blessed and joyful year!
Sr. Ines Sandoval, O.C.D. – Principal, Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic STEM School
With the departure of Sr. Faustina Deppe, O.C.D., former principal of Sts. Peter & Paul, Sr. Ines Sandoval, O.C.D. joyfully steps into the position. Sr. Ines has a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and a certificate in Catholic Educational Leadership. She has served at numerous Catholic schools across the United States, including California, Arizona, Florida and Colorado. Her teaching experience spans over 25 years, having served children from age four through high school.
“I consider it a blessing to be able to serve with and alongside the Sts. Peter and Paul teachers, families and community,” said Sr. Ines. “I desire to bring children and families to Christ through a meaningful experience of the Catholic intellectual tradition, helping them to flourish spiritually, academically, physically and emotionally.”
Mr. John Ryan – Principal, St. Mary’s – Greeley
Mr. John Ryan is one of the new faces in our Catholic schools’ leadership. He has his bachelor's degree from Carroll College in Helena, MT, and his master’s degree in educational leadership from Western Governors University. He launched his teaching career by teaching social studies and math for five years in Rawlins, WY. He then moved to Colorado and taught math at Valley High School in Gilcrest, CO, for 25 years. Even though he didn’t teach at St. Mary’s in Greeley, his face is very familiar to that community.
“My children all attended St. Mary Catholic School, and I served on a few different committees through the years they attended. I am excited to be given the opportunity to work in a school that had such a positive impact on my own children,” Ryan said. “My goal is to get the St. Mary Catholic School name out in the community so that it becomes the first consideration for families when looking for a quality school in the Greeley area.”
Mrs. Katie Kleczek – Co-Principal, Wellspring Catholic Academy of St. Bernadette
Father Joe McLagan, pastor of St. Bernadette Parish, named Mrs. Katie Kleczek as Co-Principal of Wellspring Catholic Academy to give Principal Avery Coats more time with her young children.
Kleczek has worked as a middle and high school teacher for over 12 years in both public and Catholic schools. She has mainly taught middle school history but also enjoyed living in Italy for four years to teach high school English. Kleczek received a master's in education at DePaul University in Chicago and holds a PhD in Education. Locally, she has taught at Assumption Catholic School and North Middle School (Aurora Public).
“I am so excited to join Avery Coats as Co-Principal of Wellspring Catholic Academy of St. Bernadette this year!” Kleczek said. “My first year as assistant principal showed me how special the community is and how much need there is to serve our families and help each other grow and deepen our faith and trust in Jesus. My goal for this year is to build on all the good things started at our school, all the beautiful seeds planted, and hopefully see them start to sprout and grow!”
Mr. Mike D. Gabriel – Principal, Holy Family High School
Mike Gabriel is not new to Holy Family High School. In fact, he’s been around Holy Family for decades, as his family has a deep and rich history with the school. Mike has a master’s in education from Regis University and undergrad degrees in business and mathematics with a minor in secondary education.
Gabriel began his career at Adams City High School and is now in his 25th year at Holy Family. He has served as a math teacher, Dean of Students, head football coach, Director of Curriculum, Assistant Principal and now Principal.
“Holy Family High School has been a second home and a second family to my family and me. I feel so blessed to have been able to be a part of this community for the past 25 years, to be an alumnus of the school and to have my sons both be graduates. This community is so special, and I am proud to serve this community in whatever capacity is needed,” Gabriel said. “My goals with my new role are to help vault Holy Family High School into the next century of its existence, to continue to grow connections within our alumni community, to help lead our students in collaboration with our faculty, staff and their parents, in their faith journey. I hope that my personal witness and faith journey will draw students, faculty, staff, parents and members of our community into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.”
Mrs. Christy Dorchuck – Principal, Most Precious Blood
Mrs. Christy Dorchuck took a bit of an unusual journey to her new role as principal of Most Precious Blood. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Financial Management from Clemson University, a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law, and an LL.M. in Taxation from the New York University School of Law. After receiving an advanced law degree in taxation, she practiced tax law at a Wall Street law firm for several years.
After relocating to South Carolina, her former tax professor asked her to teach tax law at the University of South Carolina School of Law. She agreed and became a part-time professor at the law school and was instantly hooked; teaching became her passion.
Several years later, after relocating to the Denver area, Christy started substitute teaching at St. Thomas More Catholic School, where her four children attended. From there, she started to teach middle school Theology as a full-time teacher. Nine years later, she moved to Most Precious Blood, where she has continued to teach middle school Theology for the past seven years.
“During those years, I have taken many classes from the St. John Vianney Lay Division, including the Biblical School, Catechetical School and various enrichment classes. I feel blessed to have been called to teach Theology to students during their formative years, and I pray that I have helped them form crucial and long-lasting relationships with Christ and the Church. My goal each day has been to make our Catholic faith relevant and important in my students’ daily lives,” Dorchuck said.
Dorchuck is truly grateful to have received the confidence of Father Daniel Ciucci, pastor of Most Precious Blood Parish, and the principal search committee at the school.
“I view this as a calling to share my love of God to enrich the lives of our entire student body,” she added. “I hope to infuse in our students and community the idea that our kids are beloved children of God who, with the support of their parents, are at Most Precious Blood not only to experience academic excellence but, more importantly, to know, love and serve God.”
