Kathryn Bleuer--Social Studies 7-8

Kathryn Bleuer graduated from the University of Missouri in 1977 with a B.A. in Anthropology and a minor in Religion.  At Western Illinios University she received her teaching certification in 1978 and a M.A. in History in 1992.
Kathryn taught at St. Mary's Academy in Nauvoo, Il from 1986 until 1997, at Cardinal Stritch in Keokuk, Ia from 1997 to 2006, and came to Holy Trinity in 2006. Mrs. Bleuer teaches Jr. High History classes.

Allen Chapman--Music 7-12

Allen Chapman led the Marquette Choral Music Department for one year before the formation of Holy Trinity Catholic Schools. Allen graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1971 with a B.M.E. and from Truman State University in 1984 with a M.A. While teaching at Holy Trinity Catholic, Mr. Chapman will head vocal music in grades 7-12. He is actively involved in Chorus, Musicals, Show Choirs, and State Contests. He is skilled and teaches at all levels and all disciplines. Mr. Chapman was previously awarded Fort Madison Teacher of the Year and named by MENC as one of the top twelve music teachers in Iowa .

Melissa Freesmeier--Physical Education

Melissa Freesmeier taught in the Marquette School System for four years but has been a volleyball coach for the system for 15 years, prior to becoming a member of the Holy Trinity Catholic School System. Melissa graduated from Culver Stockton College with a B.S. in Physical Education. Melissa has experienced great success as a coach and has been honored with several coaching awards, 2004 All-District Coach of the Year, All Conference Coach of the Year, All Hawk Eye Coach of the Year, and lead the Cusaders to State in Volleyball in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Lisa Gendron--Science

Lisa Gendron has taught for 12 years in the Marquette School System. Having graduated from Culver Stockton College with B.S. in Biology and Minors in Secondary Education and Psychology, Lisa is an active member of the Science Dept.

John Goetz--Athletic Director

John Goetz grew up in Keokuk and graduated from Cardinal Stritch in 1975.  Mr. Goetz has a B.S. degree in Physical Education from Rockford College in Rockford, Illinois.  He and his wife, Kim, have been married for 26 years and their daughter Jennifer is currently working on her second Master’s Degree while teaching and coaching varsity girls basketball for the Pleasant Valley School District.

John has taught at Marquette, Cardinal Stritch and Holy Trinity Catholic a variety of Jr. High Math, Social Studies and Health along with K-12 Physical Education.  Mr. Goetz served as the Athletic Director at both Cardinal Stritch and Holy Trinity.  John enjoys attending any HTC athletic event along with rooting on the St. Louis Cardinals and Iowa Hawkeyes.  In his spare time you will probably find John on the golf course or visiting his daughter in the Quad Cities. 

Renee Holliday--English & Student Services (Grades 11-12)      Letter to the 9th Grade Students & Parents

Ms. Holliday taught 8 years in the Aquinas system before returning to New Orleans for a year and a half to teach at an accelerated school. Hurricane Katrina and the marriage of her son to an Iowan forced her to rethink her future, which happily repositioned Renee at HTC. Renee received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Ed at Our Lady of Holy Cross College in New Orleans and a Master's at Viterbo in Secondary Education.  Ms. Holliday is also certified in Advanced Placement English through the University of Iowa. She teaches Expository Writing, Research Methods, and Honors English for seniors only.  Renee has been honored as 1st runnerup for Teacher of the Year in Iowa and Favorite Teacher Certificate from the Governor of Iowa Scholar Recognition Program.

Jan Jacobs--Religion

Jan Jacobs teaches Theology at the Jr. and Sr. High School level for Holy Trinity Catholic School System.  Mrs. Jacobs graduated from Bradley University with a BME degree.  This is Mrs. Jacob's 8th year teaching Theology and she is responsible for all the school masses.  In the past, Mrs. Jacobs taught band and chorus for a number of years, was her church organist for 12 years and is active in the Cursillo Church Community.  Mrs. Jacobs has been awarded the "Ambassador of Christ Recognition" from St. Mary's press.  "I am very proud and excited to be teaching Theology for Holy Trinity Catholic Schools again this year."

