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 Saint 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 Saint 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 attending Sacred Heart, St. Francis and Dowling. For college, I went to 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 UNI and I worked in Des Moines Public Schools for 10 years before moving into substitute teaching. It’s been great to be part of St. Theresa in a new capacity by substituting in various classes and grades over the last several years to get to know the staff and students.
Social Studies
Adam Johnson