Welcome to Our New Staff Members!
We are very excited to welcome several new faces to our campus community this year. Each brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm that will undoubtedly enrich our school. Please join us in giving them a warm welcome as they settle into their new roles and begin making a positive impact on our campus!
Love N' Learn Early Childhood Center - New Staff Information is coming soon!
St. Mary's Grade School
Lauren Torrey - Kindergarten
High School: Ms. Torrey is an alumni of Sacred Heart Jr. Sr. High School, Class of 2021
College Attended/Degrees: Fort Hays State University, Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education
Family: Ms. Torrey is the oldest out of 3. She has a sister who will be a freshman at Fort Hays State University, majoring in Sonography and a younger brother who will be a freshman at Sacred Heart.
Hobbies/Interests: Ms. Torrey loves to do craft and read. She also enjoy cheering on the Kansas Jayhawks and the Kansas City Chiefs!
Other: Ms. Torrey attended grade school here at St. Mary's Grade School!
Darrin Kochevar - Physical Education (SMGS)
High School: Salina Central
College Attended/Degrees: Bethany College (BA) Emporia University (MA)
Family: Mr. Kochevar is married to his wife, Tammie, and they have two grown kids Trace and Hannah. Both graduated from K-State. Trace is currently in Hawaii working as an ultra sound technician and Hannah teaches at Ell-Saline.
Hobbies/Interests: Mr. Kochevar enjoys fishing, exercise , and working on old houses.
Awards/Honors: Mr. Kochevar received Renaissance Teacher Awards at his previous place of employment along with several student/athlete directed awards given by past athletes to educators who had made a difference (uncommon award)
Other: Mr. Kocehvar has been an educator for the past 35 years. He is extremely grateful and excited for the opportunity to teach at St. Mary’s. This opportunity has him excited about teaching again like a first year teacher!
Don Luthi - 1st Grade
High School: Salina High School Central
College Attended/Degrees: Bachelor Degree in Business Administration (Marymount College) Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in special Education: K-6th grade, and secondary grades 7th-12th (Sterling College) Master of Arts Degree in Education (Friends University)
Hobbies/Interests: Mr. Luthi loves to travel both domestic, and internationally. He has done extensive travel throughout Europe. He visited Vatican City while in Rome, and believes he might have caught a glimpse of the Pope while standing in St. Peter’s Square. His “bucket list” includes traveling to the Holy Land, Africa, and Japan.
Other: Years ago, Mr. Luthi student taught at St. Mary’s Grade School. He recently retired from USD 305, and teaching special education at Salina High School South. Before he became a teacher he worked in the television/marketing field. He is excited to have this opportunity to work at St. Mary’s with both students, and staff.
Bradyn Houltberg - Music
High School: Salina Central High School
College Attended/Degrees: BA from Kansas Wesleyan University
Family: Ms. Houltberg is the daughter to Andy and Sandy Houltberg, and has two younger brothers Isaiah and Emery!
Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy cooking/baking, playing the ukulele, crafting, and theatre!
Other: Ms.Houltberg is returning to Salina for her second year of teaching! She is very excited to be back home and here at St. Mary's! She also teaches classes at Theatre Salina. If you have any questions as to how to get your kids more involved in music, let Ms. Houltberg know!
Chris Barlow - 5th-12 Grade Instrumental Music - see below!
Sacred Heart Jr/Sr High School
Michael Beeson - Junior High Math, Algebra I, Tutoring
High School: Clifton-Clyde High School
College Attended/Degrees: Mr. Beeson first received an A.A.S. degree from North Central Kansas Technical College in Electronic Technology in 2000 and then graduated from FHSU with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education in 2005. In 2013 he received an endorsement to teach Middle School Math, and in 2019 earned KS certification to teach 6-12th grade math.
Family: Mr. Beeson has been married to his wife, Sheila, for 18 years and have resided together in Salina for the past 16 years. Named after the Beatles song, their one daughter Michelle is now an 8th grader who greatly enjoys her many pet birds.
Hobbies/Interests: Mr. Beeson plays electric guitar in two classic rock bands and has a cockatiel named Mya who has become very attached to him. It’s quite possible that if you catch Mr. Beeson out and about, Mya will likely be riding along on his shoulder. Additional hobbies and interests include reading, meditation, camping with family in their new camper, learning new songs on guitar, and spending quality time with his many birds and one cat, Elsa.
Braden Dameron - Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra IB
High School: St. John the Baptist Catholic - Beloit, 2020
College Attended/Degrees: Kansas State University - Bachelor of Science in Math Education - 2024
Family: Mr. Dameron is the son of Janet and Dale and has a younger brother, Grayson.
Hobbies/Interests: Mr. Dameron enjoys watching and playing sports, spending time with friends and family, and being outdoors.
