St. Martin of Tours Academy & Preschool
U.S. Dept. of Education Green Ribbon School | Fair Trade School | La Mesa, CA
* FAITH-FILLED * COMMUNICATOR * CONFIDENT * LIFELONG LEARNER *
Governance
St. Martin of Tours Academy fosters confidence, curiosity, and independence through a climate of cooperation and trust by preserving dignity throughout the learning process, accentuating all children’s God-given gifts in a Catholic environment.
SMA Advisory Board
The purpose of the SMA Advisory Board is to recognize and respect the role of the Pastor and Principal and exercise responsible advisory recommendations in collaboration with the school leadership team for development and oversight of the fidelity to mission, academic excellence, and operational vitality. (NSBECS Standards 5 & 6)
Joseph Horejs
Catholic Identity
Phil Giordano
Finance
Lauren Ramers
Academic Excellence
Learn about Joseph Joseph Horejs was born and raised in San Diego, California and grew up at Good Shepherd Parish in Mira Mesa. He attended the University of San Diego, and majored in Theology & Religious Studies and Spanish. Joseph obtained his Masters in Education with a focus in Character Education while heI taught middle school at Nativity Prep Academy. He began working for the Diocese of San Diego in 2005 and is currently the Associate Director of the Office for Evangelization & Catechetical Ministry. Most importantly, Joseph is the proud father of four wonderful children, three of whom attend Catholic School and he is married to a Catholic school teacher. Joseph looks forward to serving the community of St. Martin of Tours Academy.
Learn about Phil Phil is a long-time parishioner who was actually baptized at St. Martin’s of Tours and attended our Academy as a child himself. He currently also serves as Chairman on the Church Finance Council. Phil has loved seeing multiple nieces & nephews attend St. Martin’s over the years and 3 of them are still currently attending. He has owned his La-Mesa based business, SFS Life Settlements, for 15 years and prior to that worked in the commercial banking & real estate industries. Phil is also a member of the San Diego Financial Planning Association and La Mesa Village Association.Phil received his B.S. in International Finance from Brigham Young University where he also played football throughout his college education. Phil resides with his wife of 22 years, Charlene, at their home in La Mesa.
Learn about Lauren Lauren H. Ramers is adjunct faculty in the Department of Learning and Teaching at the University of San Diego where she studies national and international education reform, social justice in K-12 education, teacher education for diverse populations, and pedagogy research. She has collaborated on several articles regarding Catholic education (in-press and published) based on her work with the Academy of Catholic Teaching at USD. She is currently an adjunct program designer for New Leaders, an organization dedicated to preparing school leaders in America’s highest-need schools. A former high school English and AVID teacher, Director of Professional Development at AVID Center, K-12 instructional coach, and international AVID consultant, Lauren has dedicated her professional career to serving all students and especially those least served by our school systems. Lauren earned her B.A. in English and Education from UCLA, her M.A. in Education and Teaching from Stanford University, her principal’s certification from the University of Washington, and she is currently working on her Ph.D. at the University of San Diego in leadership studies. Lauren’s oldest son attends St. Augustine Catholic High School, and she is hopeful to have an OLP Pilot next year!
Advancement & Development
Tom Ritz
Physical Plant
Learn about Tom Thomas Ritz and and his wife, Kathleen, have been a part of the St. Martin of Tours Community for over 60 years. Tom is an Alumnus of the Academy as are their five children. Tom and Kathleen recently celebrated 45 years of marriage and they are proud grandparents of 3 children. Tom has been active as an adult in youth Scouting for over 24 years. He can often be found wearing his scout master uniform leading young children in activities that strengthen their moral, academic, and social abilities. Knowledge and experience from over 45 years in the maintenance and construction field plus a humble willingness to give back to the St. Martin Community brought Tom to the SMA Advisory Board. He recently retired from the City of San Diego as the Building Maintenance Supervisor for Qualcomm Stadium. Tom is a true asset to our unique 70 year old building.
Learn about
SMA PTG
The purpose of the SMA Parent Group is to work with and assist the principal and teachers, to raise funds to support the school, and to provide for parent education.
(NSBECS Standards 5 & 6)
Katie Scheie
President
Erin McCarthy
Vice President
Nelson Chase
Treasurer
Learn about Katie I am the mother of two kids, Shanna (6th grade) and Ethan (2nd grade). I have been part of the SMA since Shanna was in Kindergarten. I have been involved with the PTG since my first year at the school, and I have also been the Room Parent for Shanna’s class since 1st Grade. Through these experiences I have seen first hand how important it is for the school to have a strong parent community. I look forward to continuing to cultivate a strong, open, and collaborative Parent Teacher Group. Professionally, I serve as the Chief Operating Officer at the University of Arizona Global Campus and I have my Master’s in Education. I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as the President of the PTG.
