LEE BOWERSOX – SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT

Mr. Bowersox holds a BA in History from Georgia Southern University, and a MS in History from Florida State University.  He also completed the Educator Preparation Institute at Gulf Coast State College.   Mr. Bowersox was most recently employed at Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange, Florida, where he was an instructor of history, including AP European History and AP World History.  Mr. Bowersox has also served as a religious education instructor in two local parishes.

Education is a second career for Mr. Bowersox.  Prior to retiring in 2015, he served for 26 years as an air traffic controller and air traffic supervisor with the Federal Aviation Administration.  During his FAA career, Mr. Bowersox worked in Albany (GA), Savannah, Atlanta and Tallahassee.  Mr. Bowersox is also a FAA licensed private pilot.

Mr. Bowersox is a permanently promised lay member of the Dominican Order, and is a past-president of the Lay Dominicans del Espiritu Santo Chapter in Tallahassee.  His teaching philosophy directly reflects that of St. Thomas Aquinas, who noted that to be successful, a teacher must strive for “stability, clarity, and purity of intention.”

To quote Mr. Bowersox: “I have dreamed for many years of being an educator at a Catholic high school, and I am exceedingly happy to serve at St. John Paul II Catholic High School.  This position not only provides me with the opportunity to share my love of the subject matter with students, but also as a venue for the practice of my vocation as a Lay Dominican.  My dream is now very real.”  Mr. Bowersox is married with five children, with three of them enrolled at Trinity Catholic School.  The Bowersox family attends Blessed Sacrament Parish in Tallahassee.

MARK BOCINSKY – RELIGION DEPARTMENT

Mr.  Bocinsky holds a BA in Business Administration from the University of Florida, and intends to pursue a Master’s in Theology during his time working at Saint John Paul II High School.  Mr.  Bocinsky spent three generous years as a Life Teen Missionary teaching young people, leading retreats and providing support to youth programs that spanned from Atlanta, GA, to Houston, TX.  Most recently, he gave two years of his life to discern the priesthood as a religious brother with the Servants of Christ Jesus in Denver, Colorado.  During his time of discernment, he led Sunday worship for local university students and taught 9th grade religion in the Archdiocese of Denver.

Mr.  Bocinsky is an outgoing and faithful Catholic who brings a diverse array of talents to the faculty at SJPII.  He prides himself on providing “dynamic, engaging and relatable lessons that challenge young minds to seek a truth which is not watered down or compromised.”  He has experience teaching and ministering to a wide diversity of teenagers and leading liturgical and retreat-based worship music for youth and young adults across the country.

Mark prefers to teach religion above all other subjects.  He says, “I have found that religion class becomes the most interesting to students, and the most meaningful in their lives, when presented in the right way.”  His own experience as a Catholic teenager guides and inspires his enthusiastic spirit and practical methodology. Mark states, “When I was in high school, I remember how hard it was to believe everything I was being taught about the Catholic faith.  The Church told me one thing and the world around me shouted something radically different.  My enthusiasm for teaching religion comes from the belief that we must teach the faith in a way that opens a young person’s heart to positive change, and allows them to live in the freedom that Jesus Christ offers them.  After all, Jesus says that once we know the truth, the truth will set us free.”
After interviewing multiple candidates, Mark stood out as both a capable and dynamic teacher who demonstrated the ability to lead students to a personal and profound encounter with Jesus Christ through the Catholic faith.

REGINALD (REGGIE) JOHNSON- ENGLISH DEPARTMENT | CURRICULUM & PHILANTHROPY COORDINATOR

Mr. Johnson graduated from Thomas More College with a Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Political Philosophy. From there, Mr. Johnson went on to graduate school at the University of Dallas in Texas where he earned a Master’s degree in Political philosophy.  At UD, his understanding and appreciation for the need of genuine education for all was deepened. Mr. Johnson began his career as an educator teaching Latin, History, Literature, Mathematics, and Geometry in charter schools, independent private schools, and Catholic schools. He became Chair of an English department, Chair of a Latin department, and Head of the History and Fine & Performing Arts division.  He also accepted leadership responsibilities as a Dean of Studies,  a Director of Admissions, and as a Head and Assistant Head of schools.