Mrs. Elizabeth Crisofulli – Interim Principal, Sacred Heart Catholic School
With the very recent departure of Principal Marie Dunn, who has moved out of state with her husband and children to be closer to family, comes the naming of an interim principal, Mrs. Elizabeth Crisofulli. No stranger to Sacred Heart, Crisofulli adeptly stepped into the role and led the school while Mrs. Dunn was on maternity leave last year.
Crisofulli earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Portland, with an endorsement in ESL. She graduated from Nativity Faith & Reason and Holy Family High School. After high school, she moved to Oregon to attend the University of Portland and, after graduating, taught for two years as a third-grade teacher. She then moved back home to Colorado and taught third grade and kindergarten at Nativity.
Crisofulli says the Lord guided her to Sacred Heart of Jesus after two years at Nativity, and she’s now been at SHJ for the past six years. Since starting at Sacred Heart, she has taught fourth grade and middle school and has been assistant principal and interim principal!
“Sacred Heart of Jesus is such a special place, and I am so blessed to get to help carry on the mission that God has given us,” Crisofulli said. “I have known most of these students, families and staff members for over six years, and they have become a second family to me. As assistant principal for the last two years, I have really enjoyed getting to work closely with the families in providing book clubs, parent development and community events. I am looking forward to continuing this work guided by the Holy Spirit!”
Mrs. Sara Alkayali – Principal, Blessed Sacrament Catholic School
Sara is no stranger to our schools. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Secondary Education from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master of Arts in Humanities from the University of Colorado and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from the University of Notre Dame.
“I was a Denver Public Schools English teacher before getting married and starting a family. Then, I taught at Metropolitan State University until my oldest daughter was school age,” Alkayali said. “Seeking a school for my soon-to-be kindergartener was daunting; no school that we visited was suitable for our child. Walking into Blessed Sacrament Catholic School on a tour that I scheduled ‘on a whim,’ I was greeted by the open arms of our Blessed Mother who seemed to be welcoming me home.”
That enrollment led her to hear the Lord's voice. She became Catholic only a few years later, which launched her into Catholic education. She spent the next 11 years as a middle school teacher and assistant principal at Blessed Sacrament. In 2016, Sara was invited by the Archbishop to help open Frassati Catholic Academy, where she served as the President and Principal until 2022, when she took a brief leave from education to work in the business world with her father.
“God has called me back to my Catholic home as the principal of Blessed Sacrament School this fall, and I couldn't feel more blessed,” Alkayali added. “The school has a beautiful, authentic Catholic culture that is vibrant and joyful; I look forward to continuing the work that my predecessor began in enriching the Catholicity and implementing the newly updated Archdiocese of Denver curricula.”
Mrs. Dana Ellis – Principal, Shrine of St. Anne
While it’s her first year at Shrine of St. Anne in Arvada, Dana Ellis is well known in our Catholic schools, having previously led both Assumption Catholic School in Welby and St. Louis in Louisville. She also worked in Jefferson County Public Schools for over 30 years, 18 of which were as a principal, and she then went on to work in Boulder Valley Public Schools for several more years.
“I am extremely grateful to be returning to the Archdiocese after taking the past school year off. I am filled with joy to serve as the principal at St. Anne’s!” Ellis said.
Mr. Jim Schoepflin – Principal, Bl. Miguel Pro Catholic Academy
Jim Schoepflin is a familiar face in our schools and is now stepping into a new leadership role. He has a master’s in education and a bachelor’s in liberal arts. He is also in formation for the permanent diaconate in the Archdiocese of Denver.
Schoepflin’s journey was also a little out of the ordinary. He started his career in law enforcement as a police officer. After retiring due to an on-duty injury, he worked in other civilian law enforcement and government capacities until taking a job as the director of school safety at a medium-sized school district in the metro area. After 2-and-a-half years there, he was hired as the Assistant Principal for Student Life at Bishop Machebeuf High School for a year, then took on a new role as the Director of Operations for the last two years. He is now taking the helm at Bl. Miguel Pro as their new principal.
“I truly believe that God has led me to Bl. Miguel Pro and this new role, and I am very humbled by the responsibility that comes with it,” Schoepflin said. “Catholic education is so important because it accomplishes the mission of heralding the Gospel and leading the community to an encounter with Jesus Christ, so that is what I hope to be able to do. I am very excited to be a part of this school community and to build on the tradition and foundation that already exists.”
Lisa Lupica - Principal, Frassati Catholic Academy
Lisa Lupica is a familiar face in the halls of Frassati. She has been a part of the school since its beginning and was recently named principal.
Lupica has her Bachelor of Education and Early Childhood from the University of Toledo. She has worked in education for over 20 years, most recently in early childhood.
“God placed it on my heart early in my life to love and serve his little ones. I have been blessed to be a part of the Frassati community for the last seven years as Preschool Director and Assistant Principal,” said Lupica.
Now, as the school’s new Principal, she feels very blessed. “I am deeply grateful for the Lord’s guidance, the support of my husband, family and school community, and the opportunity to live out my vocation to serve within Catholic schools.”
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