Faculty and Staff
Superintendent,
Fr. Raul Covarrubias |
Principal,
Carina VanPelt Mrs. VanPelt has been the principal at Holy Rosary for 6 years. Before that, she taught 2nd through 8th grades in public, private, charter, and inner city schools. At Holy Rosary School, she takes time to help children academically and will take students or parents to Mass to help them feel more comfortable.She also loves to play 4 square, lightning, and build snowmen with the students at recess. Every Wednesday, she eats lunch with the students. Once a month she hosts a special birthday lunch for students. She hopes that all students, parents, faculty, and staff feel as though they are part of the Holy Rosary Family. Mrs. VanPelt feels inspired in her work by Saint Katharine Drexel who was an educator that always tried to include everyone. |
Business Manager,
Mary Lund Mary Lund has been working at Holy Rosary School for seventeen years, but since her daughter started school here when she was three, Mary’s been around the school for 24 years! Both of her children attended Holy Rosary for their elementary education. She is the business manager and choir director for the school. Through the years she has done various jobs including lunch & recess monitor, computer teacher, music teacher, drama and art. Her degree is in Business Management, but she has a passion for technology and even more so for music. Mary has worked many jobs, but it wasn’t until she started at Holy Rosary that she truly felt that she belonged. She considers this her second home – her “school family”. She feels privileged to work here and to serve the students. |
Faculty
Preschool/Pre-K Teacher, Alicia Johnson
Mrs. Johnson has 18 years of teaching experience. She enjoys attending conferences and learning about best practices in child development to incorporate into her classroom. According to Mrs. Johnson, “Everyday is a new adventure in my classroom.” Mrs. Johnson is inspired by Saint Teresa of Calcutta because of her compassion and because she has appeared in her life at times when she was needed. |
Kindergarten Teacher,
Karianne Earnest Mrs. Earnest holds a Master of Arts Degree in teaching. She creates a caring, friendly and safe environment for all students; and, partners with families to meet the unique needs of each child. According to Mrs. Earnest, “Learning through stories, games, songs and hands-on activities makes Kindergarten fun every day.” Mrs. Earnest is inspired by St. John Bosco because he had a special love for children and used the fun of magic tricks to teach them about the faith. |
Kindergarten Teacher,
Shelby Bush Mrs. Bush has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education. She has several years of early childhood education experience. Teaching is her passion and she loves to interact with the children. Shelby strives to create a safe, fun and loving environment to teach and nurture the child as a whole. She is inspired by St. Therese of Lisieux. She is known for her kindness towards others and believes that kindness and empathy are the most important characteristics of a great teacher. |
1st Grade Teacher,
Sarah Atwell Ms. Atwell has been a teacher at Holy Rosary for 5 years. She has a degree in Child Development and a Master of Arts in Teaching. She loves the first graders’ excitement for learning and watching them make huge growth in their reading skills throughout the year. Ms. Atwell is inspired by the saints for her namesake. Saint Sarah is known as "one who laughs," which reminds her to laugh with the children in her class. Ms. Atwell’s middle name is Joan, and she loves the quote from Saint Joan that says, "I am not afraid, I was born to do this." This reminds her to teach and live fearlessly. And then as a mother of five children and a Catholic school teacher, she is also inspired by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton who had five children and founded Catholic schools in America. |
2nd Grade Teacher,
Anita Garcia Mrs. Garcia attended Holy Rosary Catholic School as a child. She has a B.S. in Animal Science and a Teaching Certification through the American Board. Her 2nd Grade read over 541 books and 2.7 million words during the 2017-18 school year. She coordinated a school-wide coat drive. She has volunteered for our parish religious education program for over 10 years and prepares the 2nd grade for First Communion and Reconciliation. She has also served on an accreditation team. Mrs. Garcia is inspired by St. Bernadette of Lourdes who the saint that she chose at her Confirmation and has come up in her life since she was young. In France, the feast day of Saint Bernadette falls on February 18th, which is also Mrs. Garcia’s birthday. |
3rd Grade Teacher,
Jillian Mock Mrs. Mock is finishing a Masters of Education Degree in Education and Technology. She taught 1st & 2nd grade in Las Vegas, NV, before moving to Idaho Falls in 2016. As a new Idahoan, she enjoys the cold weather, especially shoveling snow! According to Mrs. Mock, "I love to learn new things and I strive to inspire such in my students." Mrs. Mock is inspired by Saint Jude who is the Patron Saint of Hope and impossible causes and one of Jesus’ original twelve Apostles. |
4th Grade Teacher,
Julie Orme Miss Orme has Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Studies. She has taught piano, violin, and viola since 2006. She is a native to Southeast Idaho and is excited to join the staff and students at Holy Rosary School. Miss Orme feels inspired by Saint Catherine of Alexandria. She believes that we are constantly learning throughout our lives and as the patron of students, Saint Catherine of Alexandria represents that. We can always improve, learn, and grow, in everything we do. |
5th Grade Teacher,
Kristin Kress-Weitenhagen Mrs. Kress-Weitenhagen will be celebrating 16 years in education, with a double major in English Literature & Art. She has taught High School English, Junior High & Elementary art, & was a graphic designer before coming to Holy Rosary. Fifth grade gets to experience a Harry Potter theme in which students have classroom “jobs”, earn “paychecks”, and visit our version of Gringotts & Diagon Alley. Mrs. Kress-Weitenhagen feels inspired by Saint Mary Magdalene because she was witness Christ's crucifixion, burial, and death. She was obviously very important as her name was mentioned more than many of the other apostles in the New Testament. Additionally, she was a teacher and also helped spread the good news of Christ. |
