News

Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School welcomes several new faculty and staff members for the 2024-25 school year.

Lauren Doherty is our new second grade teacher, joining longtime assistant teacher Kim Hlasny. Mrs. Doherty holds a B.S. in liberal studies from CSU Sacramento, a clear multiple subject teaching credential from the UC San Diego, an M.A. in special education from CSU Northridge, and is pursuing an M.A. in educational leadership and a Catholic leadership certificate from Santa Clara University. Mrs. Doherty has taught first and second grade, served as a curriculum coordinator, and as a principal. Most recently, she was a substitute teacher during the 2023-24 school year. Her son is in kindergarten. She likes to work out when she has time and loves to read.

Robby Fabry joins the P.E. team as a teacher. He holds a B.A. in liberal studies with a minor in adapted physical education from CSU Monterey Bay. He spent the past 19 years as athletic director and P.E. teacher at the International School of Monterey. He has also served as a lead surf instructor at the Wahine Project, as well as taught many classes at Summer at Santa Catalina over the years. Mr. Fabry is an ocean photographer in his spare time and says the ocean is his sanctuary.

Adrienne Harris ’98 joined Catalina in the middle of last school year as the Director of Alumnae/I and Parent Relations. She holds a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and spent more than two decades in New York City and Los Angeles working in the independent film industry. Her all-time favorite project has been being mom to three sons, two of whom attend the Lower and Middle School.

Stevie McKim-Kirmil joins Bri Slama ’07 in the fifth grade classroom as a teaching assistant. She holds a B.A. in history from CSU Los Angeles and a master’s degree in criminology from Arizona State University. She has over a decade of experience as the founder, CEO, and dance teacher at RockStar Dance Studio in Pacific Grove. Her son is a PreK student this year. Besides dancing, she loves to travel to Savannah, Georgia, and read books; her favorite holiday is Halloween.

Dominique Walker joins Gloria Kim in Grade 4 as the teacher assistant. She holds a B.A. in liberal studies from CSU San Bernardino and a teaching credential from Vanguard University, Southern California. Ms. Walker has taught fourth and fifth grades at Beatitudes of Our Lord School in the Los Angeles area. She played on a slow-pitch softball team in Southern California and enjoys taking her dog to play at the park.

Karen “Kay” Welch is our new visual arts teacher for Kindergarten–Grade 8. She earned her B.A. in visual and public art from CSU Monterey Bay, where she also earned a multiple-subject teaching credential from CalState TEACH. Ms. Welch has served as an art teacher at the International School of Monterey in Seaside for the past 20 years, and has taught art classes at Summer at Santa Catalina for many years as well. During her free time, she loves to swim and tries to get in the pool several times a week. 

Christine Westhoff joins us as the Director of Lower and Middle School Admission. She holds a B.S. in educational foundations from the University of Oregon, a master’s in elementary education from Loyola Marymount University, and a Leadership Academy administrative credential from the Rossier School at the University of Southern California. Most recently, she worked at St. Bede the Venerable School in La Cañada as the vice principal and served as the dean of Grades 5-8 and director of Student Services. She lives on campus in Thompson Dorm. Ms. Westhoff enjoys going for walks, baking and cooking, and exploring the Monterey area.

In addition, Santa Catalina welcomes two long-term substitutes. Ema Eldredge will serve as a math teacher in the fall. She has taught math in Hawaii and Oregon for over 30 years, and has come out of retirement in the Azores to serve Santa Catalina. Sarah Gaudoin is filling in as our music teacher. She is a media artist, dancer, and teacher of performing arts who has been involved in local dance and theatre productions her entire life.