Teacher Bios

 

Preschool  

Mrs. Flanagan is originally from Puebla, Mexico. She has lived in Arizona for the past thirty-two years. She has worked at Most Holy Trinity for seven years, with five of those years in the preschool. Mrs. Flanagan feels very blessed to work with our youngest MHT students and shares her Catholic faith with them each day. When Mrs. Flanagan is not at school, she enjoys hiking and spending time with her children and grandchild. She also devotes prayer time at the MHT Adoration Chapel.

Pre-K

Ms. Haddie was born and raised here in Phoenix where she has been a member of the Hispanic community at MHT parish for 15 years now. She went to high school at Shadow Mountain HS, graduated in 2017, and attended Arizona State University where she later got a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Latino/a Studies at Arizona State University. This past school year was her first-year teaching at MHT as the K-8 art teacher where she got to know and spend time with every student; a huge blessing! She also assisted the pre-k classroom in the mornings and will be the lead teacher in the pre-K classroom this year!

Kindergarten

Mrs. Riccitelli graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education and has continued to update her education through various classes and workshops, particularly in the areas of Language Arts and Mathematics. She has nine years of previous experience in early childhood education at the pre-school level and has been teaching kindergarten at Most Holy Trinity Catholic School since 1998. In addition to teaching kindergarten, Mrs. Riccitelli also enjoys coaching the MHT Cheer Squad and assisting with the children's choir.

First Grade

Ms. Woods was born in Ottawa, Illinois. She graduated from Marquette High School in Ottawa and received her BA in Elementary Education from Illinois Benedictine College, now Benedictine University, in Lisle, Illinois. After graduating from IBC, she returned to Ottawa and began her teaching career at St. Columba Grade School where she taught for eight years in the second and third grades. In 1990, she relocated to the Phoenix area and received her Early Childhood Endorsement here in Arizona. She has been teaching the first grade at Most Holy Trinity since her arrival here in 1991 with the exception of one year when she taught a 1/2 combination class. Miss Woods' love of children has always been the reason she became a teacher, and watching the growth of her students is very rewarding for her. She was fortunate to have several extraordinary role models growing up, especially her uncle, to guide her career. The fact that she can share her faith and love of God with her students is an added blessing! She is very excited to be a part of this wonderful MHT Family. Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger!

 

Second Grade

Mrs. Hanson is a born-and-bred Southerner from the Gulf Coast of Alabama. She
grew up Catholic and attended Catholic schools all throughout her education. She
holds a B.A. in English and Creative Writing from Spring Hill College in Mobile,
AL, and a M.T.S from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies in Marriage
and Family in Washington, D.C. Her teaching career began two years ago as an
apprentice teacher for Great Hearts Archway Academy (the Scottsdale and North
Phoenix locations). She is delighted to be teaching as a Catholic educator at Most
Holy Trinity School. Mrs. Hanson loves hiking and being outdoors, visiting with
family and friends, reading and conversing Great Books, baking, and “thrifting”
for treasures.

Third Grade

Ms. Walsh graduated from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2013 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. While in college, she realized that her passion is Catholic Education. As someone who attended Catholic schools for her entire life, she whole-heartedly believes in their mission and wanted to be a part of it. She began the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) Teaching Fellows program in 2014, where she earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Notre Dame. She feels blessed to be at Most Holy Trinity and enjoys teaching, coaching, and seeing students blossom into scholars and leaders while growing in their relationships with Christ.

 

Fourth Grade

Ms. Crawford was born and raised in South Africa in the city of roses called Bloemfontein. She attended Eunice Girls High School, where she excelled in swimming and art.

Ms. Crawford attended the University of South Africa, where she completed her degree with a double major in Archaeology and Anthropology. After completing her degree, she taught English in South Korea for nine years. She furthered her studies and achieved a TEFOL and a post-graduate in education.

Ms. Crawford decided to move to the United States of America in 2021. Her goal was to teach at a Catholic school as she was raised Catholic. She was blessed to have been offered the opportunity to teach at MHT. She enjoys teaching at MHT and sharing her faith and love for God with her students. It is a joy to see her students grow into responsible citizens, active learners, faith followers, and effective communicators. Being part of the MHT family is truly a gift from God. 

