Faculty & Staff

Mr. John Ellison has taught philosophy, history, Latin, and science at Chesterton Academy. After several years working as a strategy consultant, he pursued graduate study at the University of Chicago, where he is A.B.D. in the Committee on Social Thought. During his time at UChicago, he taught classes in ancient and political philosophy, worked alongside his wife (with five lively children underfoot!) as heads of a residential House, and helped to administer the Fundamentals: Issues and Texts program.

Ms. Trapp has worked in small companies, large corporations, and nonprofit organizations including school environments. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Humanities from George Williams College.

Mr. Jurcik is an experienced math instructor who has taught for many years at several colleges in the Chicago area including the College of Dupage, Moraine Valley Community College, and Richard Daley College. Born in the Slovak Republic, Mr. Jurcik has advanced degrees from schools in both Slovakia and the United States.

Mrs. Kroupa graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Chemical Engineering. After working in the engineering world for 10 years, she transitioned to teaching and tutoring. She received her Masters in Teaching from North Park University. She and her husband are blessed to be raising four children. On the side, she plays volleyball and teaches the STEM Club at St. Joan of Arc School.

Mr. Linn is A.B.D. in Philosophy at Loyola University Chicago. He teaches a Philosophy. He is a founding teacher here and has been teaching at the Academy since 2015. He was the recipient of the 2023 Fleur-de-Lis Award.

Mr. C. Lyon teaches History & Literature. He coaches rugby. He is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Mr. Lyon is also a published poet and historian and coauthors an epic fantasy series with his brother Mr. Patrick Lyon.

Mr. P. Lyon graduated from the Program of Liberal Studies (i.e., a Great Books Program) at the University of Notre Dame in May 2017. He teaches Literature and Latin. He is married to the lovely Reba and they have two beautiful daughters and a young son.

Mrs. Podczerwinski, in addition to working as the Choir Director at Saint James in Sag Bridge, has also been the Music and Drama Director. She has been teaching at Chesterton Academy since 2016.

Dr. David Rahimi is a dedicated educator and scholar. Holding a B.A. in History and Political Science and an M.A. in South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as a Ph.D. in History from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Rahimi’s academic journey is deeply rooted in his family’s multicultural experience as Jewish-Christian Iranians who sought asylum in the United States after the Iranian Revolution. He joined Chesterton Academy of The Holy Family in 2022, bringing experience from teaching American history and British imperialism in the Middle East at UT Austin. As a dean and teacher, he is inspired by scripture, especially Matthew 5:43-48, striving to guide students in virtue and knowledge.

His favorite Bible verse is Ecclesiastes 12:13-14: "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Passionate about storytelling, Dr. Rahimi is an avid reader of history, especially regarding consumer culture and the Middle East, and I enjoy video game RPGs as well and am always happy to explain the wonderful story-telling and reflections on human nature one can glean from playing a good game. I also write poetry, fiction, and campaign settings for TTRPGs. He, his wife, and his two young girls attend Queen of Apostles in Joliet, where his wife sings in the choir, and together they pray for the students at Chesterton each night. In his spare time, he enjoys baking. A fun fact is Dr. Rahimi lived in Mexico for one month while in high school.

Ms. Kaitlyn Reznicek began her journey at Chesterton Academy of The Holy Family (CATHF) as a student, graduating in 2018. After earning her B.A. in Theology and Catechetics and an M.A. in Catholic Studies from Franciscan University of Steubenville, she returned to CATHF as a faculty member in 2022. Growing up in a faith-centered family in Lombard, where her parents instilled a strong Catholic foundation, Ms. Reznicek has found her place in the Chesterton community, where faith and learning are deeply integrated. Inspired by scripture, especially the Psalms, Song of Songs, and the Gospel of John, she values daily prayer and adoration, grateful for the presence of the Blessed Sacrament at the heart of the school. An avid gardener, baker, and outdoor enthusiast, Ms. Reznicek enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and cooking with homegrown herbs and vegetables and baking sourdough bread. She’s actively involved at Sacred Heart Parish in Lombard, serving on the decorating committee and organizing the Easter Vigil Resurrection party. Ms. Reznicek also has a passion for fitness and has completed two Spartan races with plans to continue this tradition with her siblings.

Mrs. Roth has been teaching Art at Chesterton Academy of The Holy Family since its founding. She was the 2023 recipient of the Fleur-de-Lis Award.

Dr. Simon joined CATHF as a biology and math teacher in the 2021-22 academic year. After receiving a BS in biomedical engineering and mathematics from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, she went on to complete a doctoral degree in biomechanics at Rush University. Her dissertation research focused on evaluating the performance of a new total knee replacement using motion analysis and computational modeling; for her postdoctoral work, she studied pathological gait patterns in children.

Mrs. Vanda Varnai-Garcia has over ten years experience as a ballroom dance instructor and she has been teaching dance at the academy since 2016.

Mrs. Julie Bowles has been a vital force behind Chesterton Academy of The Holy Family since its founding, serving as Executive Director from its launch in 2015 through 2020. Today, she brings her leadership and vision to guiding the Executive Team and staff in fulfilling the Academy’s mission, organizing pilgrimages, and fostering a vibrant community for students and families. A seasoned world traveler, Mrs. Bowles has journeyed through 20 countries and 43 states, making her well-suited to direct the senior capstone pilgrimage to Italy. A proud graduate of The University of Alabama, she also holds a certificate in International Education from Oxford Brookes University in England, enriching her global perspective. Together, she and her husband, Brenie, have worked tirelessly with the Chesterton Schools Network (CSN) and have dedicated themselves to its growth, building it into a community of 62 Chesterton Academy schools. Mrs. Bowles serves as the CSN Pilgrimage to Italy Coordinator for all of the network schools.