John Darrow - Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, College Algebra
High School: Glasco High School, 1988
Coaching: High School Boys Basketball Assistant Coach
College Attended/Degrees: Mr. Darrow graduated from Bethany College in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics.
Family: Mr. Darrow is married to his wife, Angie, and they have a daughter, Chantelle, and a son, John, with 6 grandchildren!
Hobbies/Interests: Mr. Darrow enjoys spending time with grandkids, being a handy-man, coaching youth sports, and walks with his wife!
Other: Mr. Darrow retired from Minneapolis High School after 23 years there. He has been teaching for 32 years.
Brandon Bates - 7th Grade Religion, KS History, American History
High School: St. John's Catholic - Beloit, 2020
College Attended/Degrees: Kansas State University - Social Studies Education - 2024
Family: Mr. Bates is engaged to his fiancee, Ellie and is the son of Jeff and Jeri. He has 4 siblings, Megan, Adam, Luke, and Aaron.
Hobbies/Interests: Mr. Bates enjoys playing basketball, running, and reading.
Other: After graduating, Mr. Bates really wanted to be able to teach social studies and religion. He is so blessed and excited that he will be able to do that at Sacred Heart and is really looking forward to the school year!
Chris Barlow - 5th-12 Grade Instrumental Music
High School: Abilene High School, 2001
College attended/degrees:
Fort Hays State University, class of 2012, Bachelor of Music Education. Currently working on Masters of Music Education at Kansas State University.
Family: Mr. Barlow is married to his wife, Kate, and they have 2 kids, Delaney in 4th Grade, and Brooks in 2nd Grade and both attend St. Mary's Grade School!
Hobbies/interests: Napping!
Other: Mr. Barlow is the tubist in the Salina Symphony and retired from the Kansas Army National Guard after 21 years of service!
Ben Ristow - English, Speech, Debate, College Speech
High School: Eisenhower High School (in Goddard, KS) in 2014.
College attended/degrees: Mr. Ristow attended Kansas State University for my undergrad and graduate programs. He earned a Bachelor of Science in History (minor in political science) and a Master of Arts in Teaching (secondary social studies emphasis).
Family: Mr. Ristow's parents live in Georgia. He is the oldest of three kids, with a sister in Manhattan and a sister, brother-in-law, and niece in Wichita.
Hobbies/interests: Mr. Ristow enjoys hiking, hunting, camping, reading, watching movies/TV, playing video games, and playing board games.
Anything else you would like families to know about you: Mr. Ristow spent a year teaching English as a missionary overseas with other teaching experience includes US history, world history, speech, debate, and forensics
Seminarian Kyle Pfiefer - Junior Religion
High School: Manhattan High School, 2010
College attended/degrees: Conception Seminary 2017-2021 and received a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy. He is currently attending Kenrick Seminary towards a Master's Degree in Theology.
Family: Mr. Pfiefer is the son of Gina and Randy and is the only child!
Hobbies/interests: Mr. Pfiefer enjoys reading about theology, philosophy, history, and science and recently began reading comic books.
Awards: Mr. Pfiefer received Employee of the Month several times at Burger King and considers that his proudest achievement!
Other: Mr. Pfiefer enjoys rock music when he needs to get pumped up about something boring, like working out or cleaning the house; classical music when he needs to study.
Tate Richards - Junior High PE / Home Maintenance
High School: Sacred Heart Jr/Sr High School, 2014
College attended/degrees: Associate Degree in Emergency Medical Sciences form Hutchinson Community College. Currently attending Fort Hays State University towards a Bachelor's Degree in Human Health and Performance with an emphasis on Education as part of the Transition to Teaching program.
Family: Mr. Richards and his wife, Hillary, a 2013 SHJSHS Graduate, have been married for 7 years and have 3 children - Henry in 1st Grade, Everett in Preschool, and Cohen will attend Love N' Learn Early Childhood Center!
Hobbies/interests: Mr. Richards enjoys hunting, fishing, boating, camping, traveling and old cars and trucks!
April Bonilla - Spanish I, Spanish II, Main Office
High School: Wichita West High School, 1995
College attended/degrees: Wichita State University, Kansas State University-Salina, Kansas Wesleyan University - Associates of Applied Science in Dental Assisting, Bachelors of Science in Family Studies - Human Services
Family: Ms. Bonilla is the youngest of 3 children with two older brothers. Ms. Bonilla and her partner, Salvador have been together for 18 years. Together, they have 8 children, 6 grandchildren, plus one due in January!
Hobbies/interests: Ms. Bonilla enjoys taxi-cabbing her kids and their friends, sewing, crafting, and re-purposing furniture.
Awards: Ms. Bonilla has received the Outstanding Senior award in High School at Kansas State University - Salina in 2012. Best Mom Ever award from her children.