In 1997, Mr. Johnson accepted his first principalship and led that school in the re-imagining and implementation of its middle school and high school programs. He helped the school develop sound policies and practices in the areas of finances and operations; he assisted in the development of a school culture that fostered deep faith and strong academics; and he led in the hiring and development of faculty and the recruitment of students.

After joining a classical school in Dallas, Texas, he became the Assistant Head of School. His responsibilities included the continued review and development of faculty, overseeing the discipline program and the further strengthening of the curriculum and school culture. Mr. Johnson went on to develop and lead seminars and give lectures for teachers and families across the nation, many of them as the Director of Educational Programs for the Center for the American Idea. He also began the in-house teacher training program.

Later, Great Hearts Academies brought him to Phoenix to establish its first inner city academy. From the development of the budget to floor plans for construction to the design of the crest to the recruitment of families to being the academy’s first Headmaster, Mr. Johnson was key in its founding. As a short term Head of School in a charter school in Houston, he restructured the administration and helped the school regain its financial footing and re-established important external relationships for the school. Mr. Johnson developed programs that brought the families to the campus and helped ensure their leadership role in the education of their children.

Through over twenty years of experience in education, both in the classroom and in administration, Mr. Johnson has journeyed through the realms of education to his vocation as an educational leader for schools and communities. Relentlessly honing his craft, he continues to help schools and their communities develop, grow, and transition for greater growth. Mr. Johnson understands that his role as a community leader is to help families, schools, and other community leaders raise the level of expectations that they place upon themselves and their communities. It is to help people and organizations engage each other in and out of the public square and to help them to expect more from themselves and rely on each other more as they strive for excellence in everything they do. He understands that his role as an educational and community leader is to ensure that the community and its organizations constantly communicate a no shortcuts, no excuses, and always strive for excellence culture of compassion and openness. It is to equip people to become world changers and to ensure that children are being prepared to become men and women of great character, intellect, imagination, and heart. It is to help them develop a love of learning, a desire for justice, and a passion for achieving their dreams.
LAURA LAMILLA-RONDON – SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

St. John Paul II Catholic High School is pleased to announce the employment of a SJPII alumna, Laura Lamilla-Rondon, as an instructor of Chemistry and Anatomy and Physiology. Ms. Lamilla recently graduated from the University of West Florida with an American Chemical Society certified B.S. in Chemistry/Biochemistry. While at UWF, Ms. Lamilla served as a teaching assistant and laboratory assistant for chemistry courses. As part of the prestigious Chemistry Scholars program, Ms. Lamilla also served as a tutor, holding weekly sessions for students in need of additional chemistry aid. She was also an active member of organizations such as Chemistry Club and the pre-professional health honor society Alpha Epsilon Delta. With a passion for chemistry, Ms. Lamilla had the opportunity to conduct valuable research in organic synthesis. She worked with bio-organic compounds and polymers in two different organic chemical laboratories. “Learning how the human body works and how we can make it better is one of the things that drove me into pursuing a career in the sciences. With chemistry, you can look at the fascinating world of the body on a microscopic level.”

SUSAN LAVOY – GUIDANCE COUNSELOR

Ms. LaVoy was born in Fort Rucker, AL, while her father was serving in the U.S. Army. She is one of seven children, raised in a Catholic family, influenced by her mother’s strong German traditions. Ms. LaVoy received her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of South Alabama. She began her first job in human services soon after, working as a Shelter Therapist for foster children at St. Mary’s Catholic Children’s Home. Working at St. Mary’s not only strengthened her Catholic faith, but also solidified her belief that all children deserve to live in a safe and nurturing home, that the faith community is essential to that endeavor, and that with active mentorship and guidance, every student will find success in their future career and vocation .

Ms. LaVoy has served families for 23 years. Driven by her desire to guide children and families, she has held positions as a child therapist, family therapist, assessment specialist, adoption recruiter, post-adoption liaison, trainer, and community advocate for public adoption. Susan’s mentors include Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Leo Buscaglia, Viola Brody, Jack Levine, a local advocate, and her parents.

While at Brevard Family Partnership, Ms. LaVoy served as the Chair of the Leadership team, which developed and implemented the Employee Appreciation Program and Employee Appreciation Week. She was also instrumental in planning and organizing the annual Boo at the Zoo Adoption and the Foster/Adoptive Parent Appreciation picnic.