 

Fifth Grade

Mrs. McCarthy graduated from Arizona State University, Summa Cum Laude, with a
Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Communication Studies. She also earned her Post-
Baccalaureate Degree in Elementary Education from Rio Salado. Mrs. McCarthy has
three years previous experience in early childhood education before starting to
teach at Most Holy Trinity. She has also been involved in coaching youth sports for
the past six years. Mrs. McCarthy works hard to create a loving, engaging
environment where students feel confident transitioning into junior high.

 

 

Sixth Grade

Mrs. Foley is originally from Southern California but grew up in Arizona. She previously taught in both public and Catholic schools prior to her teaching at MHT.  She enjoys teaching science and encouraging student curiosity through hands-on experiments. Mrs. Foley enjoys spending time at home with her husband and their two cats Matilda and Cordelia. She is very excited to teach at MHT.

 

Seventh Grade

Ms. Gradillas is a native of Arizona. She concentrated in Speech Communication while obtaining her Associate of Arts degree from Pima College and then pursued her Bachelor of Science in Business degree with an emphasis in Marketing from the University of Phoenix. During this time and in the following years, she worked for several nonprofit organizations researching and writing grants, as well as working in their marketing departments. It was at this time in 2018 when she realized her passion for serving others and decided to pursue a career in teaching. Prior to Most Holy Trinity, Ms. Gradillas taught grades ranging from 5th to 8th at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School in Tucson, Arizona. Ms.Gradillas chooses to work in Catholic Education due to her devotion to her Catholic faith and commitment to create a positive learning environment for all of her students.

 

Eighth Grade

Mrs. Tucker is a native of Phoenix and graduated from Xavier College Prep. She graduated from Arizona State University where she earned a Bachelors of Music in Activity/Music Therapy.  She has also earned an Elementary Education Credential with an endorsement in Music. She began volunteering as a music specialist in the preschool at Most Holy Trinity and was hired two years later in 1999 to teach music. She began teaching junior high math in 2017 and became the 8th grade homeroom teacher in 2018. She enjoys helping students grow as leaders and helping them on their path to high school and beyond. 

 

 

Music 

 

 

Computers

Mr. Romero graduated from Arizona State University where he earned his Bachelor in Science in Computer Information Systems. He then went on to earn his master's in Educational Technology from Northern Arizona University. After he graduated he worked as a teacher's assistant for two years. In 2006 Mr. Romero became the Computer Teacher at Most Holy Trinity for the kindergarten through eighth grades. He also maintains all technology used in the school and parish campus. He loves teaching at MHT because of the disciplined environment, rigorous curriculum, caring community, and high expectations.

 

PE  

Ms. Bauman graduated from Arcadia High School in 2012. She then attended the University of Arizona in 2012-2016, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She taught 3rd grade at Mountain View Elementary School. Growing up, she was always involved in sports and dance. She became the Physical Education Teacher and Athletic Director in 2018. She loves how sports teach kids how to be cooperative, competitive and committed. 

 

Religion 5-8

Sr. Solanus

 

Art

 

Spanish  

Mrs. Torok, proud mother of two beautiful girls, was born in Costa Rica where she lived the majority of her life. In 2018 she and her 17 year old daughter Samantha moved to Phoenix to start a new life with her husband Paul, a resident of Phoenix since 2009. 

Mrs. Torok comes to Most Holy Trinity with 17 years of teaching experience in her native Costa Rica where she taught all grades of elementary school including special education, after receiving dual bachelor degrees from U.N.E.D. and the University of San José in Costa Rica.

Mrs. Torok has always wanted to be a teacher, believing that being a good role model and providing students with a good education is one of the most important contributions she can make to society.  It makes her very happy and proud to know her students will go on to do great things.

As a bi-lingual Spanish teacher she believes and instills in her students the idea that learning another language provides them with more experiences and opportunities- just as she has had.

Mrs. Torok loves to travel and experience other cultures, so far she has been to many countries, among them France, Spain, and India. This is Mrs. Torok's first year at Most Holy Trinity. She is thrilled to be a part of the Most Holy Trinity family.