Becky Krogmeier--English

Becky Krogmeier has dedicated 34 years to the Aquinas School System prior to becoming a Holy Trinity teacher. She will teach 7th Grade Religion, 7th Grade Language Arts, Composition 7 and 8th Grade English. Becky's versatility in teaching has allowed her to teach at many different levels. Becky graduated from Northeast Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science Education.

Gail Kunch--Science

Gail Kunch had been a teacher for the Aquinas School System for two years before becoming a member of The Holy Trinity High School Science Department. Gail graduated from the University of Iowa in 1990 with a B.S. in Science Education, United States Air Force Regular Commission, also in 1990, and Iowa Wesleyan College in 2003 with Teacher Certification. Mrs. Kunch is student council sponsor and teaches AP classes in Science as well as. Gail is actively involved in PEO Chapter JO, Fort Madison /Burlington Branch, American Association of University Women, YMCA volunteer and coach, Girl Scout Leader and volunteer as well as a member of the National Science Teacher's Association and Iowa Science Teacher's Association. Gail was named 1997 Fort Madison Citizen of the year.

Brad Kurtz - Math

Brad Kurtz is a part-time mathematics teacher. Prior to coming to Holy Trinity, Brad worked for 4 years in test development at ACT in Iowa City, and taught mathematics for 17 years at Aquinas High School. He holds a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from Angelo State (Texas) University and a master of science degree in mathematics from Western Illinois University. During his free time, Brad plays in 2 local bands (Chaz and the Channel Cats and Home Brood), and has assisted in set construction for the dinner theatre at Holy Trinity and Aquinas high schools.

Donna McVeigh--Technology

Donna McVeigh has been a life-long dedicated member of Catholic School Systems, having graduated from Cardinal Stritch H igh School , attending Saint Mary College in Leavenworth , Kansas, where she received her Business Education Degree. Mrs. McVeigh later received her Master's in Educational Leadership from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. Donna is responsible for technology in all buildings.

Mark Noblet - Resource

Emily  Otte - Band

Getting the Holy Trinity Catholic Jr/Sr High Band back into shape has been thanks to Emily Otte.  Emily is no stranger to the halls of the HTC Jr/Sr High building because from 1995-98 Mrs. Otte was a teacher at the then, Aquinas Jr/Sr High.  Since that time Emily has had three children, returned to college at Western University and received a master’s degree and has come back and, lucky for HTC, settled in Fort Madison . Each year HTC participates in several Honor Band events; including The St. Ambrose University Honor Band, Southeast Iowa Super-Conference Honor Band and Mt. Pleasant Honor Band.  Mrs. Otte was happy to report that band member participation has shown an increase at all levels this year.

Melissa Palmer
Mrs. Palmer will be teaching 7th and 8th grade Math and Science this year at Holy Trinity Catholic.   She graduated from Culver-Stockton College in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and Middle School Math and Social Studies. She lives in Keokuk with her husband.  She is a member of All Saints Parish and enjoys riding horses.

Robert Rippenkroeger--Speech, Theatre, Language Arts 

Robert Rippenkroeger has been instructing for 41 in the Fort Madison Catholic schools, 35 in the days of Aquinas system and six since the creation of Holy Trinity.  Mr. Ripp graduated from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State) in Kirksville, with a B.A. in Speech and an emphasis on Drama.  He has directed thirty-eight full-length plays for the Theatre Department since 1074 (in Dinner Theatre format since 1987) and coached thirty-seven teams in the Iowa High School Speech Association's Contest season.  He has received the United Way Service Award and been named an All-State Speech Coach.  If you're out and about, you may find Mr. Ripp singing and playing in several local bands. 