She currently lives in Tallahassee with her sister, Catherine, and her two dogs, Lucky and Stella. Ms. LaVoy is excited to serve the children and families of St. John Paul II Catholic High School by promoting excellence in educational practices, and helping the students prepare for future successes at the collegiate level and beyond.

CHRIS LUX – ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
Mr. Lux holds an MA in English from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He was most recently employed at the International Center of Broward College in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where he taught composition, literature, and film. In Ecuador, he also taught English as a second language at the CEDEI Foundation.

At Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina, Mr. Lux earned his first BA in Theology. He briefly moved to Guatemala where he studied Spanish, and then returned to Belmont Abbey College and earned his second BA in English. He has written for newspapers and magazines and was a correspondent for the Catholic News Herald, the newspaper for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina. He has presented at academic conferences on Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Cormac McCarthy, and Herman Melville. His faith and his love for literature and writing are evident in his published works. His articles have been published by the Saint Austin Review, The Christian Review and the Penwood Review.

In addition to teaching in the classroom, Mr. Lux has worked individually with students through Write Guide, offering individualized online writing and grammar courses. He brings to SJPII his ability to see the unique needs of each student, and an understanding of how to provide them with the help they need. Mr. Lux says, “I’m excited to teach English at a Christ-centered high school where my love for my faith and my passion for literature and writing can come together in the classroom.” After teaching in Ecuador for two years, Mr. Lux recently returned to the U.S. with his wife and son.

EMMANUELLA NHYIRANI – SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

Mrs. Nhyirani holds a BA in Biochemistry and a Master’s in Chemistry from Florida A&M. She has worked as a biology teacher at both Godby High School and Capital City High School here in Tallahassee, and also as a certified pharmacy technician. She has also done research in Ghana studying the impact of biofuels on food security, and has spent time doing scientific research at both the University of Minnesota and UC Santa Barbara. In her words, “I am very passionate about helping students to master basic life skills as well as strive for academic excellence. I am truly blessed to be a part of such a wonderful family at St. John Paul II Catholic High School.” Mrs. Nhyirani is the wife of Pastor Clement Nhyirani of Glorious Tabernacle Ministries, and they are “blessed with three beautiful children.”

ERIN RUSSO – ATHLETIC TRAINER

Ms. Erin Russo as a certified athletic trainer, as well as Health and Wellness teacher for the upcoming school year. Ms. Russo is a recent graduate from the Florida State University with a Bachelor’s in Athletic Training.  During her time at FSU, Ms. Russo worked with six different sport rotations, including athletic programs at both the high school and collegiate levels. Working with the athletic teams at FSU, and a local high school in particular, has fueled her passion and desire to continue her career in the athletic training field. She thoroughly enjoyed her time as an undergraduate athletic training student, and has gained extensive knowledge about injury evaluations and treatments as well as rehabilitation methods and protocols. Ms. Russo has been involved in athletics since a very early age, learning to throw a softball before she could even walk.  Athletics is a huge part of the Russo family.  In addition to Ms. Russo being a varsity captain and three year varsity letter winner in both softball and cheerleading at Holy Spirit High School, her brother A.J. was a varsity baseball captain and her father, also A.J., is the school’s head football coach. This drive to continue athletics after high school led Ms. Russo to pursue a career in athletic training.  In her words, “My education at Florida State University has helped me strengthen my skills and grow personally, teaching me how to create trusting bonds with the athletes along the way. This has instilled in me a sense of leadership and responsibility, and has given me the confidence to teach and lead others as well as learn how to adapt when working with a diverse group of personalities.”

Ms. Russo was born and raised in South Jersey, building strong ties to her Catholicism at a very young age.  Her Grandmother, Nona Russo, strived to instill Catholic values and teachings in her.  Nona was an English teacher and cheerleading coach at Holy Spirit High School and would bring Erin to watch practices and spend workdays together.  This Catholic high school became a part of Ms. Russo’s daily routine, and eventually her alma mater. Ms. Russo states that, “Holy Spirit High School was a community that strengthened in me the Catholic values and traditions my grandmother and family have been preaching to me my entire life.  This community taught me how to love and care for people with the patience and devotion–the way God intended.  Spending over half of my life devoted to this high school and Catholic community makes me proud and ecstatic to start my career at St. John Paul II.”