Kimberly Koch, School Administrator / Principal
Kim is beginning her 26th year at St. Mary’s Academy, and her 14th year as our school administrator. Kim desires to “motivate our youth to become respectful, responsible citizens.” One of the reasons that Kim has enjoyed her job so much is because of the students and staff, especially “how closely we all work together.”
Kim received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Linfield College and a Master of Educational Administration from Grand Canyon University.
Kim and her husband Brian, a St. Mary’s alum, have two children; Ethan, a graduate of Linfield College, and Emma, an SMA alum and sophomore at Columbia Gorge Community College.
Wendy Palmer, Development Director / SMA Foundation Executive Director
Beginning her 18th year at St. Mary’s Academy, Wendy works on many projects simultaneously. With the work of many volunteers, Wendy oversees the school’s fundraisers, in addition to working with the St. Mary’s Academy Foundation of The Dalles Board. “My job at St. Mary’s is made easier and more interesting by the parents and their children. It is a wonderful community.”
Wendy and her husband Bob have two children who are alumni of SMA; Jordan, an actor, who graduated in 2019 from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and Emily, a wildland firefighter with the USFS and 2022 graduate of the University of Idaho.
Jamie Kerr, SMA Foundation Administrative Assistant
Renate Clark, Secretary
Renate begins her 6th year at St. Mary’s Academy as our school Secretary. She enjoys working with the students and parents.
Renate enjoys baking, painting, wood-burning, and hiking in her spare time, as well as spending time with her family. She and her husband Ryan have five children. Daughters, Sofia, a freshman, and SMA alum, Evelyn, an eighth-grader, at St. Mary’s Academy, and daughters Gabbie and Geelah who attend ninth and seventh grade, respectively, and son Griffin a junior at Dufur School.
Extended Care & Pre-School
Paula Daggett, Extended Care Coordinator / Pre-School Teacher
Paula is beginning her 8th year at St. Mary’s Academy. Before joining the SMA team she spent two years as a Pre-School Aide and seven years as a Pre-School Teacher/Director.
Paula and her husband Shawn have two daughters; Anna and Mollie.
Ginger Ranslam, Extended Care / Pre-School Aide
Ginger has been a part of the SMA team since 2014. She was born and raised in The Dalles and has been working with children of all ages since graduating high school. She attended Eastern Oregon University where she studied Psychology and Theatre.
Her favorite part of working with kids is that they always keep her laughing.
Primary School
Renee McCabe, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Renee celebrates her 15th year here at St. Mary’s Academy as our Pre-Kindergarten teacher. Renee came to SMA with many years of experience teaching preschool in The Dalles.
Renee and her husband Dale have two children; Austin and McKenzie, who both attended and graduated from Oregon State University – Go Beavers!!
Brianna Reiter, Pre-Kindergarten Aide
This is Brianna’s first year at St Mary’s Academy. After homeschooling her daughter during COVID she knew she wanted to work in early education and was blessed with the opportunity to start here at St. Mary’s.
Brianna was born and raised in the Columbia River Gorge. She loves to spend her spare time with her 2 kids (Oliver 6 & Lizzy 7) who also attend St. Mary’s, her husband Seth, and her two dogs Archie and Jughead.
Brianne enjoys exploring the outdoors, traveling, cooking, reading, and DIY renovating her house.
Jody Brace, Kindergarten Teacher
Jody begins her 18th year at St. Mary’s Academy as our kindergarten teacher. Jody graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from Oregon State University and received her Master’s Degree from Portland State University. Jody enjoys working with the kindergarteners because they are so curious and eager to learn.
In her spare time, Jody enjoys reading, baking, biking, kayaking, and spending time with her husband Dan, two daughters attending St. Mary’s, Josie, who is in seventh grade, and younger sister Brandi in fifth grade.
Marisol Meza, Kindergarten Aide
We are pleased to welcome Marisol back to St. Mary’s as our Kindergarten Aide. Marisol grew up in The Dalles and Dufur and attended St. Mary’s from the 2nd through 8th grades. She graduated from Dufur High School. This is Marisol’s second year as a teacher but she has been a homemaker for 12 years and learns best through her kids.
Music is Marisol’s passion and she has learned to read music and picked up several instruments over the years. Marisol loves to cook and bake, and fitness has become a passion. She and her husband have three children Alessandra, Giuliana, and Carlos. They enjoy visiting new places and going on adventures.
Jessi Bennett, First Grade
Jessi begins her third year as our first-grade teacher. She graduated from Western Oregon University with her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education. Before leaving to work on her degree, Jessi worked for seven years in our extended care. She is excited to be back with the St. Mary’s family!
Kelsey Wallace, Second Grade
Kelsey is beginning her 8th year as a teacher at St. Mary’s. This will be her fifth year teaching 2nd grade. Kelsey graduated from Oregon State University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Sciences with an Early Childhood option and completed her Master’s of Education at the University of Grand Canyon.
Caitlin Espinoza, Third Grade (Co-Teacher)
Caitlin is back at St. Mary’s as our Third Grade teacher after taking a one-year sabbatical. We are thrilled to have her back.
