Mr. Pudysz holds a Master of Arts in Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH, and received his Bachelor of Arts in Sacred Theology and History with an English Minor from Southern Catholic College in Dawsonville, GA.

Previous to being Headmaster at Chesterton Academy of St. Mary's, Mr. Pudysz taught theology and coached cross country and track and field at St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta, GA. Additionally, he served as a high school youth minister at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Dawsonville, GA, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Mr. Pudysz has been married to his wife, Julia, since 2010. Together they have six children: Andrew, Jr., Veronica, Simon, Emelia, Colette, and James (due December 2022) and two beloved dogs, Charlie and Bella.

Mr. Pudysz believes that Classical Catholic education provides the best opportunity for students to think and reason for themselves, to achieve great success in life regardless of career or vocation, and to really take seriously the Christian's call of being an intentional disciple of Jesus Christ.

Mrs. Prigge completed her Master of Education – School Counseling at Liberty University in May of 2022. She is a graduate of the Chi Sigma Iota Society, an Academic Honor Society for the School of Behavioral Health. In 1995, Mrs. Prigge earned a B.A. in Theater Arts from the University of Louisville while working towards her minors in English and Humanities.

The Military Archdiocese awarded Mrs. Prigge her certification as Director of Religious Education in 2008. Mrs. Prigge will primarily be the acting School Counselor for Chesterton Academy of St. Mary’s in addition to instructing students in Drama and Theology.

Mrs. Prigge married her husband, Karl, in 1996 at the U.S. Naval Academy before moving to many locations such as Hawaii, California, Massachusetts, and Connecticut before settling in Maryland in 2008. They have two biological children and one adopted child which Mrs. Prigge homeschooled in the Classical Approach before enrolling them into their parish school when the need arose.

Mrs. Prigge looks forward to assisting students as they discover and prepare for their life’s purpose in a faith filled environment. Faith has been an important aspect of Mrs. Prigge’s life.

David Brunk earned his B.A. in History from Franciscan University of Steubenville. While there, he also completed the Honors Program where he enjoyed discussing the Great Books with his classmates and quoting G.K. Chesterton to them at every available opportunity.

Mr. Brunk has previously taught History and Religion at the middle school level and has also served as a 5th grade teacher at an independent classical Catholic school. He has a passion for drawing out the connections between various subjects. At Chesterton Academy of St. Mary’s, Mr. Brunk will serve as a Humanities teacher and looks forward to guiding his students in the adventurous pursuit of the True, the Good, and the Beautiful.

Mr. Brunk and his wife Cathy have been married for seven years. They have three children: Joseph Chesterton, Thomas Xavier, and Gianna Maria.

Mr. John Dean graduated Cum Laude from Christendom College in 2022, receiving his B.A. in History. Mr. Dean will be teaching History, Philosophy, Theology, and Debate, having previously worked as an apprentice teacher at Chelsea Academy, and Padre Pio Academy, both located in Front Royal, Virginia.

Born and raised in North Carolina, Mr. Dean is particularly interested in American and Eastern European History as well as American political thought. In his spare time Mr. Dean enjoys cooking, reading, painting miniatures, and playing board games.

Elizabeth Trossbach, fell in love with Christ in the Eucharist as a volunteer at St. John’s Summer Program where she was inspired to dive into the study of Catholic Theology.

After graduating from St. Mary’s Ryken, she completed a BA in Theology and Philosophy from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in three years where she was a part of Theotokos Household.

She is excited to serve the students of Chesterton Academy, by integrating her energy and zeal into her Biology and Theology classes. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys quality time with family and friends, the outdoors, learning guitar, fishing, and maintaining her garden.

Mr. Marcus Lloyd graduated in 2022 with a B.A. in Philosophy from The Catholic University of America, while simultaneously studying at the Saint John Paul II Seminary.

A local from Calvert County, Mr. Lloyd attended both Our Lady Star of the Sea school, as well as Saint Mary's Ryken. Upon completion at SMR he felt called to enter seminary and pursue the life of priesthood. However, in his senior year at JPII, after coming to a greater understanding of himself, he felt more called to teach than to preach and followed his desire of being an educator.

Mr. Lloyd completed his first year of teaching in Auburn NY, covering a range of subjects from Philosophy and History to Economics. Here at Chesterton Mr. Lloyd will be teaching Geometry, Astronomy, and Philosophy 10. He has a great appreciation for the ancients and believes their wisdom may serve as a cure to many of today's tribulations.

Apart from academia Mr. Lloyd has a passion for the outdoors especially kayaking, sailing, fishing, camping, and more. He obtained his Eagle Scout award and has continued to find joy in God’s creation.

Mr. Lloyd looks forward to fostering a spirit of wonder in his students and helping them to see the beauty of creation by recognizing the order of the cosmos through logos, the word, Christ.