6th Grade Teacher,
Fran Hassing Mrs. Hassing is our 6th grade teacher. She holds a Masters Degree in Education and has 20 years of experience in education. She loves teaching through a “hands-on” approach and has experience in intervention strategies and non-traditional approaches to education. As a teacher at Holy Rosary, Mrs. Hassing feels inspired by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque who was chosen by Christ to arouse the Church to a realization of the love of God symbolized by the heart of Jesus. |
Staff
Administrative Assistant,
Heather Geib Mrs. Geib has worked at the Holy Rosary Catholic School for 6 years. Prior to working at Holy Rosary, she worked in a Pediatric office for 4 years and then the NICU for 6 years. She has 4 children attending Holy Rosary and loves working with children and their families. Mrs. Geib finds inspiration in St. Philomena, for the healing of infants and youth. She is inspired by her because being a part of the healing, physically, emotionally and spiritually of children is one of the greatest services. |
Administrative Assistant,
Vanessa Prairie Born and raised in Idaho, Mrs. Prairie loves being outdoors with her family. As a part of the Holy Rosary family, she loves the privilege of working in an environment where the focus is all about our children and God. Being able to make a positive impact within the community is made easy when our actions are Christ like and our intentions are as pure as children. As I continue to serve as the Safe Environment Coordinator and as a part of our marketing team, my wish is that everyone who enters will experience the Greatness of Holy Rosary School. She finds inspiration in her work from Saint Meinrad. |
Counselor,
Myah Gillespie Mrs. Gillespie will be receiving her Counseling degree from Idaho State University. She currently coaches Volleyball at Shelly High School. One of her goals in life is to bring Animal Therapy into schools. |
Faith Formation,
Deanne Slaughter Originally from Texas, Mrs. Slaughter has lived in Idaho Falls for almost 5 years and has two children that attend Holy Rosary School. She has been passionate about "owning" her Catholic faith since high school and has been active in a variety of faith development programs since then. As faith formation coordinator, her goal is to help your children better understand their faith so they can take ownership of it as well. |
Music Teacher,
Barb Holman Mrs. Holman holds a Masters Degree in Piano. She started her teaching career at University of Nebraska Wesleyan & Concordia University. Every year, she teaches each grade a different instrument. She also offers private guitar and piano lessons, after school. |
Computer Lab Teacher,
Leona Kelly Mrs. Kelly holds a Master of Science Degree in Physiology from the University of Wyoming. She has several years of experience in technology and marketing. She currently has 2 children that attend Holy Rosary and has served as the PTO President for Holy Rosary School. As a part of HRCS, she enjoys learning more about the Catholic faith and sharing it with her students. She is inspired by St. Isidore the Patron Saint of Technology, as well as St. Joseph Cupertino, the Patron Saint of Test-takers. |
Physical Education Teacher,
Mitchel Moore |
Spanish Teacher,
Para-educator: Kindergarten Aide Maria Carrillo Mrs. Carrillo was born and raised here in Idaho. She has always loved working with children. She has an Early Childhood Development Certificate from ISU and has worked with children as a teachers aid and ELL teacher assistant for many years in other schools. She now feels blessed to be a teachers aid and Spanish teacher at Holy Rosary. She feels inspired by Saint Terese of Lisieux who she feels has helped her in her every day life and job as a teachers aid. |
Art Teacher,
Marilynn Koelsch Mrs. Koelsch started her teaching career in Ridgecrest, California and joined the Holy Rosary Staff in 1993. She retired from 30 years of teaching but has kept active at Holy Rosary School with first being the Title I Tutor for half a year and now as an art teacher. She has always liked being able to talk about God in all subjects being taught in the classroom and enjoys teaching kids how to love reading with a variety of good books. |
Para-educator: Daycare,
Anita Allred Mrs. Allred has been working at Holy Rosary School for 10 years. She has a granddaughter attending school here. She loves working with the children, being able to attend weekday Mass, and talk about God; and, she enjoys all the people that she works with. |
Daycare Aide,
Wendy Farnsworth Mrs. Farnsworth is on her third year as an Aide at Holy Rosary Catholic School. She is mother to a first grader and has enjoyed being an involved staff member and parent volunteer to the children of HRCS. |
Para-educator: PS/PK Aide,
Karen Duenes Mrs. Duenes is the aide in PS/PK. She has had all 4 of her children attend Holy Rosary, and has worked at the school for 10 years. She loves all the sweet hugs and funny stories from the children. She looks forward to each and every day in the PS/PK classroom. |
Para-educator: Second Grade Aide,
Maria Delaney |
Para-educator: Aftercare,
Yolanda Birch |
Para-educator: Aftercare,
Tina Moye |
School Nurse,
Elizabeth Conrad |
Cafeteria,
Chansity Tucker Mrs. Tucker has an Associates degree in Accounting, but found her calling when she joined the Holy Rosary family. She taught her self to cook, and loves learning. She also enjoys being around the kids. She is inspired in her work by the Patron Saint of Kitchens, Saint Pasqual. |
Custodial & Maintenance,
Gary Vigil
Gary Vigil
Club Volunteers
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Art Club: Art Museum of Eastern Idaho
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Chess Club: Dan Garren and Tom Walters
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Fishing Club: Dan Garren and Tom Walters
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Robotics: Deacon and Mrs. Reilly, Matt Kress
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