Barbara Heitz, Third Grade (Co-Teacher)
Barbara was a welcome addition who joined the SMA staff midway through the 2021-2022 school year. St. Mary’s is lucky to have her back this year.
Kathrine Murray, Fourth Grade
Katherine begins her second year at St. Mary’s. She is thrilled to be teaching Fourth Grade at St. Mary’s! Katherine comes from a long history of working with students in all age groups. She has worked as an Instructional Assistant and as a Classroom Teacher.
Katherine lives in Hood River with her husband and two college-aged children, and loves all things animals! And, fun fact, she attended Catholic Schools for 9 years growing up…she even wore a plaid skirt in High School!
Beth Skobkariova, Fifth Grade
Beth begins her second year as our 5th-grade teacher.
Beth is married to Igor Skobkariov and spends her spare time running, hiking, camping, painting, and traveling.
David Wring, Physical Education
This is David’s second year teaching Physical Education at St. Mary’s Academy. David attended Treasure Valley Community College for two years, studying Education, as well as being team captain of the Cross Country and Track teams.
Outside of school, David loves to skateboard, run, go bowling with his family, and cliff jumping into the river (please don’t try this without adult permission and supervision).
Middle School
Carrie Seitz, Language Arts / Math
Carrie is the Language Arts teacher for the middle school. Her favorite reasons for teaching at SMA include the great kids, small classes, and wonderful staff; this is Carrie’s 23rd year teaching at SMA.
Carrie holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Masters in Teaching, from Eastern Oregon University. Carrie and her husband, Tim, have two wonderful children: Hanna age 23, and Michael, age 15. In her spare time, Carrie enjoys reading, baking, fishing, and hiking with her family.
Darcey Hodges, Social Studies / Math
Darcey is beginning her 5th year at St. Mary’s Academy as our Social Studies teacher. Darcey grew up in Wyoming and moved to The Dalles during her sophomore year. She graduated from WOU and holds a Master’s Degree in Teaching. Darcey taught PE and Health at TDMS before joining us at St. Mary’s.
Darcey had the opportunity to play basketball and soccer while in college and has three very active kids. They love playing sports, hiking, and fishing and are always looking for their next adventure.
Greg Johnson, Science / Math
Greg is beginning his 8th year at St. Mary’s Academy as our Middle School Science teacher. Greg moved to The Dalles in May of 1985 after receiving his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Washington State University.
Greg owns a farm on Three Mile Road where they grow sweet cherries, and raise pigs and goats. Greg has played, refereed, and coached soccer since he was seven years old. Greg also coaches our SMA Cross Country Team. He enjoys snow skiing in the winter and vacationing on the coast.
Greg and his wife Kim have been married for 33 years and have two children: Laura, age 30, and Mark age 26, both attended St. Mary’s Academy.
Rebecca Gooch, Choir
We are pleased to welcome Rebecca to the St. Mary’s Academy staff. Rebecca grew up in The Dalles. She has spent much of her adult life involved in music. She has taught piano and voice for many years, participated in community musicals, and choirs, and as lead singer for the ensemble Europatopia.
She is married to Marty and has 3 adult children, 2 grandchildren, and a sweet little rat terrier named Ronnie. She enjoys CHOIR! calligraphy, all kinds of music, dancing, reading, hiking, kayaking, oh many things! Her favorite color is bluish-green, and her favorite treats are salted caramel or rosemary almonds.
Natasha Monroe, Band
Natasha joins us in her 6th year at St. Mary’s Academy as our Band Instructor and is in her 8th year of teaching band after graduating from George Fox University with her Bachelor’s in Music Education. Natasha has also received a Master’s Certificate in Arranging and Orchestration through Berklee Online. She has performed in six countries, in both solo and ensemble settings, on the piano, flute, and piccolo. Natasha has accompanied soloists, school choirs, church choirs, wind ensembles, and concert bands; as well as performed in concert, pep, marching, and jazz bands.
Her love of music is evident in her enthusiasm for teaching and spending her extracurricular time performing in orchestras, pit (for theater), small ensembles of various sizes, and singing in church, school, and community choirs.
Marisol Meza, Religion
We are pleased to welcome Marisol back to St. Mary’s as our Religion Teacher. Marisol grew up in The Dalles and Dufur and attended St. Mary’s from the 2nd through 8th grades. She graduated from Dufur High School. This is Marisol’s second year as a teacher but she has been a homemaker for 12 years and learns best through her kids. She grew up in the church singing in the choir with her dad before leaving for college. Marisol is looking forward to this amazing opportunity as our religion teacher here at SMA.
Music is Marisol’s passion and she has learned to read music and picked up several instruments over the years. Marisol loves to cook and bake, and fitness has become a passion. She and her husband have three children Alessandra, Giuliana, and Carlos. They enjoy visiting new places and going on adventures.
Environmental Services
Jose Elizarraras, Environmental Services
Jose begins his 4th year at St. Mary’s Academy. We are thrilled to have Jose on our team.
Araceli Perez, Environmental Services
Araceli begins her 4th year at St. Mary’s Academy. We are so lucky to have Araceli on our team.