Welcome to Middle School! Please use this presentation as a way to familiarize yourself with many of the guiding expectations for our students. Teachers believe that our best successes rise from high expectations, a partnership with parents, and continual communication between home and school. Thank you for sharing your students with us!
English
Katie White
I was born & raised in Norwalk, attended Christ the King School, and graduated from Dowling Catholic. I received my Bachelor of Arts in English—Secondary Teaching along with a Coaching minor from the University of Northern Iowa (gooooo Panthers!).
I worked in public, private, and charter schools as a substitute, classroom teacher, small group instructor, and athletic coach for a variety of grade levels in central Iowa, southern Indiana, and Minneapolis, but was ready to come back home after 7 years away. After a program restructure at my previous school, several interviews, moving back to Iowa on faith, and offering up many prayers, a family member’s friend’s mother mentioned that St. Theresa was seeking a middle school Language Arts teacher. And here I’ve stayed. God is good all the time! While I’ve never had to “hide” my faith, I love being able to actively share and participate in it with the St. Theresa community.
Faith Formation
Fr. Mike Mahoney
My name is Fr. Mike Mahoney. I am the associate pastor here at St. Theresa and am excited to be stepping into this new role as Faith Formation teacher for our middle school. I grew up in West Des Moines and attended Sacred Heart, St. Francis and Dowling. For college, I attended St. John’s University in Minnesota where I earned my degree in Secondary Education. After graduation from St. John’s, I moved to Sant Clara, California where I began teaching middle school social studies and seventh grade religion at a small catholic school, while also starting a Master’s in Education at Santa Clara University. After that year of teaching, I felt a call to something that I thought about years prior and that was the priesthood. I entered seminary in the fall of 2017, I spent my first two years at Saint Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota and then spent four years at the North American College in Rome, Italy. I was ordained a priest in June of 2024 and began my ministry here at St. Theresa soon after ordination. I look forward to accompanying your students on their faith journey in the classroom this year!
Math
Jen Hoben
I am Jen Hoben, a graduate from Iowa State University and Western Governors University. I am married to Bill and have three children. I am very excited to be back teaching at a Catholic School. We have been across the midwest with my husband’s position. I have taught math, science, business, and keyboarding across Indiana and Iowa. I look forward to working with parents, students and the St. Theresa community.
In my spare time, I enjoy reading, camping, NASCAR races, and my all time favorite – SCRAPBOOKING!
Science
Theresa Hogan
I am Theresa Hogan. I’ve been a lifelong member of St. Theresa. I attended school here, got married here, and now my four kids are students or alumni of St. Theresa.
I graduated from Dowling and then UNI. I worked in Des Moines Public Schools for 10 years before making my way to teaching at St. Theresa. I’ve taught elementary classrooms, and was a reading and math interventionist before teaching middle school science.
Social Studies
Adam Johnson
Hello, My name is Adam Johnson, and this will be my first year teaching here at St. Theresa. I recently graduated from the University of Northern Iowa last December, so not only is this my first year here, but my first year teaching. I am so excited to begin my teaching career, and feel blessed that I am able to start that journey here at St. Theresa. Outside of school I am a big sports fan and enjoy traveling.