Learn about Erin... I have a 4th grader (Delia) and have been around SMA for a few years, starting at the preschool. I love this school so much and want to help contribute to its on-going success. I am an Associate Scientist for a small, start-up biotech company in Sorrento Valley, working on forensics. I would love to see SMA get even stronger in STEM. I am also the Secretary of my rather large HOA and I currently volunteer in God’s Garden at the school.
Learn about Nelson I am honored to be elected to the Parent Teacher Group Executive Leadership at St. Martin of Tours Academy. With 12 years of experience in Catholic Higher Education at the University of San Diego, I have cultivated a deep commitment to faith-based education. Currently, I serve as the Director of the Military and Veterans Program, where I support the educational and personal growth of our nation's service members. My journey in faith led me to convert to the Catholic Church, a path that has profoundly enriched my life and community involvement. I am actively engaged in my parish, Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church, serving on both the advisory and pastoral councils, and have previously held the position of Director of Religious Education. As a parent of two children at St. Martin of Tours, sixth and second graders, I am deeply invested in the mission of our school. I am dedicated to fostering an environment that nurtures confidence, curiosity, and independence in our children, while emphasizing their God-given gifts in a Catholic setting. I believe my background, commitment, and passion align perfectly with the goals of the Parent Teacher Group and the mission of St. Martin of Tours Academy. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to our community's growth and success.
Kelly Triggs
Co-Room Parent
Coordinator
Learn about Amy.... My name is Amy Reh. I am a former Navy Cryptologist and current Department of the Navy employee. As a leader in my organization, I ensure that all mandated training is completed by our 3000+ Sailors and civilians onboard. I am a team player and am known around my work center as someone who can help get the job done, no matter what the challenges are. I have served on multiple committees acting as the secretary for six Navy Balls and as the Administrator of the Women's Resource Group at my previous organization. I chaired an overhaul of onboarding procedures for all new employees for my current organization and am adept at organizing large scale projects. Recently, I was the co-chair for the 2024 SMA Gala and will be co-chairing the 2025 SMA Gala as well. As a military spouse, I am used to adjusting to unexpected situations and problem solving to quickly resolve any issues that may arise. I am a mom of two girls in kindergarten and 3rd grade. I believe that our school is a safe haven for our children in a world that is often difficult to navigate and understand and I would love the opportunity to take a larger role in supporting our school, our children, and our staff alongside a group of incredible parents!
Sally O'Brien
Co-Room Parent Coordinator
Learn about Sally I am excited to serve as the Room Parent Coordinator at SMA! All 3 of my kiddos have attended SMA since Preschool. We are so blessed to have a 1st grader, 2nd grader, and 4th grader this year! The Workshop Way and Catholic Faith integration are some of the biggest factors in choosing SMA. We have loved watching our kids grow in confidence, knowledge, and love of Christ. As Room Parent Coordinator, I hope to streamline communication and increase parent involvement on campus. My experience as a Room Parent both for the Preschool and Academy, serves as my foundation for “stepping-up” this year, to ensure our parents are kept in the loop, and our kids build lasting memories! I am a Budget Analyst at Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, serving on various teams and managing resources will come in handy this year, as we navigate all the adventures this year will bring!
Amy Reh
Secretary/
Gala Co-Chair
Learn about Tia.... Celebrating our 2nd year at SMA and my first year as the 2024-25 Volunteer Coordinator. My objective is to support community engagement by providing a positive, collaborative, and creative approach. I’m a Navy Veteran and transplant from the East Coast but SD has been home for over 20 years. My husband and I have 3 children (1stgrade & 2 in college). Professionally, I am a Government Contract Negotiator and served on several committees and held various roles from team member to lead within my organization. I’ve organized fundraisers, teambuilding, and networking events to promote quality health and well-being of employees and their families. I look forward to work with SMA amazing families and staff.
OPEN
Sports Advisory Council
Jeni & Chris Bartel
Fall Festival Chairs
Tia Hall
Volunteer Coordinator
Learn about Kelly... I am excited to be a co-room parent coordinator this year. I have a 1st and 3rd grader at the academy and have been a part of the parish and school community since my oldest was in preschool. I am also the Director of Operations at Made for Greatness, a company that offers online resources and courses for Catholic moms. Our family loves the school and is blessed to be a part of this community of wonderful families, teachers, and staff. I have been a room parent for the past two years and look forward to supporting our room parents and school community this year!
Learn about Jeni & Chris The Fall Festival is a fun, perfect opportunity to bring the whole St. Martin's community together to support our school. As parents of Jacob (senior at Sacred Heart University), Dominic (SMA Class of '21 - now senior at Saints) and Philip (Grade 7), we have had a particular focus to help bring the parish and school into closer union both operationally and as a St. Martin of Tours Catholic community. We love to travel, watch our three boys compete in fencing (Jacob), track (Dominic) and baseball (Philip), and then beat them at board games at home. Jeni is in her third year on the SMA PTG as the Faith and Family Liaison. She also volunteers as a lector and sits on the St. Martin's Parish Council. Chris leads the Men's Group at the parish, serves as a Eucharistic Minister, and is active with the Knights of Columbus.