Timothy Roush - History

Mr. Roush graduated from New Hampshire College Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Social Sciences (concentration in Psychology.)  Teaching credentials earned from Buena Vista University.  Taught last six years at Van Buren Community Schools.  Retired from U.S.Navy in 1998.  Married - 3 children - 5 granddaughters (the oldest started kindergarten this year.)
 

Steve Rung--Art

Steve Rung graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1977 with a B.A. Degree in Visual Arts and a minor in Physical Education.  Besides teaching Art and PE in the Aquinas system and Holy Trinity School system the last 30 years, he has coached high school basketball, softball, boy's track, girl's track and is currently in his 26th season as boy's golf coach.  Steve also served as Athletic Director at Aquinas/HTC for 8 years.
Steve and his wife Becky are enjoying their "empty nest" lifestyle.  His son Adam started teaching and coaching at Clark County and their daughter Katie accepted a nursing position at Ft. Madison Community Hospital.

Natalie A. Ulloa Sandoval--Spanish

Sylvia Soule - Media Specialist

Mrs. Soule is a graduate of Truman State University with an emphasis in Art, Applied Arts, English and Education.  She is married to Robert Soule who is the Elementary Instrumental Music Teacher at the Holy Trinity Elementary in West Point . They have three sons.  Sylvia taught at Cardinal Stritch in Keokuk for several years prior to coming to Holy Trinity Catholic Schools in 2006.  Sylvia teaches art to the Kindergarten students at the ECC in Fort Madison as well as serving as Media Specialist at the Jr/Sr High Libraries.

Mrs. Soule is a member of the Fort Madison Art Center , Keokuk Art Center , Fine Arts Council of Keokuk and the Amana Art Guild, Amana, Iowa .  Creativity is a word Sylvia has chosen in the pursuit of everything she does, and maintains it as a priority with her students.

Kathy Steffensmeier--Business

Mrs. Kathy Steffensmeier taught in the Marquette School System for 26 years before the merger of the Holy Trinity Catholic School System. Currently, she is in her fifth year teaching at Holy Trinity and serves as the National Honor Society Advisor.  Kathy is a graduate of Columbus Community High School and Mt. Mercy College. In 1979, she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business with a minor in Secondary Education. In addition to her degree, Kathy has earned graduate hours from Drake University, Viterbo, Marycreast and the University of Iowa.  She is a member of the Iowa Business Education Association, AEA16 Regional Business Advisory Committee, and the Lee County Fair Board.  

Paul Wilkerson - English & Student Services (Grades 9 - 10)

Paul Wilkerson received a B.A. Degree in English Education from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1972.  Mr. Wilkerson has taught at Alburnett, Winfield-Mt. Union and Putnam County Schools prior to coming to Holy Trinity. He has coached Track, Golf and Wrestling and currently coaches Cross Country for HTC.
Paul is married with one son.  In his spare time he hopes to be found on a local golf course or walking Boomer, the family dog.
Mr. Wilkerson was named Educator of the Year three times at Winfield-Mt. Union. 

Patricia Winheim - English                                 Letter to Parents

Patricia Winheim is a 1968 honors graduate of the University of Iowa with a B. A. in Spanish and English. She is happy to be back "home" in the Holy Trinity Catholic Schools, where she spent fifteen or more years (who can remember at this age) as a teacher of Spanish and English at the former Aquinas High School, interrupted by 10 years in the public school, followed by seven years more at the former Marquette High School. During that time, she had the pleasure of watching at least 3500 students graduate (all of whom she recalls as seniors, which explains her surprise and delight upon discovering that many of her present students are their children and grandchildren). Pat, herself, is the mother of two sons and granny to five grandchildren. The granny phase is the most fun, though the teenager phase is a close second on a part-time basis. While she is essentially a boring person, Pat does have a passion for antique, old houses, and 19th century applique' reproduction-style quilting and she accompanies her husband, George, in vintage Starduster biplane where her job is to sit in the front cockpit and be quiet.