Nathan Beall is a native of St. Mary’s County who earned a BA in Religious Studies from St. Mary’s College in 2011 and a Masters in Divinity from Yale University in 2014. He returned to live in Christian community in St. Mary’s City while teaching theology at St. Mary’s College and assisting at Trinity Church.

Nathan volunteered in 2019 at a Franciscan Community in England, where he prayed, worked the land, and met his future wife, Hong Kyunghee, from South Korea. In 2020, Nathan and Hee returned to the United States to marry and begin ministry at Middleham and St. Peter’s Parish.

Nathan now looks forward to returning (once again) to his home county and sharing in the joyful work of Christian education at the Chesterton Academy. He hopes to help young people to seek truth, appreciate beauty, and cultivate goodness in order to know and love Jesus Christ.

Michele Hoefer received her BS in Aerospace Engineering, a BA in Philosophy and a Masters in Theological Studies from University of Notre Dame.

Along with her experience as an Aerospace Engineer, Ms. Hoefer taught Religion for Sister Thea Bowman Catholic Academy in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and was a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Notre Dame. She is a volunteer Religious Education Instructor for St. John’s Church, has tutored both Chemistry and Calculus and has also been an Aikido Instructor.

Cheri Weiland received her B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Capital College and her Masters in Systems Engineering from the Naval Post Graduate School.

Along with experience as an Electrical Engineer and a Program Manager, Ms. Weiland has coached several youth soccer teams, taught Sunday School (Grades 3 – 5) for 10 years, served as Education Director for two years and a volunteer at the Pajama Connection, a charity which distributes clothing and necessities to needy children.

Ms. Weiland has four children and a granddaughter. She is looking forward to teaching the students, particularly Algebra 1 which is a favorite of hers. She remembers and will apply from her own Catholic education the effective measures used to teach math!

Carol Morris has twenty-six years of experience delivering art instruction to various levels of learners and is completing a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts at Saint Mary's College of Maryland.

Mrs. Morris has been the art teacher for over twenty years at Saint Michael’s Catholic School in Ridge, Maryland. She previously taught art at Immaculate Conception Elementary School in Towson, Maryland. She enjoys arranging opportunities for her students’ work to be shown, their iconography and illuminated manuscripts have been displayed at The Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, MD, the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center and locally at the Café de Artists.

Mrs. Morris has studied under Phil Davydov ( a well-known Russian iconographer) and Fr. Peter Pearson. She brings a wealth of experience to the Academy, as well as a passion for helping students see truth, beauty and goodness.

Mr. Dorian Tavarez received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from San Diego State University and his Master of Business Administration from the Naval Post Graduate School. Along with his experience as a Mechanical Engineer and his service in the US Navy, Mr. Tavarez is currently NAVAIR’s Director of the Metrology Division.

Mr. Tavarez was born and raised in Manhattan, one of the boroughs that make up New York city. He is happily married for over 25 years to his wife Mariam and together, they have three children: Diana, Angelus, and Elijah. He enjoys serving St. Johns parish as a lector, usher, cooking breakfast, and supporting other fundraisers for the Knights of Columbus.     

Mr. Tavarez enjoys math in all facets from Algebra to Differential Equations and desires to foster that same passion of learning the subject into his students.  

Mark Mergner graduated from the Catholic University of America in 2018, where he earned a B.A. in philosophy while receiving priestly formation at the Saint John Paul II Seminary. He went on to study theology at Mount St. Mary's Seminary before discerning out in 2019. Since then, he has served one year as a college campus minister in Frostburg, MD and four years as a middle and elementary school teacher at Mother Catherine Academy in Mechanicsville, where he himself attended. He currently works as a field agent for the Knights of Columbus and teaches swing dance part time with his wife, Annie.

Annie Mergner graduated from the University of Dallas in 2021 with a B.A. in theology and a concentration in studio art. After graduation, she moved to southern Maryland to serve as a theology teacher and campus minister at St. Mary's Ryken High School for two years. During this time, she connected with Mark and they married in January of 2023. Annie currently works part time teaching swing dance and wedding choreography. She and Mark expect their first baby in late December of 2023.

Mark and Annie fell in love with swing dancing before they met: Mark during a year at Christendom College before he entered seminary, and Annie in her homeschool community in Rockville, MD and at the University of Dallas. Bringing their love for dancing together has been a joyful part of their story, and they are blessed to have the opportunity to share it with others.

Miss Sarah Grace Mason is currently the Music Director at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in La Plata where she plays the organ, leads the Men's Schola, organizes the Family Choir and cantors, plays for funerals and weddings, and also sings as a cantor when needed. In addition, Miss Sarah Grace leads the choir at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Morganza at the 10 am Mass each Sunday.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology and Biology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Miss Sarah Grace went back to school to obtain her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy.

Miss Sarah Grace has a heart of worship and love for God and wishes to share this love with all of the students and all of the parishioners she serves, striving to help more and more souls fall in love with Jesus Christ, truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Viva Cristo Rey!